Longwood Gardens: Sneak peek of new 1906 restaurant
Longwood Gardens unveils a sneak peek of its new 1906 restaurant, a key feature of the $250 million “Longwood Reimagined: A New Garden Experience” project, which transforms 17 acres of its renowned Conservatory and grounds. Reservations are now open for the restaurant, which debuts Friday, Oct. 25.
Longwood Gardens near Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, was named in the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards as one of the best botanical gardens in the nation.
The awards highlight the very best in travel, food and drink, and lifestyle.
Longwood Gardens spans more than 1,100 acres and has nearly 200 acres that are open to the public.
It is the legacy of DuPont Co. President Pierre S. du Pont, who was passionate about gardening. He purchased the former Peirce farm in 1906 and made his mark on the land that he eventually called Longwood. The Longwood Foundation was established in 1937 to ensure the property would forever be open to the public.
Walking is the primary way to enjoy the gardens. Indoor experiences include the conservatories, the historic Peirce-du Pont House, the Webb Farmhouse & Galleries, 1906 fine dining restaurant and The Café, and the Visitor Center.
In 2024, the garden’s big focus was the debut of its $250 million revitalization project named “Longwood Reimagined: A New Garden Experience.” The project transformed 17 acres of Longwood’s renowned Conservatory and grounds.
The crown jewel and largest single piece of the project is the new West Conservatory. The 32,000-square-foot glass house, designed by Weiss/Manfredi, comprises 1,958 glass panels.
Plan on visiting for at least three to four hours.
The Main Fountain Garden fountains are closed for the season and will return on May 8. The gardens are now open every day from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., except on Tuesdays when they are closed. Tickets range from $17 to $32.
Every week, USA TODAY 10BEST invites a panel of industry experts to nominate their favorite points of interest and attractions across a wide range of categories.
10BEST editors then vet these nominations and select a final set of nominees to be presented to the voting public for a period of four weeks.
Here is a list of the best botanical gardens
1. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (Cincinnati)
2. Longwood Gardens (Kennett Square, Pennsylvania)
3. Lauritzen Gardens (Omaha, Nebraska)
4. Missouri Botanical Garden (St. Louis)
5. Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
6. Botanica, The Wichita Gardens (Wichita, Kansas)
7. Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (Boothbay, Maine)
8. Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens (Fort Bragg, California)
9. Cheekwood Estate & Gardens (Nashville)
10. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (Coral Gables, Florida)
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