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Where to Eat and Drink in Duluth, Minnesota

Dining destinations in Lake Superior’s western port city

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Duluth, the gateway to majestic Lake Superior, is a compelling place to start any summer trip up north. The shoreline and access to hikes and other adventures make Duluth a prime road trip destination — but don’t forget to stop along the way for a great meal. Here are 15 great places to eat and drink around Duluth.

Note that these restaurants are listed geographically.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

New Scenic Café

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Just North of Duluth sits New Scenic Café, with stellar views of Lake Superior and a nod to Nordic traditions in both menu and decor. Sharable dishes like the game platter or the smörgåsbord (a true smorgasbord of pickled herring, smoked salmon, deviled eggs, cheese, fruit, and olives) are a must.

At Sara's Table Chester Creek Cafe

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A Chester Park neighborhood staple since 2002, At Sara’s Table Chester Creek Cafe is a charming cafe with a mouthful of a moniker. The menu features breakfast classics, sandwiches, and entrees from spaghetti and meatballs to vegan bibimbop. It’s like having a lazy Sunday lunch at Grandma’s house, if Grandma made a killer mocktail (try the lavender-lemon and soda).

A cosy cafe space with chairs, art on the walls, and a food counter.
The cozy space at Sara’s.
At Sara’s Table Chester Creek Cafe

Sir Benedicts Tavern on the Lake

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Sir Ben’s, a local favorite, is a British-style tavern near the lake shore. Come for the pub food (Cobb salads, hot club sandwiches, bread pudding, etc.) and the live music calendar, which is stacked with local acts every night except Sunday. Trampled by Turtles got their start here.

Va Bene

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Va Bene’s enclosed solarium, open-air deck, and outdoor grotto all offer panoramic views of Lake Superior. When the night calls for an old-school Italian dinner, this restaurant’s carbonara, bolognese, and pappardelle e funghi all hit the spot. Pair them all with a generous pour of red wine.

A restaurant with small black tables overlooking Lake Superior.
A view of the water at Va Bene.
Va Bene

Fitger's Brewhouse Brewery and Grille

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This is pub food at its best. Tucked in the lower level of the historic Fitger’s Brewing Complex (which also includes a lovely inn), the brewhouse serves top-notch burgers, including three variations of its legendary wild rice burger. Salads, soups, and entrees are also available — but seriously, go for the Gale Force wild rice burger.

Duluth's Best Bread

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Duluth’s Best Bread cold-ferments its dough and bakes it in high heat and high moisture, giving it a crackly, caramelized crust and a moist, soft interior. It’s made with wild yeast — which has the same probiotics found in kombucha and yogurt — giving the dough a delicate tang. Load up on pain au chocolats, croissants, and cranberry wild rice bread for the road.

Canal Park Brewing Company

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It doesn’t get more “Up North” than a craft beer with a view. But if that’s not your jam, Canal Park also has a cocktail menu and a full kitchen serving everything from cheese curds and beer soup to the cleverly named Root Canal, an ice cream float made with Canal Park Brewing root beer.

Love Creamery Canal Park

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This woman-owned creamery in Canal Park serves small batches of both dairy and vegan ice creams. The flavors run the gamut from classics like cookies and cream to buttermilk vanilla, honey lavender, and roasted banana chip.

Lake Avenue

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Lake Avenue is one of Duluth’s best upscale restaurants — it offers everything from littleneck clams in a delicate black bean sauce to salmon with parsnip puree. The elegant, sun-drenched space is an ideal stop for a romantic night near the lake, and the wine list is unparalleled.

Northern Waters Smokehaus

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Steps away from Lake Superior is Northern Waters Smokehaus, a specialty sandwich shop nestled in the DeWitt-Sietz Building. Unique combinations of seafood, meat, or vegetarian sandwiches are available alongside butcher cuts, from smoked fish to jerky. The Cajun Finn, which pairs smoked salmon with a thick smear of cream cheese and roasted red peppers, is a local favorite. Order ahead online for speedy service, as the line can get long — though NWS is in the process of expanding into a larger space.

A hand holding a sandwich with sandwich, cream cheese and peppers in front of a beach and lake.
The Cajun Finn.
Justine Jones

Vikre Distillery

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This family-owned distillery uses hyper-local botanicals and grains — not to mention ice-cold water from Lake Superior — to craft its spirits, from boreal gin to aged Aquavit. The cocktail room, located at the foot of Duluth’s iconic lift bridge, supplements its classic, seasonal, and zero-proof cocktails with snacks from Northern Waters Smokehaus.

Bent Paddle Brewing Co.

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Bent Paddle has a broad selection of both craft beers and THC drinks, games like foosball and darts, and a large patio and green space for summer evenings. Keep an eye on the events calendar, which features live music, rotating food trucks, and wood-fired pizza nights on Fridays.

OMC Smokehouse

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In a town with nine breweries, it only seems right to have a local barbecue spot too. The beef fat fries, pulled pork sandwiches, and St. Louis-style ribs are just a few OMC Smokehouse favorites. For all things smoke and meat, it’s a Lincoln Park District staple.

Duluth Grill

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This newly renovated grill has become a popular destination for Midwestern road-trippers thanks in part to a feature on Guy Fieri’s Food Network. At the Duluth Grill, everything from chilaquiles to Mediterranean omelets are served in a classic woodsy interior. Fans have been known to plan an entire road trip just to get an order of the Korean Brussels sprouts.

