Best of the Best: Malvern

Morning: The Buttery

233 E. King St.
610-296-2534 / MalvernButtery.com

If you’re new to Malvern, discover where the local community gathers to begin the day. The Buttery is known for fresh ingredients, favorite cuppas and baked goods from the oven behind a giant sunny room where people are smiling. Stroll past a long glass case to choose pastries. At the register order beverages, extraordinary Turkish eggs, fruit bowls and yogurt with bee pollen and honeycomb. Go ahead. Dip into the big cookie jar or order sourdough bread for a mid-morning coffee break or elevenses. The Buttery is so popular, it recently expanded its Malvern seating space and to more locations.

Noon: Fork & Bottle at The Desmond

1 Liberty Blvd.
610-296-9800 / ForkAndBottleMalvern.com

The Desmond’s Fork & Bottle restaurant is just the place for an upscale lunch. Patrons popping in from nearby and hotel guests give kudos for service — excellent for large groups, as well as couples — and plating that’s worth an Instagram post. In a classy, upbeat atmosphere, yet not too loud for good conversation, you’ll benefit from the chef’s relationships with quality fisheries and farms. Pair Maryland crab bisque with a signature cocktail, innovative flatbreads and remarkable hand-cut fries with local draft beer, or the chicken, portobello and goat cheese sandwich with a glass of wine.

Noon: Fattoush Mediterranean Cuisine

182 Lancaster Ave.
484-568-4465 / FattoushHealthyDining.com

Come in from the cold to family-run and family-friendly Fattoush, where dazzling aromas of flavorful spices greet you. The lunchtime crowd relishes Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food in a casual setting where staff and surroundings are genuinely warm and helpful. Faves are delicious shawarma — seasoned, marinated beef or chicken with lettuce, tomatoes and more — on Lebanese bread, a superb, mouthwatering thin pita. Mjadra with lentils and rice is a delight for vegetarians or omnivores. Portions are generous — ask for a box so there’s room for dessert. Or get it to go because the baklava isn’t to be missed. Go once and you’ll be back soon.

Night: The General Warren

9 Old Lancaster Rd.
610-296-3637 / GeneralWarren.com

Named for Dr. Joseph Warren, a physician and American Revolutionary figure killed at Bunker Hill in 1775, The General Warren (formerly an inne) is a cherished local landmark. Known for its historic ambiance and dishes like beef Wellington and snapper soup, the restaurant offers traditional American cuisine with a contemporary flair. Executive Chef Joshua Smith leads the culinary team, using local sourced foods and classic techniques to create an extraordinary dining experience. History, he believes, “sets the pace for the future of food, much the same way General Warren has set the pace for local hospitality in the Great Valley for centuries.”

Night: Joey Chops

245 Lancaster Ave.
484-450-8890 / JoeyChops.com

A classic steakhouse, Joey Chops is focused on serving superior, prime-grade, hand-cut steaks, praised as tender, flavorful and perfectly cooked. Its premium seafood is “fresh off the boat.” For starters, try the green garlic escargot, oysters Rockefeller or she-crab soup. For mains, locals declare the dry-aged ribeye exceptional, and the filet mignon, New York strip, Delmonico and wagyu beef are all top-notch, as is the seared tuna steak. The interior of the restaurant is modern, cozy, intimate and quiet, considered an excellent spot for date nights, special occasions and relaxing, intimate dinners. Be sure to sample a classic cocktail from the bar.

Happy Hour: The Jockey Tavern

240 Lancaster Ave.
610-296-2222 / JockeyTavern.com

Calling all horse lovers! Saddle up! When business is over, they call it “Jockey Hour.” Enjoy half-price pints of beer, house wines, mint juleps, martinis, old fashioneds, highballs and buck-a-shuck oysters. Plus a long list of “bits & bites” — smoked brisket nachos, crispy calamari, hot cheese fondue and more. The Jockey Tavern’s décor sports equestrian artifacts and photos, with brick, oak floors and wood tones throughout, and is inspired by Chester County’s horse country heritage. Live piano music is featured on Friday and Saturday nights, contributing to the lively atmosphere. Outside find seating for your hounds.

Gem: Restaurant Alba

7 W. King St.
610-644-4009 / RestaurantAlba.com

Chef Sean and Kelly Weinberg created Restaurant Alba as a restaurant that not only uses locally produced foods, but also offers contemporary wholesome cuisine. Dishes, changing seasonally, are simply prepared over a wood-burning grill allowing for flavors to stand out while being enhanced by hickory and mesquite, a concept found throughout the countrysides of Europe. Favorite appetizers have included grilled octopus, burrata and whipped ricotta bruschetta with honey and sea salt. Entrees have included wild boar ragu or guinea hen agnolotti. Diners praise their desserts too, such as bread pudding and budino, and are grateful for the culinary artistry.