18 Best Restaurants in Chelan (Complete Guide!)
Last Updated on July 21, 2024 by Kelly
The city of Chelan is well-known for its pristine lake and many wineries, but it’s also home to some amazing restaurants. Whether you’re looking for homemade pasta or fresh blueberry pancakes, there is always something delicious to try in Chelan! I visit Chelan every year, and I always enjoy dining at many of the restaurants listed in this post. In this article, I’ll share my list of the best restaurants in Chelan.
Best Restaurants in Chelan
Apple Cup Cafe
I’m starting with the Apple Cup Cafe because it’s the restaurant that I grew up visiting the most. It’s been open since 1957. I’ve been visiting the Apple Cup Cafe for over 30 years. Breakfast is served all day long, so no need to rush over if you’re a late riser. They have a full menu with options like pancakes, waffles, french toast, omelettes, and skillets. They are also open for lunch and dinner. Come hungry!
Blueberry Hills Farm and Restaurant
This farm in Manson is home to Blueberry Hills Farm and Restaurant, which serves up an excellent breakfast and lunch menu. They are a real working-farm, and they offer u-pick blueberries when they are in season. As a result, you’ll find tons of blueberry-inspired dishes on their menu: the biggest blueberry muffins I’ve ever seen, blueberry pie, blueberry cobbler, blueberry parfaits, and more.
We highly recommend ordering the blueberry cinnamon roll at Blueberry Hills Farms. It was gigantic and we didn’t even finish it between the three of us. We liked that the server brought the cinnamon roll out right away, because it was about a 45-minute wait for our breakfast to be served. We ordered the Loco Moco and the Best Eggs Benedict Ever. Both were good, but we really thought the blueberry cinnamon roll was the star of the show.
Blueberry Hills Farm and Restaurant does not accept reservations and they have a serious wait during the busy summer months. During our most recent visit on a Sunday during the summer, we saw that they opened at 8am. We thought we would be in good shape by arriving at 8:15am. (Nope!) We waited in line for about 25 minutes to put in our order, and we waited almost an hour for our food. If you plan on dining here during the summer, we recommend arriving a bit before they open to avoid the crowd.
The Seattle Times rated this restaurant as one of the top four restaurants “worth the drive” in Washington State, so be sure to add it to your list!
Tip: The farm has a gift shop counter with tons of blueberry products to choose from. We recommend purchasing an item or two as a souvenir!
Lake Chelan Artisan Bakery
Get your coffee and breakfast at Lake Chelan Artisan Bakery. All of their baked goods are made fresh daily. (Even the tortillas for their breakfast burritos!) You can order a breakfast sandwich, quiche, or try one of their pastries. (Some examples include bear claws, sticky buns, and coffee cake.)
Be sure to see our list of 36 things to do in Chelan! |
Lakeview Drive In
Our favorite place to go for lunch (or dinner!) in Chelan is the Lakeview Drive In. They serve burgers, french fries, onion rings, milkshakes, and more. Definitely order their french fries, the seasoning is amazing. They even sell their fry seasoning online! During our last visit, we grabbed a picnic table with a view of the lake. We ordered cheeseburgers, fries, onion rings, and an Oreo milkshake. We were in heaven.
This restaurant only offers outdoor seating. There’s plenty of shaded tables, and you can’t beat the view! The restaurant is within walking distance of Don Morse Memorial Park, so it’s the perfect place to grab a burger after a day at the lake.
Green Dot Sub Shop
They were named as one of Washington’s Best Sub Shops Ever, so they know what they’re doing. Grab a sub to-go and have a picnic by the lake. In addition to their classic subs, they also offer cheeseburger subs. There’s locations in both Manson and Chelan.
Bear Foods Natural Market and Cafe Creperie
Located within this natural market is a creperie that’s the perfect spot to sit down for lunch. You will crepes filled with French classics like gruyere cheese and ham, but also unique options like their crepe that features Mexican ingredients.
18 Brix
Located at Karma Vineyards, you can enjoy lunch at this stylish restaurant. They serve French meals inspired by local Pacific Northwest ingredients. (Plus you can expect to have an excellent wine pairing with your meal!)
Vin du Lac Winery
Check out the Bistro at Vin du Lac Winery. They serve upscale items such as a charcuterie board, steamed mussels, and filet mignon.
Siren Song Vineyard Estate and Winery
Their European-inspired menu currently features options like Prawns al Ajillo (a classic Spanish dish) and Heirloom Caprese on Crostini (a nod to Italy). They even offer a Parisian Picnic that is perfect to enjoy on their estate grounds.
