The alpine town of Leavenworth, Washington, has it all: Outdoor recreation activities, a thriving arts community, and some pretty amazing restaurants!You’ll find plenty of German restaurants in Leavenworth, but you’ll also find restaurants that specialize in local ingredients, fine dining, and more.
We’ve visited Leavenworth dozens of times, and we’ve gotten to try many of the city’s best restaurants over the years. In this post, we’re sharing our picks for the best restaurants in Leavenworth!
Map of Restaurants in Leavenworth
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Our Review of the Best Restaurants in Leavenworth
Below are our recommendations for some of our favorite restaurants in Leavenworth. (These are ranked in no particular order!)
1. Munchen Haus
Our favorite place to stop for a quick bite to eat in Leavenworth is Munchen Haus. We’ve never had to wait longer than 15 minutes for our order. They serve an extensive list of bratwursts, and you can customize the toppings: grilled onions, raw onions, sauerkraut, and at least a dozen different types of mustard. Every time we go, we get the Bavarian Pretzel, which is served warm with a side of cheese sauce. (And this isn’t plastic-like cheese, they use Beecher’s cheese to make the sauce!) We recommend you order a second side of the cheese sauce. This has been our favorite German pretzel so far.
We’ve tried a variety of their bratwursts, and we’ve narrowed it down to two favorites: the BIG BOB Bratwurst and the Dirtyface Beer Wurst. They also serve kielbasa, jalapeno and cheddar sausage, vegan beyond sausage, a veggie wurst, and many others!
The seating is all outdoors. During the summer, there are large umbrellas and rooftop overhangs to provide shade. During the cooler months, they have heat warmers and tables with gas firetops.
Although they have excellent food, they’re also popular for their beer garden! They serve up local favorites from Icicle Brewing Company. Definitely order a pint or a stein while you are there. (Their glasses are also available for purchase.)
The last time we went to Munchen Haus they had mobile ordering. If you use mobile ordering, you can basically “skip” the line. Just choose a table and order using their QR code. It’s definitely one of the best restaurants in Leavenworth. Enjoy!
2. Heidleburger Drive In
The Heidleburger Drive In was established in 1970, and since then, locals have enjoyed their burgers and milkshakes. Their menu is filled with different variations of sandwiches and burgers. In addition to double cheeseburgers and crispy chicken sandwiches, they have menu items such as the Chipotle Burger, South of the Border Grilled Chicken Sandwich, and Teriyaki Grilled Chicken. They also serve classics such as fish and chips, grilled cheese sandwiches, and corn dogs.
Their milkshakes also look amazing! Current flavors are chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, peanut butter, root beer, caramel, banana, blackberry, and raspberry.
3. 59er Diner
The 59er Diner is located just 15 miles west of Leavenworth on Highway 2. If you’re coming to Leavenworth from the west side of the state, it’s a great spot to stop for lunch before you enter town. We have been going to 59er Diner for years and keeping coming back for the homemade comfort food and old-fashioned malts. It’s impeccably themed to the 1950s, complete with a juke box and lots of fun decor. It’s the type of place where you can get breakfast all day. (Fun fact: Their eggs come from their own chickens!)
They have a large menu with things like homemade meatloaf, juicy cheeseburgers, and BLT sandwiches. We never leave without ordering one of their milkshakes!
The diner also has lodging: Themed cabins and RV sites with full hookups.
A wildfire destroyed the 59er Diner in 2016, but they rebuilt it and came back better than ever!
4. Wildflour
Wildflour is a restaurant that we had been wanting to try for ages! We finally got our chance to eat there in 2021. It’s located about 20 miles west of Leavenworth, and has more of a fine dining ambiance. (Definitely a place to go for a nice meal or a celebration.)
Wildflour is famous for its homemade pastas. The gnocchi with the beef tenderloin was easily one of the best meals of my life. If you order a co*cktail, you need to try the smoked manhattan. The server brings out a decanter filled with swirling smoke and pours the drink table side. It’s quite the showstopper!
Reservations are recommended. We liked it so much we wrote an entire post about Wildflour. Although it’s a little bit of a drive from downtown, we definitely think it’s one of the best restaurants in Leavenworth.
