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.

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).

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.