The Ultimate Local's Guide to the Best Spots in Northern Nevada

Ask a tourism site for the "best things to do in Northern Nevada" and you'll get a list built from press releases. Ask us, and you'll get the actual map we use.

We're the Koerner Group, and over the years we've built our own personal Google Map of favorite spots across Northern Nevada: places we take clients when they're touring the area, places we send friends who just moved here, and honestly, places we go ourselves on a random Tuesday. This guide pulls straight from that map. No filler, no guesses, just the real spots we've marked as favorites.

Our Favorite Restaurants

• Cucina Lupo (Carson City) is an Italian restaurant in the heart of historic downtown, run by Chef Mark Estee. The homemade pastas, wood fired pizzas, and seasonal Northern Nevada ingredients make it a go to for a nice dinner out.

• Sassafras Eclectic Food Joint (Carson City) lives up to its name. It's a chalkboard style restaurant with an ever changing menu that pulls from all over the map, globally inspired dishes, local ingredients, and a full bar. It sits right next to Shoe Tree Brewing Co. and the Carson Hot Springs, so a lot of locals turn a visit into what's affectionately called the Carson City Triathlon: soak, beer, and dinner, all in one stop.

• The Basil (Carson City) is our pick for Thai food in the capital. Fresh, flavorful, and consistent.

• Eve's Eatery (Carson City) is a longtime downtown favorite for a solid, satisfying meal in a cozy setting.

• San Marcos Grill (Carson City) is a bit off the beaten path but worth the drive, known for a great tequila selection and tableside guacamole.

• Nashville Social (Carson City) is one of the newer additions to our list and it earned its spot fast.

• Kei Sushi and Sumi Sushi (both Carson City) are our two go to spots when we're craving Japanese food in town.

• The Cracker Box Diner (Carson City) is exactly what it sounds like: an old school diner where you go for a classic, no frills breakfast. It's a genuine local favorite.

• L.A. Bakery Cafe (Carson City) is a bit of a hidden gem for breakfast and lunch, with fresh baked goods and friendly service.

Best Breweries & Drinks

• Great Basin Brewing Co. (Carson City) is one of Nevada's most decorated breweries, serving hand tossed pizzas, burgers, and pub classics alongside its award winning beer.

• The Fox Restaurant & Brewery (Carson City) is set inside the historic 1862 St. Charles Hotel downtown, with an English style pub menu (think fish and chips and a proper chicken pot pie) and beer brewed on site.

• Shoe Tree Brewing Co. (Carson City) is named after the famous shoe tree along "The Loneliest Road in America." Their Coco Burrito and Stoutacus have both taken home medals at the Great American Beer Festival. It's laid back, fun, and a favorite stop on the Carson City Triathlon we mentioned above.

• Piazza Bar (Carson City) rounds out our go to spots for a drink downtown.

Best Coffee & Sweets

• Old World Coffee Roasters (Carson City) is a locally owned roastery and cafe that takes its coffee seriously, from sourcing relationships with farms in Colombia, El Salvador, and Nicaragua to the pour overs they serve in house.

• Scoups Ice Cream & Soup Bar (Carson City) is a genuinely fun concept: ice cream and soup, under one roof, in the heart of downtown. Family owned, friendly, and a great stop after a stroll around the plaza.

• Squeeze In (Carson City) is our pick for a big, satisfying breakfast or lunch. Bonus: you can write on the walls.

Best Scenic Day Trip

• Stonefly (Markleeville, CA), formerly of Minden, is a wood fired restaurant with an Italian leaning menu built around Certified Angus beef, fresh fish, and homemade pasta. It's a bit of a drive, but it's the kind of place worth planning a whole afternoon around.

• Caples Lake Resort Restaurant (Kirkwood, CA) is our favorite excuse for a scenic drive up Highway 88. The restaurant sits right on the lake with sweeping Sierra views, and the seasonal menu (short ribs, cioppino, and more) is worth the trip on its own. It's open seasonally, so check ahead before you go.

Why We Made This List

We didn't put this together to fill space on our website. We put it together because we genuinely love this region, and knowing where the good coffee is, or which patio has the best view, or where locals actually spend their Friday nights tells you something a generic relocation guide never can: whether a place is going to feel like home.

That's the whole idea behind Nevada Home Finder. We're not just here to open doors and hand over keys. We're here because we love living here, and it shows.

Want the interactive version? Check out our full, personally curated Google Map of favorite spots across Northern Nevada and save it to your phone before your next visit. 

Thinking about making Northern Nevada home? We'd love to show you around, the neighborhoods and the good sandwiches both.

Jeanne Koerner: 775-690-9184 | jk@nevadahomefinder.net

Michael Koerner: 775-781-5110 | mjkhomefinder@gmail.com