5. Larch
The same chef that creates the Wildflour menu (Chef Ben Herreid) also opened a restaurant called Larch in downtown Leavenworth. It’s the perfect place to try some of his pasta creations without having to leave the downtown area.
6. Prusik Pizza
Larch has recently expanded their offerings by opening a new pizza restaurant in Leavenworth: Prusik Pizza. The focus of Prusik is on whimsical offerings and excellent craft co*cktails. Pruski’s offers so much more than pizza, including a ravioli and entree menu. Be sure to check it out!
7. Andreas Keller Restaurant
While in Bavaria, it’s pretty much mandatory to have an authentic German meal. This restaurant is located in the heart of Front Street. When we last ate here, we had the giant German pretzel paired with their homemade alpine cheese sauce for an appetizer. Our favorite entree was the Schnitzel Cordon Bleu. It consisted of a breaded pork cutlet stuffed with swiss cheese and a hint of mustard. It was really delicious!
8. Rhein Haus
Rhein Haus also serves German food. They are also located conveniently downtown. In addition to wursts and schnitzels, they also serve up burgers, fish and chips, and pub fare. There’s something for everyone on their menu. In our opinion, they are also in one of the most beautiful buildings in Leavenworth. They have lots of indoor and outdoor seating options, depending on the season you visit.
9. Mana
Mana is a special dining experience. On the weekends (Friday through Saturday), they serve a five-course prixe-fixe menu that lasts approximately two hours. Reservations are required, and they do charge you if you cancel with less than 48 hours notice. They have a rotating menu that focuses on local organic ingredients.
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10. Watershed Cafe
Watershed Cafe is a farm-to-table restaurant in downtown Leavenworth. It’s a bit pricey, but it focuses on local ingredients. We haven’t tried this restaurant yet, but we’d like to check it out the next time we are in Leavenworth. We are including it on this list because it has received so many good reviews.
11. Baren Haus
Also located on Front Street is Baren Haus. They serve German entrees and sandwiches. They also have a special menu with burgers and steaks from their charbroiler.
12. Ludwig’s
Ludwig’s restaurant, located on Front Street, has an excellent location and features authentic German cuisine. They frequently have live music, which might include an accordion player or some polka music. They also have a biergarten!
13. Gustav’s
Gustav’s is another one of my favorite places to dine. I have dined here many times with friends and family as we road-tripped through Leavenworth. The menu focuses on German fare and they are styled like an authentic German pub. We especially like to dine at Gustav’s on a hot summer day because they have air conditioning. Our favorite menu item so far has been the Bratwurst Patty Burger. It’s topped with swiss cheese, grilled onions, sauerkraut, tomato, and mustard sauce.
14. Icicle Brewing Company
One of the best hangout spots in Leavenworth is Icicle Brewing Company. It’s always hoppin’ when we visit! In addition to frosty beers, this brewery serves classic pub fare.
15. Mozart’s Steakhouse
If you’re in the mood for fine dining, definitely consider Mozart’s Steakhouse. Mozart’s serves excellent steaks, including rib-eye, filet mignon, the flagship New York, and top sirloin. The menu also offers platters for 2, which are a perfect option for a date night. You’ll also find plenty of authentic German dishes, including Käsespätzle, schnitzel, bratwurst, and more.
16. Posthotel
*The meals here are for hotel guests only.*
BUT, I’m including it because the food there was really outstanding. We recently stayed at the Posthotel for the first time to celebrate our anniversary, and we recommend that you stay there the next chance you get! Breakfast, lunch, and an evening dessert are all included in the hotel nightly rate. For each meal, you have your choice of dining outside on the terrace, inside in the dining room, or taking the meal up to your room. You are provided a menu with half a dozen or so choices, and you can even choose more than one meal if you’d like! We stayed at the Posthotel and had a total of four meals and two desserts while we were there. They were all delicious!
Desserts in Leavenworth
17. The Gingerbread Factory
It’s Christmas all-year long at The Gingerbread Factory! Of course you’ll find delicious gingerbread cookies, but you’ll also find plenty of iced sugar cookies, pastries, cinnamon rolls, and homemade breads. Everything in their dessert case looked delicious.
