The Far Out Guidebook
Food scene
No one comes to Idyllwild for a fancy night out, but if you’re going to have one dinner outside of your questionably-decorated cabin rental, make it at Ferro. The family-run Italian restaurant has a big menu full of Italian staples, and everything is good. The charcuterie, the caesar, and the bolognese all need to hit your table, but it’s the salami and mushroom pizza that you’ll be thinking about the morning after. Also, in a town with a strong back patio game, Ferro’s is the best.
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FERRO
25840 Cedar StNo one comes to Idyllwild for a fancy night out, but if you’re going to have one dinner outside of your questionably-decorated cabin rental, make it at Ferro. The family-run Italian restaurant has a big menu full of Italian staples, and everything is good. The charcuterie, the caesar, and the bolognese all need to hit your table, but it’s the salami and mushroom pizza that you’ll be thinking about the morning after. Also, in a town with a strong back patio game, Ferro’s is the best.
Smack in the center of downtown, this little coffee shop is the place to be from 7-9am, when seemingly the entire town hangs out on the porch to chat about the big news of the day (a.k.a. the weather). They have a decent pastry selection, but we recommend grabbing your coffee and heading somewhere else for breakfast.
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Higher Grounds
54245 N Circle DrSmack in the center of downtown, this little coffee shop is the place to be from 7-9am, when seemingly the entire town hangs out on the porch to chat about the big news of the day (a.k.a. the weather). They have a decent pastry selection, but we recommend grabbing your coffee and heading somewhere else for breakfast.
Idyllwild revolves around hiking and that means breakfast is the most important meal of the day. The little town has tons of options, but Tommy’s needs to be your first stop. Located just a few minutes walk up from downtown, this tiny Swiss restaurant serves a fantastic breakfast with omelettes, homemade rosti (Swiss hash browns), and a great front patio where you can flaunt your dog.
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Tommy's Kitchen
54700 N Circle DrIdyllwild revolves around hiking and that means breakfast is the most important meal of the day. The little town has tons of options, but Tommy’s needs to be your first stop. Located just a few minutes walk up from downtown, this tiny Swiss restaurant serves a fantastic breakfast with omelettes, homemade rosti (Swiss hash browns), and a great front patio where you can flaunt your dog.
Idyllwild is a town that likes to turn in early, but there is one place where things go until 2am and it’s Idyllwild Brewpub. The massive brewery is one of few options when it’s Saturday night and you can’t handle another game of Yahtzee and bad wine with your friends at the house. The place is always packed with people looking to get a little rowdy, drink house-made IPA, and dance to the live honky-tonk band in the corner.
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Idyllwild Brewpub
54423 Village Center DrIdyllwild is a town that likes to turn in early, but there is one place where things go until 2am and it’s Idyllwild Brewpub. The massive brewery is one of few options when it’s Saturday night and you can’t handle another game of Yahtzee and bad wine with your friends at the house. The place is always packed with people looking to get a little rowdy, drink house-made IPA, and dance to the live honky-tonk band in the corner.
If you aren’t really in the mood to drink IPAs all night at the Brewpub, there is another option downtown: Idyll Awhile Wine Shop. The little wine bar seems pretty quiet on the outside, but don’t be fooled. It turns into a party quickly. You can order any wine you want by the glass, but you’re going to want the wine tasting flight, which gets you four very full glasses of wine for $12 total. They have live music five nights a week, and if you get hungry, their charcuterie board is big enough to feed three adults.
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Idyll Awhile Wine Shoppe & Bistro
54245 N Circle DrIf you aren’t really in the mood to drink IPAs all night at the Brewpub, there is another option downtown: Idyll Awhile Wine Shop. The little wine bar seems pretty quiet on the outside, but don’t be fooled. It turns into a party quickly. You can order any wine you want by the glass, but you’re going to want the wine tasting flight, which gets you four very full glasses of wine for $12 total. They have live music five nights a week, and if you get hungry, their charcuterie board is big enough to feed three adults.
