Maren’s guidebook
Our Favorite Restaurants
For a town of its size, Decorah has a lot of great dining options. Here are a few of our favorites. Note that we listed a couple places that are a 30-40 minute drive from Decorah too.
La Rana is our favorite local spot to go for a lunch or dinner date. At lunch we love ordering burgers or blts and their dinner menu is always changing, but the steak is always a hit and we never grow tired of their homemade fries or tomato soup.
They have a great drink menu too!
Reservations highly recommended.
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La Rana Bistro
120 Washington StLa Rana is our favorite local spot to go for a lunch or dinner date. At lunch we love ordering burgers or blts and their dinner menu is always changing, but the steak is always a hit and we never grow tired of their homemade fries or tomato soup.
They have a great drink menu too!
Reservations highly recommended.
The Oneota Coop was remodeled in 2019 and is a great place to shop for groceries for a picnic or grab something quick from the deli. This is a cornerstone of our community and one of our favorite spots in town!
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Oneota Community Food Co-op
312 W Water StThe Oneota Coop was remodeled in 2019 and is a great place to shop for groceries for a picnic or grab something quick from the deli. This is a cornerstone of our community and one of our favorite spots in town!
Toppling Goliath is a world famous brewery located a few miles outside of Decorah. They recently started serving food so it's a great place to grab some tasty beer and a bite.
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Toppling Goliath Brewing Co
1600 Prosperity RdToppling Goliath is a world famous brewery located a few miles outside of Decorah. They recently started serving food so it's a great place to grab some tasty beer and a bite.
If you're looking for a good burger and beer in a sports bar, this is your place! The peanut butter cheeseburger is the way to go (trust us on this one).
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T-Bock's
206 W Water StIf you're looking for a good burger and beer in a sports bar, this is your place! The peanut butter cheeseburger is the way to go (trust us on this one).
Schera's is located in the town of Elkader, about 30 minutes from Decorah on the Turkey River. On a nice day, we love sitting outside on the patio overlooking the river. They have a phenomenal tap list and a nice menu. You might happen to find our lamb on their menu if you go at the right time.
Schera's | Algerian American Restaurant & Bar
107 S Main StSchera's is located in the town of Elkader, about 30 minutes from Decorah on the Turkey River. On a nice day, we love sitting outside on the patio overlooking the river. They have a phenomenal tap list and a nice menu. You might happen to find our lamb on their menu if you go at the right time.
Coffee Shops
Apparently our small town likes to stay caffeinated (or so you would think by the number of coffee shops/capita)!
Impact Coffee is our favorite coffee shop in town. They roast their own Fair Trade / Organic beans, which make a great gift to take home for yourself or someone else. Often we just get their medium pour over but in the summer we LOVE their nitro cold brew and swear it goes straight the veins. :)
The raspberry chocolate chip scones are to die for! Not a fan of coffee? Recently we discovered that they have really amazing steamers too!...and their chai...and their cappuccinos....ahhhh it's just all so good. They also serve Nordic Waffles!
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Impact Coffee
101 W Water StImpact Coffee is our favorite coffee shop in town. They roast their own Fair Trade / Organic beans, which make a great gift to take home for yourself or someone else. Often we just get their medium pour over but in the summer we LOVE their nitro cold brew and swear it goes straight the veins. :)
The raspberry chocolate chip scones are to die for! Not a fan of coffee? Recently we discovered that they have really amazing steamers too!...and their chai...and their cappuccinos....ahhhh it's just all so good. They also serve Nordic Waffles!
Ice Cream
Featuring Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream, their single scoop cones, sundaes, malts and shakes are great! Our favorite ice cream is definitely coconut almond bliss but they're all good. They have great seating upstairs, including a few chairs on an upstairs patio so you can watch the world go by as you eat your ice cream.
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Sugar Bowl Decorah
410 College DrFeaturing Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream, their single scoop cones, sundaes, malts and shakes are great! Our favorite ice cream is definitely coconut almond bliss but they're all good. They have great seating upstairs, including a few chairs on an upstairs patio so you can watch the world go by as you eat your ice cream.
Whippy Dip is an institution in Decorah. They have all kinds of soft-served based shakes, malts and sundaes and you can also get things like walking tacos or hot dogs. In college, Maren's favorite was the cookie dough tornado, but it's also pretty good with Reeses. :)
We recommend walking up the dike behind the Whippy Dip to enjoy your ice cream by the river.
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Whippy Dip
121 College DrWhippy Dip is an institution in Decorah. They have all kinds of soft-served based shakes, malts and sundaes and you can also get things like walking tacos or hot dogs. In college, Maren's favorite was the cookie dough tornado, but it's also pretty good with Reeses. :)
We recommend walking up the dike behind the Whippy Dip to enjoy your ice cream by the river.
Breweries / Distilleries
If you planned a getaway to Decorah, chances are that you already know a thing or two about our breweries. You will find beer from our three most local breweries on tap at our place but we also recommend tasting it where it's made. (Just be sure to drive safely). :)
Pulpit Rock Brewing Company is where you'll find the locals hanging out after work. Their beer menu is always changing and they have great seating, both inside and out. In the summer months they often have food trucks and other special events. They are a community gathering spot, much like our farm on Friday evenings and well worth a visit!
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Pulpit Rock Brewing Company
207 College DrPulpit Rock Brewing Company is where you'll find the locals hanging out after work. Their beer menu is always changing and they have great seating, both inside and out. In the summer months they often have food trucks and other special events. They are a community gathering spot, much like our farm on Friday evenings and well worth a visit!
