After spending two months in Leavenworth, Washington, I’ve got a few opinions on where to eat when visiting the Bavarian mountain town.
Note: All opinions are my own. Sorry if your tastebuds don’t agree with mine!
Where to eat in Leavenworth, Washington
Leavenworth Pizza Company
This was my favorite place to eat in Leavenworth. Louder for the people in the back? This was my favorite place to eat in Leavenworth! (!!!!!!!!)
I know what you’re thinking: Pizza? Isn’t Leavenworth a Bavarian-themed village? Yes, it is, and there are plenty of delicious eateries serving up German-style cuisine throughout the town. However, my personal favorite place to indulge was Leavenworth Pizza Company because the pizza was just that good. (And that means a lot since I’m from the East Coast, where New York pizza reigns supreme!)
Let’s talk about the restaurant: Leavenworth Pizza Company is located on Highway 2 and features a few inside tables, a bar area, and an outdoor patio. During the weekends, there is usually live music. The restaurant serves cocktails, beer, and wine.
Now let’s talk about the main character, the pizza. It was so good that it kept my partner and me coming back for more (I think we went there four times within the two-month period). The pizza menu includes a variety of house specialties, all of which are available in either 14” or 16” sizes. Our personal favorites were the Iron Goat (red sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, arugula, and goat cheese topped with balsamic) and the Margherita (mozzarella, tomatoes, roasted garlic, basil and topped with balsamic). Every time we came here, the pizza was absolutely perfect.
Bonus: For gluten-free folks, Leavenworth Pizza Company offers gluten free crust. My sister tried the gluten-free option and confirmed it was delicious.
Leavenworth Pizza Company Recap
- Best pizza in Leavenworth (and possibly the state of Washington)
- Gluten-free and vegetarian options
- Live music during the summer
- Outdoor dining available
Gustav’s
For those of you looking to indulge in more authentic Bavarian cuisine, Gustav’s is the right place to visit. Gustav’s has a menu that includes American and German options, making it a fine option for those with picky eaters in their group. The restaurant is tastefully decorated and features a large indoor dining area, bar, and upstairs deck. For Leavenworth (where the prices are a tad higher than average) food and beverages at Gustav’s tend to be cheaper than other eateries in the village.
Interestingly enough, my favorite menu item at Gustav’s is the cheese curds. I have no idea what their secret is, but if you end up at Gustav’s, be sure to order the cheese curds for an appetizer.
Gustav’s Recap
- Outdoor dining available
- Less expensive than other restaurants in the area
- Amazing cheese curds
- Decent bar and draft beer options
- American and German cuisine
South
I only made it to South once, but that one visit was delicious enough to earn the restaurant a top spot in my recommendations for places to eat in Leavenworth. South prides itself on its Latin cuisine made from high-quality ingredients. And you can certainly tell — everything we tried tasted fresh and delicious. Plus, they have a beautiful outdoor garden patio that’s lovely to sit in during the warmer months. My advice: Get the Chip & Dip Sampler — you will not regret it!
South Recap
- Latin cuisine with fresh ingredients
- Outdoor dining available
- Great cocktails (especially the margs) and appetizers
- Nice vibe, friendly servers
- Good for large groups (8+ people)
Loft
Loft is one of those Leavenworth restaurants that’s easy to miss. But once you realize it’s there, you’ll keep coming back for more (like I did!)
Loft is a 21+ establishment with a large selection of beer, cocktails, and pub fare (appetizers, salads, soups, sandwiches…you get the idea). It’s not as touristy as some of the other eateries in Leavenworth, and they’re usually able to take on large groups without any issues. The bar can get a little rowdy as the night goes on, so it’s probably not the place to bring a family. However, if you’re looking for a simple — yet delicious — meal in Leavenworth, Loft will do the trick.
Loft Recap
- 21+ pub
- Good for large groups (8+ people)
- Really great burgers and sandwiches
- Solid option for late-night drinks or a quick bite
Where to drink in Leavenworth, Washington
The rural area surrounding Leavenworth is robust with apple orchards and vineyards. So that means during your visit, you should sample the locally made cider and wine. When in Rome, right?
While there are plenty of places to get a crisp cider or bold glass of vino in Leavenworth, these are my personal favs:
Patterson Cellars
If you can only visit one winery in Leavenworth, make it this one. Patterson Cellars is a charming winery in the heart of the village. It has a small tasting room with additional seating outside. Fire pits around the outdoor patio keep it warm and toasty, and on the weekends, there is typically live music to enjoy while you sip your wine. The staff is super friendly, and if you like what you taste, you can join their wine club or get wine shipped back home (unless you live in Utah). If you’re in Leavenworth during fall or winter, be sure to try the mulled wine — it’ll warm your soul right up.
