Winona's Classic Eats: Donuts, Root Beer, Ice Cream, and a Few Local Favorites

One of the best parts about camping in Winona isn't the bluffs or the river — though both are genuinely world-class. It's discovering that this town of 27,000 has held onto a handful of classic local spots that most small cities let disappear decades ago. These are the places we mention at check-in when guests ask where to eat.

Bloedow's Bakery

If you haven't started a Winona morning with something from Bloedow's, you haven't really started a Winona morning. This is an old-fashioned neighborhood bakery in every sense — no elaborate seasonal flavors, no espresso drinks, just honest cake donuts, glazed rings, long johns, and freshly baked breads made the same way they've been made for generations. The shop is small, the hours are early, and the best stuff sells out. Our advice to every guest: go early, bring cash, and buy more than you think you need. A bag of Bloedow's pastries eaten at a picnic table by the river is one of the better breakfasts you'll have this year.

Lakeview Drive-In (The Root Beer Stand)

Locals just call it the Root Beer Stand. Sitting right on the edge of Lake Winona on Huff Street, this seasonal drive-in is the kind of place that makes you feel like you've stepped back about sixty years. Cold root beer arrives in an actual frosted mug. Hot dogs are griddled. The cars pile up on warm summer evenings, and the lake shimmers just beyond the parking lot. It's open seasonally — usually late spring through early fall — and it's the sort of place you'll want to visit on your last evening before heading home. Order the root beer float if you're on the fence.

Penguin Zesto

Soft-serve ice cream, hard-dip cones, sundaes, and malts — the Penguin has been a Winona summer institution for as long as most residents can remember. The signature soft-serve swirl is exactly what you want after a long day on the bluffs or the river. It draws long lines on warm evenings, which is itself part of the experience. Don't overthink the menu — a cone and a warm evening outside is the whole point.

Mugby Junction (Drive-Through Coffee)

For a quick, quality coffee before hitting the trails or heading into town, Mugby Junction is where we send people. It's a local drive-through coffee shop with a loyal following — unpretentious, fast, and reliably good. A solid stop on the way to anywhere.

Heirloom Bistro

This one's my personal favorite. Heirloom Bistro is the kind of place that punches well above what you'd expect from a town this size — thoughtful food, a warm atmosphere, and a menu that changes with the seasons. If you're looking for a real dinner out during your stay, this is where I'd point you. Make a reservation if you can.

A Day Worth Planning

Leave camp early and head to Bloedow's — arrive before 9am if you want the full selection. Take the pastries down to Levee Park and eat by the river. Spend the day hiking or exploring, then swing by the Root Beer Stand in the late afternoon. Cap the evening with a cone from the Penguin on the way back to camp. If you want a proper dinner one night, Heirloom Bistro is the answer.

Ask us at check-in for current hours — a few of these spots are seasonal and their schedules shift year to year.