Cafe Aroma

One of the best dining experiences I’ve had. 10/10. (So good that it compelled me to write this review!) Walked in without knowing much and ended up booking another reservation the next night. I’ve got plans for many more meals here with the insanely high quality of food, service, ambiance and cocktails. This restaurant alone has changed my perspective on dining in Idyllwild. (By the way, if there’s a Chef’s Special of any kind…order it!! The staff and owners are super knowledgeable with cocktails, wine and food pairings and overall menu creativeness.) Shout out to Riley on her 1st day - unbelievably natural and skilled with customer experience and good energy. (Kendall was a great teacher!) Shout out to Jacob who was our awesome server on our second night back. So knowledgeable and gave great recs. And the biggest shoutout of all - the dream team - the owners Eric and Addy!! You’ve created a gem and you should be very proud.

Jessica Grimsman

And Idyllwild Gem! What incredible dinner at Cafe Aroma. We were seated at the bar, which has such a warm and inviting atmosphere. Our server, Daniel, was phenomenal. He was super attentive and made the whole experience even better. The food was absolutely incredible across the board. Starter: Blue Mussels - Fresh and perfectly prepared. The broth was so flavorful, we made sure to enjoy every bit with the toasted bread. Side: Roasted Beets - A total standout. They were fresh, vibrant, and the perfect way to start the meal. Main: Filet Jacob - Easily one of the best steaks I’ve had. It was cooked to perfection and incredibly tender. If you’re looking for high-quality food and a great vibe in Idyllwild, this is the spot. Ask for a seat at the bar and hope Daniel is working! We’ll definitely be back.

Tina C

Such a warm, lovely place! Workers were great, and I loved our pasta dishes. Bread was tasty as well. Also a huge plus since they’re dog friendly! Make sure to make a reservation cause they’re packed.

Agnieszka Pieterwas

I’ve been coming to Idyllwild for 1,5 years now but I was my first time at Cafe Aroma. Oh boy, I missed a lot! This place an amazing ambience. It’s pretty and cozy. Food is DELICIOUS! They have few vegan options. I had Red Rock Tofu, and we shared vegan queso as a starter which was yummy as well. If you’re in Idyllwild, Cafe Aroma is a must! Make a reservation, this place is very popular.

Mark Upton

Came in with my mom last night for my birthday dinner. Haven’t been to cafe aroma in years and I must say that the new owner has done a terrific job with the place! We each had the Filet Jacob and I cannot remember the last time I had a steak so delicious. The warm beet and goat cheese salad was also phenomenal. Terrific service and ambiance we will back soon.

Lisa West

Having been making day trips to Idyllwild for decades we decided to stay a weekend. Honestly, it might have been a one and done but then there was Cafe Aroma. ✨️ We seriously thought this was a coffee café and never made it up the road that far on previous visits. But after walking by on a Friday night and seeing how popular this place was we investigated 🔎. Daniel squeezed us in at the bar on a Saturday (sold out seating). The service was 10/10. Drinks were fabulous and the food was delicious. We had the Jacob Filet and Trout. It's a cute quaint upscale (but not pretentious) atmosphere with staff who are super friendly and inviting. Special stars for Daniel! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 The IS the best restaurant in Idyllwild... hands down. We would consider another trip up the hill for an overnight with a Cafe Aroma reservation.

Daniel Rosario

Cafe Aroma offers a charming and relaxed spot right in the heart of Idyllwild. From the moment you step inside, you're greeted by a warm and inviting atmosphere with live music. The food at Cafe Aroma is simply excellent, focusing on fresh, flavorful ingredients. The staff was attentive and always ready with a smile. Our server was prompt in taking our order and checking in on us. There's a genuine sense of hospitality that makes you feel welcome and contributes to the overall pleasant experience.

Audrey Jeannine

All around great place. They were so accommodating with my dog as well

David Wilkins

Enjoyed dinner with friends here. Won't be our last visit. Our friends are vegans and we are not and still had amazing meals!

Kevin Massey

Food was great. Was able to walk in without a reservation, but i think reservations are preferred especially on sunday night when they have live music.

Bear Of The Desert

5 Stars — A Must-Visit Mountain Escape! Café Aroma in Idyllwild is an absolute gem worth every mile of the drive from Palm Springs. The ambiance is cozy, artistic, and full of mountain charm. It’s the kind of place that instantly makes you feel relaxed and welcomed. The food is superb. Every dish is thoughtfully prepared, beautifully presented, and bursting with flavor. From the appetizers to the entrées and desserts, everything reflects quality and creativity. It’s clear the kitchen takes great pride in what they serve. The duck dish is a must Service is top-notch. The staff is warm, attentive, and genuinely cares about your experience. You’re treated like a valued guest from start to finish. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, Café Aroma is a must. The peaceful setting, exceptional food, and outstanding hospitality make it a place you’ll want to return to again and again.