Bushel & Bee Taproom
Bushel & Bee Taproom is located off the main street of Leavenworth, so you might not spot it at first. But be sure to check it out because it has some truly tasty cider and beer (I am a big fan of their cider slushy — absolutely delish). The atmosphere is chill, and there is a large outdoor patio for patrons to enjoy. The taproom is also stocked with games, so it’s a great place to go with a group.
Ehhhh, skip these Leavenworth restaurants
I’d like to note that neither of these establishments was bad per se…they just weren’t as good as the others mentioned. Essentially, they were once-and-done kind of places.
Watershed Cafe
I would describe this restaurant as trying too hard. The establishment prides itself on its farm-to-table, locally sourced ingredients. And like…that’s great! I support that. But the downside is the Watershed Cafe has a very small menu with some very high prices.
Normally when you dine at a place where they’re charging $9 for a basket of bread, you’re paying for the atmosphere. Well, the atmosphere at the Watershed was nothing to brag about. The server seemed inexperienced, the drinks took over 20 minutes to arrive, and overall, the evening felt chaotic. That’s not exactly what you want when dropping $200+ on a meal.
The food certainly was good, and the drinks were okay. But I don’t know, it wasn’t really my vibe, and, quite frankly, my partner and I only went there because we had a gift card. If you’re a foodie, then perhaps you’ll enjoy this place more than we did. But for us, we’d much rather spend the evening at Leavenworth Pizza Company or South.
Note: You need a reservation to dine here (even during the week). When you make your reservation, you have to put down a $20 deposit (weird, right?). You’ll get the $20 refunded on your check after you finish your meal.
Watershed Cafe Recap
- Very, very pricey
- Farm-to-table
- Reservations required (with $20 deposit)
Sulla Vita
Again, this restaurant is definitely not bad…it just wasn’t my cup of tea. After dining here once, I didn’t like it enough to return.
Sulla Vita features Mediterranean cuisine, has a nice outdoor dining area, and is in the heart of Leavenworth Village. It’s a popular establishment, so expect to wait a few minutes for a table. The wood-fired pizza is quite good (but not as good as Leavenworth Pizza Company…), and the restaurant has a decent wine menu. I got penne pasta with a pesto cream sauce, which was okay. It wasn’t spectacular, nor was it bad. I know people rave about the Chimichurri Flank Steak, so if that’s up your alley, then perhaps Sulla Vita is worth a stop. I just felt very mehh about the restaurant.
Sulla Vita Recap
- Mediterranean cuisine
- Large outdoor patio for al fresco dining
- Nice wine list
Bonus: Two amazing restaurants outside of Leavenworth Village
These eateries are about 20 minutes from the village of Leavenworth — but trust me, they are worth the drive. And honestly, the drive down Route 2 is absolutely stunning. You’ll follow the Wenatchee River and enjoy gorgeous mountain views until you reach the restaurants. Not too shabby!
59er Diner
The FAMOUS 59er Diner! It’s true — this diner became a local legend after Guy Fieri and his crew popped in one afternoon and featured the establishment on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. What makes it so special? Two critical menu items: cheese sticks and milkshakes.
The cheese sticks (AKA mozzarella sticks) are massive, stuffed with gooey cheese, and served with house-made marinara dipping sauce. The milkshakes come in many flavors (my personal favs are mocha, vanilla, or chocolate) and are perfectly creamy. If you happen to make it to the diner on a Friday night, be sure to try their house seafood chowder (available only on Fridays). Like a good old-fashioned diner, the restaurant also serves breakfast all day.
59er Diner Recap:
- As-featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives (watch the clip here)
- Known for its cheese sticks and milkshakes
- Awesome small-town-diner-in-the-middle-of-nowhere vibes
- Serves breakfast all day
Squirrel Tree
Located next to the 59er Diner is the Squirrel Tree – an underrated Leavenworth establishment. The Squirrel Tree is a small resort with a coffee shop, bar, outdoor patio, and restaurant. And for a hole-in-the-wall type of place, the food is phenomenal. The breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks are all tremendous and hearty. Plus, the Squirrel Tree often has live music and an upstairs with pool tables.
Squirrel Tree Recap
- Great food, no matter if you’re looking for breakfast, lunch, or dinner
- Popular place for locals to hang out
- Live music, pool tables, and large outdoor patio
The Traveling Worker 
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