Most of Waconia's restaurants are downtown, along Main Street, 1st Street and Lake Street on the lake. Below are our picks by type of meal: a dinner out, Italian, eating by the water, breakfast and coffee, drinks, and casual family spots.
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Dinner Downtown: Iron Tap
Iron Tap (140 W Main St, $$) calls itself "Craft Brew & BBQ." It has 38 craft beers on tap, craft cocktails, and seasonal rooftop and patio seating. It is closed Mondays.
Italian: D'Vinci's & Bode Gray's
D'Vinci's (540 S Elm St, $$) has served Waconia since 1986. Bode Gray's (125 W 1st St, $$) is an artisan pizza restaurant started by two local families. On its lower level, The Brass Hat is a 21+ speakeasy for cocktails after dinner.
On the Water: Lola's Lakehouse
Lola's Lakehouse (318 E Lake St, (952) 442-4954, $$) has a patio with Lake Waconia views and a menu built around seafood and steaks; the walleye dish is a Canadian walleye piccata. Lola's runs its own marina, with seasonal slips offered through a waitlist. On the north shore, Sovereign Estate Wine ($$$) serves food on its lakefront winery patio. Green Fox Grille ($$), the restaurant at Island View Golf Club, is open to the public.
Breakfast & Coffee
Pangea Cafe (37 W 1st St, $) serves breakfast and lunch from 8am to 2pm, with breakfast all day. Mocha Monkey (115 S Olive St, $), founded in 2006, roasts its own coffee, has two Waconia locations, and hosts a Sunday bluegrass jam. Caribou Coffee ($) has two locations: the one on Marketplace Drive is inside Mackenthun's with no drive-thru, and the one at 77 Hwy 5 W has a drive-thru.
Wine, Beer & Cocktails
Downtown Waconia no longer has a brewery taproom: Waconia Brewing Co. closed in January 2026 and Schram Haus's downtown taproom closed in December 2025. Schram Vineyards Winery & Brewery ($$) still pours its own beer and wine at its Bonfire & Barrel restaurant on Airport Road. Sovereign Estate Wine ($$$) and Parley Lake Winery ($$) round out the wineries. Downtown, Iron Tap's 38 taps and The Brass Hat cover beer and cocktails. See our Waconia wineries tour to plan a day.
Casual & Family Spots
Garage Bar & Bowl (16 W 1st St, $$) has six bowling lanes, a bar and a scratch kitchen, which makes it an easy pick for groups and birthdays. El Loro (520 Cherry Dr, $$) serves Mexican food. Culver's ($) is the quick option with kids.
Before You Go
Iron Tap is closed Mondays. Pangea Cafe closes at 2pm. Schram's Bonfire & Barrel takes reservations; Sovereign's patio is seasonal.
Find Hours & Directions
Hours shift seasonally, especially for the lakeside and winery spots. Confirm on the listing before you go.
Browse the Waconia dining directory →Where to Eat in Waconia, at a Glance
Dinner out: Iron Tap or Bode Gray's downtown, or Sovereign Estate on the lake. Italian: D'Vinci's or Bode Gray's. On the water: Lola's Lakehouse or Green Fox Grille. Breakfast: Pangea Cafe. Coffee: Mocha Monkey or Caribou. Beer: Iron Tap downtown, or Schram's house beer at the vineyard. Wine: Sovereign Estate, Schram Vineyards or Parley Lake. Cocktails: The Brass Hat. Families and groups: Garage Bar & Bowl, El Loro or Culver's.
Plan the Rest of Your Waconia Day
Pair dinner with the lake, the wineries or a walk downtown.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Where should I eat dinner in Waconia, MN?
- Iron Tap (140 W Main St) is a craft beer and barbecue restaurant with 38 taps and rooftop and patio seating, closed Mondays. Bode Gray's (125 W 1st St) serves artisan pizza. For a lake view, Lola's Lakehouse (318 E Lake St) has a patio overlooking Lake Waconia.
- Where can you eat on Lake Waconia?
- Lola's Lakehouse (318 E Lake St, (952) 442-4954) has a lake-view patio and a seafood and steak menu, and runs its own marina with seasonal slips by waitlist. Sovereign Estate Wine, on the north shore, serves food on its lakefront patio.
- Where is a good breakfast in Waconia?
- Pangea Cafe (37 W 1st St) serves breakfast and lunch from 8am to 2pm, with breakfast all day. For coffee, Mocha Monkey (115 S Olive St) roasts its own beans.
- Does Waconia have breweries?
- Not downtown anymore. Waconia Brewing Co. closed in January 2026 and Schram Haus's downtown taproom closed in December 2025. Schram Vineyards still serves its house-brewed beer at the vineyard on Airport Road, and Iron Tap downtown has 38 craft beers on tap.
- Where can you get Italian food in Waconia?
- D'Vinci's (540 S Elm St) has been open since 1986. Bode Gray's (125 W 1st St) serves artisan pizza and has The Brass Hat, a 21+ speakeasy, on its lower level.