The Sunflower

The first time seeing this place was after having a meal down the street that was so not with it…read more That was maybe a month or so ago. This time, it was a must to try for brunch. The hours are limited as it's only open for breakfast and lunch and closes at 4. We spent the day up in Idyllwild and first and foremost, food. Parking situation, I believe they have a parking lot but majority is street parking or lots in town. We arrived just after 12pm which the place was pretty busy. As it was our first time we didn't know the layout of the place. The patio was where the action was happening. Covered umbrellas to help with the heat which was nice. Inside is quite small with some tables but main dining area was on the patio. I didn't know the go about of this place but noticed a register. Waited a bit though the place was packed. I was trying to get someone's attention on getting a table as there was no hosts counter. Finally someone mentioned that you seat yourself and when you're ready to order, come back inside to place your order. They do offer alcohol with mimosas, Bloody Marys and I believe there's a full bar. It took a while to order as the line was quite long and there was only one register where you order. After your order, they ask your name for when your meal is brought out. While I was waiting, I did see loads of amazing dishes being brought out and the server calling out names so they know who it's for. It's didn't take long for our order to come out. Oh, juice was given to you after you order which their OJ was delicious. Has to be fresh squeezed for 9.00. Meals, we went with the country chicken fried steak with homemade country gravy, 2 eggs any style and a side item. And the ham steak meal with 3 eggs any style, a side and choice of bread. Both item we upgrade to onion rings for an additional fee. Plus a side of sausage for the fur baby. Food was quite nice and delicious. The portion was quite big which I like. I think they're known for the breakfast burritos as it was a favorite for loads of people and let me tell you, that thing was massive. Glad we found out about this place which is a favorite for us now for breakfast and lunch. Also, the patio is quite nice and big. There's a table at the entrance where you can help yourself to ice water, napkins, to go containers and some condiments. Tables do have a tray of condiments as well. Pros 1. The food is great. Portion is big and plenty for takeaway. 2. Juices and smoothies are fresh squeezed 3. They offer alcohol 4. Pet friendly 5. Friendly staff Cons 1. There's one register to order your food

Great little breakfast spot in Idyllwild! You order at the counter and seat yourself in the patio…read morearea. I love that they have outdoor seating where I could bring my dog I got the veggie omelette with hash browns and the Monkey smoothie. My husband got the breakfast burrito with sausage, ham, and bacon. Everything was fresh and really good! If you're a peanut butter lover, definitely try the Monkey smoothie!

Interior corner seat

Chilaquiles with Ribeye Steak

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Outside

Mile High Cafe

4.3(619 reviews)

0.7 mi

We really enjoyed this asian inspired fusionish brunch spot. They have good food and even have…read morekimchi making classes. We tried the kimchi Reuben and it was a hit. It was a surprising combination, but it worked well. Almost like a substitute for sauerkraut. Also came with fries which were the right amount of crispy. Delicious food here.

An unexpected breakfast treat. We arrived to Idlewild the evening before on a Tuesday. We found…read moreout that most of the downtown area is closed down and I was hungry. We found the MileHigh Cafe. What a culinary treat. My wife had the avocado toast with her fluffy eggs. They gave a ample serving of avocado, which is unusual. The eggs were prepared the way she likes them and the coffee was fresh great flavor and strong I had eggs Benedict wow the sauce for the eggs Benedict is made from scratch the Canadian bacon it was real, I did help my wife eat a good portion of her sourdough bread . the greatest treat was having homemade strawberry jam presented The whole meal was wonderful and the atmosphere open clean and inviting. unexpected experience and I look forward to going back there.

Inside

Spinach omelette

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Mocha iced coffee you can purchase to the left of the establishment but you order it at a different location then your food

Red Kettle

4.2(695 reviews)

I ordered the eggs Benedict with hash browns! My wife…read moreordered the Ruben on rye with side of potato salad! It's real busy but not like last weekend as it was a holiday weekend! The employees are great and you're up at over 5,000 ft. This cafe is like you being in your own cabin but with lots of people! We came up here about 3 yrs ago and love the food! Also the atmosphere of the mountains!

