Located at the Northwestern tip of Oregon where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean, Astoria is a food-lover’s favorite for its breweries, seafood, and growing food cart scene. Its storied history includes the Indigenous people of the Clatsop and Chinook tribes, Lewis and Clark, John Jacob Astor, and Finnish socialists that revolutionized the fish processing industry in its heyday. Many bars and restaurants live downtown in reclaimed industrial buildings with details like exposed bricks and wide-planked wood floors, but it’s worth seeking out places on the edges of town, as well. For more dining options on the Oregon Coast, one of these maps can help.
The Best Restaurants and Bars in Gorgeous Astoria, Oregon
Seafood restaurants, breweries, and food carts are the can’t-miss spots when visiting this Oregon port town
This time, La Cabana de Raya and Coffee Girl came off the list while Labor Temple, Pig N’ Pancake, and Gizmo’s Arcade and Eatery joined the map.
— Additional reporting by Alex Frane and Paolo Bicchieri
The Best Restaurants and Bars in Gorgeous Astoria, Oregon
Seafood restaurants, breweries, and food carts are the can’t-miss spots when visiting this Oregon port town
Located at the Northwestern tip of Oregon where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean, Astoria is a food-lover’s favorite for its breweries, seafood, and growing food cart scene. Its storied history includes the Indigenous people of the Clatsop and Chinook tribes, Lewis and Clark, John Jacob Astor, and Finnish socialists that revolutionized the fish processing industry in its heyday. Many bars and restaurants live downtown in reclaimed industrial buildings with details like exposed bricks and wide-planked wood floors, but it’s worth seeking out places on the edges of town, as well. For more dining options on the Oregon Coast, one of these maps can help.
This time, La Cabana de Raya and Coffee Girl came off the list while Labor Temple, Pig N’ Pancake, and Gizmo’s Arcade and Eatery joined the map.
— Additional reporting by Alex Frane and Paolo Bicchieri
Fort George Brewery
Fort George, one of Astoria’s two biggest breweries, offers numerous dining rooms in a vaulted, industrial space that’s always filled with fans and conviviality. The main floor sports the brewpub, with a menu of staples like burgers, sandwiches, and seafood to pair with the brewery’s famous stouts, porters, and lighter options. A spiral iron staircase leads to an upper floor with more casual seating and pizza; look for specials like a pie topped with Oregon dulse. You can also sit in the intimate taphouse in a historic renovated garage next door that still hosts some of the more select brewing operations or outdoors on a breezy patio with a fire pit.
Fort George Brewery
Coastal Smash
Coastal Smash, with an original location in the food cart pod across from Blaylock’s Whiskey Bar and a cart on the east side of town outside The Growler Guys, does one thing, and it does it right. You’re there for burgers with thin, ultra-crispy patties, served with a mound of fries flecked with parsley and salt. The team here is fast and efficient, but you’ll want to arrive early since the cart tends to sell out on busy evenings or order online. Check out the specials board for creative alternatives like the kimchi smash, and grab a drink from the cooler. Meat lovers will want to order something with two or three patties stacked high.
Fedé
A food-lover trip to the North Coast isn’t complete without a stop at Astoria’s Italian trattoria, Fedé. Sitting pretty on the Columbia River waterfront, the intimate dining room has become a hangout for residents jonesing for house-made pasta and craft cocktails made with ingredients like the restaurant’s own limoncello. Husband and wife team Faith Davenport and Sean Hammond boldly eschew Oregon Coast expectations about what an Italian restaurant should serve, instead offering dishes like octopus and potatoes or Calabrian pasta with ‘nudja sausage paste. And those who would prefer an excellent lasagna or giant meatballs will find them here as well. The restaurant doesn’t take reservations, so prepare to watch ships pass by from the restaurant’s patio as you wait.
Buoy Beer Company
Buoy Beer, which moved its taproom to the spacious Astoria Food Hub warehouse after its own facilities collapsed, is one of Astoria’s iconic breweries and a point of pride for the town’s beer lovers. In its newer family-friendly digs, visitors can knock back a pint or two in a bright, modern space with counter service. Thoughtfully sourced menu items include rockfish and chips, an albacore tuna salad sandwich, or oysters from nearby waters, plus burgers, soft pretzels, and salads. An array of rotating ales and lagers on draft and by the bottle will please all palates, and the kids menu will entertain the small ones.