Weekend lines at The Town Baker can get a bit unruly, so the trick is to get there early (before 10am), and focus on the grab-and-go pastries. Their cinnamon rolls and sticky buns are massive and the ideal snack for the car ride back down the mountain to reality. If you go on a Sunday, the farmer’s market happens right next door, where you can stock up on produce for the week.
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The Town Baker
54385 N Circle DrWeekend lines at The Town Baker can get a bit unruly, so the trick is to get there early (before 10am), and focus on the grab-and-go pastries. Their cinnamon rolls and sticky buns are massive and the ideal snack for the car ride back down the mountain to reality. If you go on a Sunday, the farmer’s market happens right next door, where you can stock up on produce for the week.
On a summer afternoon, the line for a soft-serve ice cream cone here goes out the door and around the corner. Atomic Cow Creamery also serves sub sandwiches, pizza, and hot dogs. It’s on North Circle Drive, conveniently located right in the middle of downtown.
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Atomic Cow Creamery
54200 N Circle DrOn a summer afternoon, the line for a soft-serve ice cream cone here goes out the door and around the corner. Atomic Cow Creamery also serves sub sandwiches, pizza, and hot dogs. It’s on North Circle Drive, conveniently located right in the middle of downtown.
Located in a historic building from the 1920s, Perry’s Red Kettle started life as an ice cream store. Today, it specializes in hearty breakfasts and lunches. Try the omelet, the buttermilk pancakes, or the breakfast quesadilla for a yummy meal.
The Red Kettle Inn Bed and Breakfast
400 E 4th StLocated in a historic building from the 1920s, Perry’s Red Kettle started life as an ice cream store. Today, it specializes in hearty breakfasts and lunches. Try the omelet, the buttermilk pancakes, or the breakfast quesadilla for a yummy meal.
This family owned pizza joint boasts delicious build-your-own pies, panini & pasta served in casual Italian restaurant in a mountain environment.
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Idyllwild Pizza Company
54391 Village Center DrThis family owned pizza joint boasts delicious build-your-own pies, panini & pasta served in casual Italian restaurant in a mountain environment.
Shops
This little shop specializes in vintage and novelty candies, homemade chocolates and fudge, dipped ice creams, and shaved ice. Whether you have a sweet tooth or not you're sure to love this charming little Idyllwild gem.
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Candy Cupboard
54250 N Circle DrThis little shop specializes in vintage and novelty candies, homemade chocolates and fudge, dipped ice creams, and shaved ice. Whether you have a sweet tooth or not you're sure to love this charming little Idyllwild gem.
This tasting room is a must for coffee lovers. Stop in for a coffee tasting where the owner presents you 3 or 4 different pour-overs on the counter, explaining the flavors and nuances of each roast. Coffee is the name of the game here so you won't find any baked goods but you can walk away with an incredible bag of coffee.
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Black Mountain Coffee Roasters
54425 N Circle DrThis tasting room is a must for coffee lovers. Stop in for a coffee tasting where the owner presents you 3 or 4 different pour-overs on the counter, explaining the flavors and nuances of each roast. Coffee is the name of the game here so you won't find any baked goods but you can walk away with an incredible bag of coffee.
Filled with mountain clothes, cowboy hats, stuffed toys, and sunglasses, Wooley’s offers everything you need as well as a variety of fun souvenirs.
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Wooley's
54274 N Circle DrFilled with mountain clothes, cowboy hats, stuffed toys, and sunglasses, Wooley’s offers everything you need as well as a variety of fun souvenirs.
Stocking up for a picnic? Coyote Red’s Country Gourmet has fun and interesting foods of all kinds. Shop for jellies, jams, hot sauces, honey, jerky, and treats and sweets.
Coyote Red's
54225 N Circle DrStocking up for a picnic? Coyote Red’s Country Gourmet has fun and interesting foods of all kinds. Shop for jellies, jams, hot sauces, honey, jerky, and treats and sweets.
Hiking
Ready for a hike? Mount San Jacinto State Park, which surrounds Idyllwild, has 30 trails to choose from. This may seem overwhelming if you are only in Idyllwild for a short time, in which case we recommend starting at the Idyllwild Nature Center to narrow down the options.
