Where to Eat
Restaurants in Idyllwild, from a brewpub pouring its own beer by Strawberry Creek to steaks at a retreat on South Circle Drive, with scratch-made donuts, crepes and a 1981 candy shop in between.
Where to eat in Idyllwild
Most of the places on this page are in the village, and 10 of them are on North Circle Drive alone, close enough to walk between. The Lumber Mill and Manzanita are out on Highway 243, and Mountain Center Cafe & Grill is in Mountain Center, outside town.
For a mountain village, there’s plenty to choose from, and plenty of it is made right here: beer brewed on Village Center Drive, donuts made from scratch at Amelia’s, and candy from a shop one family has run since 1981. Hours change with the season, so every listing below links to the place’s own site. Check it before you go.
Start with these two
If you’re up for one dinner, start here. Both have a full bar, and between them they cover a sit-down dinner and a pint by the creek.
The Peak
The Peak Restaurant and Bar opened on Memorial Day 2024, on the grounds of Tahquitz Pines Retreat on South Circle Drive. The menu runs from comfort food to steaks and seafood, with a full bar and wine list. There’s seating inside and out, and a seasonal creek runs along the back deck. Coming with a big group? Call ahead or use the reservation form on its site.
Idyllwild Brewpub
Idyllwild Brewpub has been brewing its own beer on Village Center Drive since 2017, with a full bar and pub food alongside it, and you can take beer home. The brewery sits behind glass, the dining room looks out on Strawberry Creek, and the patio is heated. Dogs are welcome on the patio but not inside, and there’s a dog menu. Groups of 8 or more book through its group dining page.
The rest of the village
Before a hike, Perry’s Red Kettle is the early start. After the trail, Fratello’s has wood-fired pizza on Ridgeview. For a sit-down dinner beyond the two above, Ferro bakes its own bread on Cedar Street. For a glass rather than a meal, Alpenglow Lounge is upstairs at the Fort. Everything else is below, grouped by time of day.
Before you go
Dinner ends early up here, and plenty of places close a day or two midweek. If you’re planning a late dinner or coming up on a weekday, check the place’s own site first; every listing below links to it.
Bringing a dog? Idyllwild with dogs covers patios and trails. Shopping after? Where to Shop is the same few blocks.
Restaurants and cafes
Featured The Peak Restaurant and Bar
55251 South Circle Dr, Idyllwild, CA 92549
Steaks, seafood and comfort food with a full bar, inside Tahquitz Pines Retreat. Indoor and outdoor seating, and a seasonal creek behind the deck.
Featured Idyllwild Brewpub
54423 Village Center Dr, Idyllwild, CA 92549
Brews its own beer, with a full bar and pub food. Views of Strawberry Creek, a heated patio, and dogs welcome outside.
Coffee and breakfast
Perry's Red Kettle
54220 N Circle Dr, Idyllwild, CA 92549
Home-style cooking to eat in or take out, in a building from the early 1920s that started life as an ice cream, candy and soda shop.
Amelia's Donuts & More
54300 N Circle Dr, Idyllwild, CA 92549
Donuts made from scratch, with options it lists as gluten-free, dairy-free, keto and vegan, plus grab-and-go breakfast and a lunch menu.
Pure Bean Coffee
54245 N Circle Dr, Idyllwild, CA 92549
The Idyllwild shop of Pure Bean, a specialty coffee roaster that air-roasts its beans and also has shops in Manhattan Beach and Rancho Palos Verdes.
Mama's Egg House
54241 Ridgeview Dr, Idyllwild, CA 92549
Classic and Mexican breakfasts, omelettes and burritos, with vegan options and fresh juices and smoothies made to order. It calls itself kid and dog friendly.
Shala Tea Company
54230 N Circle Dr, Idyllwild, CA 92549
A tea bar with black, green, white and herbal teas, all served hot or over ice, plus loose-leaf tea, pastries and home goods.
Mountain Center Cafe & Grill
29470 Hwy 243, Mountain Center, CA 92561
American classics in Mountain Center, on Highway 243 outside Idyllwild. Its own site invites you to bring your family, or just your horse.
Lunch
Fratello's Ristorante & Pizzeria
54295 Ridgeview Dr, Idyllwild, CA 92549
Family-run Italian with wood-fired pizza. The lunch menu has panini and calzones that come with soup or pasta salad.
Celestino Coastal Kitchen
54385 N Circle Dr, Idyllwild, CA 92549
Fresh seafood and weekly specials, from a kitchen bringing the coast to Idyllwild, in its own words. It posts on Instagram as @celestinokitchen.
Bamboo Bear
54225 N Circle Dr, Idyllwild, CA 92549
Take-out Asian and Polynesian food at the Fort on North Circle Drive. The menu is posted on its website.
The Lumber Mill Bar & Grill
25985 Hwy 243, Idyllwild, CA 92549
A bar and grill just off Highway 243 with 15 burgers on the menu, a full bar, and live entertainment and karaoke nights in summer.
Dinner and drinks
Ferro
25840 Cedar St, Idyllwild, CA 92549
Italian since 2015: antipasti, pasta, risotto, pizza and mains, with bread baked in-house daily, and a happy hour on weekdays.
Manzanita Cantina and Grill
26290 Hwy 243, Idyllwild, CA 92549
Mexican food with freshly made salsas, a full bar and pool tables, out on Highway 243.
Alpenglow Lounge
54225 N Circle Dr, Ste 13, Idyllwild, CA 92549
A small wine and beer lounge upstairs at the Fort: wine from independent makers, craft beer, non-alcoholic drinks and records on the turntable.
Leanna's Idyll Awhile Bistro
A bistro in the center of the village, run by an owner who describes herself as a lover of fine wine and good food.
Something sweet
Mamma Mia Crepes & Desserts
54225 N Circle Dr, Idyllwild, CA 92549
Crepes hand-crafted daily, plus bubble waffles, gelato, shakes and desserts, at the Fort on North Circle Drive.
The Candy Cupboard
54250 N Circle Dr, Idyllwild, CA 92549
A family-run candy shop since 1981: chocolate, toffees and brittles, gummy and bulk candy, and novelty candy. It ships online too.
Coyote Reds
54225 N Circle Dr, Idyllwild, CA 92549
Jerky, from beef and turkey to exotics and soy-based, plus hot sauces, pickled goods, fudge and candy. There are treats for dogs too.