While staying in a campground just outside of Boone we decided to start our day in the Banner Elk…read morearea. After looking at our choices of restaurants for breakfast we chose Bella's, our wait was as long as it took to wipe down a table across from the side entrance. The hostess was very outgoing and struck up a conversation while leading us to our table, our server continued the hospitality as she took our drink order and made a few recommendations. The restaurant was busy being it was nearly filled but it appeared like us no one waited on anything the service here was outstanding. We both order different versions of the egg plate one with two eggs over medium, link sausage, creamy grits and an over-size biscuit, the other one egg scrambled, fresh made home fries, country ham and a biscuit. The food was outstanding and delivered to our table hot from the kitchen just waiting for a fresh pat of real butter for the grits and biscuits. I'm sure there are lots of breakfast options in the area but we loved our choice. This is definitely a restaurant I'd visit again when in the area...

This was my second time visiting Bella's Breakfast & Lunch. We were able to seat our selves, and…read morethere was no wait. Autumn was our server. She was nice. The other server called out that morning, so Autumn was responsible for everyone there. It looked like the cook was also the food runner. Service was very slow as a result, which we did not blame on Autumn. She was working non-stop. I wonder if management could have helped them out. The food was decent. I would try it again.

This was our first day in the area so we stopped in this place. I have to say that when we were…read morefirst seated and looked around I wasn't too sure if I wanted to stay. It was old where we were sitting, and everything could use a deep cleaning. But since we were tired and hungry we stayed. Despite the surroundings I'm glad we did. I had the tastiest margarita pizza. The crust was perfection and the flavor was outrageously good. My husband really enjoyed his Reuben sandwich. He had fries with his sandwich. Overall it was a great experience!! Our server was friendly and checked on us several times. This place has excellent potential as far as the food is concerned. They just need to clean up a bit and it would be a lot more appealing.

We stopped for breakfast and Katherine, our waitress was amazing! She definitely made our visit…read moreperfect! Of course, I ordered the Eggs Benedict. When you see the picture, you will find a reason to race here for breakfast! As always, I asked for extra Hollandaise! I always order my hash browns crispy so I can dip them in my Hollandaise. I get my eggs hard boiled. The entire experience is perfection with every bite smothered in Hollandaise! Thanks again, Katherine, for making my breakfast a glorious mean instead of just filling my tummy! MOST SINCERELY, Dayla

amazing staff, perfect drive there and stunning scenery while we ate! not to mention great food!…read moreblack and blue burger, peanut butter burger and a chicken quesadilla. they allow pets on the patio too!!

First off, the ambiance is a 5 star. Just an FYI, this is at a golf course. This means that the…read morefood is made quickly. Golfers desire quick and easy meals. The food looks presentable but the food is cooked from frozen. It wasn't terrible but know what you are getting before. It's a 50/50 choice to patronize.

Fine dining in the mountains, and some of the best dishes and food at this elevation!…read more This place hits on all levels if you're in the mood for a great evening out. Elegant inside and out, friendly service and top notch food. We sat at the bar and our bartender took care of us all evening. Had one of the best old fashioned's in the area. He knows his stuff! The food was fine dining at its best. A garlic buttered escargot with puff pastry just melts in your mouth. Lobster bisque full of flavor and full of, well, lobster, and a ton of it. I have to say, the extra touch to the tasty French onion soup was a talking point all evening...it came with dedicated scissors so you could cut the cheese. What an amazing touch. And they sure did help lol. The center cut medium rare filet mignon paired with some frites was definitely the showstopper this evening. Thick, tender and juicy...one of the best steaks on all levels. Whenever we're in town and want an elegant evening out, this is the spot!

