In Washington’s Bavarian-inspired tourist town, there’s a world of food and drink to explore
Located in the heart of Washington, the mountain town of Leavenworth offers views that are nothing short of spectacular in all directions. With access from Highway 97 over Blewett Pass or Highway 2 over Stevens Pass, driving to Leavenworth makes for a beautiful journey. But once you’re in town, it gets even better.
Drawing inspiration from the surrounding Cascade mountains, which town leaders found to look like alpine hills seen in Germany, Leavenworth has transformed into one of the top tourism destinations in the state. The downtown facades went through a makeover in the early 1960s, creating a festive, Bavarian-style village. With such a draw, many craft producers have made this small town home, adding to the allure even more.
8 – 10 a.m.
Start the day with a hearty meal and a steaming cup of coffee. If you’re visiting Friday through Monday, head downtown to Bear Bear with both indoor and patio dining. The brunch-focused menu includes house cocktails and peach Bellinis to pair with fried chicken over a malted waffle, smoked salmon latkes, and caramelized apple bread pudding French toast. Another excellent choice? Kingfisher Restaurant is located at the Sleeping Lady Resort, just out of town on the edge of Icicle Creek. Start your morning with a hearty breakfast featuring scrambled eggs, sage-roasted potatoes, bacon or sausage, fresh fruit, yogurt, and housemade pastries like biscuits with honey or seasonal jam. Prefer something lighter? Keep it simple with toast, a croissant or muffin, and a cup of locally roasted coffee. After breakfast, take a self-guided art walk to see multiple sculptures and stroll past the organic garden.
10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Once you’re fueled up for the day, it’s time to explore. Consider an alpine coaster ride at the Leavenworth Adventure Park, which provides up-high views of town and the surrounding landscape. Don’t worry — you can control your coaster cart with a brake for a slower ride. If you’d rather keep your feet on the ground, head to the Leavenworth Ski Hill, where you can wander miles of groomed hiking trails. For those looking for an adventure on two wheels, Arlberg Sports offers bike rentals so you can ride around town.
12 – 1 p.m.
München Haus is easily one of the most popular lunch spots in Leavenworth, and it’s for good reason. Walk up to the counter to order from a long list of charbroiled sausages. You’re also going to want to order a warm, soft pretzel served with Beecher’s cheese sauce. Once you get your sausage, top it with any condiment you can imagine, including 14 different specialty mustards. Grab a seat at the all-outdoor beer garden and pair your meal with a pint from Icicle Brewing or try an imported German brew. There’s plenty of picnic-style and fire-table seating with misters running in the hotter months. Prefer a quieter spot to sit? Head upstairs for bar-style seating and mountain views. After lunch, walk down the block to The Gingerbread Factory for a soft iced gingerbread cookie.
1 – 5 p.m.
Spend the afternoon getting to know the many fantastic wineries that call Leavenworth home. In downtown Leavenworth, you’ll find the tasting rooms for Goose Ridge Estate Winery, Rocky Pond Estate Winery and Patterson Cellars all within steps of each other. Sit on the patio or in cozy leather chairs by the fireplace and sip Merlot at Goose Ridge, or try the excellent peach bourbon cider from Goose Ridge Orchards. Pair a glass of Riesling with a snack in the modern Rocky Pond tasting room or sit in the upstairs loft area at Patterson Cellars to sip while viewing works by local artists. Patterson is also a great spot to cool off on a hot day with frosé on the patio.
To the southeast of downtown, Silvara Cellars is housed in a spacious warm-toned tasting room with an expansive grassy lawn area for seating. Enjoy a flight or share a bottle and take in the sights of the surrounding hillside and wildflowers in the spring and summer.
5 – 6:30 p.m.
The options for imbibing downtown continue before dinnertime. With an array of gin, vodka, whiskey, tequila and rum made in nearby Lake Chelan, Blue Spirits Distilling offers tastings served neat or mini cocktail flights. Prefer a full-size cocktail? Enjoy a drink on the patio and pair it with small bites such as the prosciutto and fig flatbread. For locally made beer, head to Icicle Brewing where you can sip by a fire table outside or snag an indoor seat in an old gondola upstairs. Blewett Brewing has plenty of choices on tap, along with excellent scratch-made pizzas. Craving cider instead? You’ll find more than 25 ciders on tap from local producers at Leavenworth Cider House, plus an extensive bottle list to grab a few new-to-you ciders to go. The upstairs outdoor bar seating offers a bird’s-eye view of downtown Leavenworth and the surrounding mountains.
6:30 – 8 p.m.
If you’re searching for a dimly lit space with an extensive bar menu for dinner, head to Old World Chophouse. Pair craft cocktails with a curated menu including scallops, pork chops and a beef filet combined with a chop salad or smoked carrots. At Larch, you’ll be treated to handmade house pastas with a focus on fresh Northwest ingredients. Larch’s chef Ben Herreid also heads up Prusik Kitchen & Bar, which dishes up a menu of creative pizzas and a variety of small-bite plates including cognac prawns or leek dip, along with craft cocktails from behind an exposed brick bar. For traditional Bavarian food (this is the theme of Leavenworth, after all), settle into a golden wood booth at Andreas Keller — a downstairs restaurant just across from Front Street Park — and dig into a plate of Bavarian beef goulash or schnitzel cordon bleu with spätzle noodles.
8 – 10 p.m.
Stroll through downtown after dinner to admire the glowing lights of town. End the day on a sweet note at Whistlepunk Ice Cream, where flavors include Blackberry Fool made with local berries or Pistachio with chopped nuts and a touch of honey sourced from nearby McGregor Farms. Prefer something stronger? The Loft or Ducks and Drakes both offer a classic pub vibe with classic cocktails and a variety of sips on tap for a nightcap.
