When most people think of traveling to a national park, they think of hiking, picnics, and outdoor adventures. The beauty of Olympic National Park is that it has all that—and even more. Olympic National Park is well-known for its diverse ecosystems. You can spend your morning hiking through valleys of forests and the evening in a hot spring. What many visitors don’t know is that you can also have some amazing dining experiences in and near the park.

If you’re planning a trip to the Pacific Northwest this summer, don’t miss the foodie paradise that is Olympic National Parks. Below, we’ll highlight our favorite restaurants and the delicacy they’re serving up that is sure to make your mouth water.

The Dining Room at Lake Crescent Lodge

Located just 20 miles from the entrance of Olympic National Park you’ll find Lake Crescent Lodge. The lodge is nestled among the giant fir and hemlock trees along the shore of Lake Crescent.

What your foodie heart is waiting for is The Dining Room at Lake Crescent Lodge. The dining room overlooks Lake Crescent, so you get lakefront views as you enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The farm to fork food focuses on traditional Pacific Northwest cuisine and wine.

For breakfast, you won’t want to miss the Dungeness crab benedict which comes with spinach, poached egg, and Dungeness crab on top of a toasted English muffin and topped with Hollandaise sauce. Dinner can be a multi-course affair with a starter of baked burrata or a house-made clam chowder. For your main, you can’t go wrong with the St. Helen’s ribeye steak, which is served with a house-made steak sauce and crispy fried onions.

After dinner, if you’re looking for a nightcap, you can head over to the Singer Tavern Lounge for a cocktail. 

Springs Restaurant at Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort

A vacation is supposed to be restful, inspiring, and tranquil. You can get all of those things at Olympic National Park, especially if you stay at the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort where you can spend your days soaking in the hot springs and simply relax. Accommodations include private cabins nestled among towering evergreens along the Sol Duc River.

On site, you’ll find The Springs Restaurant which serves up Northwest-inspired cuisine. With your body and mind relaxed and your eyes inspired by the picturesque views of nature surrounding you, it’s time to intrigue your tastebuds.

Start your evening with an appetizer of bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with locally-sourced gorgonzola cheese. For your main dish, you won’t want to miss The Forager, which features seasonal, locally-harvest mushrooms with penne pasta in a roasted garlic, shallot, time, spinach, and roasted tomato sauce. The whole thing is topped with chicken confit to create the perfect main meal.

Sunnyside Cafe at the Log Cabin Resort

Located on Lake Crescent, just 25 miles from the park entrance, the Log Cabin Resort is the perfect place for a quiet, tranquil stay near Olympic National Park. Choose from tent camping sites to full RV hook-ups, to lakeside chalets and log cabins.

At the resort, you’ll find casual lakeside dining at The Sunnyside Cafe, which overlooks Lake Crescent. The cafe is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. On the menu, you’ll find hearty sandwiches, burgers, pizza, and warm Dutch apple pie for dessert. You can also find grab-and-go items at the deli.

A trip to Olympic National Park doesn’t have to mean eating camp store food or homemade sandwiches the entire time you’re here. Instead, you can enjoy chef-prepared meals, locally-sourced ingredients, and Pacific Northwest-inspired cuisine from multiple restaurants. Any foodie is sure to find exactly what they desire to tickle their taste buds. 

Roosevelt Dining Room at Lake Quinault Lodge

On the other side of Olympic National Park, you’ll find Lake Quinault Lodge. This grand and rustic lodge was built in 1926 and has hosted many a famous visitor over the years, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt who stopped by on a fact-finding mission.

His stay inspired the lodge to name its dining room after the historic president. Today, The Roosevelt Dining Room serves up outstanding cuisine while diners enjoy panoramic views of Lake Quinault and the mountains beyond.

In honor of Roosevelt’s visit in 1926, the dining room has put together a menu reminiscent of times gone by. You won’t want to miss Roosevelt’s classic pot roast, which is served with carrots, spinach, smashed red bliss potatoes, and pan gravy. If that’s not to your taste, you can order the seared duck breast, which comes with pearl onions, fingerling potatoes, bing cherries and white balsamic honey for an exceptionally well balanced flavor profile.