Elisha’s guidebook
My Favorite Restaurants
Full disclosure: I’m a bit of a foodie and even completed culinary school so I tend to like unique takes on food. Spokane has all the usual Red Robin and Olive Garden restaurants, but these are a few of the stand-out local places.
This small downtown restaurant offers a rotating menu of salads, small plates and sides to complement it’s intricate craft cocktail menu. The drinks there are some of the best in Spokane. Their menu changes according to their theme. They also do McRuins, their take on famous fast food items, and street-food-Sunday.
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Ruins
225 West Riverside AvenueThis small downtown restaurant offers a rotating menu of salads, small plates and sides to complement it’s intricate craft cocktail menu. The drinks there are some of the best in Spokane. Their menu changes according to their theme. They also do McRuins, their take on famous fast food items, and street-food-Sunday.
This local pizza place has a lot of unique pizzas on thin, sourdough crust. They have a weekly special that is always great! Some of our favorite items are the Dalton, Kiernan, Fairfield pizzas. The wings are also excellent.
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The Flying Goat
3318 W Northwest BlvdThis local pizza place has a lot of unique pizzas on thin, sourdough crust. They have a weekly special that is always great! Some of our favorite items are the Dalton, Kiernan, Fairfield pizzas. The wings are also excellent.
While this place is excellent for dinner too, it really shines at brunch. Their sourdough bread has a faint walnut flavor and the Bibimbab is a great way to start the day.
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Central Food
1335 W Summit PkwyWhile this place is excellent for dinner too, it really shines at brunch. Their sourdough bread has a faint walnut flavor and the Bibimbab is a great way to start the day.
This high class Italian restaurant is run by a James Beard Nominee, Anne, and you can taste it. Everything I’ve had here, from the eggs to the pasta to the fish has been delectable. I cannot recommend it enough.
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Italia Trattoria
144 S Cannon StThis high class Italian restaurant is run by a James Beard Nominee, Anne, and you can taste it. Everything I’ve had here, from the eggs to the pasta to the fish has been delectable. I cannot recommend it enough.
This Perry District restaurant is really invested in local. All their grains are grown within a few miles of the place! Their breads are unique and very tasty. I suggest the farmers breakfast, which is a unique version of avocado toast and when I want a healthy brunch, it’s perfect! Also, the Perry District has a lot of fun local things to do, so I eat before going to them!
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The Grain Shed
1026 E Newark AveThis Perry District restaurant is really invested in local. All their grains are grown within a few miles of the place! Their breads are unique and very tasty. I suggest the farmers breakfast, which is a unique version of avocado toast and when I want a healthy brunch, it’s perfect! Also, the Perry District has a lot of fun local things to do, so I eat before going to them!
This is a vegan, gluten-free coffee shop that has a wide variety of food and coffee. The waffles are delicious!
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Boots Bakery & Lounge
19 W Main AveThis is a vegan, gluten-free coffee shop that has a wide variety of food and coffee. The waffles are delicious!
Sometimes you just want some Indian food, right? I love the Lamb Boti Kabab. This places is dive-y but delicious.
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Taste of India
3110 N Division StSometimes you just want some Indian food, right? I love the Lamb Boti Kabab. This places is dive-y but delicious.
If you are craving a diner breakfast, this is the place. The prices are cheep, the sections are diverse, the service is quite fast, and there's fresh squeezed orange juice!
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Kalico Kitchen
1829 N Monroe StIf you are craving a diner breakfast, this is the place. The prices are cheep, the sections are diverse, the service is quite fast, and there's fresh squeezed orange juice!
Cochinito
10 N Post StThis place has awesome tacos and even better margaritas.
My Favorite Coffee
Within walking distance, this local coffee shop has a few pastries and outstanding coffee drinks. I suggest the lavender latte and the honey bun if they have it.
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Vessel Coffee Roasters
2823 N Monroe StWithin walking distance, this local coffee shop has a few pastries and outstanding coffee drinks. I suggest the lavender latte and the honey bun if they have it.
There are few of these local coffee shops. They all make truly delicious coffee and other drinks.
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Indaba Coffee
1425 W Broadway AveThere are few of these local coffee shops. They all make truly delicious coffee and other drinks.
Another local chain, they have great bagels and lots of flavored cream cheeses. I love the martini olive and I get a Cafe Genera (dark mocha with orange) whenever I’m there.
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Rocket Bakery
1301 W 14th AveAnother local chain, they have great bagels and lots of flavored cream cheeses. I love the martini olive and I get a Cafe Genera (dark mocha with orange) whenever I’m there.
We have a lot of coffee places and I’m all about them as you can see. This is also a local chain so there are quite a few locations. I love the velvet hammer. So much better then Starbucks!
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Thomas Hammer Coffee Roasters
122 N Wall StWe have a lot of coffee places and I’m all about them as you can see. This is also a local chain so there are quite a few locations. I love the velvet hammer. So much better then Starbucks!
My Favorite Bars
I tend to like upscale or pub style bars, no clubs. (I do know a few good clubs if you want that info - just ask!) But because I personally don't love them, I didn't add them to this list.
This place is run by friends and within walking distance. They have great wine and beer and some appetizers. It’s a great place to chill!
