The small town of Palmyra, Missouri, is graced with a hidden treasure: Cole’s Hearth Room, a historic building restaurant. Housed in a farmhouse that once served as a Civil War-era hospital, this restaurant brings global flair to a rural Midwestern community. In a town of under 4,000, you would not expect to find chef Coltin Cole creating dishes with such tremendous flavor. Yet, Cole’s Hearth Room stands as a destination restaurant, well worth the drive. The team takes pride in crafting unique flavors, making as much as they can by hand, in-house.

What brought the renowned chef to this small town near Hannibal, Missouri?

Deidra, Coltin’s wife and co-owner, is from nearby New London. Familiar with the property's unique history, they were interested when it became available for purchase.

Go hungry! Unless you live nearby, you’ll have to drive to the restaurant in the small town of Palmyra, giving you plenty of time to build up an appetite for a full three-course meal. The melon prosciutto salad with house strawberry and champagne vinaigrette is a stunner, but it may not be available when you visit. The menu rotates seasonal specials, so get ready for fun surprises.

And why wouldn’t you go all out when the food is this good? With a skilled chef at the helm, you’ll find specialties you might not expect to see in the Midwest on their menu.

In my experience, restaurants with a limited menu often excel in execution, Cole’s Hearth Room is no exception. The seasonal menu usually has a few daily specials and between 10 and 15 entrees exuding a “less but better” vibe. You'll usually find a surf-n-turf option.

The craft cocktail menu rotates as well, but you’re likely to see a smoking beverage of some kind. I love dinner and a show! When my husband and I visited, the bartender was accommodating in making many of the cocktails into mocktails.

While the food is upscale, the atmosphere is warm and inviting. You can have a drink in the bar, but I prefer to sit in the main dining room and enjoy the antique hearth and beautiful timbered light fixtures overhead.

Do not skip dessert! The selections change with the season, ensuring you get something fresh and thoughtfully crafted, like the rest of the menu. Since this is a destination restaurant, you may consider bringing a cooler bag for leftovers or to enjoy dessert for breakfast the next day.

If you visit during the warmer months, be sure to request a table outside. The area is lush and the breeze pleasant, though you’ll have to be comfortable facing your own mortality. From the front of the building, you’ll have a view of Greenwood Cemetery. The cemetery is intertwined with the home’s history, as it became the cemetery caretaker’s dwelling when farmers were unable to keep the home following the Great Depression.

So you’re convinced, right? Cole’s Hearth Room is worth putting on your next destination date-night list. Good news: if you want to make a weekend adventure out of the trip, there are plenty of nearby attractions in Historic Hannibal, MO. Check out these fun things to do. Stay at a nearby historic home built around the same time as Cole’s Hearth Room to round out your mid-19th-century adventure.

Or, maybe the nearby Greenwood Cemetery piqued your interest? Check out some other creepy Missouri finds. What is your favorite creepy destination in Missouri?