Brandon's Guidebook
Favorite Watering Holes.
31 localish beers on tap, Plus a great variety of packaged goods.
Dixie's doesn't serve food, food trucks are there in season. or you can have food delivered from Mabe's or other places.
Twelve ✳️ Friendly staff
9 locals recommend
Dixie's Biergarten
310 College Dr31 localish beers on tap, Plus a great variety of packaged goods.
Dixie's doesn't serve food, food trucks are there in season. or you can have food delivered from Mabe's or other places.
Twelve ✳️ Friendly staff
Pulpit Rock Brewing Company
207 College DrAn easy stroll from Twin Oak
La Rana Bistro
120 Washington StGreat food and beverages.
Toppling Goliath is no longer next door, but is worth the short drive for food and awesome beer.
48 locals recommend
Toppling Goliath Brewing Co
1600 Prosperity RdToppling Goliath is no longer next door, but is worth the short drive for food and awesome beer.
PIVO Brewery and Blepta Studios
101 Huber DriveAbout ten miles, large variety of beer and they serve food.
If you like the dive bars- this is your place. You don't come here for the fancy drinks or uppity building. This is the type of place you get the juke box going and get to meet new friends. Becca is a great bartender. Make sure you bring cash because they don't take cards.
They have darts and pool.
Hay Market
If you like the dive bars- this is your place. You don't come here for the fancy drinks or uppity building. This is the type of place you get the juke box going and get to meet new friends. Becca is a great bartender. Make sure you bring cash because they don't take cards.
They have darts and pool.
Impact is a craft coffee bar & roastery located in historic downtown Decorah, Iowa. Family owned and operated since 2014.
20 locals recommend
Impact Coffee
101 W Water StImpact is a craft coffee bar & roastery located in historic downtown Decorah, Iowa. Family owned and operated since 2014.
Coffee, cocktails, beer and wine. Great coffee drinks, friendly staff. Extremely closes to Twin Oak, inside The Landing Market.
The Buzz
211 College DrCoffee, cocktails, beer and wine. Great coffee drinks, friendly staff. Extremely closes to Twin Oak, inside The Landing Market.
Food Scene
The Landing Market
211 College DrA variety of food and beverages, extremely close to Twin Oak.
Root 43 Juicery
211 College DriveInside the Landing Market, great smoothies.
Justin's
211 College DriveAnother Landing Market restaurant.
Rubaiyat Restaurant
117 W Water StGreat food, cocktails, wine and beer.
I like eating at Koreana, but sometimes the service can be slow. A wide variety of food on the menu can sometimes takes longer.
14 locals recommend
Koreana Japanese Restaurant
207 W Water StI like eating at Koreana, but sometimes the service can be slow. A wide variety of food on the menu can sometimes takes longer.
Magpie Cafe & Coffeehouse
202 W Water StGood food, friendly staff.
Decorah Farmers Market
900 Heivly StreetGreat little market, Wednesday afternoon and Saturday morning while in season
Open 7 days a week, opens early for breakfast. Nothing fancy, just good food.
11 locals recommend
Family Table Decorah
817 S Mechanic StOpen 7 days a week, opens early for breakfast. Nothing fancy, just good food.
Old Armory BBQ
208 College DrAcross the street from The Landing Market and Pulpit Rock Brewing
Blazing Star came from a desire to see more vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free dining options in Decorah that celebrated the amazing food growers & producers in the region.
Blazing Star
Blazing Star came from a desire to see more vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free dining options in Decorah that celebrated the amazing food growers & producers in the region.
Downtown Decorah bakery and restaurant serving breakfast and lunch as well as made-from-scratch to order pies.
Super Yummy!
Kozi Pie Shoppe
Downtown Decorah bakery and restaurant serving breakfast and lunch as well as made-from-scratch to order pies.
Super Yummy!
Serving authentic Mexican menu.
Great food, friendly staff, relaxed atmosphere.
15 locals recommend
Don Jose Family Mexican Restaurant
201 E Water StServing authentic Mexican menu.
Great food, friendly staff, relaxed atmosphere.
Pizza Ranch
212 College DrPizza, chicken and a daily buffet in a family atmosphere.
Extremely closes to Twin Oak.
Third largest Coop in Iowa, open seven days a week. They also have a grab and go at the Landing Market.
24 locals recommend
Oneota Community Food Co-op
312 W Water StThird largest Coop in Iowa, open seven days a week. They also have a grab and go at the Landing Market.
Infamous potato store in Decorah.
Serving only raw potatoes and nothing else... At least that is what my Grandpa would tell us when we drove by????
Less than a half a mile from Twin Oak.
14 locals recommend
Whippy Dip
121 College DrInfamous potato store in Decorah.
Serving only raw potatoes and nothing else... At least that is what my Grandpa would tell us when we drove by????
Less than a half a mile from Twin Oak.
Artisan Ghost Kitchen
Yummy food, inside The Landing Market.
Services
West Side Laundry
206 College DrLess than a block away.
Nice, clean laundromat pretty new equipment.
Fareway Grocery
103 E Main StNice grocery store, closed on Sunday.
Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce
507 W Water StThe place to go for Decorah information.
Casey's
401 College DrGas Station very closes to Twin Oak
Third largest Coop in Iowa, open seven days a week. They also have a grab and go at the Landing Market.
