Small Town Living
Sweet Bird Cabin is a quick 5 minute drive down the hill to the town center, where you’ll find some unique spots to dine and shop. From the best local restaurants to cool new spots, these are our suggestions for our favorite places to visit during your stay.
Restaurants & Groceries
Ferro is our trusted spot for great Italian pasta and pizza and wine. In the winter, sit by the fire and stay warm inside, in the summer, sit outside on the back patio near the pizza ovens, and live music. Make sure to book a reservation on Opentable, they book up on the weekends.
Mama’s Egg House is a great go to spot for breakfast, and lunch. They have tons of great vegan and veggie options too. Indoor and outdoor seating.
Alpaca Coffee & Tea has delicious coffee and tea options, and an asian inspired food menu, with outdoor seating.
Idyllwild Pizza Company has great thin crust pizzas, call ahead to order because the line can get really long.
Mama Mia’s Crepes we haven’t been yet but have heard great things!
Idyllwild Brew Pub is a great spot for lunch, set outside on a beautiful deck on Strawberry Creek. The line can get long on weekends, so get your name in, and then go explore the town.
We love to listen to live music while trying new wines at Middle Ridge Winery, right in the heart of town.
The kids love Atomic Cow Creamery in the center of town, they serve mega cones, watch out!
There are a lot of jokes that come with visiting Dick’s Dogs , but jokes aside, it is a great spot for an easy and affordable grab and go hot dogs and burgers.
For more luxury and hard to find pantry items, you must visit Ravenhillbagels for fresh bagels and charcuterie board yummies.
If you’re more into cooking at the cabin and forgot a few things, no worries, you’ll find most everything you need at the Idyllwild Village Market. They have firewood, toiletries, frozen food and alcohol, a one stop shop!
Shops
Wildland Organics our go to for handmade candles, tinctures, sage, and ceramics. They also have a small vintage section, and feature brands like Mate The Label.
Up the road from Wildland is an area called “The Collective” and has 4 really great shops, including Mountain Poppy Floral Cottage which sells a small selection of hand picked stems, vases and candles.
Spend the afternoon walking around the town center, you’ll find several vintage stores like Wild Idy, vinyl shops, a small candy store, and local stores selling handmade goods. If you have some time, make sure to stroll around Idyllwild Gardens, where you can shop for plants and pots or just enjoy the hummingbirds and butterflies greeting you as you walk in.
Other Things To Do
One of the highlights of the village is The Rustic Theater. Quite possibly the cutest movie theater we’ve ever seen, they play all the recent blockbusters as well as the independents and docs.
Mountain Pottery is a great place to spend an afternoon making your own creations. Check out their website and call Helen to book a session, great for kids too.
Idyllwild is known for it’s artist community, and there is no shortage of art galleries and live music all year round.
This is an amazing guide from Wildland Organics about everything else you could imagine (yoga, pilates, mobile massages that come to the cabin) while you’re up on the mountain.
Also be sure to check out this LA Times Article with more tips on what to do and see while you’re here.