Stonewalls Restaurant was one of the more pleasant surprises during my time in Banner Elk. It's a…read morebeautiful restaurant, and I had been looking forward to dining there for quite some time. From the moment we arrived, the staff was warm, welcoming, and attentive. The atmosphere, however, felt a little mixed. The restaurant seemed to have two distinct personalities. The newer side, where the bar is located, felt polished and cohesive, while the older dining room--where we were seated because it had more availability--felt like it hadn't quite received the same attention. The lighting on that side of the restaurant was particularly harsh, which made the dining room feel less intimate than it could have been. Since it's also the larger and busier dining space, I think small touches like candles on the tables or softer lighting would go a long way toward creating a warmer, more personal atmosphere. I also noticed an interesting contrast between the beautiful leather-bound menus and some of the furniture and wall décor, which felt more reminiscent of a hotel dining room than the upscale mountain restaurant the food suggested. Thankfully, the meal more than made up for those observations. I ordered the wild mushroom pasta with lobster, and it was the standout dish of the evening. The pasta was rich without feeling heavy, the mushrooms added wonderful depth, and the lobster was cooked beautifully. It's a dish I'd gladly order again. My boyfriend ordered a steak, which he thoroughly enjoyed. We also started with the escargot and the crab cakes. The escargot, while not quite on the level of some traditional French restaurants I've visited, was still very well prepared and enjoyable. The crab cakes were outstanding--full of crab, nicely seasoned, and easily one of the best appetizers of the meal. Our only complaint was that there was only one crab cake on the plate; we both found ourselves wishing there had been another. Overall, Stonewalls Restaurant delivered an excellent meal with genuinely welcoming service. While I'd love to see the older dining room updated to better match the quality of the cuisine, the food alone makes it well worth a visit if you're in Banner Elk.

Ooh the food, service and the ambiance were wonderful! Such authentic Thai food and the sushi in…read moreour bento box was amazing!

Everything we experienced in Banner Elk was fun. It's a laid-back, funky, slightly Bohemian place…read morewith good food. We enjoyed our meals at the Bayou Banner Elk...especially the meatloaf! Ask for Stephanie as your server...she was delightful. The Tavern was yummy, too. The ice cream and service at Mint to BE was a high spot in our overindulgences...make a point to stop there, too! We love love love Banner Elk!

This little coffee shop is a must if you are visiting Banner Elk!…read moreI don't usually drink coffee but my husband has to have it. They make something for everyone with homemade treats as well. There may be a line - but it's worth the wait!

Coffee Shop No. 491 Fred and Larry's Coffee…read moreBanner Elk, NC April 7, 2025 This is my second time visiting Fred and Larry's Coffee Shop in Banner Elk, North Carolina. The first time was September 13, 2021; the ending stages of COVID so customers were not allowed in the shop. I ended up drinking coffee outside with three local gentlemen; one of the them was Larry. He is an owner and a Marine Veteran. We had some good laughs and I learned a lot about Banner Elk and the surrounding area. After visiting Fred and Larry's Coffee the first time, I realized I wanted to make exploring local coffee shops a part of my life; and here I am almost 500 coffee shops later. On my second trip I enjoyed a cortado while relaxing on Fred and Larry's big comfy leather couch. The barista was super friendly. She is definitely an incredible asset to the shop. Thank you Fred and Larry for making delicious coffee and providing a relaxing setting to meet new people and dream up new adventures in life. Enjoying life one cortado at a time!

We happened to be lucky enough to be spending a couple of days close to this gem of a coffee shop…read more We stopped in the first day because I heard someone in the lobby of hotel mention she was enjoying a Peanut Butter & Jelly Latte from the shop nearby. We walked over and we were so glad we did! By PB&J Iced Latte was so good! The cold foam on top was so yummy and the drink really did taste like a PB&J. The Iced Chai was also delish! It was spicy and not overly sweet. We stopped by before we left town the next day - for one more PB&J Latte, another Chai as well as the Blackberry Lemonade and a few baked treats for the road. The Blackberry Lemonade was a fun drink - icey and refreshing! (It was pretty sweet, but also tart - really good) The staff were SO welcoming (especially the sweetest baby ever at the register ) Everyone behind the counter was smiling and actively working which is why our drinks were ready fairly quickly both days despite the crowd. The shop had fun little gifts and stickers which tempted us while we waited. We were happy to see so many Gluten Free treat options - they were all individually wrapped which made them even safer for our son with celiac. This is a great place - we will definitely stop in next time we are in the area!

