Guidebook for Idyllwild
Food Scene
One of our personal favorites for the beautiful setting, atmosphere, and live music. Great for dinner for two or more.
111 locals recommend
Cafe Aroma
54750 N Circle DrOne of our personal favorites for the beautiful setting, atmosphere, and live music. Great for dinner for two or more.
One of Idyllwild's newer restaurants provides Italian food with an eclectic flare. Lovely dinner for two.
147 locals recommend
FERRO
25840 Cedar St One of Idyllwild's newer restaurants provides Italian food with an eclectic flare. Lovely dinner for two.
Great for a higher end dinner, but our favorite time to go to Gastrognome is for brunch or lunch. Sit outside on the patio and relax (with a mimosa if you are so inclined). Right in the center of the village, great people watching and scenic view of Suicide Rock.
75 locals recommend
Restaurant Gastrognome
54381 Ridgeview DrGreat for a higher end dinner, but our favorite time to go to Gastrognome is for brunch or lunch. Sit outside on the patio and relax (with a mimosa if you are so inclined). Right in the center of the village, great people watching and scenic view of Suicide Rock.
Amazing breakfast and brunch at a great price. Make sure to come before 2pm as they close early.
68 locals recommend
Red Kettle
54220 N Circle DrAmazing breakfast and brunch at a great price. Make sure to come before 2pm as they close early.
Most authentic Italian food in Idyllwild. Live music most weekends.
81 locals recommend
Fratello’s Ristorante & Pizzeria
54295 Ridgeview DrMost authentic Italian food in Idyllwild. Live music most weekends.
Some of the most bizzare yet delicious pizza combinations you've ever seen along with all the classics you love. Cooked in fire roasted in a brick oven, we recommend this for kids and parents as they have an arcade in the back and serve a selection of beer. The Signature Hawaiian Pizza with cashews and ginger is amazing for those who dare to try.
57 locals recommend
Idyllwild Pizza Company
54391 Village Center DrSome of the most bizzare yet delicious pizza combinations you've ever seen along with all the classics you love. Cooked in fire roasted in a brick oven, we recommend this for kids and parents as they have an arcade in the back and serve a selection of beer. The Signature Hawaiian Pizza with cashews and ginger is amazing for those who dare to try.
La Casita
54650 N Circle DrA great choice to get your Mexican food fix with vegetarian options.
Now offering curbside pickup! A variety of delicious options from breakfast burritos to poke bowls. Great for breakfast, brunch, or dinner. Be aware they close at 4pm on the weekdays.
48 locals recommend
Mile High Cafe
26600 CA-243Now offering curbside pickup! A variety of delicious options from breakfast burritos to poke bowls. Great for breakfast, brunch, or dinner. Be aware they close at 4pm on the weekdays.
Pick-up and delivery only, search them on Facebook for full menu! Cozy eatery with New American cuisine.
42 locals recommend
Tommy's Kitchen
54700 N Circle DrPick-up and delivery only, search them on Facebook for full menu! Cozy eatery with New American cuisine.
A ways outside of town, but if you're coming up HWY 74 from Palm Desert, it's right on your way! And they are now doing delivery (food and alcohol) to Idyllwild on weekends, call in orders before noon. Delicious BBQ, desserts, and sandwiches all made from scratch.
The Sugarloaf Cafe
70111 CA-74A ways outside of town, but if you're coming up HWY 74 from Palm Desert, it's right on your way! And they are now doing delivery (food and alcohol) to Idyllwild on weekends, call in orders before noon. Delicious BBQ, desserts, and sandwiches all made from scratch.
Taking HWY 243 into or out of town? Paradise Café is on the way! Great outdoor seating area, burgers, beer, and live music on weekends.
17 locals recommend
Paradise Valley Cafe
61721 CA-74Taking HWY 243 into or out of town? Paradise Café is on the way! Great outdoor seating area, burgers, beer, and live music on weekends.
