15 Best Restaurants in Leavenworth, WA You Shouldn't Miss

About a decade ago I made it my mission to find the best restaurants in Leavenworth, Washington. During the early days I ended up in this Bavarian-themed town multiple times and was completely underwhelmed by the food scene. I’m just going to say it: There’s a lot of shitty food.

But I couldn’t believe it was all bad. So I just kept rotating where I ate, Yelping restaurants like mad, and talking to locals. And slowly, I started finding the best places to eat in Leavenworth.

Route 2 — one of the only roads you can use to get to eastern Washington — runs right through Leavenworth. So if you ski or hike, you’ll find yourself here at some point. And if you like Christmas, you’ll definitely end up here to see the Christmas lights and snowy charm that take over downtown Leavenworth.

Don’t resign to eating mediocre food while you’re visiting. Use this guide to find the best restaurants in Leavenworth, WA.

Best Restaurants in Leavenworth, Washington

Save this to Pinterest for later because I’ll keep updating this as I discover new places to eat!

Mana

website | 1033 Commercial St | cuisine: PNW farm-to-table | dinner only | best for: a multi-course meal from a Top Chef contestant

When anyone asks me about Leavenworth restaurants, Mana is the first place I think of because I think it’s one of the best restaurants worth the drive from Seattle. It’s owned by Colin Patterson, one of the previous owners of the now-defunct Sutra in Seattle (which turned into Harvest Beat and is one of my favorite vegan restaurants in Seattle).

Colin did a short stint on Top Chef Texas while still working at Sutra. Later he shared that he was going through a hard time, but after finding yoga he and his wife decided to move to a more remote part of Washington and open up a restaurant and yoga space.

Enter Mana. The concept of this restaurant is very similar to Sutra and Harvest Beat. It’s a multi-course meal celebrating locally sourced, quality ingredients. Colin prepares a gorgeous meal from the open-air kitchen and take you through the farms and concept behind each dish.

Unlike Sutra and Harvest Beat, this place isn’t vegetarian or vegan.

But it’s definitely veg-forward. Colin does the most interesting things with veggies. For example, during one meal he served a play on pastrami meat made of only beets.

My favorite part was when Colin came out with a plate of ingredients and asked us to guess what they were. We nailed all of them, obvi. It made my day when Colin looked at us impressed and said we were the only ones who got all of them right. What can I say, it’s that #emeraldpalate. 😀

If you’re looking for places to eat in Leavenworth, make sure this place is on your list. Just be prepared to spend three hours enjoying your meal.

Pro tip: Don’t skip the non-alcoholic pairing. We liked that better than the booze!

Larch

website | 214 8th St | cuisine: Italian | dinner only | best for: pasta

Larch is named after the famous coniferous tree, and it just so happened I ate here for the first time after going on one of the best larch hikes in Washington.

If you’re lucky, you can snag a table at the bar as a walk-in, but reservations are recommended because this spot has become popular. You’ll find a great cocktail list and starters, one of which is a Caesar salad you must get. It’s humble looking, but they do an excellent job balancing those addictive acidic and umami flavors.

Save room for the pasta, though. This is their specialty and as an Italian-American who is super snobby when it comes to pasta, I’ll tell you it’s legit. I actually said that I want to come here every time we’re in Leavenworth now because they provide a dining option previously missing in the Bavarian town: a classy, but not-too-fancy restaurant.

If it’s available get the lasagna and cannelloni. The lasagna has thin sheets of pasta cooked to the perfect chew and has a very satisfying combination of that comforting meaty-cheesy flavor. They had short rib and squash in the cannelloni when I went, which I thought was risky given how easy it is to overcook the meat. However, they prepared it beautifully and it went well with the sweetness of the squash. All in all, this place is a 10 of 10!

Prusik Kitchen & Bar

website | 219 9th St | cuisine: American | lunch Saturday only, otherwise dinner | best for: creative takes on American dishes

You know Prusik Kitchen is good because it’s owned by the same people behind Larch. It’s located in the late Tumwater Bakery space (RIP) and has an eclectic menu designed to stretch the Larch team’s creativity. You’ll fin an excellent cocktail list and a lot of variety food wise to keep even picky eaters happy.

If it’s available, don’t miss the fried coconut ravioli. It takes a midwest staple and gives it a Caribbean flair that’s oh-so-addictive. Their wood-fired pizzas are also quite good, with handmade dough and an assortment of seasonal toppings.

Watershed Cafe

website | 221 8th St | cuisine: PNW | dinner only | best for: creative dishes in a romantic setting

Watershed Cafe is another locally sourced, ingredient-driven restaurant highlighting Pacific Northwest flavors.

