This post on the best restaurants in New Glarus with kids may contain affiliate links. Please read my Disclaimer & Disclosure Policy.
We loved our recent weekend getaway to New Glarus and Green County, Wisconsin! Known as America’s Little Switzerland, New Glarus was established by Swiss immigrants in the mid-1800s. Driving through the verdant hills of Green County, it’s easy to see why early settlers from Switzerland fell in love with this part of Wisconsin. And after visiting, I promise that you will too! Undoubtedly, experiencing some of the best restaurants in New Glarus is the fastest way to fall in love with the city. This part of Wisconsin is well known for its Limburger and Swiss cheeses, as well as its Swiss- and German-inspired foods. Talk about a tasty combination!
If you travel to New Glarus with kids, you’re in luck! There are plenty of fun, kid-friendly things to do and places to eat across the area. But if you’re not traveling with kids, this article should still help you find the best foodie destinations in the area. Keep reading to learn more about where to eat in New Glarus with (or without) kids!
Breakfast in New Glarus with Kids
If you are looking for the best restaurants for breakfast in New Glarus, you’re in the right place! After our recent visit, here are three places we loved.
Fat Cat Coffee Works
Start your morning with coffee and breakfast at Fat Cat Coffee Works. They offer a fantastic menu of coffee items and delicious pastries. Plus, they have a full breakfast and lunch menu (featuring items like burritos, sandwiches, and soup). Don’t forget to add a yummy slice of pie to your meal!
Given its extensive menu for breakfast and lunch, it’s one of the best places to eat in New Glarus with kids. We chose to sit along the food prep/bar area during our visit. My daughter loved it! While we munched on tasty pastries, she enjoyed watching the chef prepare food orders. And, of course, ask them questions about what they were making!
The coffee is excellent, and the pastries rotate daily. The staff is super friendly, too. It’s a must-stop when you are visiting New Glarus!
New Glarus Bakery
If you’re wondering where to eat breakfast in New Glarus with kids, grab morning treats from New Glarus Bakery. Located in the heart of downtown, this bakery has been a favorite for locals and visitors alike since 1910.
In addition to the usual bakery fare, they also offer Swiss-inspired items like Birnbrot Swiss Pear Bread, Almond Horns, and more. Encourage your kids to pick out a few things that appeal to their tastes. We selected several different items to try as many things as we could! Finally, New Glarus Bakery offers drip coffee, but if you need something different to kick-start your day (like I do!), grab something from Fat Cat Coffee Works first.
During our visit, we took our pastries to go and had a picnic at Village Park. The park is located on the edge of downtown (Railroad and 2nd Street). It’s a fun place for families to enjoy breakfast and play together. Village Park features a large playground, water fountains, and a public pool (seasonally available).
Sunrise Donut Café
If you plan to explore the nearby city of Monroe during your visit (and you should!), then Sunrise Donut Café is an excellent choice for breakfast. Located on the main square, they offer an incredible selection of coffee and delicious donuts.
In fact, their baked donuts are decorated to order with whimsical toppings. You can create endless flavor parings, from maple and bacon to unicorn bark and blueberry drizzle. If you want, you can create your own flavor combinations. Or, choose from the flavors of the week. No matter what flavors you choose, these dynamite donuts will surely please everyone.
Then, what makes this stop super fun for kids is that they can stand at the counter and watch the donuts get decorated! My daughter loved watching her donuts get frosted and decorated before eating them. No wonder this is one of the best restaurants near New Glarus!
Lunch + Dinner in New Glarus with Kids
Ready to learn more about the best restaurants in New Glarus? Here are some places we recommend for lunch, dinner, and drinks while exploring New Glarus with (or without) kids!
THEN, READ THIS NEXT: Guide to Planning a 4-Day Weekend Itinerary for New Glarus with Kids
Chalet Cheese Haus
If you’re wondering where to eat in New Glarus with kids and want a place that offers some of the best Wisconsin cheese in the city, you will want to eat here! Located downtown, Chalet Cheese Haus is a fun place to stop and eat. They are beloved for their iconic grilled cheese!
While they only offer grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch, I still think it is one of the best places to eat in the city. If grilled cheese isn’t your jam, grab some unique meats, cheeses, and crackers to create a picnic or a charcuterie board for your accommodations. They have a HUGE of Wisconsin meats and cheeses. You will find items you already love – and a few new ones you want to try. Make sure you get a Limburger or a Swiss. That’s what this area is known for!
Alternatively, they also have ice cream if you need a little afternoon pick-me-up!
Glarner Stube
In my opinion, Glarner Stube is the BEST restaurant in New Glarus. In fact, not only do I think this is the best place to eat in New Glarus, but it’s one of the best places we’ve eaten while traveling in the United States period! If you’re traveling to New Glarus with kids, you must eat here at least once. In fact, we loved it so much that we dined here twice!
Located in the heart of downtown, Glarner Stube gets quite busy on the weekends and during peak season. As such, I recommend going early to ensure you get a table (it’s worth it, I promise!). Otherwise, put your name in for a table and head to Dirty Dog Taphaus for drinks and games. They will call you when your table is ready.