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Mount San Jacinto State Park
25905 CA-243Ready for a hike? Mount San Jacinto State Park, which surrounds Idyllwild, has 30 trails to choose from. This may seem overwhelming if you are only in Idyllwild for a short time, in which case we recommend starting at the Idyllwild Nature Center to narrow down the options.
Located in a beautiful mountain setting, the Idyllwild Nature Center on California Highway 243 combines displays about local nature and wildlife with trailheads for hiking. If you want to picnic, you can do so on the benches outside. If your time is limited, take the Perimeter Trail, which is a beautiful short loop that comes out from the trees to stunning views of the mountains. The Idyllwild Nature Center also offers this detailed map of the area’s trails.
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Idyllwild Nature Center
25225 CA-243Located in a beautiful mountain setting, the Idyllwild Nature Center on California Highway 243 combines displays about local nature and wildlife with trailheads for hiking. If you want to picnic, you can do so on the benches outside. If your time is limited, take the Perimeter Trail, which is a beautiful short loop that comes out from the trees to stunning views of the mountains. The Idyllwild Nature Center also offers this detailed map of the area’s trails.
If you prefer a flat, easy hike out in nature, head to Lake Fulmor. You can walk around it in the company of ground squirrels, tree frogs, butterflies, and noisy jays. This recreation area is good for fishing, since it’s stocked with rainbow trout. It also has picnic tables and restrooms.
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Lake Fulmor Day Use Area
Hall Decker RoadIf you prefer a flat, easy hike out in nature, head to Lake Fulmor. You can walk around it in the company of ground squirrels, tree frogs, butterflies, and noisy jays. This recreation area is good for fishing, since it’s stocked with rainbow trout. It also has picnic tables and restrooms.
Things to Do
If you’re an animal lover, you’ll want to spend an hour at this sanctuary located “just around the bend” from Idyllwild on California Highway 243. Living Free Animal Sanctuary uses its 150 acres to care for rescued animals. Dogs, cats, burros, and wild mustangs call this place home.
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Living Free Animal Sanctuary
54250 Keen Camp RdIf you’re an animal lover, you’ll want to spend an hour at this sanctuary located “just around the bend” from Idyllwild on California Highway 243. Living Free Animal Sanctuary uses its 150 acres to care for rescued animals. Dogs, cats, burros, and wild mustangs call this place home.
The award-winning Idyllwild Area Historical Society is a volunteer organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of the San Jacinto Mountains. Historical Idyllwild is an amazing mix of pioneers, movie stars, developers and Ernie Maxwell's living legacy. The museum is set in an original cabin and contains samples of every era including a display on equipment for Rock climbing from the early 20th century to present. The docents are as fascinating as the stories they relay about the town and mountain. Visit early, then explore the town and parks with fresh insight!
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Idyllwild Area Historical Society
54470 N Circle DrThe award-winning Idyllwild Area Historical Society is a volunteer organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of the San Jacinto Mountains. Historical Idyllwild is an amazing mix of pioneers, movie stars, developers and Ernie Maxwell's living legacy. The museum is set in an original cabin and contains samples of every era including a display on equipment for Rock climbing from the early 20th century to present. The docents are as fascinating as the stories they relay about the town and mountain. Visit early, then explore the town and parks with fresh insight!
Staples
Small grocery/market featuring craft beers, a very good wine selection, organic produce, meats, and grocery.
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Idyllwild Village Market
26000 CA-243Small grocery/market featuring craft beers, a very good wine selection, organic produce, meats, and grocery.
Fairway Market
54411 Village Center DrGrocery and liquor store
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More places to hike
Here are some other hikes to check out while in the Idyllwild area!
Deer Springs Trail to Suicide Rock - 3.3 miles one way
Deer Springs Trail to San Jacinto Peak - 9 miles one way
South Ridge Trail to Tahquitz Peak - 3.9 miles one way
Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail - 38 miles one way