What to Eat Near Multnomah Falls: Best Restaurants, Breweries, and Food Stops in the Columbia River Gorge
Whether you’re fueling up before a waterfall hike or looking for the perfect place to celebrate after a day in the Columbia River Gorge, knowing where to eat near Multnomah Falls can make or break your trip. The gorge has transformed over the last decade into a legitimate food destination, with farm-to-table restaurants, craft breweries, fruit stands, and casual spots that locals love. Here’s your complete guide to the best places to eat near Multnomah Falls — from quick coffee stops on the way out of Portland to sit-down dinners in Hood River.
Eating At Multnomah Falls Itself
The historic Multnomah Falls Lodge, built in 1925, sits right at the base of the falls and houses both a full-service restaurant and a casual snack bar. The lodge restaurant is the only place in Oregon where you can dine with a 620-foot waterfall as your view. Expect Pacific Northwest classics — smoked salmon chowder, wild mushroom dishes, locally sourced trout, and a surprisingly good wine list featuring Columbia Gorge AVA producers. Reservations are strongly recommended on weekends and during summer.
If you’re in a hurry, the lodge’s snack bar serves espresso, sandwiches, soft-serve, and baked goods — perfect for grabbing something quick before heading out to your next waterfall stop.
Quick Stops On The Way From Portland
The drive from Portland to Multnomah Falls is roughly 30 miles along I-84 or the Historic Columbia River Highway. Several spots along the way deserve a detour:
Migration Brewing Gresham Station sits at the eastern edge of Portland’s metro area and makes an ideal first or last stop. Their outdoor patio is massive, the beer is sharp, and their kitchen puts out solid pub fare — fried chicken sandwiches, smash burgers, wood-fired pizzas. On warm evenings, it’s one of the best places in the region to end a gorge day.
Corbett Country Market, just off the Historic Highway, is the closest thing to a neighborhood store on the waterfall corridor. Grab sandwiches, snacks, and cold drinks to take on the road. It’s also a handy last-chance stop for essentials before you enter the more remote stretches of the gorge.
Sugarpine Drive-In in Troutdale sits along the Sandy River and has become one of the most beloved food stops in the region. Their soft-serve menu rotates seasonally, they make excellent hot sandwiches, and the riverside picnic tables are hard to beat on a sunny day. If you’re taking the Historic Highway route, plan to stop here.
Hood River: The Food Capital Of The Gorge
Hood River, about 30 minutes east of Multnomah Falls, is where the gorge’s food scene really comes alive. The town has become a destination in its own right, drawing visitors for its breweries, distilleries, and a farm-to-table restaurant culture fed by the surrounding orchards and vineyards.
Pfriem Family Brewers is the gorge’s most celebrated brewery and a required stop for beer lovers. Belgian-inspired ales, a full food menu with elevated pub classics, and a tasting room with waterfront views of the Columbia River. Their IPA and pilsner are consistently ranked among the best in the state.
Solstice Wood Fire Pizza serves some of the best pizza in Oregon, using local ingredients and a wood-fired oven. The Cherry Bomb pizza, featuring Hood River cherries, is a summer must.
Celilo Restaurant is the Hood River’s long-standing fine-dining option — seasonal Pacific Northwest menu, excellent wine program, and intimate downtown setting. Best for a celebratory dinner after a full day of waterfall exploration.
Broder Øst brings Scandinavian breakfast and brunch to downtown Hood River. Their aebleskivers (Danish pancake balls) and Swedish hash are legendary among regulars.
Fruit Stands And Farm Stops Along The Fruit Loop
The Hood River Fruit Loop is a 35-mile scenic drive through the Hood River Valley’s orchards, farms, and wineries. From late spring through fall, fruit stands open up along the route selling cherries, pears, apples, peaches, berries, and lavender. Many farms also have tasting rooms, cideries, and cafés on site.
Apple Valley Country Store is famous for their huckleberry milkshakes and homemade pies. Packer Orchards makes fresh fruit turnovers that are worth the drive alone. Draper Girls Country Farm offers u-pick fruit in season and a great farm stand with cider, jams, and local cheese.
Casual Eats Near The Gorge
Not every meal has to be a destination. A few casual spots worth knowing:
Cascade Locks Ale House in Cascade Locks serves hearty pub food and local beer, right near the Bridge of the Gods. A good stop if you’re exploring the eastern waterfall corridor or continuing toward the Hood River.
Thunder Island Brewing, also in Cascade Locks, has a riverside patio with direct views of the Columbia. Their beer is excellent and the food menu leans into smoked meats and Pacific Northwest comfort food.
Mike’s Ice Cream in Hood River has been serving scoops for decades. Get it after dinner and walk the riverfront.
Food For Picnics And Hiking
If you’re planning to eat on the trail or at a viewpoint, several options make great picnic companions:
Pick up sandwiches from Andrew’s Pizza and Bakery in Hood River, or grab a loaded deli box from Stoked Roasters. For something more upscale, The Ruddy Duck does great grab-and-go options including their famous bahn mi.
Good picnic spots include the lawn below Multnomah Falls Lodge, the viewpoints along Crown Point, and the riverfront parks in Cascade Locks and Hood River.
What About Coffee?
The gorge has become a genuine coffee destination. Stoked Roasters in Hood River is the anchor — a local roaster with multiple cafés and consistently excellent coffee. Ground Espresso Bar serves great pour-overs and breakfast sandwiches. In Troutdale, Sugarpine doubles as a coffee stop for folks taking the Historic Highway into the gorge.
Planning Your Waterfall And Food Day
The easiest way to fit both waterfalls and great food into a single day is to let someone else handle the driving and logistics. A guided tour means you skip the parking headaches, the timed-use permit system at Multnomah Falls, and the stress of navigating between stops — and you can actually enjoy a beer at Pfriem or a glass of wine at the lodge without worrying about the drive back to Portland.
Skip the permit hassle and the designated-driver problem — book a Waterfall Shuttle tour and we’ll handle the routing, permits, and parking so you can focus on the waterfalls and the food. We know every great stop along the way, and we’re happy to build your food preferences into the day.