13 Best Restaurants in Lake Placid, NY: My Top Places to Eat in 2026
For such a small mountain town, Lake Placid actually has a pretty varied food scene. Now, I’m definitely one to pick favorites (especially when it comes to coffee shops, but that’s covered in a different guide!), however I've also found that there are restaurant options here that cater to a wide variety of cuisines and vibes.
Casual cafes? Check. Elevated dining experiences? Check. Terraces where you can eat with a view? Oh, absolutely check. From a brewery with the best pizza in the Adirondacks (a bold claim, I know) to a farm-to-table restaurant tucked into the hills of Keene, to a deli with 46 sandwiches named after the 46 High Peaks - you’ll find a little bit of everything in the Lake Placid area.
This guide covers my personal top restaurant & cafe picks across every meal of the day - breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, and everything in between. After growing up nearby in the Adirondacks and spending heaps of time in Lake Placid for both work and play, I’ve eaten my fair share of food here! This is the curated list I would highly recommend to anyone. Let’s get into it!
Table of Contents
Introduction
Best Breakfast & Lunch in Lake Placid
Best Dinner Restaurants
Best Coffee & Bakeries
FAQ
Final Thoughts
Best Breakfast & Lunch in Lake Placid
1. The Breakfast Club, etc.
The Breakfast Club, etc. is my go-to brunch spot in Lake Placid, they have such an extensive menu of breakfast items. My personal favorite order is the black forest ham with cheddar röstis - crispy potatoes and eggs in a cast iron skillet that are bubbling and golden. This is exactly the savory breakfast dish that you want after a morning hike, or at least I do!
I'm always very tempted by the breakfast sandwiches, the breakfast burrito, and the buttermilk pancakes as well. Can you tell I LOVE breakfast?! They also have healthier smoothie bowls if that's more your vibe. There is definitely something for every type of breakfast palate on the menu.
Takeaway röstis - my fav!
(Exterior image via Tripadvisor)
2. Soulshine Bagels
This downtown Lake Placid bagel spot deserves a highlight not only because the bagels are delicious, but also because it’s the only homemade bagel place in the area. Lake Placid is lucky to have them! Soulshine Bagels is a perfect pre-hike (or even post-hike) fuel stop. They’re well-known for their rainbow bagels, but have so much variety to choose from - even some gluten free options. Plus, everything is baked fresh each and every morning.
3. Big Mountain Deli & Crêperie
Big Mountain Deli & Crêperie not only has delicious sweet and savory crepes, breakfast sandwiches and breakfast burritos, but is also one of my top lunch spots in Lake Placid. They get major bonus points for playing into the area’s claim to fame. They have a menu of 46 sandwiches, each one named after one of the 46 Adirondack High Peaks.
Some of my top sandwich picks are the “Macomb” (maple honey ham, cheddar, apple onion relish, and cracked pepper mayo) and the “Marcy” (roast turkey, cranberry horseradish sauce, cheddar, apple, and cracked pepper mayo), but honestly I think anything from their menu would be delicious.
(Image via Tripadvisor)
4. West Shore BBQ
I’m including this spot because I’ve been reading rave reviews about it everywhere and it’s been added to my must-visit-immediately list. West Shore BBQ serves up Texas style BBQ right in Lake Placid! Think pulled pork sandwiches, brisket plates, potato salad, mac & cheese…the whole nine yards.
They’re open on very limited dates - only on Thursdays and Fridays (11am-3pm) in summer and fall - so if this is a spot you’d like to try, plan accordingly!
Best Dinner Restaurants in Lake Placid
5. Big Slide Brewery & Public House
Big Slide Brewery is my personal favorite spot right in Lake Placid - and the pizza is the main reason. It's some of thebest pizza I've had in the Adirondacks, which is not something I say lightly! I’m a creature of habit and always order the “boomer” on gluten free crust, but it’s all delicious.
They have tons of other menu items besides pizza, as well - burgers, salads, even poutine! The beer tap menu rotates regularly (I've loved their sours and hefeweizens in the past), and the brewery’s vibe is perfect for a post-hike evening: laid-back yet lively. The outdoor patio is dog-friendly too, which is always a win in my book.
The “boomer” pizza
(Image via Tripadvisor)
6. Smoke Signals
Smoke Signals is a BBQ spot with an awesome view - and on a warm evening, the terrace overlooking Mirror Lake is just about as good as it gets in downtown Lake Placid. I've tried a few different dishes, and you really can't go wrong here: the pulled pork sandwich is super tasty, as is the smoked chicken cordon bleu, and next time I plan to try the BBQ tacos - they sound amazing.
Get a seat on the outdoor terrace facing the lake if you can! I will admit that the prices here are a bit on the high side, but I think it’s worth it especially when paired with the scenic seating.
View from the Smoke Signals terrace
7. Lisa G's
Lisa G's sits alongside the river as you drive into downtown Lake Placid, so it’s a lovely setting that’s still walkable from pretty much anywhere. Their menu is deemed “creative American fare with global twists,” and that’s a title that absolutely fits. The flavor combinations here are always interesting, in a good way. I once ordered a pizza with green beans (among other things) on it, which sounds odd at first, but it was incredibly tasty. Since things on the menu rotate, I'm currently very intrigued by the pork lettuce wraps and the fried chicken sandwich.