Idyllwild's best local bakery with pastries, drinks, breakfast and lunch. The homemade cinnamon rolls and pecan rolls are a must-try! The Sunflower also offers "cabin catering", custom cakes, and cooking/baking classes!
48 locals recommend
The Town Baker
54385 N Circle DrIdyllwild's best local bakery with pastries, drinks, breakfast and lunch. The homemade cinnamon rolls and pecan rolls are a must-try! The Sunflower also offers "cabin catering", custom cakes, and cooking/baking classes!
Drinks & Nightlife
We love this little Wine Shop. They often have live music and it has a Cheers-like atmosphere. Locals and tourists interact and they have both beer and wine tasting flights.
37 locals recommend
Idyll Awhile Wine Shoppe & Bistro
54245 N Circle DrWe love this little Wine Shop. They often have live music and it has a Cheers-like atmosphere. Locals and tourists interact and they have both beer and wine tasting flights.
CLOSED UNTIL FUTHER NOTICE - Experience the eclectic decor of Idyology for food, drinks, games, and live music.
42 locals recommend
Idyology
54905 N Circle DrCLOSED UNTIL FUTHER NOTICE - Experience the eclectic decor of Idyology for food, drinks, games, and live music.
One of Idyllwild's newest, up-and-coming restaurants with a wide food and beer selection to choose from.
135 locals recommend
Idyllwild Brewpub
54423 Village Center DrOne of Idyllwild's newest, up-and-coming restaurants with a wide food and beer selection to choose from.
Parks & Nature
Check out the Ernie Maxwell Trail, it is one of our favorites and is dog friendly. Humber Park is the trailhead for the Ernie Maxwell and the Devil's Slide Trail.
72 locals recommend
Humber Park
24559 Fern Valley RdCheck out the Ernie Maxwell Trail, it is one of our favorites and is dog friendly. Humber Park is the trailhead for the Ernie Maxwell and the Devil's Slide Trail.
Park has hiking/walking trails, guided tours, snow play(when the weather permits), restrooms, picnic tables, a Nature Center & more. Plus, the area is pet-friendly!
28 locals recommend
Idyllwild Park
54000 Riverside County Playground RdPark has hiking/walking trails, guided tours, snow play(when the weather permits), restrooms, picnic tables, a Nature Center & more. Plus, the area is pet-friendly!
Idyllwild Nature Center offers a variety of field study trips, environmental education programs and guided tours which can be scheduled by appointment and tailored to fit specific needs or interests. Programs focus on mountain ecology, habitats, flora and fauna, Cahuilla Native culture and the history of the San Jacinto Mountains.
114 locals recommend
Idyllwild Nature Center
25225 CA-243Idyllwild Nature Center offers a variety of field study trips, environmental education programs and guided tours which can be scheduled by appointment and tailored to fit specific needs or interests. Programs focus on mountain ecology, habitats, flora and fauna, Cahuilla Native culture and the history of the San Jacinto Mountains.
Suicie Rock Trail is 6.3 miles out and back style trail offering amazing views!
15 locals recommend
Suicide Rock
Suicie Rock Trail is 6.3 miles out and back style trail offering amazing views!
Essentials
There are two grocery stores in our small town, but be sure to check-out our Farmer's Market every Sunday (see more information in the city advice section below).
When you walk to town from Idyllcreek you will come right up on the shopping center where Fairway Foods is. They are a little pricey as you would expect in a mountain town but have a great produce selection and most things you would need in a pinch. Wine selection is limited but you can always bop by the wine shop that is kitty-corner across the street.
51 locals recommend
Fairway Market
54411 Village Center DrWhen you walk to town from Idyllcreek you will come right up on the shopping center where Fairway Foods is. They are a little pricey as you would expect in a mountain town but have a great produce selection and most things you would need in a pinch. Wine selection is limited but you can always bop by the wine shop that is kitty-corner across the street.
Village Market has a built in bakery and makes bread fresh daily. The grocery store aspect is rather limited but they have a nice deli.