Buoy Beer Co.
Sonny’s Astoria
Pizza with a focus on a perfectly pliable yet crisp crust, high-quality toppings, and interesting combos in Astoria? Yes, please. Sonny’s, a new pizzeria that shares space with Astoria’s beloved gay bar Xanadu just a block from the waterfront may have limited seating, but takeout is available, too, and worth it. Everything looks good, from the vegan’s delight of kale, roasted mushrooms, caramelized onion, and garlic to the Hawaiian, which gilds the lily with mozzarella, smoked ham, bacon, pineapple, and jalapeno. Don’t forget an order of cheesy bread, which comes with a chunky marinara sauce with lots of fresh basil for dipping. Order online until it runs out of dough for the night.
Sonny’s
Surf 2 Soul
Soul food is hard to come by in Astoria, but luckily, Surf 2 Soul delivers. The award-winning food cart, which took home best food cart in the People’s Choice Awards for Coast Weekend in 2022 and 2023, has a limited menu that regularly changes up and adds daily specials. Look for its most popular dish, Chicken ‘n the Biscuit — a soft and crispy Tillamook cheddar biscuit with fried chicken and gravy, all made in-house. Chicken wings, shrimp and grits, and po’ boys often grace the menu, as well.
Astoria Coffee House & Bistro
While Astoria has a fair number of bakeries, including the stately hangout spot Blue Scorcher and little takeaway Naked Lemon, the Astoria Coffee House fills the small-town niche of the cafe with all-day menus and eclectic decor (don’t miss the vintage globes). Visit this charming bistro for morning pastries and coffee concoctions on one side of the cavernous building. Later in the day, grab a bar seat, booth, or spot outside at a sidewalk table for a casual lunch of sandwiches or dinner from a menu that features globally inspired dishes. There are always burgers, salads, and pasta, but you’ll also find specials like taco and tequila Tuesdays or sushi Mondays in summer.
Astoria Coffee House & Bistro
Gaetano’s Market & Deli
Astoria’s first Italian market, Gaetano’s operates primarily as a deli with grab-and-go options. In the inviting, window-lined shop, visitors can find Italian sundries and pantry items, cured meats, cheeses, and olive oils, as well as excellent bake-at-home lasagnas and house-made pasta. Those looking for something fast and filling should head to the deli counter for a sandwich. Cold sandwiches include classic Italian American-style grinders stuffed with salty, rich cured meats and layered with cheeses like creamy mozzarella or provolone. Try the Astorialetta, its interpretation of a classic muffuletta; the turkey sandwich with provolone and sun-dried tomatoes on crispy ciabatta; or the Goat, a vegetarian option with goat cheese, roasted peppers, and other vegetables. Hot sandwiches include saucy meatball subs and various panini. Inquire about special dinners, held occasionally.
Gaetano’s Market and Deli
Brut Wine Bar and Retail Shop
Astoria is generally known as a beer town, but wine fans have a haven at Brut Wine Bar. This quiet and cozy shop is nestled downtown and has a patio seating area on the sidewalk in front of the store. It’s easy to drop in and select from the curated list of wines by the glass and bottle. This is no stuffy affair: Brut emphasizes fun, affordable wines from around the world, like European rosé and bubbly inspired by owner Lisa Park’s travels, as well as standards like Oregon-produced pinots from independent wineries. Diners can find cheese and charcuterie boards and other wine-friendly snacks, plus a lot of friendly conversation.
Jennifer Burns Bright/Eater Portland
South Bay Wild Fish House
The fishing family that owns South Bay Wild supplies the restaurant with seafood from their own 56-foot trawler and commercial fishing friends, offering one of the most direct sea-and-river-to-plate experiences in town. The menu is, predictably, all about the seafood. Snackier items like Dungeness crab or Oregon pink shrimp cakes, ceviche, and poke are great, but there’s also a remarkably crispy version of seafood and chips, including scallops, prawns, and rockfish. Dover sole banh mi sandwiches and fry bread — topped with Dungeness crab, goat cheese, and red pepper tapenade — are welcome twists on the usual coastal restaurant menu. Sit at the massive communal table repurposed from a marine shop in the homey nautical-themed dining room or at the balcony bar. There’s also some outdoor seating for sunny days.