Also, the outdoor waterside seating is really where it’s at, if you can snag a spot! Their patio is dog-friendly, which again gets major bonus points from me.
8. Dack Shack (sister spot to Big Mountain Deli)
A completely different concept from Big Mountain Deli, despite sharing the same ownership. The Dack Shack menu is totally unique, described as home-cooked cuisine with gastro-pub, Asian, Caribbean and American influences. From what I've had, it's a delicious spot with lots of variety.
My top picks would be the Maine lobster rolls (I love a good lobster roll), the hot honey brussels and the fish tacos. To be totally fair, everything on their menu looks 10/10 though, even beyond what I've tried personally.
9. Salt of the Earth Bistro
As one of the most highly rated dinner options in Lake Placid, Salt of the Earth Bistro is very much on my personal to-do list - I'm dying to try this one. Reservations are highly encouraged. The reviews are always glowing, with a highly curated and rotating bistro menu of “twisted foods from traditional roots,” featuring lots of locally-sourced ingredients, served in their cozy cottage-like location. I'll update this entry once I've finally made my way there!
10. The Cottage at Mirror Lake Inn
This one is slightly less about the food and more about the experience - though the chili I ordered there was quite good. The Cottage at Mirror Lake Inn is where you go for drinks with friends and a view that's hard to beat anywhere in Lake Placid.
The setting on Mirror Lake is beautiful and elevated, while the food is on the casual side. They do not take reservations, so you can add yourself to a waitlist if you show up and they’re full. In the winter season, this would be a perfect après-ski spot.
(Image via Tripadvisor)
11. Forty Six (in Keene)
About 20 minutes from Lake Placid in the town of Keene, Forty Six is my personal favorite restaurant in the entire area. Although it requires a car ride to get there, it’s absolutely worth the short (and very scenic) drive from town.
The menu is small but highly curated, pulling from locally-sourced, farm-to-table ingredients. Every time I’ve eaten here with others, we end up talking about how delicious the meal was for days after. Make a reservation if you have your heart set on eating here, especially during peak seasons.
Best Coffee & Bakeries in Lake Placid
12. Capisce Coffee
The best coffee in the Lake Placid area, and one of my favorite cafes anywhere in the Adirondacks. I cannot rave about Capisce Coffee enough. The espresso drinks are absolutely wonderful, they always have rotating seasonal specials, and the sandwiches for breakfast and lunch are delicious too - making it a perfect stop for more than just a caffeine fix.
It's on Cascade Road just outside of downtown, so you'll need to walk a little further to get there (or drive, they have their own parking lot), but it's 100% worth the stop.
>> For my full coffee shops guide: 5 Best Coffee Shops in Lake Placid, NY
13. Bluesberry Bakery
A small downtown bakery with some of the most delicious baked goods in Lake Placid. Pop into Bluesberry Bakery for takeaway goodies for later, or just a quick bite on your stroll through town. I have a very specific memory as to why I love this spot…
On one hike a few years ago, we grabbed some of their cake pops to bring with us, and ate them at the top of the mountain after the climb. They were SO moist and delicious - truly the perfect reward at the summit. And why not have locally-made baked goods at the top of a mountain instead of standard trail snacks? So much better!
(Image via Bluesberry Bakery’s Facebook)
FAQ
Q: What is the best restaurant in Lake Placid, NY?
A: Big Slide Brewery is my personal pick - the pizza is the best in the area and the vibe is exactly right for a Lake Placid evening. But if you're willing to drive 20 minutes to Keene, Forty Six is the best overall meal in the region. Farm-to-table, locally sourced, and consistently excellent.
Q: Where should I eat breakfast in Lake Placid?
A: The Breakfast Club is my top pick for a proper brunch. Soulshine Bagels is the move if you want something quick and tasty before a hike. Capisce Coffee is the best for breakfast sandwiches alongside an absolutely delicious coffee. Their espresso beverages are my favorite in the entire Adirondacks region.
Q: Is there good food in Lake Placid?
A: Yes! Better than you might expect for a small mountain town. The range is surprisingly varied and only getting better with time: delicious pizza at Big Slide, creative comfort food at Lisa G's, BBQ with a lake view at Smoke Signals, and one of the best farm-to-table restaurants just down the road in Keene. You definitely won't go hungry or get bored with the choices.
Q: Where can I eat with a view in Lake Placid?
A: Smoke Signals has arguably one of the best outdoor terraces with a direct Mirror Lake view - go on a warm nice weather evening if you can. The Cottage at Mirror Lake Inn is another great option for drinks and casual bites with a direct lake view, sitting essentially right on the water. Both are great, and have very different offerings.
Q: Are there good coffee shops in Lake Placid?
A: My favorite topic! Yes, absolutely. Capisce Coffee is always my top recommendation, but for the full breakdown of every worthwhile coffee shop in the area, check out my dedicated guide: 5 Best Coffee Shops in Lake Placid, NY
Final Thoughts
Lake Placid's food scene is actually one of the things I look forward to most about visiting - and honestly that’s equally fueled by the fact that I’m usually starving after a nice long hike, and the food options here are super delicious.
Between Big Slide's pizzas, the Breakfast Club's röstis, Dack Shack's lobster rolls, and those Bluesberry Bakery cake pops (always save room for the cake pops!) - there are some really solid food options right in town. I would recommend all of these spots without hesitation whether you’re a first time visitor or coming back to Lake Placid for the hundredth time.
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