24 locals recommend
Oneota Community Food Co-op
312 W Water StThird largest Coop in Iowa, open seven days a week. They also have a grab and go at the Landing Market.
Decorah Mart
Gas, wine, liquor, wine and beer. Little store near Twin Oak.
Decorah Bicycles is the place to go for all your bicycle needs.
They also rent pedal assist bikes, see their website for more information.
11 locals recommend
Decorah Bicycles
101 College DrDecorah Bicycles is the place to go for all your bicycle needs.
They also rent pedal assist bikes, see their website for more information.
History
Decorah and Winneshiek County have a long, vibrant and varied history. There so much beauty here, the history shows in the architecture and workmanship.
Winneshiek County Historical Society
302 North Mill StreetDecorah and Winneshiek County have a long, vibrant and varied history. There so much beauty here, the history shows in the architecture and workmanship.
Winneshiek County Historical Society Archives
202 W Broadway StVesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah, Iowa is the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School, with over 33,000 artifacts, 12 historic buildings, and a library and archives.
33 locals recommend
Vesterheim The National Norwegian-American Museum & Heritage Center
520 W Water StVesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah, Iowa is the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School, with over 33,000 artifacts, 12 historic buildings, and a library and archives.
Located in the former Decorah home of Adelbert Field Porter (1879 – 1968) and Grace Young Porter (1880 – 1964), the Porter House Museum is an inspiring exploration of history, nature, and art.
“Bert” (as he was more commonly called) was a gentleman naturalist, collector, and photographer who traveled throughout the world in pursuit of butterflies, rocks, and other curiosities. A man of artistic sensibilities, Bert used his nature collections to create unique “nature art,” for which he became well known during his lifetime.
At the museum, visitors experience the historic travels, art, and collecting of this naturalist and his wife against the backdrop of Victorian elegance that was their home and heritage.
9 locals recommend
Porter House Museum
401 W Broadway StLocated in the former Decorah home of Adelbert Field Porter (1879 – 1968) and Grace Young Porter (1880 – 1964), the Porter House Museum is an inspiring exploration of history, nature, and art.
“Bert” (as he was more commonly called) was a gentleman naturalist, collector, and photographer who traveled throughout the world in pursuit of butterflies, rocks, and other curiosities. A man of artistic sensibilities, Bert used his nature collections to create unique “nature art,” for which he became well known during his lifetime.
At the museum, visitors experience the historic travels, art, and collecting of this naturalist and his wife against the backdrop of Victorian elegance that was their home and heritage.
Locust School is a historic building located north of Decorah, Iowa, United States. Built in 1854, the one-room schoolhouse is composed of rubble ashlar limestone and capped with a gable roof. The lintels and window sills are also stone. A belfry with round-arch openings is located above the main entrance. The school was established just after the village of Locust was surveyed and settlement had begun. It remained in operation with all elementary grades until 1950, when it was reduced to specific grades. It was closed in 1960. The Winneshiek County Historical Society acquired the building and operates a museum in it. It was one of the first school buildings constructed in Winneshiek County. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Locust School Museum
Locust School is a historic building located north of Decorah, Iowa, United States. Built in 1854, the one-room schoolhouse is composed of rubble ashlar limestone and capped with a gable roof. The lintels and window sills are also stone. A belfry with round-arch openings is located above the main entrance. The school was established just after the village of Locust was surveyed and settlement had begun. It remained in operation with all elementary grades until 1950, when it was reduced to specific grades. It was closed in 1960. The Winneshiek County Historical Society acquired the building and operates a museum in it. It was one of the first school buildings constructed in Winneshiek County. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Sightseeing
Dunning Springs is the site of a beautiful waterfall surrounded by limestone cliffs.
Dunnings is a must see in Decorah. A peaceful, cozy spot an easy walk from Twin Oak.
38 locals recommend
Dunnings Spring Park
Ice Cave RoadDunning Springs is the site of a beautiful waterfall surrounded by limestone cliffs.
Dunnings is a must see in Decorah. A peaceful, cozy spot an easy walk from Twin Oak.
Phelps Park is Decorah’s first park and was originally known as City Park. It is now one of Decorah’s favorite parks for families with its playground equipment, picnic shelters, stone walled lookouts, a foundation, and a hiking trail that includes unique rock work and wooden bridges.
21 locals recommend
Phelps Park
613 Park St Phelps Park is Decorah’s first park and was originally known as City Park. It is now one of Decorah’s favorite parks for families with its playground equipment, picnic shelters, stone walled lookouts, a foundation, and a hiking trail that includes unique rock work and wooden bridges.
Trail circles Decorah and features art sculptures and an LED-lit pedestrian bridge. Trail runs along the Upper Iowa River and by the Decorah Trout Hatchery.
Hop on less than a half a mile from Twin Oak
Trout Run Trail Head
Trail circles Decorah and features art sculptures and an LED-lit pedestrian bridge. Trail runs along the Upper Iowa River and by the Decorah Trout Hatchery.
Hop on less than a half a mile from Twin Oak
Traveler advice
What to pack
Going to be on the river, bring a pair of old shoes.
Water shoes or saddles work OK, but some old tennies work better.