Leighton Ginn

My amazing 👧 took me here for a late birthday celebration, and it blew my mind. The interior here is so warm and romantic. She had the Argentinian Steak, and I had the Duck A L'Orange, and both were superb. Great night and one of the best experiences I've had.

Alexander Charbonneau

At first I didn't want to eat here, strictly because I was looking for a classic breakfast. But boy was I wrong. Me and my boys ended up deciding to give it a try because there was a total vibe here. The food was solid 10/10. I was absolutely blown away. The drinks as well 10/10 blown away. The bar maid Lea and the hostess at the front were extremely welcoming and provided good conversation which didn't feel forced at all. The food was great. The service was great. The atmosphere was great. If you're in Iidylwild and looking for breakfast (I'm sure lunch and dinner is great too) Definitely check this place out. I've attached some pictures, unfortunately, I already finished my main course so I couldn't get a picture of it. But trust me it was great.

Hands down the best restaurant in Idyllwild. The food is excellent, the cocktails are well crafted, and the service truly stands out. The waitstaff are attentive, professional, and genuinely warm, which makes the entire dining experience even more enjoyable. The only minor drawback is that there is just one restroom, so there can be a short wait during busy times. That said, it’s well maintained and thoughtfully equipped with a heater, which is especially appreciated in colder weather. Overall, an outstanding spot that I would absolutely return to and highly recommend.

Amazing food, great atmosphere, and A+ service from the host, waiters, bussers, and even the bartender even though we didn't sit at the bar! We come to Idyllwild for a weekend stay with the family every year for the past 10 years and for the past couple of years have tried to make it a point to come to Cafe Aroma for a mouth-watering dinner with live music. I had the Steak Argentina with the Method Cabernet. My husband had the Pan Fried Rainbow Trout. Both were so delicious!! Make reservations! It's so easy through their website.

We went to Idyllwild from the mid west for a girls trip. We loved the town and the scenery but what we will be coming back for is Cafe Aroma. We left town feeling like we were leaving friends behind. The staff is unlike any other. Truly amazing people. The food and drinks are some of the best we’ve had, especially the Fillet and Pesto Penne! Can’t wait to return and try more menu items and most importantly to return to enjoy the laughs with the Cafe Aroma family.

I absolutely loved this place! We were looking for gourmet vegan food to celebrate my birthday. We enjoyed their Red Rock Tofu was superb, baked and covered in vegetables, peppers, and with just a bit of heat to it. We also loved the Vegan Queso dip; it was a bit too hot for me but my friend adored it. And we couldn't stop filling up on their delicious fresh bread and olive oil! There was also a wonderful ambiance, dark but warm with low lighting, and a singer-guitarist strumming the space with tones & tunes that added to the festive feeling of community, of a warm gathering of friends in the forest. I live in the lower desert but this place was so good it's worth making the trip up the mountain just to try it! It was excellent and I will definitely dine there again!

Loved our dinner here! It was decorated so nicely for the holidays as well, so 5⭐️ for a fun cozy atmosphere as well. The cocktails were incredible-we got the chefs martini and both myself and my boyfriend agree it’s the best dirty martini we’ve ever had. Ribeye was 10/10 and we loved the seasonal holiday dessert as well. We can’t wait to return on our next trip to Idyllwild!

This is our favorite restaurant in Idyllwild, followed closely by Ferro. Everything is good here: the duck, the salmon toasts, the shrimp cocktail, the chicken Alfredo, the pesto pasta with shrimp, the cheesecake. You cannot go wrong. Very cozy atmosphere, lovely servers and owners, and don’t forget to finish your meal with an espresso martini. Only place I’ve seen offer a decaf option. Thank you, Cage Aroma, for your quality and obvious care. You’re a gem.

A warm, reliable favorite in Idyllwild Cafe Aroma has become our go‑to spot in Idyllwild, and for good reason. The atmosphere is always warm and inviting, the kind of place that makes you want to linger a little longer. The food is consistently excellent, and the service is solid every time we visit. On our most recent trip, we had the blackened salmon and the chicken cordon bleu—both were outstanding and cooked perfectly. It’s rare to find a place that delivers this level of quality so consistently, but Cafe Aroma truly does. A must‑visit whenever we’re in town.

Glen Adamski

A warm, reliable favorite in Idyllwild Cafe Aroma has become our go‑to spot in Idyllwild, and for good reason. The atmosphere is always warm and inviting, the kind of place that makes you want to linger a little longer. The food is consistently excellent, and the service is solid every time we visit. On our most recent trip, we had the blackened salmon and the chicken cordon bleu—both were outstanding and cooked perfectly. It’s rare to find a place that delivers this level of quality so consistently, but Cafe Aroma truly does. A must‑visit whenever we’re in town.

Eric Tsai

Hands down the best restaurant in Idyllwild. The food is excellent, the cocktails are well crafted, and the service truly stands out. The waitstaff are attentive, professional, and genuinely warm, which makes the entire dining experience even more enjoyable. The only minor drawback is that there is just one restroom, so there can be a short wait during busy times. That said, it’s well maintained and thoughtfully equipped with a heater, which is especially appreciated in colder weather. Overall, an outstanding spot that I would absolutely return to and highly recommend.

