16 Best Restaurants in The San Juan Islands, Washington

Most of the tables in this warmly rustic dining room at Doe Bay Resort overlook the tranquil body of water for which the café is named. This is a popular stop for brunch or dinner before or after hiking or biking in nearby Moran State Park—starting your day off with breakfast tacos or shakshuka will provide you with plenty of fuel for recreation. The kitchen uses ingredients foraged from the lush resort garden in such artful, healthy dinner creations as crisp-skinned wild salmon with onion-port jam, dandelion greens, salsify-chevre-quinoa cakes, and walnuts; and Thai green curry with local spot prawns. Reservations are essential for dinner and if there are six or more in your party for weekend breakfast.

Matia Kitchen quickly garnered national accolades for its outstanding seasonal cuisine that focuses on local ingredients, creative flavor combinations, and artistic presentation. Many of the dishes are vegetable-focused—such as an ancient grain panisse with mushrooms and carrot dumplings with pumpkin-seed pesto—but you'll also find options like a lamb pancake with gochujang creamed cabbage and king salmon with apricot confit and Szechuan chili crisp. Located in Eastsound's former Firehall, the vibe at Matia is polished but casual, and with just six seats at the chef's counter, advance reservations for the ten-course chef's tasting menu are a must. Reservations are also offered for the six-course menu in the dining room, and walk-ins can enjoy snacks, fresh pasta, house favorites, and drinks in the lounge. Visiting during the off-season is a great option too, since Matia Kitchen stays open all year.

One of the latest upscale farm-to-table restaurants to put the San Juan Islands on the culinary map, Ursa Minor is helmed by Nick Coffey, formerly of the now-closed Sitka & Spruce in Seattle. He celebrates the Islands' incredible bounty with a creative seasonal menu featuring seafood, foraged mushrooms, and produce from island farms.

You might make it a point to get to this wildly popular village bakery by late morning—come midafternoon, many of the best treats are sold out. Delectables here include flaky almond-coated bear paw pastries, rich croque monsieur sandwiches, gluten-free "Turtleback Trail" cookies, Tuscan olive bread, and moist berry muffins. Dine on the garden patio on sunny days.

This snazzy, contemporary, seafood-driven restaurant overlooking the harbor has a light-filled dining room that makes a terrific spot to watch boats and ferries come and go while sampling such tempting fare as Penn Cove mussels, pan-seared sockeye salmon with seasonal veggies, and a seafood Cobb salad piled high with Dungeness crab and whole shrimp.

You'll find something for everyone at this Lopez eatery, which offers solid versions of favorite dishes from various cuisines, sometimes with inventive twists (tater tots in a burrito, for example). They've got everything from miso ginger halibut to gamberoni linguine with fresh, locally made pasta. Seven pizzas are on the menu, including one with fresh truffles.

The restaurant at this stylish, contemporary inn just a mile from Eastsound offers among the most memorable dining experiences on the island, with a menu that changes at least weekly to highlight the local bounty. Tucked into a renovated 1869 farmhouse, the dining room and bar serve food that emphasizes fresh, seasonal ingredients. Island greens, fruits, and seafood are served alongside a regionally focused wine list, and the results are spectacular. Notable dishes have included sea scallops with bacon-potato hash and lemon aioli, and local roasted pork with creamy garlic farro, sweet onions, rhubarb, and wilted greens. Even the bread is memorable; the restaurant serves house-made sourdough from a starter that's more than 100 years old.

A favorite of Lopez locals, Isabel's sources its coffee from fair trade suppliers and its creamy dairy from the mainland's small Fresh Breeze Organic Dairy Farm. Housed in a charming rustic building in Lopez's tiny downtown, the café also serves light fare like pastries and sandwiches.

Situated on the Eastsound waterfront, this pub-style eatery serves classic Northwest cuisine like pan-fried local oysters, Dungeness crab cakes, Angus beef burgers, and grilled wild sockeye salmon. But what really stands out here is the atmosphere. A vaulted ceiling with exposed wooden beams gives the little space some serious personality, a small patio is ideal during warm summer nights, and a rotating cast of microbrews on tap complement the spectacular water views.

Only 50 yards from the ferry holding area (though that includes a lot of stairs), this pleasant little café and specialty grocery store makes fantastic sandwiches (try the roast-beef-and-rocket, which is served on a house-baked roll with spicy chili aioli). The soups and deli items—including a decadent macaroni and cheese—are also top-notch. Beer, wine, juices, and espresso are served as well. It's a great place to wait for your ferry to depart.

A bustling family-friendly Mexican restaurant with a cozy dining room and a sprawling shaded garden patio is helmed by Raul Rios, who learned to cook during his years growing up outside Mexico City. Expect a mix of flavorful Mexican and Mexican-American dishes, many featuring local ingredients. The tender braised short ribs in blackberry mole sauce and Dungeness crab enchiladas are justly popular, and there's a good selection of margaritas and beers, too.

A charming small café with bountiful planters of flowers and artsy touches like a gorgeous forest-scene stained glass window, the relatively new Olga Rising has quickly become a neighborhood fixture.

Ingenuity and dedication to local ingredients are hallmarks of this stylish, contemporary restaurant, where locals and tourists alike come for dishes such as baked oysters, Nashville hot chicken sandwich, seared halibut risotto, and a popular house burger. During the summer, the hotel's outdoor Portside Patio serves small plates and craft cocktails. The restaurant's daily breakfast is popular with islanders and convenient for hotel guests: the brunch burger, topped with a fried egg and cracked pepper aioli, and stuffed french toast with mascarpone make for decadent starts to your day.

The island's local brewery, just a few short blocks from the ferry landing, has a nice selection of suds brewed on-site, along with standard brewpub fare (pretzels, cheese curds, chicken wings), and some that is more elevated, including the portobello caprese sandwich, blackened wild salmon Caesar salad, and surprisingly good individual pizzas.

At this gourmet market and wineshop (open primarily during the daytime but until 8 pm on Wednesday and Friday), the proprietors create a daily-changing assortment of prepared foods and some made-to-order items, such as Reuben panini sandwiches. Other favorites include Dungeness crab cakes, hearty meat loaf, lobster mac and cheese, and an assortment of tempting desserts. Wood-fired pizza is available some evenings. You order at the counter and can then enjoy your meal either to go or on the colorful garden patio.