This Small Pennsylvania Town Has The Best Downtown

Lititz, Pennsylvania, has its fair share of eccentricities. This town, located about an hour and a half from Philadelphia, is home to the country’s first commercial pretzel bakery, a religious community that once encouraged beer drinking, and a chocolate company that even boxer Muhammad Ali partnered with. That same offbeat spirit continues to fill downtown Lititz today, where the bakery, breweries, and chocolate shop keep the town’s quirky legacy alive. If you are looking for an entertaining trip in one of the state’s most interesting and fun-filled downtowns, you will fall in love with Lititz.

Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery

Sitting right on Main Street, in the Lititz Historic District, is the one and only Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery. Established in 1861, this bakery is one of the town’s most iconic landmarks, holding the distinction as the country’s first commercial pretzel bakery. Today, the bakery stands as a historic landmark, offering tours of the facilities and a signature bake store to pick up a pretzel or two. Bakery tours take place every day of the week and last for about 25 minutes, giving attendees the chance to see Julius Sturgis’ original ovens, learn about the country’s pretzel-making history, and discover how to twist their own pretzel with a flour and water mixture. Concluding the tour, travelers can purchase a fresh soft pretzel made on-site with Sturgis’ original recipe!

Breweries And Distilleries

Lititz has a unique historical connection to beer. As a Moravian community, church officials once encouraged brewing, believing that increased beer consumption would deter residents from drinking stronger distilled spirits. Today, several breweries in town continue to express the town’s love for beer. Collusion Tapworks, for example, is just a seven-minute walk from the pretzel bakery, serving an extensive list of house-made beers, along with a food menu that includes dishes like burgers, sandwiches, flatbreads, and salads. Appalachian Brewing Company is nearby as well, housed in an old paper-box factory. ABC’s onsite brewery can produce 140-gallon batches of beer and is used to craft the company’s seasonal specialties. A few dishes on the food menu, meanwhile, include tacos, wings, and fish and chips.

A small distillery scene has also emerged in recent years, led by Stoll and Wolfe Distillery, which was founded in 2016. Inspired by the state’s long whiskey-making heritage, this distillery incorporates methods developed by legendary Pennsylvania Master Distiller Dick Stoll, producing award-winning whiskeys right in the heart of Lititz. Travelers can visit the tasting room to try the iconic whiskey for themselves, open between Tuesday and Sunday each week.

Shopping & Dining

With its coffee shops, book stores, chocolate stores, and steakhouses, the downtown district is practically the definition of “cozy.” Travelers can start their day with a hot cup of joe at New Holland Coffee, a regional coffee shop with four locations in Lancaster County that has been roasting and serving its coffee since 2005. The New Holland’s Lititz branch is centrally located on Kleine Lane. After your caffeine fix, browse some of the shops in the area, such as Wilbur Chocolate, which sells chocolate carmels, almond bark, triple-coated chocolate-covered almonds, and its famous velvety Wilbur Buds.

Need a new book to read in the evening later? Stop by Aaron’s Books as well, situated on Main Street and open seven days a week. Later, for lunch or dinner, travelers can grab a bite at Kōle Chophouse, a popular steakhouse that cooks its cuts over a wood coal grill. A few of the dishes you can order that are cooked on the grill include Salmon Teriyaki, Firehouse Chicken, Atlantic Halibut, New South Wales Lamb, and the Kole Brioche Burger.

Inns & Hotels

Downtown Lititz is home to several historic inns, including the Lititz Springs Inn, which lies on Main Street and has been receiving guests since 1764. With 10 cozy rooms and six inn suites to choose from, guests won’t have a hard time finding the perfect room for their needs. The on-site dining room is also a great spot for dinner, serving entrées like sea scallops, stuffed quail, and shepherd’s pie. The hotel shares its property with the famous Bulls Head Public House, a tavern known for its craft beer selection and British fare, so you certainly will not go hungry during your visit.

The Alden House is just a block over from the Lititz Springs Inn and is another wonderful accommodation for history lovers. This bed and breakfast is housed in a 1850s federal-style home and is divided into two guestrooms, four suites, and a private carriage house. To top it all off, you’ll receive a full breakfast each morning to fuel you up for the day!

A Downtown That You Will Remember

Plenty of towns across Pennsylvania have adorable downtowns, but few are as unique as Lititz. Between its pretzel bakery, evolving distillery scene, and wood-coal steakhouses, you are sure to have a memorable weekend unlike any other in the state. And to end the day, what could be better than checking into an inn that predates the American Revolution? So get ready to explore this little town for yourself—who knows what else you’ll discover!