Just minutes away from downtown, Kendall Yards is one of the hottest places in Spokane to eat, drink, and enjoy. With the recent renovations, it will soon be the most populated employment district in the city. Whether it’s a trip to the grocery store, a night out on the town, grabbing cocktails with friends, or simply going out to dinner for a great meal, Kendall Yards is the perfect destination.
Brain freeze takes extra pride in the quality of their product. They use all-natural flavors and colors, and they make their waffle cones daily. In addition to ice cream, they sell amazing shakes and malts. If I’m in the mood for a shake, I like to mix their banana pudding, complete with thick real banana chunks, and chocolate fudge ice cream. It’s the perfect combination and you can half-way convince yourself it’s healthy because of the bananas!
The most popular flavors are the affogato and salted caramel. My personal favorite is the Palouse Crunch. They try to always offer around four vegan options: two made with coconut milk and two sorbets. If a couple scoops aren’t enough, you can purchase your favorite flavor by the pint.
Brain Freeze is busiest at night and in the summer time, but they also draw in a good crowd in the morning for coffee and breakfast. Yes, I said breakfast. Their most popular sandwich choices are their “makin’ bacon” and “pesto chicken salad” but I prefer their breakfast in a cone. Imagine scrambled eggs with all the fixins piled inside a waffle cone. I know what you’re thinking… “why didn’t I think of that?”.
When I think of Central Food, I think of delicious, fresh-baked bread and a wonderful view. If it is a nice, sunny day in Spokane, Central Food is where you should be eating lunch. Nestled right along the Centennial Trail, at Central Food you can count on quality food, quick service, and smiles all-around. The best day to go to Central Food is Friday because that is when they sell their roasted garlic rosemary bread! You can also grab a loaf of their Country Bread for $5 any day of the week.
They have four different menus: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, and Dinner. Brunch is only available on the weekends.
When I go for lunch, I usually order a hearty sandwich like their Smoked Brisket. If you’re a fan of spice, you’ll want to order the Korean Pork sandwich. The PNW Lentil Bowl is great if you are looking for a lighter lunch. It is a spinach salad mixed with a generous number of golden beets, lentils, radish, cucumber, red onion, and sprinkled with a light red wine vinaigrette. This was so much better than a boring lunch salad. Don’t worry vegetarians, they didn’t forget about you. The Chickpea Burger is a hearty portion served with your favorite side.
Hello Sugar
Hello Sugar opened in mid 2018 and they have been making waves around Spokane since day one. This is THE spot to satisfy that sweet tooth and it is donut lover’s galore. These guys make the most beautiful mini donuts I have ever seen. You have to see them to believe it! Covered in glitter and sparkles, they’re truly works of art!
They have all different flavors, so there’s sure to be something for everyone. They also can do bulk boxes which is great for family or work events. Hello Sugar is a must-try when you’re in Kendall Yards. They take any mini donut you’ve ever had and go above and beyond! Bonus: They make a large batch of gluten-free donuts every morning, so get there early to try one of those before they run out.
Indaba Coffee Roasters
All the cool kids go to Indaba. Once you walk into their newest location, you’ll see the creme-de-la-creme of Spokane’s coffee scene; but you’ll also see a company that has a heart for the neighborhoods it resides in. They roast their own beans and work hard to support other local businesses. And just in case you were wondering, the coffee is AMAZING!
I am somewhat of a mocha connoisseur and I can honestly say that Indaba serves my favorite mocha in the whole city. Each location has its own vibe; downtown is modern and minimal and the West Central shop is warm and cozy, and the Kendall Yards location is trendy, open, and comfortable. You can also find them in their newest spot where they share a building with Hello Sugar, because nothing goes with donuts quite like coffee.
Maryhill Winery
Maryhill Winery’s Spokane tasting room, located at Kendall Yards on the north bank of the Spokane River, is a long-time dream of owners Craig and Vicki Leuthold, both Spokane natives. “While we’re deeply tied to the Columbia River Gorge, we’re also very rooted in our hometown of Spokane,” Craig Leuthold says. “We feel right at home at Kendall Yards and designed our tasting room to fit in with this beautiful community. Our tasting room is an inviting and relaxing place to experience our award-winning wines.”
Maryhill Winery’s tasting room at Kendall Yards is open 12pm-8 or 9pm daily. The facility can also be rented for private events. This is exactly what Kendall Yards needed- another patio that you’ll want to relax on all night long.