Anchor Bar & Grill

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Anchor Bar is just a stone’s throw from Duluth in Superior, Wisconsin. Once featured on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives, this place is best known for its greasy spoon ambiance, its burgers (one of which is topped with olives and cream cheese), and the nautical memorabilia that covers almost every inch of the wall, including — according to the restaurant — a life ring from the doomed Edmund Fitzgerald.

New Scenic Café

Just North of Duluth sits New Scenic Café, with stellar views of Lake Superior and a nod to Nordic traditions in both menu and decor. Sharable dishes like the game platter or the smörgåsbord (a true smorgasbord of pickled herring, smoked salmon, deviled eggs, cheese, fruit, and olives) are a must.

At Sara's Table Chester Creek Cafe

A Chester Park neighborhood staple since 2002, At Sara’s Table Chester Creek Cafe is a charming cafe with a mouthful of a moniker. The menu features breakfast classics, sandwiches, and entrees from spaghetti and meatballs to vegan bibimbop. It’s like having a lazy Sunday lunch at Grandma’s house, if Grandma made a killer mocktail (try the lavender-lemon and soda).

A cosy cafe space with chairs, art on the walls, and a food counter.
The cozy space at Sara’s.
At Sara’s Table Chester Creek Cafe

Sir Benedicts Tavern on the Lake

Sir Ben’s, a local favorite, is a British-style tavern near the lake shore. Come for the pub food (Cobb salads, hot club sandwiches, bread pudding, etc.) and the live music calendar, which is stacked with local acts every night except Sunday. Trampled by Turtles got their start here.

Va Bene

Va Bene’s enclosed solarium, open-air deck, and outdoor grotto all offer panoramic views of Lake Superior. When the night calls for an old-school Italian dinner, this restaurant’s carbonara, bolognese, and pappardelle e funghi all hit the spot. Pair them all with a generous pour of red wine.

A restaurant with small black tables overlooking Lake Superior.
A view of the water at Va Bene.
Va Bene

Fitger's Brewhouse Brewery and Grille

This is pub food at its best. Tucked in the lower level of the historic Fitger’s Brewing Complex (which also includes a lovely inn), the brewhouse serves top-notch burgers, including three variations of its legendary wild rice burger. Salads, soups, and entrees are also available — but seriously, go for the Gale Force wild rice burger.

Duluth's Best Bread

Duluth’s Best Bread cold-ferments its dough and bakes it in high heat and high moisture, giving it a crackly, caramelized crust and a moist, soft interior. It’s made with wild yeast — which has the same probiotics found in kombucha and yogurt — giving the dough a delicate tang. Load up on pain au chocolats, croissants, and cranberry wild rice bread for the road.

Canal Park Brewing Company

It doesn’t get more “Up North” than a craft beer with a view. But if that’s not your jam, Canal Park also has a cocktail menu and a full kitchen serving everything from cheese curds and beer soup to the cleverly named Root Canal, an ice cream float made with Canal Park Brewing root beer.

Love Creamery Canal Park

This woman-owned creamery in Canal Park serves small batches of both dairy and vegan ice creams. The flavors run the gamut from classics like cookies and cream to buttermilk vanilla, honey lavender, and roasted banana chip.

Lake Avenue

Lake Avenue is one of Duluth’s best upscale restaurants — it offers everything from littleneck clams in a delicate black bean sauce to salmon with parsnip puree. The elegant, sun-drenched space is an ideal stop for a romantic night near the lake, and the wine list is unparalleled.

Northern Waters Smokehaus

Steps away from Lake Superior is Northern Waters Smokehaus, a specialty sandwich shop nestled in the DeWitt-Sietz Building. Unique combinations of seafood, meat, or vegetarian sandwiches are available alongside butcher cuts, from smoked fish to jerky. The Cajun Finn, which pairs smoked salmon with a thick smear of cream cheese and roasted red peppers, is a local favorite. Order ahead online for speedy service, as the line can get long — though NWS is in the process of expanding into a larger space.

A hand holding a sandwich with sandwich, cream cheese and peppers in front of a beach and lake.
The Cajun Finn.
Justine Jones

Vikre Distillery

This family-owned distillery uses hyper-local botanicals and grains — not to mention ice-cold water from Lake Superior — to craft its spirits, from boreal gin to aged Aquavit. The cocktail room, located at the foot of Duluth’s iconic lift bridge, supplements its classic, seasonal, and zero-proof cocktails with snacks from Northern Waters Smokehaus.

Bent Paddle Brewing Co.

Bent Paddle has a broad selection of both craft beers and THC drinks, games like foosball and darts, and a large patio and green space for summer evenings. Keep an eye on the events calendar, which features live music, rotating food trucks, and wood-fired pizza nights on Fridays.

OMC Smokehouse

In a town with nine breweries, it only seems right to have a local barbecue spot too. The beef fat fries, pulled pork sandwiches, and St. Louis-style ribs are just a few OMC Smokehouse favorites. For all things smoke and meat, it’s a Lincoln Park District staple.

Duluth Grill

This newly renovated grill has become a popular destination for Midwestern road-trippers thanks in part to a feature on Guy Fieri’s Food Network. At the Duluth Grill, everything from chilaquiles to Mediterranean omelets are served in a classic woodsy interior. Fans have been known to plan an entire road trip just to get an order of the Korean Brussels sprouts.

Anchor Bar & Grill

Anchor Bar is just a stone’s throw from Duluth in Superior, Wisconsin. Once featured on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives, this place is best known for its greasy spoon ambiance, its burgers (one of which is topped with olives and cream cheese), and the nautical memorabilia that covers almost every inch of the wall, including — according to the restaurant — a life ring from the doomed Edmund Fitzgerald.

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