***** Five stars for the ambience. ***** Five stars for the…read moreservice. ** Two stars for the food. It's a very cute well run mountain town establishment with limited competition. It's a GOLD mine! The service and friendliness is second to none! Delightful. I was just gonna try a couple of à la carte breakfast items to save money, BUT I was quickly "flipped" to a full meal package (much to my chagrin) and with tax and tip over $21! Well, that's a little pricey for a senior on a budget. I hate to say this, but when I'm traveling on a highway (and there's almost no alternative) Denny's does this right with their "senior menu" offerings at half this price! And that's kind of a grand slam. I make the same mistake frequently and I'm not even a big fan of eggs, but I didn't have much choice other than the veggie burger. I decided on scrambled eggs with hashbrowns and the veggie sausage from MorningStar brand (which origin is rooted in the vegetarian friendly Seventh-day Adventist Church.) My side dish was a generous portion of sliced avocado, nicely plated. To me, this spot was kind of like a "SYSCO" food depot. (If you know what I mean). The standard fair for many cafés. But, the service is very warm, old school charm where everybody chats with you to make sure you're doing OK and comes by and taps your shoulder or gives you a little back rub in passing. Not Harvey Weinstein weird but rather kind, friendly, vibes. I was transported to the set of "Andy of Mayberry" just wondering when Aunt Bea was gonna bring out the apple pie! Next time I'll try a veggie burger because it's a comfortable spot and the people are so damn friendly! Wait a second, is that Floyd the Barber, Goober the Mechanic, Otis on a bender? Oh no, I have to run! I see Barney giving me a ticket! Shazam, Shazam!

Favorite piece of art in the restaurant. Figured I'd share. Featuring the back of gentleman's head

Bacon Cheeseburger with onion rings.

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Mimosa

Raven Hill Bagels

4.6(133 reviews)

I can't find a negative thing to say about Raven Hill! Everything from the shaded patio surrounded…read moreby the Pines, to the wide variety of menu choices--we left truly satisfied after our tasty tranquil brunch break. This is definitely a popular place on the weekends, but nevertheless our order was brought out to us promptly despite the growing scene. Like most of Idyllwild, we were glad to dine somewhere pet inclusive! I did however notice that there weren't any water bowls outside. Not a problem if you come prepared with collapsible water bowls like we do--which we filled ourselves at the self-serve water station-- but I thought I should mention as a general FYI if you're traveling light with your furry friends. The bagels were divine! The Lox bagel was fresh and filling, while the pastrami melt was warm and savory. My fiancé wasn't a fan of the Dirty Dr. Pepper, but I suppose it's just a matter of taste. Overall, we simply enjoyed the light camaraderie amongst other patrons, while still feeling like we had a blissful corner of the patio to ourselves. We hope to visit again soon!

Simply lovely. Great bagels in a beautiful setting with nice service. Sitting out on the deck was…read morepeaceful and relaxing. Ordering at the counter was pleasant. And the bagels were fantastic. Tuna on sesame. Flavorful. Delicious. Cheddar jalapeño and cinnamon sugar had too much butter, not in a good way. Since the bagels are toasted it melted in and dripped out. Scallion cream cheese on everything bagel with tomato added was close to perfect. I just would have liked some salt. In general an entire bagel is more than I can eat, but very enjoyable to try.