Glarner Stube literally translates to “The Living Room of New Glarus”, and that’s exactly what it feels like when you walk into the dining room. The wood paneling and hand-carved Swiss decor enhance its cozy living room vibe! The staff is also very kind and welcoming. Plus, you can’t beat the portion sizes. Indeed, you may want to split an entree if you’re not super hungry or tend to eat small.
I highly recommend the pork schnitzel with sauerkraut. And, the rösti (potatoes with Swiss cheese – yum!). Words cannot do justice to how much we loved this meal. Be sure to top it off with an iconic Wisconsin Old Fashion (you can’t get one like this anywhere else!). Finally, end your meal with an apple strudel for dessert. They also offer a fantastic kids’ menu, which my daughter really enjoyed. With so much to offer the whole family, no wonder this is one of the best restaurants in New Glarus!
Sugar River Pizza Co.
Located off the central part of downtown and along the Sugar River Trail, Sugar River Pizza Co. is an excellent spot for lunch or dinner. We decided to pop in for dinner after hiking along the Sugar River Trail (which is lovely, by the way!). There is even a gate entrance right off the trail!
In addition to the large outside patio and deck area, the inside dining room is also spacious and welcoming. We loved how fun and inviting the atmosphere was! Of course, it’s hard to beat a pint on the patio after a beautiful day of hiking.
We opted for an appetizer and pizza all around. The pizza was divine! I’m partial to a taco pizza, and they make a fantastic one. If that’s not your style, the menu features an extensive list of options, or you can create your own. Whichever pie you choose, you really can’t go wrong with eating at one of the best restaurants in New Glarus. Finally, the service is excellent, too!
New Glarus Brewing Company
New Glarus Brewing Company sits atop a large hill outside of the city. Its location offers stunning views of Green County’s iconic rolling hills from the outdoor patio area. This family-friendly brewery is also a great stop if you are traveling to New Glarus with kids.
The patio often hosts a food truck or two, too. So, if you’re hungry or want kid-friendly drinks, you’ll likely have options, making New Glarus Brewing Company one of the best places to eat in New Glarus! Food truck options are not listed online, so you’ll want to call ahead for availability.
Then, if you want to take a New Glarus Brewery tour, they are free and self-guided. The tour area includes parts of the production facility and the small museum. Tour and visiting hours are Monday to Friday, between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm. They are not open on the weekends. If you want to learn more about our experience on the tour, you can read about it here.
Dirty Dog Taphaus
While exploring New Glarus, if you want an afternoon pint or a fun place to play a few games together, Dirty Dog Taphaus is an excellent spot to add to your itinerary. The indoor tap area is self-pour; you can choose from 30 taps. Taps include beer, ciders, seltzers, and root beer. After grabbing your selection, find a table in the large indoor seating area or outside on the patio (which has heat lamps and fire tables in cooler weather). Then, they also offer free popcorn for snacking. Alternatively, if you’re hungry, order from the pub grub menu. It includes tasty options like cheese curds, onion rings, and pulled pork sandwiches.
On the patio, there are large yard games that can be used, including a giant Jenga set. Inside, there are tons of board games and card games, too. While we were there, we loved playing Jenga and Checkers!
Baumgartner’s Cheese Store & Tavern
While you’re exploring Monroe, make sure you stop at Baumgartner’s Cheese Store & Tavern for lunch! It is Wisconsin’s oldest cheese store. And, it offers a fantastic menu for lunch and dinner. In fact, they have been a community favorite and road trip destination since 1931. If you’ve never tried Limburger, this is the best place to do it!
As one of the best places to eat near New Glarus with kids, Baumgartner’s Cheese Store & Tavern offers several delicious menu items to please all palates. While they don’t have a specific kids’ menu, everyone can select from a long list of appetizers, brats, and excellent sandwiches. Best known for their Limburger sandwich, they also make a dynamite Reuben sandwich.
I went with the Reuben and loved it! My husband ordered the corned beef, while my daughter munched on their cheese and cracker plate. We were all delighted with our experience. Finally, they have several indoor seating configurations, including a long bar. Plus, a really nice outdoor patio.
Restaurants in New Glarus We Saved for Next Time
You can’t fit all of the best restaurants in New Glarus, Wisconsin, into just one weekend getaway! Here are some excellent places to eat in New Glarus with kids that we saved for next time:
- Kristi’s Restaurant – serving surf’ n’ turf with a Mexican twist out of a beautiful old Victorian-era house
- Ott Haus Pub & Grill – offers gourmet burgers, sandwiches, and small plates
- Puempel’s Olde Tavern – features a limited menu of inexpensive sandwiches and pizza.
Keep Eating + Exploring New Glarus with Kids!
I hope this article featuring some of the best restaurants in New Glarus is helpful in planning your itinerary. We had so much fun exploring the many things to do and places to eat in New Glarus with kids. New Glarus, Wisconsin, is a destination we highly recommend for families and other travelers! You can read more about our trip, including tips for visiting this area and our favorite things to do in New Glarus with kids, by clicking here!
Unless otherwise noted, all images within this article were taken by and belong to the blog’s author, Antonia Grant. A reminder that this post may contain affiliate links. Please read my Disclaimer & Disclosure Policy for more information.