While it’s sorta fancy, Watershed feels more casual than, say, Mana with its a la carte menu and approachable drink list. And while Watershed Cafe is also a restaurant in Leavenworth, WA that is obsessed with honoring quality ingredients, their dishes feel a bit more fun and comforting than the more elevated concepts at Mana.

For example, one of my favorite dishes is their salmon bruschetta. It has dill and cream cheese so it feels familiar, but it’s served like the Italian crostini classic. They also make a mean meatloaf with all the comforting flavors of home.

This is one of those places to eat in Leavenworth that requires a reservation. Don’t try to walk in. We were literally told no when we tried to do this once!

Yodelin Broth Company

website | 633 Front St | cuisine: American with Asian-fusion tendencies | lunch and dinner | best for: healthy-ish fare

Yodelin was recommended to me by a local. I’d never heard of it, but boy am I happy I went.

It’s right in downtown Leavenworth, but at the edge of the main drag hidden from throngs of tourists. They used to have an epic outdoor beer garden overlooking the river, but unfortunately they closed it down and only offer indoor seating these days.

Once you enter, order at the bar and then grab a number and seat. They serve a lot of soups, salad, and sandwiches, so it’s a good spot for healthier fare. However, you can also find comfort food like garlic bread and made-fresh burgers that would rival some of the best burgers in Seattle.

I was intrigued by the sweet potato banh mi, but was on the fence until a local in line told us it’s her favorite. Well, I’m so happy I listened to her. This sweet potato banh mi is some of the best food in Leavenworth, Washington. It’s so flavorful, even meat eaters won’t miss the pork. Dan and I usually get this and their chicken bone broth soup to share.

This place is great for groups and doesn’t need a reservation. If you can only go to one of these best restaurants in Leavenworth, Washington, make sure this place is a contender!

München Haus

website | 709 Front St | cuisine: German | lunch and dinner | best for: brats enjoyed under heat lamps outside

When in Bavaria, you eat German food. Or at least that’s the thought process when you’re in Leavenworth for Oktoberfest and had a few too many beers.

I discovered the München Haus Leavenworth sausage garten on one of those beer-fueled nights. It’s a cute outdoor beer garden heated by lamps and fire pits.

You order a brat or German sausage at a window and then add cider-braised sauerkraut and various mustards yourself at the condiments bar. It feels like a very authentic Bavarian experience, particularly when you’re cozying up at the fire pit in winter.

München Haus is one of the best restaurants in Leavenworth, Washington to eat at when you’re short on time. I often visit Leavenworth to come here as a pit stop on our way to further Washington destinations. And I always get the jalapeño cheddar sausage or “Bob” bratwurst and to pit up high with kraut and mustards. It never disappoints!

Leavenworth Sausage Garten

website | 636 Front St | cuisine: German | lunch and dinner | best for: brats enjoyed under heat lamps outside

Across the street from München Haus is another respectable sausage garten. Leavenworth Sausage Garten is owned by the Visconti restaurant group that takes up a portion of the block with a fancy Italian restaurant, cured meat shop, and gelato place. I’m not a huge fan of their Italian restaurant or sweet shop, but they make awesome cured meats.

Therefore a stop at their sausage garten is a must. Similar to München Haus, you can expect to order at a bar and grab an outdoor seat under heat lamps. The majority of the picnic tables are covered, unlike München Haus, so it’s a better stop if it’s raining. But like the other sausage garten, this place gets crowded so expect to share a table.

When they drop off your brat, pretzel, and beer, go to town at the condiments bar. I like the Maui onion mustard, so don’t miss that!

Pro tip: Definitely stop at Cured next door for some meat souvenirs. I absolutely love their bresaola, so grab at least a quarter pound of that!

La Javelina

website | 285 US-2 | cuisine: Texan | breakfast, lunch, and dinner | best for: sandwiches

This best Leavenworth restaurant is a bit before the main street on US-2 inside a tiny strip mall. However, it’s worth visiting because they’re making seriously delicious comfort food. The cuisine is a mash up of Texan and Mexican, featuring items on the menu like tacos, barbecue sandwiches, and even homemade kahlúa!

Definitely seek out the kolache, chicken taco, and McClintock sandwich if they’re on the menu. The kolache is a pastry stuffed with ground beef and cheese a la a cheeseburger, baked with some crispy cheddar on top.

The chicken taco is extremely flavorful. Considering I never choose chicken tacos because they’re too dry, the fact this was my favorite is a testament to their execution.

The McClintock is a turkey sandwich with collards and pimento cheese. It’s a belly bomb and super messy, but you won’t be able to stop thinking about the interesting flavor combo.