Outside front seating area

Iced coffee

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Cafe Aroma

4.2(1k reviews)

0.5 mi

•$$$

We chose Cafe Aroma for a birthday dinner and were so happy we did!…read more The bread with garlic in olive oil was a perfect light starter. My husband also enjoyed an old fashioned that was excellent. For dinner he husband ordered the ragu, and I had the penne in creamy basil (without shrimp). Both dishes came out quickly, were well prepared, and completely satisfying. Service was extremely friendly and attentive without being overbearing. We reserved the patio so we could bring our pup, and the staff immediately offered her water, pets, and even a treat. I always appreciate a restaurant that makes dogs feel welcome rather than like an inconvenience. The patio also had a lovely ambiance, with white tablecloths and the same polished table settings as indoors. My only minor note was the live music. The singer was fairly loud and close to the tables, which made conversation difficult. Instrumental music might fit the early dinner atmosphere a little better. If you prefer a quieter meal, dining indoors may be the better choice. Overall, a great birthday dinner and a wonderful experience!

I read a bunch of the 1-star reviews. I read some of the…read more4-star reviews. I have to go with 5-star tho. OVERVIEW of 5 : Seated without reservation (*make one! We got lucky*) Server was amazing Food expediter was super nice Food was delicious Elegant, fine dining experience Music was my mountain playlist (and not too loud) View of mountains for me. View of architecture for my wife. PARKING: Parking can be difficult in the small lot, but there's parking along the street too. INSIDE: It was perfect weather. 68ºF at 6pm after a warm day. They have "indoor/patio" style seating which may be difficult for some to access by multiple steps. We were seated at the top, a table away from the music, along the window side. They have heat lamps - but temps were perfect (lots of people and hot food warmed everyone up). I wanted to walk around the restaurant. The tiered architecture is interesting. FOOD: High End Vegan! Yes - I'm guilty of wanting to give them 5 stars just looking at their vegan menu. (And omnivore selection) Yes - I appreciate the care that it takes to prepare a plate. BUT This food was just delicious by itself. Even in a cardboard box, this food would've been amazing. VEGAN "cheese" appetizer (great for 2-3 people) Nut cheese was warm and tangy. This is NOT just cashews and nooch in a blender. It is spiced with something that brings a little heat. *you will want to lick the bowl. PRO TIP: The welcome bread with ... oh shit.... WELCOME BREAD / Garlic Olive Oil This crusty bread served with microplaned garlic + olive oil is fantastic. Garlic Fiend? You're gonna love this. Not a fan of garlic? What's wrong with you?! I mean... just serve from the oil side. Save some bread for your vegan cheese.... VEGAN CHEESE (cont.) Order the gluten free bread (a little more like Uti's toasted dinner roll) with your vegan cheese app. Omnivores at your table will be surprised how well this vegan cheese and wine pair with each other. TROUT I think my wife got the trout. She loved it. Light and delicate. VEGAN KIMCHI TOFU I've had kimchi. I've had tofu. We all have. This was prepared on a bed of roasty veg that was a great match to the salty kimchi. I don't know if there was a marinade preparation (sesame paste?) with the tofu, or it was made locally, or both, but this firm tofu was excellent. Sweet. Nutty. Salty. Fresh tasting and filling. The vegan menu here isn't just an "alternate version" of an omnivore dish. It is its own thing. DESSERT MISTAKE = not getting it. We thought there would be dessert in town, but we got out late. Town had closed. MUSIC Tonight's music was a pair of musicians playing CS&N, Neil Young, Bob Seger... acoustic session: Guitar, Violin, Mandolin. Quiet & sentimental performance was a perfect accompaniment to a long hike day. THERE ARE 1-STAR REVIEWS of this place. They have their reasons. I've only been here once. But I experienced NONE of the things they've mentioned. Moreover, we experienced even better than what other 5-star reviews suggested. This is an elegant spot, framed by a perfect day in Idyllwild. If I come back to the town, I will want to try other restaurants, but I'll definitely come back here. Not *just* because of their vegan options, but definitely *for* their vegan options.

Patio Seating

Creamy pesto penne

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Patio

Alpaca Coffee & Tea

4.4(295 reviews)

0.7 mi

Stopped by this coffee spot after our 3 day weekend camping trip. Perfect little coffee shop with…read morepastries and really good coffee! We ordered the chagaccino, brown sugar latte, honey lavender latte and a Spanish latte. Customer service was great and best of all they are pet friendly! (I take my pup everywhere so this is always a plus) You see that freshly cut pumpkin loaf? Buy it! So good!

