Summer Dining at These Top Okoboji Restaurants
One of the most pleasant challenges to have during your summer getaways in Iowa is planning where and what to eat! Thankfully, there’s a lovely selection of Okoboji Restaurants offering fantastic menus. From casual and laid-back eateries to beautiful lakefront fine dining, you’ll have your pick of tasty burgers, delicious pizza, seafood feasts, and elegant steak dinners.
While most of these Okoboji Restaurants are open year-round, a select few are open only for the busy summer season. One of those popular stops is the O’Farrell Sisters, an old-school, long-time diner in Okoboji serving up breakfast, lunch, and homemade pie—beginning its 76th season serving the area. Read on to find out about our ten favorite restaurants in Okoboji.
As a guest at our hotel in Okoboji with bed and breakfast amenities, you’ll want to join us for our complimentary gourmet breakfast each morning of your stay—one of the best perks of booking with us!
Our elegant adults-only hotel in Okoboji is one of the best places to stay in the Iowa Great Lakes Region. We’re perfectly set back on our peaceful acreage from the busy tourist areas but close enough to join in on all of the summer fun. With only eleven spacious and beautifully appointed guest rooms, we can focus our hospitality experience on each and every guest. Our hotel is ideal for romantic getaways, couples’ vacations, and solo retreats to recenter and relax. We can’t wait to host you; reserve your room today!
The Ten Best Okoboji Restaurants for Summer Dining
The Okoboji restaurants cover the culinary spread; from creative farm-to-table options and classic fine dining menus to some of the best burgers in the state, there’s something for every palate. You’ll start your day with a scratch-made breakfast in our elegant dining room with sweet and savory homemade favorites.
For your lunch and dinner plans, head to one of these ten Okoboji restaurants during your getaway:
- Maxwell’s Beach Cafe: This lakefront eatery has been offering visitors and locals alike a casual elegance during the summer months since 1986. Located just across the entrance from Arnold’s Park Amusement Park, don’t miss the ahi tuna and prime rib dishes!
- The Waterfront: From steak dinners to creative crepes and pizza, this is one of the best Okoboji restaurants for year-round fine dining with beautiful lake views.
- Prime Boji: This waterfront gem is always a standout for our guests for the best views of West Lake Okoboji and fantastic seafood dishes (don’t miss the lobster and crab and avocado salad).
- Captain’s Getaway: The tagline at this bar and grill is “Live music. Good eats. Great times. All year round.” And it happens to have the best rooftop view of West Lake Okoboji.
- Yesterday’s: Our favorite choice of the Okoboji restaurants for a seafood feast, this longtime seasonal cafe offers tasty shrimp scampi, yellowfin tuna, and craft cocktails.
- Okoboji Store & Kitchen: Go for the incredible views of East and West Lake Okoboji, and stay for the live music, cheese curds, and one of the best burgers in town.
- The Barn: Just across the street from our hotel in Okoboji, this is a fantastic spot for casual meals, cold beer, and happy hour specials.
- The Barefoot Bar: Head to this waterfront bar for the liveliest party in town! Think palm trees, thatched huts, tiki cocktails, and live music.
- Nautical Bar and Grill: This is one of the restaurants in Okoboji geared toward casual eats, draft beers, and hanging with friends. The lively atmosphere is ideal for catching a game and a leisurely afternoon over drinks.
This is just the beginning of the selection of great Okoboji restaurants! Feel free to ask your innkeepers during your stay for personalized recommendations or help with reservations.
The Best Hotel in Okoboji, IA, for Romantic Getaways
Dining out at these Okoboji restaurants with beautiful lakefront views and delicious menu options will be a unique and memorable part of your getaway. There’s nothing more romantic than sitting with your partner, enjoying great food and wine as the sun sets over the water. After your elegant meal, our hotel in Okoboji, IA, will await your return for the most relaxing evening in.
Spend time in our shared gathering space: The Den, equipped with a pool table, board games, comfy leather couches, and a media center. Beer and wine are available for sale at the front desk as well! For those looking for complete privacy, retreat to your quiet guest suite with cozy seating areas, fireplaces, big plush beds, and beautiful en suite bathrooms.
For those looking to up the romance at our hotel in Okoboji, IA, we also offer fantastic add-on enhancements for your stay. The Romance Package is the perfect touch with flowers, wine, a meat and cheese platter, and scented bath salts. You’ll quickly see that we’ve thought of everything for your romantic getaways. Check out our upcoming summer availability and book your room today!