20 Best Restaurants in Duluth, Minnesota

Duluth is an idyllic, picturesque tourist destination in Minnesota. It offers spectacular nature, landmarks and landscapes. People initially visit the city for its beautiful scenery and delicious beer, but the wonderful food served in its restaurants will make any Duluth visitor want to stay.

There are plenty of great things to do in Duluth! In this guide, we’ve listed the best places to eat in Duluth that are well worth a visit.

Best Restaurants in Duluth, MN

If you’re looking to try the best restaurants in Duluth, here are some recommended options.

1. Duluth Grill

Address: 118 S 27th Avenue W, Duluth, MN 55806

Duluth Grill is a family-owned establishment that aims to deliver an exceptional dining experience. It offers an inviting atmosphere and value for your money and it only uses organic ingredients.

This Duluth restaurant provides a wide range of scratch-made meals, including vegetarian and gluten-free options, an all-day breakfast, sandwiches, salads, burgers, home-style entrees, steaks, and soups.

With its quick and efficient service, delicious foods, and fairly diverse menu selection, this is a highly recommended spot to eat and chill in the area, especially if you’re vegan/vegetarian or have any kind of gluten intolerance. Here, you’ll find a wide range of delicious, nutritious menu items to enjoy!

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2. OMC Smokehouse

Address: 1909 W Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55806

OMC Smokehouse is a lovely restaurant in the Lincoln Park Craft District, known for its delectable dishes. The real standout on the menu is the variety of smoked meats prepared all day. OMC Smokehouse guests can enjoy a variety of smoked pork, beef, and chicken dishes.

The restaurant isn’t just a dine-in establishment —  it also offers takeout and catering services. Customers can also purchase gift cards and peruse the restaurant’s cookbook. Smokehouse starters include delectable beef-fat fries and buttermilk chicken tenders, salads, and wraps.

Its entrees include sandwiches, various smokehouse dishes, and an excellent burger. The smokehouse also offers a takeout menu, a kid’s menu, and a side menu. OMC Smokehouse is dedicated to providing excellent service and delectable cuisine to guests of all ages.

It’s a wonderful family-owned hotspot that inspects every item in its kitchen,  and it strives to provide the absolute best food at affordable prices to every domestic and international customer who visits.

Aside from its delectable dishes, OMC Smokehouse is known for its outdoor dining experience, designed for visitors who want to enjoy craft beer and eat BBQ by a bonfire.

The Lincoln Park Craft District is known as a hotspot in Duluth for both shopping and dining, so there’s plenty to see and do after you’ve finished your meal!

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3. The Boreal House

Address: 330 N 57th Avenue W, Duluth, MN 55807

The Boreal House is a pleasant place to visit. It’s a lovely spot to unwind, and it offers craft beers, as well as a selection of cocktails. I Boreal House provides a welcoming atmosphere, where you can catch up with friends and family or make new pals at the bar.

Customers can dine at a table indoors or enjoy the outdoor seating while they have a drink and chill. The Boreal House has tasty regional classics on its menu, but its drink selection is where it’s at.

It serves tap beers from Fulton, Bell’s Brewery, Bent Paddle Brewing, and Castle Danger Brewery. The BoHo, House Old Fashioned, Gin Spritzer, Michelada, and other cocktails are available at the bar.

Customers at Boreal House can select from a variety of tap beer options. The Boreal House also stocks bar staples, such as Budweiser, Bud Light, and PBR. A rotating selection of single-serving and shareable nachos and chips and dips is also available at the Boreal House!

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4. LuLu’s Pizza

Address: 420 W Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55802

LuLu’s Pizza is a perfect spot to get some tasty pizza. Artisan meets traditional in this pizza joint. The pizza is made from scratch, including the sourdough crust. Lulu’s offers something for everyone, from the diverse pizzas served in this fantastic restaurant to tried and true standards, such as meatball subs and banh mi sandwiches.

LuLu’s Pizza offers a range of pizzas, including La Chiva, which features goat cheese, caramelized onions, roasted beef, and more. The Margarita pizza, which includes roasted garlic, olive oil, red sauce, buffalo mozzarella, and fresh basil, is another delicious choice on the shop’s menu.

Every pizza has a very thin crust that’s baked to perfection with its unique ingredients, which is one of the reasons why locals love LuLu’s Pizza.

The restaurant serves a total of nine delectable pizzas, as well as delicious breadsticks. LuLu’s Pizza is a decent choice for a meal. Customers can dine in, take their food home, or take advantage of curbside delivery.