Nobuko Shigeyama

Really loved the food here! Very gluten free and dairy free friendly! The service was a bit slow - took 30min to get appetizers. But, the ambiance was nice and we didn’t mind waiting.

Desiree

Loved our dinner here! It was decorated so nicely for the holidays as well, so 5⭐️ for a fun cozy atmosphere as well. The cocktails were incredible-we got the chefs martini and both myself and my boyfriend agree it’s the best dirty martini we’ve ever had. Ribeye was 10/10 and we loved the seasonal holiday dessert as well. We can’t wait to return on our next trip to Idyllwild!

Rhonda Higdon

I absolutely loved this place! We were looking for gourmet vegan food to celebrate my birthday. We enjoyed their Red Rock Tofu was superb, baked and covered in vegetables, peppers, and with just a bit of heat to it. We also loved the Vegan Queso dip; it was a bit too hot for me but my friend adored it. And we couldn't stop filling up on their delicious fresh bread and olive oil! There was also a wonderful ambiance, dark but warm with low lighting, and a singer-guitarist strumming the space with tones & tunes that added to the festive feeling of community, of a warm gathering of friends in the forest. I live in the lower desert but this place was so good it's worth making the trip up the mountain just to try it! It was excellent and I will definitely dine there again!

sarah grace

The food here is absolutely amazing! Eric one of the co-owners has been making this special weekly and so far every special I have had has been hands down amazing food! His roots go back to new orleans. His expertise in blending flavors is top notch! He has an excellent kitchen full of experienced kitchen staff that deliver beautifully served dishes as well. The staff are amazing. The bartenders are very skilled. I highly recommend this establishment!

The Duck was absolutely incredible. The pasta was delicious, temp, flavor, presentatio, everything on key. The crème brulèe was one of the best I've ever had. The live music was of perfect sound and quality, the ambiance excellent and charming. The table & bar service was a Huuuge fail ! Table service was incredibly dismissed for checking in throughout & bringing the tab. The bar service was so completely & entirely subpar to the point that I said something out of sheer shock from the first drink, expecting the 2nd to be top notch, but received nothing except an apology to both. Every basic drink served in a Martini glass should be filled to the rim. They cheated on ounces of a proper pour. Also, any quality bar would absolutely Never serve an Old Fashioned at that price with the rock glass stuffed & over filled with "crushed ice"

Matthew Alexander

The Duck was absolutely incredible. The pasta was delicious, temp, flavor, presentatio, everything on key. The crème brulèe was one of the best I've ever had. The live music was of perfect sound and quality, the ambiance excellent and charming. The table & bar service was a Huuuge fail ! Table service was incredibly dismissed for checking in throughout & bringing the tab. The bar service was so completely & entirely subpar to the point that I said something out of sheer shock from the first drink, expecting the 2nd to be top notch, but received nothing except an apology to both. Every basic drink served in a Martini glass should be filled to the rim. They cheated on ounces of a proper pour. Also, any quality bar would absolutely Never serve an Old Fashioned at that price with the rock glass stuffed & over filled with "crushed ice"

Jenny J Bloom

Our server was great but the overall experience wasn’t. We reserved an indoor table but it was busy and we were sat outdoors. Despite the numerous heaters it was freezing. It’s just unpleasant having to eat in your coat (fully zipped up!) and still be cold. In addition to the temperature the kitchen was very slow. We were waiting about an hour when our sides came out - no mains. After another fifteen minutes we asked for our mains to go bc it was just miserable. The food itself was decent, particularly the ribeye. Probably even better when it’s served hot from the kitchen.

Wanted to love it, but was a disappointment. Had a reservation for main room seating right when they opened, the place was wide open when we got there and they sat us in what seemed to be an overflow room in the corner it was drafty and cold, they had a small space heater to try and warm the area but it was not enough. We had to leave our jackets and beanies on while eating, not exactly an upscale experience. Ribeye was chewy and rubbery, I overheated another waiter telling a customer they sous vide the ribeye which explains the horrible texture. $68 ribeye better be a good cut of meat to begin with (wasn't) and you better know how to cook it properly. Rest of food basic and bland. Wife's cauliflower rice dish was pretty good, warm beets were very good. Dessert was OK seemed frozen very cold and hard. Small ice cubes in old fashioned such a disappointment, this waters down the drink and ruins the experience ditch the smoking cinnamon stick and give me a properly made cocktail on a large ice cube or ball. My wife and I spent $260 which I don't mind if the atmosphere is comfortable and the food is great, this was neither unfortunately. Note- they kept asking to take away our plates and glasses during our meal when there was still food and drink on/in them it was awkward to keep having to say no we want to finish things, almost felt like they were rushing us. Lucky for them they don't have much competition for "upscale" dining up there but it seemed there were a few restaurants being built they could end up being in trouble when there are other options.