Lee & Nathan's Idyllwild Guidebook
Food scene
Our personal favorite. Bistro dining with lots of vegan & healthy options. Cute setting with funky art. Bar & counter seating as well as tables. Live music nights (check their insta!).
Make a res as soon as you arrive or sooner!
111 locals recommend
Cafe Aroma
54750 N Circle DrOur personal favorite. Bistro dining with lots of vegan & healthy options. Cute setting with funky art. Bar & counter seating as well as tables. Live music nights (check their insta!).
Make a res as soon as you arrive or sooner!
Want to eat delish food under blanket of stars surrounded by pine trees? Checkout ferro! Call and make a reservation - it books up! Everything is homemade including gelato! Open for late lunch starting at 2P. Great for families and larger groups, or romantic dinner out.
147 locals recommend
FERRO
25840 Cedar StWant to eat delish food under blanket of stars surrounded by pine trees? Checkout ferro! Call and make a reservation - it books up! Everything is homemade including gelato! Open for late lunch starting at 2P. Great for families and larger groups, or romantic dinner out.
Love! La Casita is damn tasty authentic Mexican food. Delightful service and really cute outdoor seating area. They’re famous for their green sauce… yum.
68 locals recommend
La Casita
54650 N Circle DrLove! La Casita is damn tasty authentic Mexican food. Delightful service and really cute outdoor seating area. They’re famous for their green sauce… yum.
PIZZA! We lived in NY; we love NY Pizza. This place has some of the best pizza we've had since NY. Live Jazz nightly on their patio. Get with it.
81 locals recommend
Fratello’s Ristorante & Pizzeria
54295 Ridgeview DrPIZZA! We lived in NY; we love NY Pizza. This place has some of the best pizza we've had since NY. Live Jazz nightly on their patio. Get with it.
Voted the best chocolate in...all of CALIFORNIA! Located in a nondescript storefront in strawberry creek shopping center in town. Get a shake or pickup some mind blowing chocolates.
41 locals recommend
El Buen Cacao
54423 Village Center DrVoted the best chocolate in...all of CALIFORNIA! Located in a nondescript storefront in strawberry creek shopping center in town. Get a shake or pickup some mind blowing chocolates.
Sunflower Bakery is a hidden gem. Grab pastry and head to their garden to eat. Sunflower offers delish breakfast and lunch items as well. I'm in love with the chicken salad and spinach hand pies. So good...
48 locals recommend
The Town Baker
54385 N Circle DrSunflower Bakery is a hidden gem. Grab pastry and head to their garden to eat. Sunflower offers delish breakfast and lunch items as well. I'm in love with the chicken salad and spinach hand pies. So good...
Raven Hill Bagels, oh how I adore you. They used to only do delivery to your home, but now they have a storefront and I can't seem to contain my excitement over it. Get over there early for the interesting bagel varieties, such as Cacio e Pepe. Exotic. Delish...
Raven Hill Bagels + Market
Raven Hill Bagels, oh how I adore you. They used to only do delivery to your home, but now they have a storefront and I can't seem to contain my excitement over it. Get over there early for the interesting bagel varieties, such as Cacio e Pepe. Exotic. Delish...
Wine Scene
If you’re into charming wine bars that offer a skyline view along with natural biodynamic wine & beers, then head here. It’s my fav place in town. Owners are lovely and happy to help you choose your wine. Cheese boards (vegan options too) complement your vino, and fab music adds to the good vibes. Trivia & record nights!
25 locals recommend
The Wine Finch
54225 North Circle DriveIf you’re into charming wine bars that offer a skyline view along with natural biodynamic wine & beers, then head here. It’s my fav place in town. Owners are lovely and happy to help you choose your wine. Cheese boards (vegan options too) complement your vino, and fab music adds to the good vibes. Trivia & record nights!
Middle Ridge is always enjoyable. Pop in on the weekends to hear great bands, or look at their schedule on FB. You’ll see fun bands like “Spare Change” who do sounds of the 60’s! Live music moves to their backyard during summertime. Sweet!
50 locals recommend
Middle Ridge Winery
54301 N Circle DrMiddle Ridge is always enjoyable. Pop in on the weekends to hear great bands, or look at their schedule on FB. You’ll see fun bands like “Spare Change” who do sounds of the 60’s! Live music moves to their backyard during summertime. Sweet!
Hikes
Epic hike. 6.7 miles out and back. If you can handle the beauty the whole way, do it. It’s Really close to the cabin, has lots of parking, and the adventure pass is not needed. When you reach the top, take it all in and.. sigh. Namaste.