I wanted to love this spot, as it seemed cute! I think we stopped in at a bad time and they were…read moreSLAMMED. We ended up just ordering coffee, and although the line moved pretty quickly, it took quite awhile to get our drinks, and one came out way later than the other. We sat in chair in the back and it was pretty comfortable. On a quieter day, I think you could sit and check emails here or chat with a friend. We had hoped to order food as well, but they were out of a lot of items and warned that egg bites would take 15+ mins to make, so we passed on that. Overall, I'd give it another chance, as the coffee was enjoyable. Felt like they were caught a little off guard that day.

This place is SO CUTE!! Like... chic, cozy, and completely unexpected for a little mountain town…read more It feels like you've stumbled into a hidden gem that you almost don't want to tell people about, but also absolutely have to!! We popped in before a late dinner reservation and I'm so glad we did, because they're only open Friday-Sunday from 5-9 PM--blink and you'll miss it. The vibes are immaculate. Think live music, low lighting, and the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to stay longer than you planned... and almost miss your dinner reservations lol.... The staff was beyond friendly, truly made us feel right at home from the second we walked in. We didn't order food since we were heading to dinner, but the chef was so proud of his menu that he brought out a sample of the soup of the night (some kind of green gourmet magic), and wow... it was delicious. It made us a little bummed that we had reservations and debate just staying and trying more of the food. Drinks were phenomenal, service was top-tier, and the whole experience just felt special. If you're in town while they're open, do not miss this spot. It's giving hidden gem vibes, it's giving main character energy vibes, it's giving... I need to go back immediately instead of writing this review lol

Hidden gem. Short weekend getaway for us and just wanted to grab a nice drink somewhere with…read moreambience. Highlands was perfect. We ordered three different drinks and they were well poured. We tried three different entrees and each were unique and carefully prepared. I thought the complimentary soup was a great idea and we actually ordered a few bowls because it was so good. They freshly ground after dinner coffee and the deserts hit the spot. Very, very nice.! I personally enjoyed that there was only one family with a child. It was nice to have a quiet dinner, with jazz in the background and nice drinks in a place you can have good conversation over excellent food. Well done.!

One of the more popular places in the area. A lot of folks will ski for the day and then end up…read morehere. It's a casual joint. It gets really full though. They have a lower level that has tables and its more family friendly down there. Also- you can see the huge cases of cakes down there. Wow! We went twice during our week there. Once for dinner and once for lunch. Everything I ate was good. I enjoyed my burger. The mussels were great. And the meatloaf- who doesn't love meatloaf? I asked for mg baked potato "naked" but it was so loud in there, he thought I said "bacon"! Too funny. So you will see my pic with a TON of bacon bits. Service is good. While you're waiting for a table you can line up at the corner of the bar and get drinks. Not much standing room and watch out for servers running through with entrees. Food comes out pretty fast. Servings are huge- a lot of people share. We got a bunch of apps and I had to take my food home! I was too full to finish it. Everything is reasonably priced. They have their own parking lot and then there's a bigger one just across the street.

The banner elk cafe shares the same kitchen as the lodge. We were sat immediately in the lodge area…read morewhich was very cozy. Our server was very helpful explaining the two menus they have. They have something for everyone. The lunch special open faced turkey sandwich was at least three portions and so tasty. The turkey was cooked to perfect and the sandwich bread they used reminded me of a lobster roll. The blacken chicken sandwich was also cooked wonderfully and well seasoned with a great spicy sauce. The sweetness of the potato fries were nice to balance out the heat from the chicken. I will definitely return to this place for a great brunch/lunch spot!

Excellent cafe and nice to sit and enjoy the mountains…read moreService is very customer oriented and they have a variety of eats.

Super convenient coffee shop right next to Beech Mountain. They have quick grab and go breakfast…read morefoods including bagels, quiche, pastries. Their coffees are also pretty darn good - I always get their cold brew and my husband enjoys their drip coffees. They have a covered porch area as well as indoor seating. Service is quick and always friendly!