Where to Eat Near Lake Okoboji, Iowa
From diner-style lunches to intimate dinners for two, the Okoboji area is full of great places to eat. Discover the best Okoboji restaurants, lakeside dining, wineries, and craft breweries across the Iowa Great Lakes, plus local picks from your innkeepers to round out your romantic getaway.
Savor the Flavors of the Iowa Great Lakes
From lakeside patios to intimate tables for two, the Iowa Great Lakes serve up a dining scene that’s bigger and more varied than you might expect. After a morning on the water or an afternoon of exploring, you’ll find no shortage of delicious ways to round out the day, whether you’re craving a casual diner lunch, a contemporary dinner with a view, or a relaxed evening of craft beer and wine. The lake towns are dotted with welcoming spots, each with its own character. Let the innkeepers point you toward their favorites, and make every meal part of the getaway.
Where to Eat Near Lake Okoboji
When you’re planning meals, the good news is that there are fantastic Okoboji restaurants to try, not to mention other restaurants that are spread across the lake towns. Wherever you are, it’s easy to fit food into your day. Whether you’re coming back from an activity on the Iowa Great Lakes or heading out for an evening in town, you’ll find plenty of places to eat near Lake Okoboji and Spirit Lake, with choices that range from quick, casual stops to longer dinners that round out your romantic getaways in style.
Deciding where to eat when you stay at The Oakwood Inn can be a pleasant challenge with all of the great dining options available! Open all year round, Toast on Hill is a great place to go for a diner-style lunch. Make sure to order the Reuben or the Pork Tenderloin Sandwich!
For dinner year-round, you can find an intimate table for two at The Outrigger or The Waterfront on East Lake Okoboji. During the summer season, Prime Boji and Maxwell’s, both on West Lake Okoboji, and Yesterdays in downtown Arnolds Park set the standard for dining in the Lakes Area with their contemporary culinary experience and personalized service.
Visitors can enjoy more casual fare and nightlife at The Okoboji Store (March – October), Barefoot Bar (May – August), The Ritz, Nautical Bar & Grill, Portside Pizza Pub, Drake’s Oak Hill, Mullets, The Okoboji Barn, and Snappers.
For Wine & Craft Beer Connoisseurs
If you’re building a more relaxed itinerary for the afternoon, consider one of the wineries or breweries near Okoboji. They are an easy way to add something different to your itinerary. The Iowa Great Lakes area has tasting rooms and tap-friendly spots that work for everything from a quick flight before dinner to a slower afternoon stop, and most are close enough that you can keep the rest of your plans flexible.
The Iowa Great Lakes region is also home to two unique wineries, both within about 30 miles of The Oakwood Inn, which makes it easy to fit a tasting into a weekend getaway.
At Round Lake Vineyard, the grapes grow next to a quiet and beautiful lake straddling the Iowa and Minnesota state line. Enjoy a tasting by the lake and watch the large flock of Canadian geese in its natural surroundings.
At the Little Swan Lake Vineyard, visitors can tour the vineyard and the adjacent buffalo farm while enjoying a glass of one of 35 wines produced onsite.
The Iowa Great Lakes Region is also home to two craft breweries. West O Beer, ranked as one of the top 10 craft breweries in Iowa, features beer made from the clear, naturally soft spring-fed waters of West Lake Okoboji. At the Okoboji Brewing Company, the taproom features nine in-house beers, as well as more than 20 guest taps for visitors to try.