Toppling Goliath Brewing Company is a world renowned brewery famous for Mornin' Delight, Assassin and Kentucky Brunch but our favorite of their beers just happens to get a good 'ol Pseudo Sue or Pompeii. TG recently moved up the hill, outside of town a few miles, where they have abundant seating, both indoors and out. If you're staying for more than one beer, you'll want to check out their menu!
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Toppling Goliath Brewing Co
1600 Prosperity RdToppling Goliath Brewing Company is a world renowned brewery famous for Mornin' Delight, Assassin and Kentucky Brunch but our favorite of their beers just happens to get a good 'ol Pseudo Sue or Pompeii. TG recently moved up the hill, outside of town a few miles, where they have abundant seating, both indoors and out. If you're staying for more than one beer, you'll want to check out their menu!
PIVO opened at about the same time that we opened for wood fired pizza (fall 2017). They produce some really amazing beers, named after the small towns surrounding the brewery. We recommend getting a flight!
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PIVO Brewery
101 Huber DrPIVO opened at about the same time that we opened for wood fired pizza (fall 2017). They produce some really amazing beers, named after the small towns surrounding the brewery. We recommend getting a flight!
Karst Brewing popped up a few years ago in a refurbished schoolhouse in Fountain, MN and (we think) is Minnesota's smallest brewery. It is quite charming and has a lovely community feel. Every time we go up there the locals welcome us with open arms into their conversations. Nice seating inside and out and sometimes they have food trucks. They're only open on the weekends!
One of our favorite things to do is to bike from Lanesboro to Fountain for beer and then bike back (and maybe camp a night in Lanesboro).
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Karst Brewing
315 1st StKarst Brewing popped up a few years ago in a refurbished schoolhouse in Fountain, MN and (we think) is Minnesota's smallest brewery. It is quite charming and has a lovely community feel. Every time we go up there the locals welcome us with open arms into their conversations. Nice seating inside and out and sometimes they have food trucks. They're only open on the weekends!
One of our favorite things to do is to bike from Lanesboro to Fountain for beer and then bike back (and maybe camp a night in Lanesboro).
Planted, tended, milled and distilled a stone's throw from Spring Grove. This distillery makes cocktails with the bourbons that they produce and boy are they tasty! Sometimes in summer months Fat Pat's BBQ is parked outside. We'll often plan to grab a bite to eat or some ice cream from Doc's Blue Moose while we're here.
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RockFilter Distillery
113 Maple DrPlanted, tended, milled and distilled a stone's throw from Spring Grove. This distillery makes cocktails with the bourbons that they produce and boy are they tasty! Sometimes in summer months Fat Pat's BBQ is parked outside. We'll often plan to grab a bite to eat or some ice cream from Doc's Blue Moose while we're here.
Breakfast
Decorah is somewhat short on breakfast options but we do have a few good choices.
Great breakfast in our local dive bar. Breakfast is served Mondays - Saturdays (not Sundays).
Hay Market
201 Washington StreetGreat breakfast in our local dive bar. Breakfast is served Mondays - Saturdays (not Sundays).
Magpie has great breakfast options and they are open Mondays - Saturdays (closed Sundays).
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Magpie Cafe & Coffeehouse
202 W Water StMagpie has great breakfast options and they are open Mondays - Saturdays (closed Sundays).
Family Table is open every morning at 6am for breakfast!
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Family Table Decorah
817 S Mechanic StFamily Table is open every morning at 6am for breakfast!
Health and Wellness
Decorah is a great place to get outside and explore. There are also lots of great indoor studios.
Molly and Lydia teach the Iyengar method of yoga which is focused on alignment. Tom and Maren have been going for years and we even had Molly lead a session for out of town guests before our wedding a few years ago. You can contact Molly to book a private session during your stay.
Yoga Room
Molly and Lydia teach the Iyengar method of yoga which is focused on alignment. Tom and Maren have been going for years and we even had Molly lead a session for out of town guests before our wedding a few years ago. You can contact Molly to book a private session during your stay.
Believe it or not, Decorah has three acupuncture practices. Gabi is a good friend of ours and someone we visit regularly for community acupuncture. She specializes in women's health, dermatology and pain relief. Even if you aren't up for acupuncture, we recommend checking out her shop because she's got some great health products available for sale.
Wildcrafted Acupuncture & Herbs
111 Winnebago StBelieve it or not, Decorah has three acupuncture practices. Gabi is a good friend of ours and someone we visit regularly for community acupuncture. She specializes in women's health, dermatology and pain relief. Even if you aren't up for acupuncture, we recommend checking out her shop because she's got some great health products available for sale.
If you are in need of a bike to rent so you can take on the trails, this is the place to go!
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Decorah Bicycles
101 College DrIf you are in need of a bike to rent so you can take on the trails, this is the place to go!
Our favorite canoe outfitter, Lee and Alison do a great job of helping you have a great river adventure!
Off the Driftless Wellness and Adventure Company, LLC
212 Pulpit Rock RdOur favorite canoe outfitter, Lee and Alison do a great job of helping you have a great river adventure!
Small Town Shops
Decorah Hatchery
406 W Water StWe LOVE this store! Check it out. Enough said?
Unique American Craft items from artisans near and far. If you're looking for a fun souvenier of your time in Decorah, this is where you want to go.
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Agora Arts
102 E Water StUnique American Craft items from artisans near and far. If you're looking for a fun souvenier of your time in Decorah, this is where you want to go.
Ace Kitchen Place
101 E Water StOur small town has a kitchen store and it's amazing!