5 Best Restaurants in The San Juan Islands, Washington

Matia Kitchen quickly garnered national accolades for its outstanding seasonal cuisine that focuses on local ingredients, creative flavor combinations, and artistic presentation. Many of the dishes are vegetable-focused—such as an ancient grain panisse with mushrooms and carrot dumplings with pumpkin-seed pesto—but you'll also find options like a lamb pancake with gochujang creamed cabbage and king salmon with apricot confit and Szechuan chili crisp. Located in Eastsound's former Firehall, the vibe at Matia is polished but casual, and with just six seats at the chef's counter, advance reservations for the ten-course chef's tasting menu are a must. Reservations are also offered for the six-course menu in the dining room, and walk-ins can enjoy snacks, fresh pasta, house favorites, and drinks in the lounge. Visiting during the off-season is a great option too, since Matia Kitchen stays open all year.

One of the latest upscale farm-to-table restaurants to put the San Juan Islands on the culinary map, Ursa Minor is helmed by Nick Coffey, formerly of the now-closed Sitka & Spruce in Seattle. He celebrates the Islands' incredible bounty with a creative seasonal menu featuring seafood, foraged mushrooms, and produce from island farms.

This snazzy, contemporary, seafood-driven restaurant overlooking the harbor has a light-filled dining room that makes a terrific spot to watch boats and ferries come and go while sampling such tempting fare as Penn Cove mussels, pan-seared sockeye salmon with seasonal veggies, and a seafood Cobb salad piled high with Dungeness crab and whole shrimp.

The restaurant at this stylish, contemporary inn just a mile from Eastsound offers among the most memorable dining experiences on the island, with a menu that changes at least weekly to highlight the local bounty. Tucked into a renovated 1869 farmhouse, the dining room and bar serve food that emphasizes fresh, seasonal ingredients. Island greens, fruits, and seafood are served alongside a regionally focused wine list, and the results are spectacular. Notable dishes have included sea scallops with bacon-potato hash and lemon aioli, and local roasted pork with creamy garlic farro, sweet onions, rhubarb, and wilted greens. Even the bread is memorable; the restaurant serves house-made sourdough from a starter that's more than 100 years old.

Ingenuity and dedication to local ingredients are hallmarks of this stylish, contemporary restaurant, where locals and tourists alike come for dishes such as baked oysters, Nashville hot chicken sandwich, seared halibut risotto, and a popular house burger. During the summer, the hotel's outdoor Portside Patio serves small plates and craft cocktails. The restaurant's daily breakfast is popular with islanders and convenient for hotel guests: the brunch burger, topped with a fried egg and cracked pepper aioli, and stuffed french toast with mascarpone make for decadent starts to your day.