St. Charles, Idaho, is a hidden lakeside gem adjacent to the Wasatch Range of the Rocky Mountains. It keeps good company around Bear Lake with the charming towns of Garden City and Fish Haven nearby. Whether you’re visiting for a lakeside getaway or planning on hitting the nearby slopes, one thing is for sure: you’ll need somewhere to refuel during your stay.
In this guide, we’ll take you through the best restaurants in St. Charles, including where to enjoy great food and stock up on groceries to keep in your Bear Lake Luxury Rental kitchen.
Bear Lake Munchies
- Price: $$
- Address: 6668 N Beach Rd, St Charles, ID
- Website: Bear Lake Munchies
- What to order: The Dominican-style chicken sandwich.
For one of the best casual dining experiences in St. Charles, you’ll want to stop into Bear Lake Munchies. Bear Lake Munchies is a Caribbean restaurant that specializes in Dominical style sandwiches.
They’re open every day except for Thursday for lunch and dinner, and don’t expect your typical beach shack either- Bear Lake Munchies is famous for having some of the best sandwiches in the United States!
Local favorites include the Dominican-style chicken sandwich, quesadillas, and the carne asada torta. The best part? Everything is made from scratch.
Whether you’re looking to enjoy your sandwiches on one of their picnic tables, order them to-go to eat on the beach, or even take them back to your rental for a fun date night, you’ll love this Caribbean restaurant.
Bear Lake Munchies is located behind North Beach Rentals and Epic Recreation. You won’t want to miss them!
Float On
- Price: $$
- Address: 101 N Beach Rd, St. Charles, ID
- Website: Float On
- What to order: The Pineapple Float or Edible Cookie Dough.
If you’re craving a sweet treat after a day out in the sunshine on Bear Lake’s beaches, Float On is the place to be. Located in a cheerful, blue building adorned with pineapple decorations, Float On is the premium ice cream shop in not just St. Charles but all of Bear Lake!
This sweet creamery doesn’t just stop at traditional ice cream, either. You can take your pick of delicious edible cookie dough or even build your own cookie dough! Some of their cookie dough flavor combinations include the Charlie Brown with Peanut Butter Cup and Reese’s Pieces, and the Belgium, with triple chocolate Belgian Brownie.
Float On’s specialty is, of course, their floats, and you’ll definitely want to give them a try. One of their most popular is the Pineapple Float, but they also have a Hogwarts Butterbeer Float, Georgia Peach Cobbler Float, and several rotating seasonal floats.
Bear Cave
- Price: $
- Address: 554 Main St, St. Charles, ID
- Website: Bear Cave
- What to order: A “Pizza Burger” and Tropical Charlie milkshake.
Bear Cave is another one of the best restaurants in St. Charles that specializes in delicious burgers, fries, and milkshakes. At this beloved, locally owned eatery, you can order from the window and either take your food to go back to your rental, to the lake to enjoy on the beach, or take a seat and enjoy at one of their picnic tables on the outdoor patio.
Although Bear Cave is small, they are expanding every year. Just keep in mind that they are seasonal and only open during the summer.
In addition to burgers, shakes, and fries, Bear Cave also offers tasty snacks like onions and tater tots. Plus, this St. Charles bistro arguably has the best fry sauce in Idaho and Utah combined!
Minnetonka Cafe & Market
- Price: $
- Address: 194 N Main Street, St. Charles, ID
- Website: Minnetonka Market & Cafe
- What to order: A milkshake, and the Chuck Wagon Breakfast Sandwich for breakfast, and a fish basket for dinner.
If you’re craving something other than burgers and fries, you’ll want to check out the Minnetonka Cafe & Market. This cozy, local St. Charles restaurant is open all year long, and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day of the week.
Their breakfast and brunch menu features delicious, classic breakfast plates like the ‘Little Round Up’, which comes with two eggs, hash browns, and toast, the ‘Around The Bend’ biscuits and gravy, and the Busted Bronc Breakfast Burrito.
For lunch and dinner entrees, Minnetonka Cafe serves sandwiches, burgers, chicken strips, fish and shrimp baskets, and Minnetonka Mix tacos, quesadillas, and chimichangas.
You can also enjoy tasty appetizers like fries, tots, and onion rings. The adjoining market is also a great place to pick up minor food items and road trip snacks.
While Minnetonka Market & Cafe may look unassuming from their exterior, this little mom n’ pop market and American restaurant is one of the best restaurants in St. Charles. Minnetonka Market & Cafe is open all year long and has some of the best comfort food you can find on the streets of St. Charles.
Nearby Grocer
One of the things we love so much about St. Charles is how peaceful it is. With that said, the tranquility in St. Charles is a tradeoff for some amenities, which means you will have to venture to the nearest town, Montpelier, to get groceries to cook at your luxury rental.
Broulim’s Grocery
- Address: 130 S 4th St, Montpelier, ID
- Website: Broulim’s.com
It’s only a 20-minute drive from St. Charles to Broulim’s, so you won’t have to go far for groceries and supplies. Broulim’s is a good-sized grocery store and has everything you need to prepare meals during your stay in St. Charles, including a full deli.
Get Ready to Experience St. Charles
Enjoying St. Charles isn’t just about the scenic beauty but also about savoring the simplicity of life. With these tasty and convenient dining and grocery options, you are all set to stay in one of our luxury rentals and explore one of North America’s oldest lakes.
