Where to go in North Idaho for outdoor dining
Who doesn’t like to eat out-of-doors in the summer? Whether it’s mimosas and breakfast bites in the morning, a light lunch in between activities, or a celebratory evening meal with loved ones, North Idaho has an abundance for eating outside.
For that all-important first meal, have an outdoor seat at COLLECTIVE KITCHEN PUBLIC HOUSE, for a seasonal breakfast or year-round lunch or dinner. Anytime is a sweet opportunity to try HONEY EATERY & SOCIAL CLUB from breakfast to early dinner. Both restaurants also offer streetside views of the heartbeat of downtown Coeur d’Alene, Sherman Avenue.
Looking for something lighter? BAKERY BY THE LAKE is an off-Sherman gem with a large, semi-covered patio overlooking nearby McEuen Park and Lake Coeur d’Alene.
Also off-Sherman, SWEET LOU’S RESTAURANT & TAP HOUSE has you covered with a family-friendly menu and huge patio in their corner location at Front and Sixth, just down the way from Bakery by the Lake.
CRAFTED TAPHOUSE + KITCHEN has one of the largest beer selections in the area, a gourmet gastropub menu and a massive partially-covered patio. Continuing with the beer theme, say guten tag to Coeur d’Alene’s only German style BIER HAUS, which recently added a biergarten behind the Sherman Avenue restaurant. If cocktails are more your thing, follow the crowd to THE BEACON, MOOSE LOUNGE or IRON HORSE BAR & GRILL (they also serve food) for a full bar and great people-watching.
More venues downtown include TAPHOUSE UNCHAINED for upscale, casual outdoor dining and TITO’S ITALIAN GRILL &WINE SHOP next door, for pasta and pizza with pizzazz. Several Sherman Avenue locations feature a modest outdoor dining section, from RUSTIC artisan bakery to KAIJU SUSHI & SPIRITS to FIRE PIZZA.
Downtown isn’t the only place where patios prevail. Check out the wraparound patio seating at CAPONE’S PUB & GRILL or the open tables at JEREMIAH JOHNSON BREWING COMPANY’S pub. Visit the BLUEBIRD MIDTOWN EATERY nearby for a glass of wine and excellent food.
Also in Midtown, discover DAFT BADGER BREWING tucked into a Second Street neighborhood, and offering a roomy outdoor patio. In Coeur d’Alene’s up-and-coming east end neighborhood, enjoy the gastropub menu at MOONTIME or ROGER’S ICE CREAM & BURGERS, which offers outdoor dining year-round.
For spectacular views of the Spokane River, where it feeds into Lake Coeur d’Alene, perch yourself on LA PEEP’S patio. Arrive by boat, or car but go early because their breakfasts are the big deal. Nearby BARDENAY also offers ample outdoor seating, complete with shade sails and a view of the Riverstone Village pond. ANTHONY’S also offers pond views, and two outdoor fireplaces for added ambiance.
And because no list of outdoor Coeur d’Alene eateries would be complete without lakefront dining, remember TONY’S ON THE LAKE Italian-inspired eatery. You can’t get any closer to the water than CEDARS, the Inland Northwest’s only floating restaurant. If you want to catch glimpses of classic Chris-Craft and Cobalt boats, then settle in for drinks and appetizers at WHISPERS, overlooking the Coeur d’Alene Resort marina. Fire columns and the occasional dockside band add a little romance. The Buoy, an outdoor-only restaurant nestled beside Tubb’s Hill also offers views of the marina and all the party boats pulling in and out of the Resort. Live music is programmed at this lakefront hotspot most Friday nights. Whether you’re a golfer or not, look to the Coeur d’Alene Resort’s FLOATING GREEN RESTAURANT for the best lake views ever.