Brandywine - Bar & Bottle Shop
2408 W Northwest BlvdThis place is run by friends and within walking distance. They have great wine and beer and some appetizers. It’s a great place to chill!
This is more of a Bar bar. They have amazing food, and wonderful, unique drinks. The upstairs is more of a pub feel and the downstairs can be more crowded.
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Durkin's Liquor Bar
415 W Main AveThis is more of a Bar bar. They have amazing food, and wonderful, unique drinks. The upstairs is more of a pub feel and the downstairs can be more crowded.
The wine is good, sure, but the view and the fact that it’s only about 40 minutes away is why they made our list.
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Arbor Crest Wine Cellars
4705 N Fruit Hill RdThe wine is good, sure, but the view and the fact that it’s only about 40 minutes away is why they made our list.
My Favorite Dessert Places
A bit of a drive but it’s worth it. Their ice creams are unique flavors and uber creamy. They make the waffle cones fresh so make sure you get one!
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The Scoop
1001 W 25th AveA bit of a drive but it’s worth it. Their ice creams are unique flavors and uber creamy. They make the waffle cones fresh so make sure you get one!
This is a great upscale restaurant but I love to come here for dessert. The prices are reasonable and all of the options are seasonal, delicious and unique. The drinks are delicious also!
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Wild Sage Bistro
916 W 2nd AveThis is a great upscale restaurant but I love to come here for dessert. The prices are reasonable and all of the options are seasonal, delicious and unique. The drinks are delicious also!
This instafamous doughnut place has intricately-decorated mini doughnuts and as a bonus, there’s an Indaba Coffee inside!
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Hello Sugar,
419 N Nettleton StThis instafamous doughnut place has intricately-decorated mini doughnuts and as a bonus, there’s an Indaba Coffee inside!
Nearby Lakes
is about 1 ½ hours from here. There is a great resort on the lake that rents boats etc. It’s one of a few connected lakes and tends to not be as cold as some of the other lakes around.
Gillette Lake
is about 1 ½ hours from here. There is a great resort on the lake that rents boats etc. It’s one of a few connected lakes and tends to not be as cold as some of the other lakes around.
is about 45 minutes from here and a great place to swim. They let dogs swim too! I suggest eating before though because there tends to be a lot of bees.
Bear Lake
is about 45 minutes from here and a great place to swim. They let dogs swim too! I suggest eating before though because there tends to be a lot of bees.
About a 45 minute drive, CDA is a huge lake with a resort and large beachfront park. It’s also a mid-sized city with lots of shopping and restaurants. I suggest getting a Hudson burger. It’s a classic burger, just made one way and fresh as can be.
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Coeur d'Alene City Park
504 East Front AvenueAbout a 45 minute drive, CDA is a huge lake with a resort and large beachfront park. It’s also a mid-sized city with lots of shopping and restaurants. I suggest getting a Hudson burger. It’s a classic burger, just made one way and fresh as can be.
Nearby Hikes
Just east of the CDA resort is Tubbs hill. It’s a great hike and there are a lot of little rock beaches if you are looking for a more secluded beach experience.
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Tubb's Hill
208 S 3rd StJust east of the CDA resort is Tubbs hill. It’s a great hike and there are a lot of little rock beaches if you are looking for a more secluded beach experience.
This is about 30 minutes away and a great, shorter, lower impact hike. However, it does require a discover pass, so make sure you get one!
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Indian Painted Rocks Trailhead
5626-5742 W Rutter PkwyThis is about 30 minutes away and a great, shorter, lower impact hike. However, it does require a discover pass, so make sure you get one!
This is just a few minutes away and a great little hike with lots of picnic areas and a lovely bridge.
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Bowl and Pitcher
This is just a few minutes away and a great little hike with lots of picnic areas and a lovely bridge.
Just a few minutes away with a breathtaking view of Spokane, this is a great place to walk the dog!
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Palisades Park
Just a few minutes away with a breathtaking view of Spokane, this is a great place to walk the dog!
Local Shopping
Named after the character in "To Kill A Mockingbird," who collected unusual and sometimes wacky items, this novelty shop is a one-of-a-kind trip to visit! Not to mention it’s downtown where all the big retailers are!
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Boo Radley's
232 N Howard StNamed after the character in "To Kill A Mockingbird," who collected unusual and sometimes wacky items, this novelty shop is a one-of-a-kind trip to visit! Not to mention it’s downtown where all the big retailers are!
This place has excellent vintage finds including a large section of clothes. The entire strip of Monroe from Vessel to here is speckled with antique and vintage stores with a lot of interesting pieces.
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Boulevard Mercantile
1012 North Washington StreetThis place has excellent vintage finds including a large section of clothes. The entire strip of Monroe from Vessel to here is speckled with antique and vintage stores with a lot of interesting pieces.
When you get sick of Safeway, Main Market is downtown and has a great selection of local and organic products including seasonal produce and local meats
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Main Market Co-op
44 W Main AveWhen you get sick of Safeway, Main Market is downtown and has a great selection of local and organic products including seasonal produce and local meats
This place has a great section of organic products including Ellenos yogurt, a poke bar, and local macaroons!
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My Fresh Basket
1030 W Summit PkwyThis place has a great section of organic products including Ellenos yogurt, a poke bar, and local macaroons!