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5. Lake Avenue Restaurant & Bar — Editor’s Choice

Address: 394 S Lake Avenue, Duluth, MN 55802

Lake Avenue Restaurant & Bar is located on South Lake Avenue. This restaurant blends fine dining with a crisp, cool aesthetic, providing a comfortable, laid-back dining experience.

The food here is always made fresh, and the restaurant prides itself on its locally grown menu. Guests will find hearty food options, including pizza, steaks, and New American fare, as well as a drink menu that features some delicious Midwest spirits.

Lake Avenue Restaurant & Bar is a great place to meet up if you want to hang out with friends or family while you enjoy a beer and some delicious food. You can either dine inside or take advantage of the comfortable outdoor patio. It’s located just steps away from Canal Park, which is a lovely spot for an after-dinner walk.

If you’re a wine lover, you should definitely make a point to try to visit on a Wednesday, when wine by the glass or bottle is half-price! Once you visit, you’ll want to come back again and again to enjoy the rotating seasonal menus and chill atmosphere.

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6. Va Bene

Address: 734 E Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55802

Located above Lakewalk and overlooking Lake Superior, Va Bene is an amazing spot for those who want to take in stunning lake views while enjoying fresh Italian cuisine prepared with high-quality ingredients.

The atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable, with great food and even better service. You can enjoy the lunch and dinner menus as a walk-in, or you can book a private dining room experience if you’re looking for a truly special meal.

The food served at Va Bene is truly the star of the show. Va Bene has been voted the best Italian restaurant in Duluth for the last two years and is well-loved by locals and tourists alike. Its menu features made-from-scratch soups, fresh pasta, and homemade bread, as well as a rotating selection of gelato and other desserts.

The restaurant also has a full espresso and coffee menu with plenty of spirits, beers, and wines authentic to Italy. If you’re a fan of Italian food, we highly recommend making a stop at Va Bene!

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7. Bridgeman’s

Address: 2202 Mountain Shadow Drive, Duluth, MN 55811

Bridgeman’s is a popular locally owned restaurant, serving up home-style dinner fare and ice cream in a retro space. The restaurant itself has an interesting history, going all the way back to 1883.

Henry Bridgeman established his dairy company in Duluth in 1883, which grew to be one of the largest in the Midwest. His sons expanded this business into Bridgeman’s Ice Cream Shoppe in 1936, which evolved into the diner Duluth residents know and love today.

Bridgeman’s is still proud to offer its high-quality ice cream to all customers, alongside its homemade diner comfort food. After a long day, Bridgeman’s is a great spot to have a delicious hot meal or an ice cream treat.

Guests can dine in or opt for curbside pickup or delivery. You can also find Bridgeman’s ice cream across Duluth in various coffee shops and cafes, so even if you don’t make it to this cafe, you should still be able to try the famous ice cream while in Duluth!

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8. New Scenic Café

Address: 5461 N Shore Drive, Duluth, MN 55804

If you’re a fan of seafood, you won’t want to miss out on visiting New Scenic Cafe! This is an intimate restaurant with beautiful views of Lake Superior, and it’s a great place to visit for some fresh food.

New Scenic Cafe serves lunch, dinner, and weekend brunches, and you can book the space for private events. It’s known for its fresh seafood, and its standout dishes include its miso bass with wakame peas and its roasted sea scallops.

Of course, the restaurant offers more than just seafood! Its menu also has some great small plates, soups, salads, pasta, and some delectable, mouthwatering desserts. New Scenic Cafe also offers an impressive global wine menu, a selection of craft beers, and some classic cocktails made with high-quality spirits.

This cafe is open Wednesday through Sunday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., and it’s located between Duluth and Two Harbors.

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9. Pickwick Restaurant & Pub

Address: 508 E Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55802

Pickwick Restaurant & Pub has been around for more than 100 years. It’s a popular eatery that serves drinks and traditional entrees, such as steak, pasta, and salmon.

The restaurant is a historically significant establishment. Pickwick Restaurant & Pub started as a small sampling pub within Fitger’s Brewing Company, only a few blocks down the street, in 1888. The establishment relocated to its current site in 1914.

The James Beard Award-winning Pickwick is known for its charcoal-grilled meats and fine homemade fare. Pickwick Restaurant & Pub attracts local and international customers with its iconic charcoal grill, which combines choice hand-cut meats with intense flavor-enhancing heat.

The natural juices of the steaks and chops are easily sealed in by the charcoal grill, resulting in the most tender and flavorful steaks and chops in town.

Pickwick Restaurant & Pub has developed a reputation as a purveyor of excellent food in the Canal Park district, along Lake Superior’s shore, and it earned a James Beard Foundation Award in 2007.