Cute little coffee shop at the edge of Idyllwild next to the school…read more Yummy chaggachino as it's my first time trying it. They also have the super refreshing and really good sparkling Yuzuco soda in can which is an elevated sparkling lemonade since it's made from cold pressed yuzu with honey and salt. Bright, bubbly, and undeniably refreshing. Friendly staff. There's a nice seating area outside. Restroom is available at the Mile high cafe Nextdoor. Can be busy at the end of school day as it's a popular place for the kids.

Exterior

Reishi Cacao

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Cool Place ! Only been here 3 months so far

Fork & Spoon

4.4(60 reviews)

2.9 mi

We had breakfast on a Saturday morning. Food was freshly made and delicious. Service is friendly…read more Food came out fast. Check them out next time you're up in Idyllwild.

Love this place. Third time here and it's SO RELAXING. I like that today wasn't super busy on the…read morepatio. I got biscuits & gravy as an app. Then I got the barbecue beef sandwich on the Hawaiian bun and french fries with a little bit of chili on top. Ridiculously good! The french fries are really good and the chili was OK. Nothing beats the deliciousness of the barbecue sauce! The barbecue beef sandwich was incredible! I usually don't even eat the bun but the bun was so good and there was enough meat that I was needing to separate the top and the bottom of the bun. So WE ARE STUFFED. Jerryanne is ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE WAIT ON US. She makes the experience feel down home. Thank you!!

Part 1 of the "Betty White" 100th Birthday Special..."White" bean & chicken chili

Mountain Center "Fork & Spoon" Cafe new logo!

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Turkey club

Manzanita Cantina and Grill

4.3(174 reviews)

0.4 mi

This place is one of the best restaurants to go to after a long hike in Idyllwild. The chips are…read moredelicious and I love the green salsa. The surf and turf tacos are my favorite, I've been here probably 8 times and ordered these tacos for three of those times. Portion sizes are HUGE and will fill you up!!! The service is quick and the waiters are polite. The decor is really lovely as well, it feels very rustic. I've also had the fried fish tacos and quesabirria. Both were VERY delicious.

We got there at around 4:45 on Labor Day weekend and it was starting to get more packed. There was…read moreone person bartending and serving. There was a kid there helping seat and bus tables. We got chips right away and they have a great salsa bar. My husband got the pollo Asado burrito and it's huge. Two could have it. I got the steak fajitas. It was a little tough but great flavor. Same here. Two could eat it. Especially if you start with a basket of chips. Now the reason it's not 5 stars. The place itself is a little grungy. Sticky tables and the food took forever. See above for one person doing all the things. We will be back but maybe to go next time?

Interior

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Restaurant Gastrognome

3.6(813 reviews)

Great restaurant and services. Allyssa was great, our food was right on time. The pork belly dish…read moreand the chocolate moose were delicious !! Will definitely come back next time in Idyllwild!

We Highly recommend this restaurant! Our server, Trinity, was outstanding and so was the food! It's…read moreour favorite spot when we visit Idyllwild. We enjoy sitting outside on the lovely shaded veranda with a nice breeze. This is a great spot with great food and friendly and attentive staff. There is always more food than we can eat so we get leftovers To take home!

Dining area and windows

Fire pit and dining area

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Mojito

Waffleton

4.0(42 reviews)

Great spot. We stumbled on this shop while visiting the town from our campsite. Great little shop…read moreto get warm and grab some coffees and waffles. Very polite staff. Highly recommend.

DON'T GO HERE. Rude workers. Older man with a white beard -- extremely rude. After spending over…read more$50, I kindly asked him for an extra fork. He rudely points to the woman to his right and with attitude, says, "She'll help you over there." So I had to stand in line all over again, then he looks at me, holds onto a fork where you put your mouth on it which is totally unsanitary, and hands me the fork with a dirty, annoyed look. GO SPEND YOUR MONEY SOMEWHERE ELSE.