Campbell’s Resort
Their menu currently includes options like fish and chips, prime rib dips, and juicy pub burgers. During our last visit, we sat on their outdoor skybridge. We sipped on cocktails as we observed all the activity in downtown in Chelan. (If you have young children, though, we recommend eating indoors. The tables on the skybridge are a bit too high to use a high chair.)
Quick Wok
Customize your own stir fry! You choose to have noodles, rice, or veggies as a base, and then you get to choose what ingredients are included.
Sorrento’s Ristorante
We strongly believe that one of the best restaurants in Chelan is Sorrento’s Ristorante, the signature restaurant of Tsillan Cellars. The entire estate feels like an Italian villa with sweeping views of the lake. We had one of the best meals of our lives at this restaurant. (A gnocchi dish that’s no longer on the menu.) During our most recent visit to Sorrento’s, I ordered the Spicy Prawn Risotto, and it was divine. It was our table’s favorite dish! Tsillan Cellars is one of our favorite wineries in Chelan.
Fonda Oaxaqueña
I’m always in the mood for Mexican food, and Fonda Oaxaqueña doesn’t disappoint! There are several Mexican restaurants in Chelan, and we’ve noticed that a lot of the locals frequent this one. We recommend that you enjoy a margarita with the Enchiladas Oaxaqueñas. (These enchiladas are topped with the mole sauce signature of that region, and they were delicious!) We also thought it was a good sign that lots of people dining at the restaurant spoke Spanish!
Andante Italian Style
Looking for a romantic spot? Andante’s is focused on fine Italian dining. Currently closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Enjoy penne primavera or a Tuscan seafood stew.
Company Creek Pizza
This casual pizza joint is directly across from Don Morse Memorial Park. After a full day at the lake, walk in and enjoy a pizza. Play some arcade games while you wait. We love their taco pizza!
The Winemaker’s Grill
This restaurant at Wapato Point Cellars is another fine dining option in the area. They currently are offering dishes like steak gnocchi, center cut filet mignon, and chicken piccata. Enjoy a glass of their award-winning wines with dinner.
Layla’s Bar and Kitchen
This spot serves adults 21 years and older. The restaurant is located in downtown Chelan near the Riverwalk Park. Enjoy a flatbread or sandwich with one of their cocktails.
Local Myth Pizza
For a fancy pizza spot, head to Local Myth Pizza. Their pizzas are beautiful and definitely Instagram-worthy! Definitely one of the best restaurants in Chelan.
Tip: Looking for a good cup of coffee? Check out The Vogue Coffee Bar in downtown Chelan. One of their specials, a cold-brew pistachio drink, was one of our favorite coffee drinks ever!
Desserts in Chelan
Froyo Earth
Froyo Earth serves frozen yogurt where you can pick your soft-serve flavors and your toppings! It’s located within walking distance of Don Morse Memorial Park, Campbell’s Resort, and downtown Chelan. My family especially liked the cake batter froyo flavor. There were lots of toppings to choose from, including a variety of syrups, whipped cream, fresh fruit, and chopped candies. We enjoyed customizing our desserts, and it was the perfect treat to cool down on a hot Chelan day.
The Landing Ice Cream Parlor
With new owners established in 2021, this downtown staple now has an ice cream parlor. We visited during the summer, and the line was out the door every evening. It was clearly a popular place for ice cream!
Green Dot Sub Shop
Turns out the Green Dot Sub Shop has some pretty awesome ice cream! They currently have over 30 flavors of soft-serve.
Lakeview Drive In
Their milkshakes are delicious. They serve hard ice cream too!
Bear Foods Natural Market and Cafe Creperie
Try their sweet crepes! My favorite is banana with chocolate hazelnut spread topped with whipped cream.
Lake Chelan Artisan Bakery
At the Lake Chelan Artisan Bakery, you can pick up some sweet pastries. They make danishes, scones, cinnamon rolls, sticky buns, and more.
Deb’s Delights
Hosting an event? This bakery features cakes, cupcakes, cake pops, pies, brownies, dessert shooters, and more.
Chelan Toys and Treats
Check out their over-the-top rice krispie treats! They also have an assortment of candies. It’s one of our favorite things to do in Chelan with kids.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.
Looking for a hotel in Chelan? Check out Campbell’s Resort! Also be sure to see our guide to the best waterfront hotels in Chelan.
Summary
We hope that this post was helpful in describing some of the best restaurants in Chelan! Our absolute favorite places are the Lakeview Drive-In, Sorrento’s Ristorante, the Apple Cup Cafe, and Blueberry Hills Farm and Restaurant. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: We always strive for content accuracy. Since the time of publishing, travel-related information regarding pricing, schedules, and hours may have changed. Please look up such information directly from each vendor or institution for the most current information