Okoboji store
The Okoboji Store is one of our all-time favorite stops because the food is just as fun as the energy around it. Their menu surprises in the best way ahi poke bowls, seared fish tacos, and their loaded Street-71 mac and cheese are dishes you don’t expect to find on the lake. The Store Burger, stacked with gruyère, mushrooms, caramelized onions, and crispy onion straws, is always a winner. Brunch is equally tempting with hangover sandwiches, biscuits and gravy drizzled with honey-chipotle butter, and even mini donuts for a sweet finish. Add in their famous cocktails, like the legendary “Ice-Water,” and you’ve got one of those places where you’ll happily spend an entire afternoon into evening.
Bracco Island cafe
Bracco is where we head when we want dinner to feel like a getaway. The patio looks right out over East Lake, and with a colorful cocktail in hand it almost feels like you’ve left the Midwest behind. The menu brings together flavors from all over, jerk chicken, fish tacos, pastas, and burgers that always hit the spot. It’s casual enough for a family outing but lively enough for a night with friends, and when the sun dips down over the lake, the whole place comes alive.
Snappers Turtle Bay Café
Snappers is one of those spots that always feels easy and relaxed, but the food makes it worth seeking out. The menu covers everything from sandwiches and wraps to seafood and hearty entrees, so there’s always something for everyone. We love the patio on warm nights when the music drifts across the water and kids are playing yard games nearby. It has that balance of being family-friendly while still giving you a spot to unwind with a drink and watch the boats go by.
Waterfront Grille & Event Center
Waterfront Grille is our go-to when we want dinner with a view that feels a little more polished. Sitting right inside Bridges Bay Resort, it has a menu that moves from flatbread pizzas and burgers to steaks and fresh seafood, and everything tastes better with the lake right outside the windows. The outdoor patio is a perfect place to linger, especially at sunset. We’ve had casual meals here and also marked special occasions, and it always feels like the right fit.
Maxwell’s Beach Café
Maxwell’s is a longtime favorite that’s been serving Okoboji since the 1980s, and it still feels fresh every time we visit. Located in downtown Arnolds Park, it’s a great choice for seafood, steaks, and sandwiches after a day on the water or wandering through the park. The dining room has an easy elegance to it, but we’re always drawn to the patio when the sun is sinking over the lake. It’s a seasonal stop, open Memorial Day through Labor Day, and for us it’s become part of what summer in Okoboji tastes like.
The Ritz
The Ritz is pure lakeside fun and always delivers on energy. Their Lue Burger is a local legend, and the menu is full of satisfying comfort food like pizzas, sandwiches, and baskets that go perfectly with a cold drink. The fishbowl cocktails are almost a rite of passage here, best enjoyed with a group of friends and plenty of laughs. Add live music and a busy patio, and it’s one of those places where the night has a way of stretching on longer than you planned.
Yesterday’s
Yesterday’s is the kind of restaurant that makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a classic supper club, and we mean that in the best way. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with white tablecloths, dim lighting, and the kind of service that makes dinner feel special. The menu is built around hearty dishes like steaks, seafood, and pastas, and every plate comes out feeling like it’s been made with care. It’s one of those places where the pace slows down a bit. You order a cocktail, settle in, and enjoy a night that feels timeless in the heart of Okoboji.
Boardwalk bar & grill
Boardwalk is one of our favorite casual stops, especially after a day at Arnolds Park Amusement Park. Their gyros, Italian beef sandwiches, and burgers always taste better when you’re sitting outside looking out over West Lake and the State Pier. The food is straightforward and filling, but the view and location make it feel like part of the Okoboji experience. It’s the perfect spot for a relaxed, no-frills meal that still gives you those lakeside vibes.
Mullets of Okoboji
Mullets is one of the most versatile places on the lake. It’s just as good for a big breakfast as it is for a lively dinner. In the mornings we love the hearty omelets and pancakes, and by evening it shifts into an easygoing spot for burgers, sandwiches, and live music. The lakeside setting inside the Central Emporium makes it feel connected to everything, and it’s one of those restaurants where you can wander in with family or friends and know everyone will find something they like. It’s relaxed, welcoming, and always a good time.
Prime boji
Prime Boji is where we go when we want something a little more elevated without losing the lakeside charm. Their menu is built around made-from-scratch dishes, with steaks and seafood that feel like they’re made for a special night out. The atmosphere is cozy and intimate, especially when the sun sets over the water outside the windows. For us, it’s a night favorite, the kind of place that turns a meal into a memory.
