The Laramie, WY Food Tour You Didn’t Know You Needed

Laramie might not be the first place you think of when you picture a culinary getaway—but maybe it should be. This little railroad town in southeast Wyoming has a dining scene that’s scrappy, surprising, and just charming enough to win you over.

You’ll find house-made pork rinds that might change your life, tea parties that feel like stepping into a storybook, and fried pickles worth timing your happy hour around. Here’s where to go and what to eat when you get there.

Crowbar & Grill

Come here because: You want to eat food so good it will haunt your dreams.
What to get: The pork rinds, a steak salad, and a burger.

This place is unassuming but unforgettable. We started off just planning to grab a drink, but once the pork rinds hit the table, it turned into a full-blown feast. They’re house-made and possibly the best I’ve ever had.

The steak salad and burger were both cooked exactly to order, and the whole meal was so good we almost went back the next day. (We didn’t—strictly for journalistic integrity.) Bonus: a wide selection of local beers and a lively, local crowd that makes it feel like the heart of town. Read more.

Third Street Bar & Grill

Come here because: You need a drink and a vibe.
What to get: A beer, a cocktail, and maybe the fried pickles.

This is your pre- or post-dinner hangout. It’s where the locals land after work or shake off a hike, and you can feel that laid-back buzz as soon as you walk in.

Grab a cocktail or a cold beer, maybe a plate of fried pickles if you’re snacky, and settle in. Check the happy hour schedule—it’s the kind of place that makes you want to stay a while. Read more.

Sweet Melissa Café

Come here because: You’re vegetarian, or just want to eat like one.
What to get: Literally anything. It’s all veg, and it’s all beloved.

This award-winning, all-vegetarian joint has been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and gets local love from just about everyone. We didn’t make it there (ran out of time), but we heard enough praise to feel confident recommending it. Read more.

Chalk N’ Cheese

Come here because: You want to picnic like a pro—or at least feel like one.
What to get: A stash of fancy cheese, some crackers, and a jar of that jam you’ll pretend you’re going to ration.

This charming little shop is made for trail snacks, hotel picnics, or pretending you host dinner parties on the regular. The shelves are lined with cheeses from across Europe, plus jams, mustards, crackers, and other snacky gold.

You can build a full-on charcuterie board without lifting anything heavier than a to-go bag. No prep, no pressure—just grab what looks good and head for the hills (or your patio). Read more.

Alibi Wood Fire Pizzeria & Bakery

Come here because: You want pizza, but also sunshine and dogs.
What to get: Pizza for the kids, salads for the grownups, and a spot on the back lawn.

Alibi is another Laramie spot that got the Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives stamp of approval, and it earns it. The wood-fired pizza hits the spot, but honestly, it’s the backyard that steals the show.

Think picnic tables, shady trees, soft grass, and the kind of vibe that makes you want to stay all afternoon. Dogs are welcome, the kids are happy, and no one’s rushing you out the door.Read more.

Lovejoy’s Bar & Grill

Come here because: You like your burgers with a side of local history.
What to get: A burger and a beer.

Named after Elmer Lovejoy—the inventor of the automatic garage door opener and builder of Wyoming’s first car, among other things—this spot is a solid choice for a casual meal. Think burgers, wraps, steaks, and big-screen TVs for game day. Read more.

Second Street Deli

Come here because: You want to be wowed by a sandwich.
What to get: The BLT, a giant salad, or the specialty mac and cheese.

This under-the-radar spot blew us away. I had a salad so good I wrote down every ingredient to try (and fail) to recreate it at home. The boys devoured their sandwiches and mac and cheese, and we all left full and a little stunned by how good it was.

Everything’s made from scratch, including the bread, and it shows. We grabbed a shaded table outside, and it ended up being one of our favorite lunches of the whole trip. Read more.

Big Dipper Ice Cream Shop

Come here because: Ice cream. Obviously.
What to get: Anything. Everything. Maybe go twice.

Dairy-free? No problem. Classic milkshakes? Got ’em. Big Dipper is fun and colorful and a hit with kids (and adults who act like kids when presented with ice cream). Read more.

Night Heron Books & Coffeehouse

Come here because: You want a coffee shop that doubles as a hug.
What to get: Coffee, a mini quiche, or a breakfast burrito.

It’s the only used bookstore in town, and walking in feels like a warm, book-scented hug. The old wood floors creak just right, the shelves wrap around you, and the low lighting invites you to exhale.

I snuck in while the kids were next door getting ice cream and instantly wished I’d come alone—or at least with a friend who loves slow mornings and secondhand paperbacks. The coffee’s solid, the food is better than it needs to be, and the whole place feels like a secret you kind of want to keep. Read more.

Range Coffee Roasters

Come here because: You like your coffee and the smell of leather.
What to get: Campfire blend coffee and a seat by the window.

This sleek, bright cafe shares space with a leather goods store, which means it smells amazing and looks cooler than your average coffee spot. People come here to chat, work, meet—it’s a scene, but a relaxed one. Read more.

Sugar Mouse Cupcake House

Come here because: You want to live inside a tea party.
What to get: A cupcake (try blackberry lavender or Snickers), or go full tea party.

This place is pure delight wrapped in pink ribbons and buttercream. Sugar Mouse looks like a dollhouse exploded in the best possible way—think vintage tea sets, frilly tables, and cupcakes that are somehow both adorable and decadent. The whole thing feels like stepping into a pastel dream, even before you try the blackberry lavender or Snickers cupcake.

They do full-on dress-up tea parties for kids (complete with tiny tea rooms and mouse-themed menus), but grownups get in on the fun too with proper high tea and heartier bites like soups and sandwiches. Even if you’re just popping in for a quick cupcake, you’ll probably leave plotting a return visit. Read more.

And if you really want to lean in, you can stay overnight in their equally charming Airbnb. It’s just as magical—cozy, quirky, and perfect for anyone who’s ever dreamed of living inside a Jane Austen-meets-Wes Anderson tea party.

Born in a Barn

Come here because: Wings. So many wings.
What to get: One of the 16 wing sauces or the weekly burger special.

Another Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives alum, Born in a Barn is wing heaven. There are 17 burgers on the menu, but the wings are the star—and the vibe is casual, fun, and perfect for post-hike refueling. Read more.

Cavalryman Steakhouse

Come here because: You want a steak dinner with some gravitas.
What to get: A hand-cut steak, obviously.

Reservations are a must, and hours are limited, but if you’re lucky enough to snag a table at this upscale steakhouse (just outside town), do it. It’s housed in a historic building with roots in the old Fort Sanders cavalry outpost. The menu is classic, the setting is timeless, and the whole experience feels like a special occasion. Read more.

Whether you’re hiking in the Snowies or just passing through, Laramie delivers far more flavor than you’d expect. Bring your appetite—and maybe some stretchy pants.