The gingerbread is soft and beautifully decorated with royal icing. If you don’t want a full dessert, you can order one of their “tiny tots” (mini gingerbread cookies). If you’d prefer to decorate your own cookies but don’t want to do the baking, you can order one of their naked gingerbread men (“skinny dippers”).
The Gingerbread Factory is located in the center of all the action: Front Street.
18. Danish Bakery
Also located right on Front Street is the Danish Bakery. The Danish Bakery has three different types of strudel (cherry, apple, and raspberry cream cheese), which is the perfect Bavarian treat. They also often serve croissants, cinnamon bread, and Bavarian waffles. Be sure to hop in and grab several of their pastries!
19. Whistlepunk Ice Cream Co.
It’s always a good time for ice cream, and the place to go in Leavenworth is Whistlepunk Ice Cream Co. They make small-batch premium ice creams all from scratch. We have seen a line out their door every time we have been to Leavenworth!
20. Schocolat
Is there anything better than chocolate? The chocolate counter at Schocolat is filled with delectable chocolates such as Bavarian milk, brandied pear, bernadettes, and burnt caramel salted almond ganache. Make sure to take some home with you too!
Best Leavenworth Bars
If you’re looking to drink, here’s our list of the best bars in Leavenworth:
- Icicle Brewing Company: This is one of the most popular pubs in Leavenworth. This rustic bar has both indoor and outdoor seating. They brew their own beers, which you can find listed on menus throughout the town of Leavenworth.
- Rhein Haus: This is a Bavarian restaurant and bar. Grab a beer and order a pretzel.
- Blue Spirits Distilling: Choose spirits from their tasting menu or a co*cktail from the bar menu.
- Munchen Haus: Enjoy outdoor seating in their beer garden.
- The Loft: This popular bar started off in a loft, hence its name. They serve craft beers and locally-inspired co*cktails.
- Bushel and Bee Taproom: Enjoy meads, beers, and ciders at this bar. We recommend ordering a tasting flight.
- Doghaus Brewery: This nano-craft brewery is very dog-friendly. (And kid-friendly too!)
- Leavenworth Cider House: If you’re a fan of ciders, be sure to order a tasting flight here.
- Blewett Brewing Company: Order pizza and a brew at this local brewery.
- Stein: This beer hall has 55 taps of beer and a seasonally-inspired menu.
- Woodsman Pub: The Woodsman Pub is located within the Bavarian Lodge, one of our favorite places to stay in Leavenworth.
- Patterson Cellars: Specializing in wine, we especially enjoyed their frosé during the summer.
FAQs
What are the best German restaurants in Leavenworth?
There are several restaurants in Leavenworth that serve German food. Andreas Keller Restaurant is one of the most popular German restaurants. Munchen Haus also serves German fare, with outdoor seating only. Ludwig’s also serves German food and has an authentic biergarten. Finally, Baren Haus has a German food menu that serves things like bratwurst and schnitzel. Also be sure to check out Rhein Haus, which has a full menu of German food!
What food is Leavenworth known for?
Leavenworth is known for its German fare! You’ll find lots of pretzels, bratwurst, and schnitzel at this Bavarian-inspired town. Leavenworth is also known for all things Christmas. They have a bakery that serves gingerbread cookies all year long!
What restaurants in Leavenworth have outdoor seating?
You can find outdoor seating at many Leavenworth restaurants. These include Munchen Haus, Heidleburger Drive In, 59er Diner, Icicle Brewing Company, and more.
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Looking for a hotel in Leavenworth? For a full list of places to stay, click here.
Summary
Our favorite thing to do in Leavenworth is eat! Here’s a summary of our guide:
- Munchen Haus
- Heidleburger Drive In
- 59er Diner
- Wildflour
- Larch
- Andreas Keller Restaurant
- Rhein Haus
- Gustav’s
- Mana
- Watershed Cafe
- Ludwig’s
- Baren Haus
- Posthotel (*If you’re a guest)
- The Gingerbread Factory
- Danish Bakery
- Whistlepunk Ice Cream Co.
- Schocolat
We hope you enjoyed these recommendations for the best restaurants in Leavenworth!
Disclaimer:We always strive for content accuracy.Since the time of publishing, travel-related information regarding pricing, schedules, and hours may have changed. Please look up such information directly from each vendor or institution for the most current information.