The restaurant’s interior features European-style woodwork and furniture, as well as framed canvases in the Dutch Room. The artwork is stunning and totally worth a look while you visit!

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10. At Sara’s Table Chester Creek Cafe

Address: 1902 E 8th Street, Duluth, MN 55812

Sara’s Table Chester Creek Café is a great place to eat. The cafe has some humble beginnings! Barb Neubert purchased an old trailer in the early 1990s, which she turned into a traveling espresso shop. This eventually evolved into Sara’s Table Chester Creek Cafe people know and love today! It offers high-quality, environmentally friendly meals in a relaxed setting.

The restaurant first opened its doors in late 2002 and has since become a landmark in the Chester Park community. It’s challenging to get a new business off the ground, and the early days were difficult, but things are now running more smoothly.

From the beginning, the company has strived to use locally and seasonally grown ingredients to handcraft nutritious and delicious food from scratch.

Sara’s Table Chester Creek Café prides itself on offering a farm-to-table menu with international influences, specialty cocktails, and more in a charming atmosphere.

It’s a spot that never fails to please customers with its comfort and delicious food. There’s something on the menu for everyone, and almost all meals can be made gluten-free, vegan, or vegetarian.

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11. Fitger’s Brewhouse

Address: 600 E Superior St, Duluth, MN 55802

If you’ve never been to Duluth, you owe it to yourself to stop by Fitger’s Brewhouse. This restaurant has a fantastic atmosphere and an incredible selection. It’s best known for its craft beer and warm pretzel breadsticks.

Fitger’s features excellent beer options, gluten-free options, great food and service, and an excellent historical building.

Visitors to Duluth, Minnesota, shouldn’t miss an opportunity to visit Fitger’s Brewhouse Brewery and Grille for a taste of its fresh-brewed beer. Visitors can even purchase a souvenir or shirt in the gift shop.

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12. Zeitgeist Restaurant & Bar

Address: 222 E Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55802

Zeitgeist Restaurant & Bar is a great place to relax while eating some delicious food. This busy cafe is known for serving classic American cuisine, as well as the space’s airy, sophisticated interior.

Customers can dine in, take advantage of curbside pickup, or order their food online. The menu features some shareable small plates and sandwiches, as well as some larger plates for dinner. Diners will also be happy to hear that there are many vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options available across the menu.

This cafe is Duluth’s only nonprofit cafe, operated by the charitable arts and community organization, Zeitgeist. It’s dedicated to creating an equitable, diverse and vibrant community, and all money made from restaurant guests goes toward supporting the organization.

In fact, the same building Zeitgeist is in, called The Zeitgeist Arts Building, also houses the Renegade Theater and event space, as well as movie theaters and neighborhood art galleries. The theater is a great place to visit, as there are regular performances from the Zeitgeist theater company, Zeitgeist Teatro Zuccone.

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13. Grandma’s Saloon & Grill in Canal Park

Address: 212 E Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55802

If you’re looking for relaxed restaurants in Canal Park, Duluth, Grandma’s Saloon is a fantastic outdoor and indoor dining space near the Aerial Lift Bridge. Its award-winning cuisine includes appetizers, salads, sandwiches, steaks, pasta, desserts, and drinks.

The atmosphere at Canal Park is friendly and comfortable, surrounded by some of Duluth’s most valuable collections and antiques. Grandma’s Saloon & Grill has been here since 1976, making it a historic place to visit when exploring Canal Park.

The restaurant began with “Grandma” Rosa Bronchi, who opened some infamous boarding houses for lonely sailors in the 1890s. This is where her legacy of providing “100% customer satisfaction” began, a service standard that remains at the core of Grandma’s Saloon & Grill today.

New visitors to the cafe will appreciate the friendly and fast service, as well as the classic diner decor. You can dine in the main lower-level dining room or enjoy drinks in the upper-level pub. It also offers seasonal decks and rooftop lounge dining throughout the year, with a great view of Lake Superior.

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14. Hanabi Japanese Cuisine

Address: 110 N 1st Avenue W, Duluth, MN 55802

Hanabi Japanese Cuisine is a hip spot to eat, with a menu that features creative sushi, classic Japanese dishes, and plenty of drink options for guests. The restaurant has won numerous awards throughout its lifetime, including Duluth Superior Magazine’s “Best Authentic” and “Best Asian” restaurant awards.

You’re sure to have a great dining experience when you visit Hanabi. Here you can try some authentic Japanese dishes, as well as some interesting fusion-style recipes. It also has a full bar with imported drinks, such as sake, shochu, beers, wine, and spirits.