15 locals recommend
Suicide Rock
Epic hike. 6.7 miles out and back. If you can handle the beauty the whole way, do it. It’s Really close to the cabin, has lots of parking, and the adventure pass is not needed. When you reach the top, take it all in and.. sigh. Namaste.
Get out and enjoy this gorgeous 4.5 mile moderate hike. Super dog friendly. Offers some shade and non-stop gorgeous forest and mountain view’s. Street parking.
59 locals recommend
Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail 3E07
Fern Valley RoadGet out and enjoy this gorgeous 4.5 mile moderate hike. Super dog friendly. Offers some shade and non-stop gorgeous forest and mountain view’s. Street parking.
Sightseeing
Cause it's so cool and we're lucky to have one in Idyllwild!
See if you can find it...
Donaldson Futuro House
52895 Big Rock DriveCause it's so cool and we're lucky to have one in Idyllwild!
See if you can find it...
Shops to Shop!
The sweetest bookstore with the best selection of good reads. Lots of great authors live here, ones that are driven by positive change. Great selection of fun games and coloring books for the kiddos.
9 locals recommend
Speakeasy Books
54440 North Circle DriveThe sweetest bookstore with the best selection of good reads. Lots of great authors live here, ones that are driven by positive change. Great selection of fun games and coloring books for the kiddos.
Go from the 70's cabin to the 70's store. Get your vintage on or pickup a record to bring back to the cabin! Ephemera is wild.
13 locals recommend
Ephemera
54225 N Circle DrGo from the 70's cabin to the 70's store. Get your vintage on or pickup a record to bring back to the cabin! Ephemera is wild.
If you enjoy thrift stores then checkout the Help Center. They have everything from clothing, to furniture, to local art. Your $ goes to help locals in need. Oh and sometimes there's live music playing while shopping! Nope not a radio, but someone outside making shopping more delightful by playing some tunes.
14 locals recommend
Idyllwild Help Center
26330 CA-243If you enjoy thrift stores then checkout the Help Center. They have everything from clothing, to furniture, to local art. Your $ goes to help locals in need. Oh and sometimes there's live music playing while shopping! Nope not a radio, but someone outside making shopping more delightful by playing some tunes.
You can't miss this beautiful oasis in the middle of town. Take a walk through and see the camper, and chickens!
30 locals recommend
Idyllwild Garden
North Circle DriveYou can't miss this beautiful oasis in the middle of town. Take a walk through and see the camper, and chickens!
Want to be transported to a cooler time with badass fashion? Get yourself over to Mercer! The owner Gina finds the best of the best vintage wears and trinkets.
Mercer Vintage Clothing Shop
Want to be transported to a cooler time with badass fashion? Get yourself over to Mercer! The owner Gina finds the best of the best vintage wears and trinkets.
Wildland has always been my favorite store to visit. It’s earthy, it’s sustainable, it’s local, it’s cool. Oh, and it smells so darn good in there 🤘💜
16 locals recommend
Wildland
54425 N Circle DrWildland has always been my favorite store to visit. It’s earthy, it’s sustainable, it’s local, it’s cool. Oh, and it smells so darn good in there 🤘💜
Coffee & Brunch
Really good coffee. We have great coffee spots in Idyllwild, but Alpaca is one that stands out. Cute patio to have your caffeine on, and they now serve brunch!
47 locals recommend
Alpaca Coffee & Tea
26600 CA-243Really good coffee. We have great coffee spots in Idyllwild, but Alpaca is one that stands out. Cute patio to have your caffeine on, and they now serve brunch!
Mama's is where to go for brunch! Incredible vegan options, fresh squeezed juice, and brunch-time cocktails! Outdoor or indoor seating.
36 locals recommend
Mama's Egg House
54241 Ridgeview DrMama's is where to go for brunch! Incredible vegan options, fresh squeezed juice, and brunch-time cocktails! Outdoor or indoor seating.
Love a good diner? Then look no further and get on over to the Red Kettle. Indoor and outdoor seating, delish food (omg homefries!), and friendly service. It's so good you might end up having to wait in line, but it's worth it!
68 locals recommend
Red Kettle
54220 N Circle DrLove a good diner? Then look no further and get on over to the Red Kettle. Indoor and outdoor seating, delish food (omg homefries!), and friendly service. It's so good you might end up having to wait in line, but it's worth it!
grocery store
Only 2 markets in town and this one is preferred. Great selection of beer and wine, delish bakery items, and local farm fresh produce. Butcher has marinated meats that are perfect for the grill!
59 locals recommend
Idyllwild Village Market
26000 CA-243Only 2 markets in town and this one is preferred. Great selection of beer and wine, delish bakery items, and local farm fresh produce. Butcher has marinated meats that are perfect for the grill!