Things to do in Idyllwild

Interior

This is the Mochi waffle garnished with strawberries and bananas

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Seating area.

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Richard F.

1 year ago

Amazing breakfast, pastries, and coffee, the staff was so friendly and helpful even after an annoying entitled customer before me. We will be back read more

The Sunflower - bakeries - Updated September 2026

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Almost Heaven

4.5

(2 reviews)

I love their vegan chocolate chip cookie, even though im not vegan anymore. Super yummy! Ladies…read morethat run the shop are super sweet. Make sure and stop by! I still have to try their bread :) I have been here two weeks in a row now...also her main ingredient is LOVE

I eat here at least once a week as I am a devourer of sweets and pastries. The owners are super…read morefriendly and you can tell they are extremely passionate about their product. My favorites are the chocolate croissant, soft pretzels, and the cardamom morning bun. Oh yea and the lemon danish. You can't go wrong here! And if you like sourdough they have the best I've had, it seems like that is one of their biggest sellers, as they are often sold out (along with a lot of other things so arrive early when you can.) They do carry some vegan and gluten free products, which have been excellent.

Mama Jamies Kitchen

5.0

(2 reviews)

I highly recommend Mama Jamie's Kitchen, her cheesecake is a piece of art and her customer service…read moreis amazing!

We were having our wedding in Idyllwild and discovered Jaime made a pineapple upside down cake (my…read morehusband's favorite that I make for him!) and we knew we had to reach out to Jaime to see if we could set up a tasting. We still weren't sure what we wanted so we requested a bit of everything (hand pie, cinnamon roll, cookies, and cake options). Not only was she lovely to talk to, she even reached out the week before to warn us about a storm that was coming through and to make sure we had an all-wheel-drive vehicle so we'd get up there safely from Las Vegas. For our tasting, she came through with incredible treats, but what really made our jaws drop was the special requests we had for the cakes. Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Lemon Poppy Seed Cake with Blueberry Cream Cheese Frosting, and a London Fog Tea Cake that blew us away. We choose the Lemon Poppy Seed with Blueberry Cream Cheese Frosting and the London Fog Tea Cake (along with some cinnamon rolls for the day after the wedding). Jamie made the process super easy. But this woman went above and beyond and truly became the MVP of our wedding. She asked if we needed help or recommendations for anything and we ended up with an incredible florist, bridal hair and makeup, and an assistant to watch and dish out the food my husband made for the wedding, and a car service to help ferry our guests to and from the venue. She also made us a gorgeous fruit plate with homemade whipped cream and lemon curd for our pre-dinner appetizers that guests thoroughly enjoyed. The cakes during our cocktails and speeches were devoured or taken home (in their convenient personal to-go tins) to be eaten later. We received so many compliments and the London Fog Cake impressed our guests, it was the clear favorite. We seriously cannot recommend Jaime enough for ANY of your baking needs, whether for birthdays, weddings, seriously, any special occasion--Jaime's baking will make it all the more special. We are so grateful we stumbled upon her page and look forward to enjoying more of her treats when we're in the area again. She's an incredible baker and an even more wonderful human.

Havery’s Diner & General Store

5.0

(1 review)

I had two kabobs steak and chicken cooked to perfection with onions peppers mushrooms and zucchini…read morechunks Seasoned so good Best kabobs anywhere

Hicksville Pines

4.6

(558 reviews)

Incredible experience! Highly recommend if you want an intimate getaway and get lost under the…read morestars. The themed cabins are so cool! Each is personalized with creativity and love. All around, it was a cool stay. Can't wait to go back.

this place is magical and fun and relaxing! loved the mondo trasho room. however at night the water…read moreheater for the shower was struggling and every 3 minutes the water would get cold. that's really the only thing tho. the bed was very comfy but the fitted sheet wouldn't stay on unless you really lifted up the mattress.