Gingerbread Factory

website | 829 Front St | cuisine: bakery | breakfast and lunch | best for: gingerbread cookies

This popular bakery is right on Front Street so come here during non-peak times. Even with crowds, this is one of the best restaurants in Leavenworth, Washington when you’re craving something sweet. They have an array of gingerbread cookies and other confections that are worth the hype.

My go-to order is usually one of their plain gingerbread and icing cookies. I love how the gingerbread is soft and not too sweet, plus the icing isn’t crusted over but rather tastes fresh spread.

J5 Coffee

website | 215 9th St | cuisine: coffee | breakfast and lunch | best for: coffee

There are actually two J5 locations in Leavenworth, one on 9th Street and one right in the thick of things on Front Street. While I like how the Front Street location has pour over coffee, I prefer the 9th Street location because it’s quieter and has a cute gift shop you can peruse without bumping into people.

J5 roasts their own coffee, so definitely come here if you love checking out the best local coffee roasters in Washington.

Whistle Punk Ice Cream

website | 707 US-2 | cuisine: ice cream | lunch and dinner | best for: ice cream

This ice cream shop is right next to J5’s Front Street location. They make everything from scratch, down to the cookies in their ice cream. Their ice cream has great, soft texture and super interesting flavors. One of my favorites is the coffee flavored!

’59 Diner

website | 15361 Hwy 2 | cuisine: American | breakfast, lunch, and dinner | best for: milkshakes

’59 Diner is an old school-style diner covered with memorabilia from the ’50s that’ll whisk you back in time. It’s not in downtown Leavenworth, but instead is about 25 minutes before it on highway 2.

I haven’t eaten savory food here, but I still stop every time I pass for one of their famous milk shakes. My go-to is the Oreo, while Dan’s is the peanut butter. Definitely stop if you want a bit of nostalgia during your Leavenworth trip!

South

website | 913 Front St | cuisine: Mexican | lunch and dinner | best for: tacos

Note, South is closed for remodeling.

Does South have the best Mexican food I’ve ever eaten? No, but it’s a lively spot to eat in Leavenworth with great margaritas and tacos. My only complaint is that they don’t let you mix and match, but rather you need to get a plate of tacos with the same filling.

This place is also a good spot for vegetarians and vegans, as they have an extensive animal-free menu. They also have a location in Wenatchee right in Pybus Public Market, which is worth a visit!

Andreas Keller

website | 829 Front St | cuisine: German | lunch and dinner | best for: schnitzel

Andreas Keller is serving a collab menu at their sister restaurant, Mozart, while they remodel their space due to a flood. Check Facebook for updates.

There are a lot of German restaurants in Leavenworth, but most are mediocre. This is the best I’ve found, tucked downstairs in a storefront on Front Street. My German friend says they have the most authentic menu of the bunch and directed me to their schnitzel. Definitely come here if you’re craving some authentic German food!

Blewett Brewery

website | 911 Commercial St | cuisine: pizza | lunch and dinner| best for: a casual excuse to sip local beers

I remember eating really solid wood-fired pizza at a place called Idlewild one year on Valentine’s Day (after we tried going to Watershed Cafe without a reservation…not recommended). The next year, it was closed.

But then I realized what happened. It didn’t close. It merged with Blewett Brewery and now shares the same space. A lot of people go to Icicle Brewing on Leavenworth’s main street, but I prefer this brewery one street back for slightly less crowds. I usually get a sampler of whatever beers on tap and have rarely been disappointed.

The pizza here has fun toppings, like the “rancher” with chicken, bacon, and ranch dressing. This is not a place where you come for pontificate about crust. It’s a place you come to get jazzed about putting weird, disparate things together on dough and ingesting it over a beer or four.

This place can still get crowded. There is almost always a wait on weekends, so get there early to snag a table.

More places to eat in Leavenworth

Here are other Leavenworth, Washington restaurants on my list to try.

Argonaut – Coffee hut known for biscuits that sell out.
Los Camperos – Second floor Mexican restaurant with an extensive nacho menu.
Crepe Cafe Sisters – Family-run business selling, you guessed it, crepes.
Old World Chophouse – Spot I heard is good for steak.
Bear Bear – Restaurant I heard is good for brunch.

Map of Leavenworth restaurants

Here’s a map to give you a sense of where everything is. Since they’re all perfectly situated near each other, Leavenworth is perfect for a self-guided food tour!

Let me plan your Leavenworth trip

I’m a licensed personal travel planner. Tell me about your trip and I’ll do everything so all you need to do is shop up!

15 Best Restaurants in Leavenworth, WA You Shouldn’t Miss

Best Restaurants in Leavenworth, Washington