59 locals recommend
Idyllwild Village Market
26000 CA-243Village Market has a built in bakery and makes bread fresh daily. The grocery store aspect is rather limited but they have a nice deli.
Entertainment & Activities
Paint a piece of pottery at the Earth 'n' Fire studios to remember your stay in Idyllwild.
16 locals recommend
Earth 'n' Fire
54225 N Circle DrPaint a piece of pottery at the Earth 'n' Fire studios to remember your stay in Idyllwild.
The only movie theater in Idyllwild shows a single film at a time. Perfect for rainy days with the kids or a significant other.
58 locals recommend
The Rustic Theatre, Idyllwild
54290 N Circle DrThe only movie theater in Idyllwild shows a single film at a time. Perfect for rainy days with the kids or a significant other.
Arts & Culture
There are many art galleries in town, some of which so small that they could not be recognized by address so I added the names here: Studio one-eleven, Singerton Fine Arts, The Courtyard Gallery, Idyllwild Living Room Gallery, and L'Image Art Galerie. Finding them is part of the fun!
Art gallery and winery all in one! Great tasting selection while you enjoy art from local artist and live music most weekends.
50 locals recommend
Middle Ridge Winery
54301 N Circle DrArt gallery and winery all in one! Great tasting selection while you enjoy art from local artist and live music most weekends.
Artspresso Art Gallery
54380 N Circle DrLocal art gallery and pottery for purchase.
Idyllwild's very own historical museum sharing the history of the San Jacinto Mountains.
28 locals recommend
Idyllwild Area Historical Society
54470 N Circle DrIdyllwild's very own historical museum sharing the history of the San Jacinto Mountains.
Shopping
Idyllwild has shopping to offer for everyone: your candy-lover, your jerky-eater, our candle-burner, your tea-drinker, your souvenir-collector, your outdoor activity-lover, and more!
For all those old fashioned sweets you can't find anywhere else. Candies, ice cream, chocolate, caramel apples, and more!
20 locals recommend
Candy Cupboard
54250 N Circle DrFor all those old fashioned sweets you can't find anywhere else. Candies, ice cream, chocolate, caramel apples, and more!
Also known a the House of Jerky because they have jerky from every animal, by law, you can think of! Tons of homemade jams, honeys, and sauces. We recommend the habanero-raspberry jam or one of the other spicy, sweet combinations that Coyote Red makes.
Coyote Red's
54225 N Circle DrAlso known a the House of Jerky because they have jerky from every animal, by law, you can think of! Tons of homemade jams, honeys, and sauces. We recommend the habanero-raspberry jam or one of the other spicy, sweet combinations that Coyote Red makes.
Family-owned, rustic novelty shop specializing in hand poured candles and natural bath and body products.
6 locals recommend
Spruce Moose
54225 N Circle DrFamily-owned, rustic novelty shop specializing in hand poured candles and natural bath and body products.
Wonderful little tea house offering tea, herbs, and cultural and spiritual items from around the world. They offer a sample tea each day so you can have a taste, our personal favorites are the Almond Amore and any of their Chia teas.
16 locals recommend
Merkaba
54210 N Circle DrWonderful little tea house offering tea, herbs, and cultural and spiritual items from around the world. They offer a sample tea each day so you can have a taste, our personal favorites are the Almond Amore and any of their Chia teas.
Idyllwild's official souvenir and gift shop offering collectables and clothing.
23 locals recommend
Wooley's
54274 N Circle DrIdyllwild's official souvenir and gift shop offering collectables and clothing.
Quaint outdoor sports store has all the essentials you may have forgotten for camping, hiking, climbing, etc.
11 locals recommend
Nomad Ventures
28780 Old Town Front StQuaint outdoor sports store has all the essentials you may have forgotten for camping, hiking, climbing, etc.
Himalayan Treasures
54225 N Circle DrBeautiful shop boasting crystals, jewerly, and eastern treasures.