From Spokane, it’s only a short drive along Interstate 90 before reaching North Idaho and all it has to offer. Washington license plates can be seen stacked up at Schweitzer Mountain Resort, Lookout Pass and Silver Mountain. They’re found parked along the beaches of Lake Coeur d’Alene, Priest Lake, Hayden Lake and Lake Pend Oreille. We enjoy the towns that are all lit up around the holidays, local shopping and small-town generosity. We come for many reasons, and when we do, we’re ready to enjoy all that the area has to offer, including their impressive cuisine.
There are quality dining establishments all over North Idaho and several that stand out on their own. You can get your day going off right with a stop at Calypsos Coffee and Creamery in the heart of Downtown Coeur d’Alene on Lakeside. Owner Todd Jenicek roasts several different blends on site and offers enough hot or iced combinations to please each and every coffee drinker. There are plenty of breakfast options and seating in the extra large space. Calypsos also serves lunch and is open during the evening hours, with open mic night and music, and is one of the few alcohol-free entertainment spots in Coeur d’Alene.
Hungry for a burger, sandwich or regional craft beer? Head down Sherman Avenue and just out of the downtown core, and you will come across Moon Time. One of five sister restaurants, the menu is similar to the Two Seven Public House and the Elk Public House in Spokane. Amazing pasta salad and a rotating fresh menu will re-energize you for an afternoon of exploring.
Having opened in its Downtown Coeur d’Alene location in spring 2015, one block up from Sherman Avenue, Uva continues to satisfy customers, new and old, with its old-recipe Italian cuisine. The warm family atmosphere invites diners to enjoy reasonably priced comfort foods paired with an extensive wine list and genuine hospitality.
For special occasions and celebrations, find yourself with an intimate experience at Angelo’s Ristorante. You’ll find Angelo hard at work in the kitchen most evenings cooking up incredibly flavorful pastas, chicken and steaks. The restaurant grows many of its own herbs and other ingredients, giving the food unbelievably fresh taste.
A bit farther north takes you to Sandpoint, where a day or weekend trip shouldn’t be done without a stop at Forty-One South, the iconic restaurant found right on Lake Pend Oreille before you cross the Long Bridge. Beautiful wood accents decorate the inside, and floor-to-ceiling windows offer sweeping views of Lake Pend Oreille. Patio dining in the summer simply can’t be beat.
The views from your table at Trinity at City Beach are also incredible, as is the food. Serving traditional breakfasts, soups, salads and sandwiches for lunch, and the finest steaks, pastas and seafood in town for dinner, this is a perfect spot to end your day after hitting the mountain or browsing the local shops.
An outdoor playground just minutes away is something many Spokane residents enjoy. Finding the best spots to dine and drink is a fun adventure as well, as you’ll find a little bit of everything as you make your way from town to town. Have fun adventuring in Idaho, and enjoy it with a side of culinary delight.