Nestled in the picturesque Sierra Nevada Mountains, Arnold, California, offers a delightful blend of outdoor activities and a burgeoning culinary scene. Below are some of the top restaurants favored by locals and tourists alike.
Dogwood Restaurant
Dogwood offers fresh, seasonal cuisine, using the highest quality meat and fresh seafood, for casual fine dining, with a warm, inviting atmosphere. Located in Arnold, overlooking scenic Highway 4, this is one of Arnold’s best quality restaurants, and features an open kitchen where you can watch your entire meal being prepared.
Specializing in steak and seafood, the restaurant also offers salads, a vegetarian dish and a small selection of house-made desserts including Basque cake.
- Location: 1224 Oak Cir suite b, Arnold, CA 95223
Sarafina’s Italian Kitchen
Sarafina’s Italian Kitchen is a local and visitor foodie favorite, with consistently delicious Italian fare paired with local wines, craft beers and tap beers in a homey, family-friendly restaurant. Here, you’ll find house-made ravioli, risotto, pastas and fresh-fish dishes, plus salads with house-made dressing using locally sourced, fresh ingredients.
Sarafina’s Italian Kitchen is your go-to place for mouthwatering Italian dishes. Try their wood-fired pizzas or savor the creamy Fettuccine Alfredo with perfectly cooked shrimp.
- Location: 794 Highway 4, Arnold, CA 95223
Snowshoe Brewing Company
Snowshoe Brewing Company has been one of Calaveras County’s most favorite kid-friendly restaurants for decades. Award-winning microbrews crafted right here in Arnold – and brewery equipment you can watch at work – an arcades games section for restless kids and a family-favorites menu – it’s a winning formula.
Snowshoe Brewing Company is a fantastic brewpub that marries delicious craft beers with hearty American cuisine. Their ales are brewed on-site, and you can enjoy them with a classic burger or their famous beer-battered fish and chips.
- Location: 2050 Hwy 4, Arnold, CA 95223
Sierra House
Located in the heart of Arnold, and newer to the area, this restaurant and pub delivers elevated pub food and a range of craft beers. Their quickly becoming a lunch and dinner favorite in the area.
A few favorite staples here are the Chicken Caesar wrap, Cuban sandwiches, and roast beef.
- Location: 1051 CA-4, Arnold, CA 95223
Heart and Soul Country Kitchen
Heart and Soul Country Kitchen is newer to the scene in Arnold and is making a scene. It’s brought traditional southern and Caribbean influences to Arnold with its cuisine and the locals and tourists both are loving it. It’s a top favorite for breakfast. Get there early as there is usually a long wait.
Some favorite staples here are the Heart and Soul Eggs Benedict and their Chicken and Waffles.
- Location: 2182 CA-4 Suite #G-720-730, Arnold, CA 95223
SLEEP COMFORTABLY IN ARNOLD
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The Lube Room Saloon
The Lube Room Saloon is a rustic old saloon and restaurant located in Dorrington, California on the Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway. Sitting right next door to the historic Dorrington Hotel, this is a fun, dog and family-friendly place to stop to enjoy a really great burger, a few beers or cocktails and sometimes catch a live music performance.
The Lube Room Saloon is famous for its grill. Their pulled pork sandwiches, burgers and chicken are crowd-pleasers.
- Location: 3431 CA-4, Dorrington, CA 95223
Bistro Espresso
Arnold’s coffee shop and café, Bistro Espresso features gourmet, hand-crafted coffees and teas, smoothies, sandwiches and wraps, free wi-fi, and friendly service.
The Bistro Espresso is known in the area for its morning coffee, lunch sandwiches and live music during the summer.
- Location: 1225 Oak Cir, Arnold, CA 95223
Sequoia Woods Country Club
Sequoia Woods offers an eclectic dining experience. Set in a casually elegant atmosphere with a view of the greens among the tall sequoia trees in Arnold, far from the bustling highway. Here you can enjoy a relaxing meal full of great flavors from the kitchen that has created a contemporary yet familiar menu. Indulge with an enticing assortment of fine wines including many from local foothill wineries.
Besides its scenic golf course, Sequoia Woods Country Club offers a delightful dining experience. The prime rib on Friday nights is a must-try, and their expansive wine list complements the cuisine beautifully.
- Location: 1000 Cypress Point Dr, Arnold, CA 95223
Firewood Cafe
Chill, bi-level woodfire restaurant with gourmet tacos, burgers, beer, and wood-fired pizza, all gourmet. Lunch starts at 11am and dinner ends at 9pm.
Firewood Cafe is an excellent choice for upscale dining in Murphys. Their wood-fired pizzas are fantastic, but don’t overlook the braised short ribs for an exquisite treat.
- Location: 420 Main St, Murphys, CA 95247
Alchemy Market & Cafe
Vintage-chic restaurant with a focus on elevated American cuisine from land and sea, featuring a range of shareable appetizers, salads, fresh seafood, steak and more, plus over 30 local wines.
Alchemy Market & Cafe is a charming establishment in Murphys known for its farm-to-table offerings. The brussels sprouts with bacon and the New York strip steak are heavenly.
- Location: 191 Main St, Murphys, CA 95247
Arnold, CA, and its neighboring areas are a culinary haven waiting to be explored. From American comfort food and Mexican delights to Italian classics and gourmet sandwiches, this list of the top ten restaurants within a 15-mile radius offers a diverse range of options to satisfy any palate. So, the next time you find yourself in this stunning part of California, be sure to indulge in the delectable offerings of these fantastic dining establishments.