Daphne
Astoria has its premiere farm-to-table restaurant in the form of the intimate, precise Daphne downtown. The brainchild of chef Jake Martin — who’s known for his work as the executive chef for Adrift Hospitality out of Long Beach, WA — and his partner Silquet Ra, of the North Coast Food Web, the kitchen knows local food. It does particularly wondrous things with vegetables, appealing to the eye just as much as the palate. Expect a blend of classic technique and fresh takes on Pacific Northwest upscale cuisine. A favorite dish showcases yaya carrots, sliced and splayed almost like a brilliant orange pine cone atop circles of carrot top pesto. A three-course prix fixe menu is easier on the budget. Reservations are recommended for the warm, wood-paneled dining room with mid-century modern styling.
Daphne
El Limoncito Antojitos Mexicanos
If you haven’t tried Mexican-style antojitos (literally “cravings,” but more loosely defined as a collection of casual, often whimsical snacks), you’ve got several options in the Astoria area at food trucks, but El Limoncito is the first permanent space to specialize in this brilliant collection of street snacks. Think yummy fruit salads liberally tossed with spicy-sour Tajin seasoning; tortilla chips or ramen mixed with taco toppings; refreshingly fruity agua frescas and giant milkshakes. A favorite is the mangonada, an ultimate slushy experience with cubes of mango, Tajin, chamoy tamarind sauce, and a variety of candy toppings. Many of the creations are called loco for their wild variety, but the timid won’t be unhappy with excellent carnitas street tacos, tamales, or a slice of creamy tres leches cake from the cooler. The snack shop shares a space with Subway on busy Marine Drive; there’s parking and an indoor play area from the former fast food restaurant.
Crystal Jimenez Maya
Portway Tavern
Offering zero pretense, affordable drinks, and solid bar food, the Portway is the resident not-quite-a-dive bar. There’s the requisite nautical decor, video poker machines, friendly service, cheap wells, and a mix of local and domestic beers, but this local haunt improves on the standard dive bar food, including a stand-out patty melt with high-quality beef and caramelized onions, and some of the best burgers in town. Dining is available indoors and out on the patio deck under umbrellas.
Arnie's Cafe
Sometimes you just need a giant, frosting-smeared cinnamon roll; Arnie’s has it covered. For down-home breakfasts of eggs Benedict, pancakes, chicken-fried steak, and more, head just west of Astoria to Warrenton’s downtown. You may be seated next to campers at nearby Fort Stevens State Park or cyclists making their way up the coast, so it’s great people-watching in the large but busy family-friendly dining room. Arnie’s doesn’t take reservations, so plan to wait a bit on weekends.
Arnie’s Cafe
Pig ‘n Pancake
The Oregon mini chain started in Seaside, but its Astoria tenure began in 1967. That makes the business founded by Bob and Marianne Poole a local legend. Head here for classic diner energy, the stuff of slow coastal mornings with bitter bottomless coffee for $3.95 and waffles topped with eggs, pecans, and strawberries galore.
Pig N’ Pancake
Labor Temple
The Labor Temple Bar is a hybrid dive bar, music venue and breakfast, brunch hang. The vibe fits perfectly into a place like Astoria, the town’s mosaic of eclectic haunts. The back patio is ideal for tying one or two off in the summer weather, and coming back the next morning for the kitchen sink omelette — a $17 maelstrom of meat and veg — is a strong double header.
Labor Temple
Gizmo’s Arcade & Eatery
Rather than a bar or a restaurant, one visiting Astoria can hit the local bar arcade. Gizmo’s serves food, too, though, all kinds of custom hot dogs including chili and mac n’ cheese loaded affairs. There’s nachos and pizza for the gamers, plus soda and ice cream. Get fed, wired, then play Gauntlet for hours.
