Where to stop for food or drink on a Minnesota fall colors trip

State of play: As of this weekend, very few corners of Minnesota have reached the height of autumnal glory. So you have time to make plans.

• The state's Department of Natural Resources predicted this, noting our warmer fall could lead to later peaks in fall color.

This guide lists a few spots for hungry or thirsty leaf-peepers in different regions of the state, noting when the DNR estimates colors typically peak.

📣 We certainly missed places in this overview, so we'd love to hear your favorites!

• Write to us at [email protected] and we'll save your recommendations for a future guide.

Grand Marais

🍁 Colors typically peak: Now, until around Oct. 12

• Angry Trout is a crowd favorite, but if you want to avoid the frequently long wait, try Fisherman's Daughter next door. (Audrey says they have "the best fresh-caught fish and chips on the North Shore.")
• World's Best Donuts is also a crowd-pleaser, and Kyle recommends the warm space at Voyageur Brewing.
• The 40-minute drive up the Gunflint Trail from Grand Marais to the restaurant at Poplar Haus could be its own complete fall colors experience.

Two Harbors

🍁 Colors typically peak: Now, until around Oct. 11

• The Rustic Inn-versus-Betty's Pies contest is a long-running and bitter debate over who offers better baked goods. (Why not try both?)
• Slightly off the beaten path, Cedar Coffee Company offers breakfast and lunch sandwiches.

Duluth

🍁 Colors typically peak: Now, until around Oct. 14

• New Scenic Café is a perfect après-peep stop. It carefully balances refined dining with backwoods comfort, serving memorable Scandinavian "smørrebrød" open-faced rye sandwiches.
• In town, Northern Waters Smokehaus offers an eclectic mix of sandwiches just down the street from Canal Park's Vikre Distillery.
• It's hard to go wrong in Lincoln Park with — and this is just a sampling — Ursa Minor Brewing selling pizzas, Bent Paddle pouring IPAs, OMC Smokehouse slinging barbecue and Hungry Hippie selling something called "the Northern Taco."

North Central Minnesota

🍁 Colors typically peak: Now, until around Oct. 15

Bemidji: One former American Legion post holds both Red Stu Breakfast Bar and Bar 209's pub food. Around the corner is Bemidji Brewing, founded in 2012, which offers an Oktoberfest.

Grand Rapids: Rapids Brewing offers a lengthy menu of pizzas, snacks and sandwiches; plus a whiskey menu. And beer, too.

Park Rapids: The founders of The Good Life Café were originally inspired by "big city restaurants," according to the local paper. It's unclear which urban bistros offer a wild rice hotdish, but it sounds like one hearty autumnal meal.

Greater Brainerd Lakes area

🍁 Colors typically peak: Oct. 9 until around Oct. 15

Brainerd: Locals rave about 5Rocks Distilling, just across the tracks from the former railway repair yard at Northern Pacific Center, which now houses the Notch 8 pub and Loco Espress coffee shop.

Gull Lake: Ernie's is across the water from the backside of Mt. Ski Gull, which could make for a dazzling canvas of fall color.

Whitefish Lake: The venerable Norway Ridge serves the usual supper club fare, from pork ribs and steaks to salmon and scallops.

Southeast Minnesota

🍁 Colors typically peak: Oct. 14 until around Oct. 25

Lanesboro: The picturesque town in a scenic valley is home to Sylvan Brewing, Juniper's Restaurant and Pedal Pushers Café — whose name references the town's place as a favorite stop on the Root River State Trail.

Rochester: Bitter & Pour takes secrecy more seriously than most bars that call themselves "speakeasies" — but don't worry, it doesn't take that much ingenuity to get in. The cocktails are worth it.

New Ulm

🍁 Colors typically peak: Oct. 10 until around Oct. 18

The views of the Minnesota River Valley from the "Hermann the German" sculpture are lovely — and the schnitzel at Kaiserhoff complements them well.

• The second weekend of the city's Oktoberfest is Oct. 11-12.

Mississippi River Valley

🍁 Colors typically peak: Oct. 19 until around Oct. 27

Red Wing: Scarlet Kitchen & Bar offers breakfast, lunch and dinner menus in a bright, airy space under the St. James Hotel.

Winona: Stop for a donut at Bloedow Bakery — pronounced "BLAY-doe."

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🍕 Bonus tip! Squeeze in a trip to a seasonal pizza farm.

• Pleasant Grove in Waseca, Red Barn Farm in Northfield, and Alpha & Omega Farm in Princeton are open through the month.