Banning Donuts

3.1

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•$

I tried this place because I had a too good to go order. The donuts do not disappoint. The lady who…read moreworks there is nice and a lady of few words so that might be why some might find her rude. But she's always nice with minimal conversation. She hooked me up with a bunch of bars and a hugeeee glazed bun. I keep going back because the donuts always hit the spot.

I enjoy eating their donuts from time to time. Would recommend getting them. Their service is…read morealright, and the ambience isn't the best. Aside from that, I like their donuts

Strawberry Creek Inn

4.1

(146 reviews)

Stayed here with a few friends for a get away and it was so cute! We ended up renting a cabin, and…read moreit was super cute and clean and a great location right next to strawberry creek! Everyone was so friendly here and made our experience even better!

4.5 Stars! (May / Warm 50º - 78ºF)…read moreWhen we arrived, previous guests had a very smokey fire in the room. It was a little difficult for me to get any sleep the first night because of the smoke smell. But airing it out the next day (and a 10mile hike) helped! AS IDYLLWILD STARTER SPOT = 5-stars! If this is your first time to Idyllwild, this is great. Easy to find. Easy to walk to town. Quiet and away from town center. Budget between "cabin" and "hotel" FIRST TIME to Idyllwild. The address is on Hwy 243. Unlike other major roads, it is empty after 8pm - so don't worry that it might be noisy. It's not. On the plus side: If you've never been here, it's very easy to find. But also away from the center of town (but not so far that you can't walk to it) INNKEEPERS & STAFF The innkeepers who greeted us when we arrived and checked us out were very helpful and extremely friendly. There is a small shop for gifts in the lobby area. Some booking services might not have all of the right information. Call the front desk with questions. They are super helpful. PARKING Easy to find and plenty of parking out front ROOMS (Evergreen) We stayed in one of the original (older) rooms. It has been upgraded with new plumbing and a jacuzzi style jet tub alongside the shower. The room is spacious and comfortably fits all of your gear on one side of the room away from the bed. A big hearth in front of the fireplace is perfect for a make-shift table. The drawback to this particular room (Evergreen) is that you are under the stairs to the rooms above. Not terrible, as most people were in by 9pm. But you will hear them creaking up and down when they leave their rooms. You can't hear them in the rooms. There are other rooms that are not connected or under other people's rooms. Clean sheets Clean towels Nice shower (saloon doors on old shower) Separate toilet/tub room. Pillows are a little flat HVAC works well (workers came in to check it while we were there) Fun/Silly books and board games in the room. - Didn't use fireplace - Didn't use television - Just needed a spot to sleep and shower before the next day's adventure. This was perfect +. COMMON SPACES INSIDE; There is a fantastic common space in the main house/lobby. Large long tables for where they used to serve breakfast. (There is no breakfast service: hotel style coffee en suite) The long tables are great for spreading out maps, games, whatever needs a bunch of space outside of your room. OUTSIDE; 1. Back Deck: There's a warm, sunny deck, protected from wind and hwy sounds. Everyone's room opens onto this space. 2. Gazebo: A small 4 seat gazebo is in the southern garden area. With views of the creek area, this is a great spot to take a nice afternoon rest stop. Nice place to sit to read, or sketch, or just close your eyes for a minute and say "I'm NOT asleep". GETTING AROUND: TO TOWN: The inn is a perfect distance from town. About 7-10 minutes to walk, there's a path that leads from the back door of the inn to the edge of town. STRAWBERRY CREEK is what it's all about. Walking this path back and forth to town is FANTASTIC. The path to town might be THE MAIN SELLING POINT OF THE INN. The stairs down to the creek path are a little severe, but the path is VERY easy to walk. Driving to town feels silly = 2 minutes. IDYLLWILD PARK (& Campground) Perimeter Hike (4 miles). Strawberry Creek Inn is a short (2-4 block walk) to the campground. The perimeter trail isn't especially technical (although a little steep in some spots), but it's basically just across the street from the inn.

The Idyllwild Bunkhouse

3.9

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