14 Scenic Oregon Small-Town Restaurants You’ll Be Glad You Stopped For

Oregon’s small towns hide restaurants that turn any stop into a memorable experience, combining delicious food with stunning scenery.

From mountain vistas to riverside views, each spot offers a feast for both the eyes and the palate.

Locals and travelers alike know that pausing here rewards more than just hunger. It’s a chance to enjoy fresh flavors, warm hospitality, and charming settings.

These restaurants prove that the journey and the destination can be equally delightful.

1. Bowpicker Fish & Chips (Astoria)

Housed in an old fishing boat that never leaves dry land, this Astoria icon serves just one thing: albacore tuna fish and chips. No cod or halibut here!

Lines form early for their beer-battered tuna, fried to golden perfection and served in paper baskets.

The nautical-themed converted gillnet boat sits across from the Columbia River Maritime Museum, making it an easy landmark to spot.

2. Wayfarer Restaurant & Lounge (Cannon Beach)

Floor-to-ceiling windows frame Haystack Rock like a postcard at this oceanfront gem. Morning fog rolls dramatically across the beach while you sip coffee and dig into fluffy crab omelets.

Locals swear by the seafood chowder that’s loaded with clams, shrimp, and fish.

Come at sunset when the dining room glows golden and the silhouette of Haystack Rock creates a dramatic backdrop for fresh Pacific Northwest cuisine.

3. Driftwood Restaurant & Lounge (Cannon Beach)

Family-owned since 1944, this Cannon Beach landmark has weathered coastal storms and changing culinary trends without losing its charm.

Knotty pine walls and vintage fishing gear create a cozy atmosphere that feels like stepping into old Oregon.

Razor clams, when in season, are a must-order specialty. The restaurant sits just steps from the beach, making it perfect for post-sunset strolls after enjoying their famous seafood platters and homemade bread.

4. Pelican Brewing – Pacific City (Pacific City)

Sand literally meets the dining room at this beachfront brewery where tables face a panoramic view of Cape Kiwanda and haystack rock.

Surfers catch waves just yards from your table while you sample award-winning craft beers. The fish tacos pair perfectly with their Kiwanda Cream Ale.

Grab a window seat during winter storm season when massive waves crash against the cape, creating nature’s dinner theater while you stay warm inside with comfort food.

5. The Schooner Restaurant & Lounge (Netarts)

Tucked along tiny Netarts Bay, this unassuming roadhouse serves oysters so fresh they were likely harvested from the waters visible through the windows that morning.

Fourth-generation oyster farmers supply this local favorite. Fishing boats bob in the bay while you crack into Dungeness crab caught just offshore.

The modest exterior hides a warm interior where families have celebrated special occasions for decades, and the seafood-forward menu changes with what’s running in local waters.

6. Kyllo’s Seafood & Grill (Lincoln City)

Perched dramatically over the surf, Kyllo’s glass-walled dining room makes you feel like you’re floating above the Pacific.

Winter storm watching becomes a spectator sport as waves crash below while you stay warm inside. Their garlic-butter clams disappear from plates in record time.

The second-story location provides uninterrupted ocean panoramas, making even a simple lunch feel special. Don’t miss their happy hour when locals fill the bar for sunset views and fish tacos.

7. Tidal Raves (Depoe Bay)

Whale watching meets fine dining at this cliffside restaurant where binoculars sit ready on windowsills. Gray whales often surface right outside the panoramic windows, creating impromptu dining entertainment.

The seafood stew brims with local catches simmered in saffron broth.

Built into the rocky shoreline, the restaurant offers such close-up ocean views that during storm season, wave spray occasionally mists the windows, adding dramatic flair to your meal.

8. Gracie’s Sea Hag (Depoe Bay)

Legendary owner Gracie welcomes visitors with salty charm at this kitschy seafood institution.

The walls overflow with quirky maritime artifacts collected over 60+ years, creating a museum-like atmosphere where every visit reveals something new.

Their clam chowder recipe remains unchanged since 1963. The restaurant’s harbor location means fishing boats visible through the windows likely delivered your dinner that morning.

Regulars come as much for the colorful atmosphere and local characters as they do for the classic seafood.

9. The Waterfront Depot (Florence)

Housed in a rescued 1920s train station, this riverside gem combines historic charm with water views. The building itself was saved from demolition and moved to its current location overlooking the Siuslaw River.

Crab-encrusted halibut steals the show on their locally-focused menu. Watch fishing boats navigate the river as you dine in what was once the ticket office.

Despite its upscale food, the atmosphere remains casual and quintessentially coastal Oregon.

10. The Drift Inn (Yachats)

Musical instruments hang from the ceiling at this eclectic spot where spontaneous jam sessions sometimes break out during dinner.

The 1929 building has been everything from a hospital to a dance hall before becoming a beloved eatery.

Marionberry cobbler, served warm with local ice cream, caps off meals of fresh seafood. Colorful local art covers nearly every wall surface.

The sprawling, rambling layout reveals new dining nooks and crannies with each visit, making it feel like a treasure hunt with food.

11. Luna Sea Fish House (Yachats)

Captain Luna himself might be your server at this dock-to-dish spot where the owner still fishes for what’s on your plate.

The tiny blue building looks unassuming until you taste the fish tacos made with whatever was caught that morning.

Blackboard menus change daily based on what the boats brought in. Photos of fishing adventures line the walls, and the captain-owner loves sharing stories of particularly memorable catches.

The fish and chips come wrapped in paper with homemade tartar sauce that locals buy by the pint.

12. Clearwater Restaurant (Newport)

Glass walls showcase the working waterfront at this sleek spot built on historic pilings over Yaquina Bay.

Sea lions bark on nearby docks while commercial fishing vessels unload their catches just yards from your table.

The Dungeness crab mac and cheese elevates comfort food to art form. Built directly over the water, the restaurant offers views of the iconic Newport Bridge from nearly every table.

Fishing boats passing underneath sometimes wave to diners as they head out to sea.

13. Georgie’s Beachside Grill (Newport)

Front-row seats to the Pacific come standard at this restaurant where every table has an ocean view. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame crashing waves against Yaquina Head Lighthouse in the distance.

Their seafood cioppino brims with local catches in tomato-saffron broth. The circular dining room ensures nobody misses out on the panorama.

During winter storm season, waves crash dramatically against the protective seawall while you dine in cozy comfort just feet from the churning Pacific.

14. Cascade Dining Room at Timberline Lodge (Government Camp)

Massive timber beams soar overhead in this historic mountain lodge dining room where scenes from ‘The Shining’ were filmed.

Sitting at 6,000 feet elevation on Mount Hood, snowdrifts often reach second-story windows in winter. Breakfast buffets feature salmon hash and huckleberry pancakes after early morning skiing.

The stone fireplace crackles welcome after mountain adventures. Built by Depression-era craftsmen, the rustic elegance of this national historic landmark makes every meal feel like dining inside living Oregon history.