Nectar Wine & Beer
Nectar is the perfect spot to unwind after a great day out with friends or after a day in the office. With wonderful river front views and an amazing patio (are you seeing a trend here?), this is a great place to watch the sun go down over a cold beverage. Nectar has a fantastic offering of wines both local and imported as well as a rotating number of beers from breweries all over the country. They also offer some small plates in case your appetite decides to show up while you’re there. Which, if you’re anything like me, it always does. This is a great spot to bring family, friends, and coworkers to enjoy a great drink with wonderful atmosphere.
Paper and Cup
When I heard that Celeste Shaw, owner of Chaps Coffee Co, was opening up a coffee and pastry shop in Kendall Yards, I knew it was going to be great. Paper and Cup is cute as can be with its “Millennial Pink” wall, hanging iron flower pots, and bright interior. They serve a variety of hot and cold beverages along with some of the pastry favorites from Chaps Bakery, like my personal favorite, the Maple Scone. They also sell some more filling items like their croissant sandwiches if you want to stop in for a quick lunch. We tried the carbonated house-made lemonade which was the perfect refresher on a hot Summer day.
Kendall Yards was in desperate need of a coffee shop like this. Paper and Cup is on the first floor right as you enter “The Inlander” building on the South side of the neighborhood. Make sure you get there before noon if you want a specific pastry because they sell out quick. There is some bar seating that runs along the exterior walls perfect for grabbing a quick bite or drink, meeting up with friends or colleagues, and continuing on your way through Kendall Yards Business District.
At Veraci Pizza in Kendall Yards, they fire their gourmet pizzas with apple wood from Yakima Valley in screaming oven temperatures around 1000 degrees. Pick up a large slice if you are in a hurry or dine in and share a pizza, salad, and wine. Treat yourself to their caramel brownie sundae and we bet you’ll be raving about it for weeks!
With locations all around the Pacific Northwest’s (Portland, Bend, Seattle & Coeur d’Alene) Veraci is a local favorite. If you’re not in the mood for a full meal, many people love to grab a beer and sit on their beautiful a patio that looks out to the Spokane River and Centennial Trail. Again with the patio, we just can’t resist!
Dining at Wandering Table is about so much more than just a meal. They make your meal an experience by bringing out dish by dish so you can fully enjoy and savor each, one at a time. Start with their deviled egg, then make sure you try the popcorn cauliflower. The best way to eat at Wandering Table is family style so you can sample more items and taste all the flavors of the Northwest.
Yards Bruncheon is our favorite place to get breakfast in all of Spokane. What makes it our favorite? It starts with their perfect location, right along the Centennial Trail, then you walk in and see their bright blue decor, then you try their incredible Irish Benedict and BOOM… you’re a fan for life.
I recommend Yards to anyone looking for a great brunch with a fun ambiance. Located in Kendall Yards, Yards serves up Brunch 7 days a week. From your breakfast favorites like eggs Benedict, pancakes and waffles to some more non-traditional dishes like breakfast fajitas and poutine, you’re sure to find a new breakfast favorite at Yards. If you are going on a weekend, be prepared to wait but they sell fresh pastries and local coffee until a table clears up!
My Fresh Basket
My Fresh Basket is everything you’ve wanted in a grocery store and more. Not only does it have fantastic produce and baked goods, but it also has a salad bar, hot plates and tons of food from local vendors. If you’re someone who not only loves to eat healthy, but also loves supporting those business around you, this is a great place to do so.
It also has the essentials that you’d find at any other grocery store, so it’s really the perfect one-stop-shop. If you’re in Kendall Yards, stop by My Fresh Basket and pick up a few things on your way home!
The Kendall Yards neighborhood is always hustling and bustling with new restaurants and shops opening on the regular. Some of the newest spots are Park Lodge and Umi Sushi and they’re becoming more popular by the day.
The fun doesn’t stop with just food and drinks at Kendall Yards. It offers endless fun like a night market, spa, fitness studio, boutiques and much more. This is the up-and-coming, young hang out in Spokane. It’s always clean, always cheerful, and always delicious. Whether you’re new to the area, or a long-time resident of Spokane, stop by Kendall Yards and check it out, there’s a little something for everyone!
Photos by Chandler Baird & Nick James
Hi! I'm Chandler, owner of Spokane Eats, and I think life is too short for the mediocre. Our team is here to help you discover why we fell (and continue to fall) in love with Spokane Washington!
Hi Chandler! Thanks so much for all the great information. I’ll be visiting Spokane over the Christmas holiday, and I was just wondering if you knew of any places the would be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day?
Hi Monica! I know that Twigs Bistro is open on Christmas Eve! They have a location in North Spokane, Downtown, South Hill, and the Valley. I’m not sure about places open on Christmas but typically 1898 Public House does special dinner events on holidays so i’d suggest giving them a call.
Enjoy your visit!