Hanabi Japanese Restaurant is a great place to visit for lunch or dinner while exploring Duluth. It’s only two blocks away from the Zeitgeist Community Art Space, which you can visit after you’re done eating!

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15. JJ Astor Restaurant and Lounge

If you’re looking for a fine dining experience, it doesn’t get much better than JJ Astor Restaurant and Lounge. This is a truly elegant space, providing a rotating panoramic dining experience with unbeatable views of Lake Superior and the Twin Ports metropolitan region.

The restaurant dinner menu focuses on contemporary cuisine, serving dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. Guests can dine on locally sourced seafood dishes, delectable steaks, great soups, and salads, as well as some impressive desserts.

JJ Astor also has an impressive drink menu for people who want to sip on cocktails while taking in some great views. It has a full-service bar, and it carries some truly impressive wines, craft beers, and high-end cocktails.

If you’re looking for a romantic evening or celebrating an important life event, this is the spot to do it! Book in the evening to catch a gorgeous sunset while eating a truly great meal. This restaurant can be found at the top level of the Radisson Hotel Harborview in downtown Duluth.

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16. Bellisio’s Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar

Address: 405 S Lake Avenue, Duluth, MN 55802

Bellisio’s Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar offers homemade pasta, salads, and an outdoor patio. It has more than 500 wines to choose from. You can enjoy a meal in the dining room, relax in the kitchen, or ​​people-watch on the patio, which has an incredible view of Lake Superior.

The food is great, prepared with a combination of fine imported foods and locally sourced ingredients when possible. With quick service and a comfortable atmosphere, it makes a great stop whether you’re looking for a quick meal or you’re looking to relax while you take in a great meal.

The food isn’t the only good thing to be found here, though. As we touched on earlier, Bellisio’s has an incredible wine menu, with over 500 wines to choose from! You can order by the glass or bottle, or you can even sample a wine flight during dinner if you want to try more than one. This restaurant can provide the perfect evening for any wine lovers out there.

The combination of fine wines, amazing food, and excellent service make this an amazing place to visit! If you want to get the quant, Italian eatery experience without leaving Duluth, this is the spot to do it.

17. Canal Park Brewing Company

Address: 300 Canal Park Drive, Duluth, MN 55802

If you’re looking for some of the best area-sourced pub food in town, look no further than this Industrial-chic microbrewery. The Canal Park Brewing Company is a locally owned family business that not only focuses on great food and award-winning beers (it’s won six awards and counting) but also does its part for the environment. With 38 low-profile solar panels installed on its roof, it’s always looking for more ways to be more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

And if you’re looking for a fantastic view while you enjoy your meal, then Canal Park Brewing Company’s view of Lake Superior won’t disappoint. Plus, the patio is pet-friendly, making this the perfect place to stop after a long summer walk!

18. New London Cafe

Address: 4721 E Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55804

Serving breakfast, lunch, and some fantastic coffee and espresso, The New London Cafe is a great child-friendly place to get you going in the morning. Diners rave about the cozy ambiance, the fantastic service, and the killer breakfast food (try the egg’s Benedict!).

New London Cafe’s website lists its business attributes and says it’s fully wheelchair accessible, has unisex bathrooms, and is welcome to everyone.

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19. Vitta Pizza

Address: 307 Canal Park Drive, Duluth, MN 55802

If you’re looking for some incredible wood-fired pizza, you’ll want to visit Canal Park’s Vitta Pizza, which was voted to have the best pizza in Duluth.

Owned by Duluth natives Brad and Christie Erickson, Vitta Pizza specializes in Neapolitan wood-fired pizzas and salads, and it offers dine-in, takeout, and delivery options. Diners can enjoy a cozy outdoor eating spot if they wish to sit outside or view decor inspired by classic Italy inside.

The dough at Vitta Pizza is homemade and fresh, and Italian tomatoes are used to make the homemade sauce. Add fresh mozzarella, and you’ve got yourself a pizza that’s to die for!

20. Dovetail Cafe & Marketplace

Address: 1917 W Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55806

While more of a casual cafe than a restaurant, we thought Dovetail Cafe and Marketplace deserved an honorable mention. Located in Lincoln Park, this underrated restaurant serves delicious homemade food, specialty coffee, and craft beer. Combine this with local entertainment, and you’ve found yourself a fantastic hangout spot.

Dovetail Cafe is also a partner project with Duluth Folk School, as they work toward their goal of strengthening and supporting the community together. Try its house-made pastries made fresh daily or the Schrute Farms Roast Beet Sandwich for an Office-inspired treat!

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