On Cedar Street in the heart of downtown Sandpoint, Eichardt's Pub, Grill and Coffeehouse has been the town's central gathering place for over 30 years. The pub sits at 212 Cedar Street, an easy stop for Schweitzer visitors heading down the mountain and a familiar front door for locals who have made it part of their weekly routine. Sandpoint Online notes that Ski Magazine has called Eichardt's the locals' favorite hangout, and a few minutes inside make it easy to understand why.
The kitchen is a major reason people stay longer than they planned. Eichardt's describes its cooking simply as seriously good food, made with care from fresh ingredients, with locally sourced ingredients and vegetarian options on the menu. The pub's famous garlic fries have become its signature, the dish regulars recommend first and visitors remember after they leave. It is the kind of menu that works just as well for a full dinner with friends as it does for a relaxed lunch in the middle of a downtown shopping day.
Behind the bar, Eichardt's pours 18 craft beers on tap, alongside bottled beer, a selection of wines, and non-alcoholic drinks. The room itself is part of the experience, with tap handles crowding the ceiling and a warm, lived-in feel that invites conversation. The pub says there is always a good conversation waiting to be had, and that is exactly how a good public house should feel for skiers swapping stories after a day on the mountain and for neighbors catching up close to home.
Music and games give the place its second act in the evening. Every Monday night, Eichardt's hosts its Monday Night Blues Jam, a Sandpoint tradition in which local musicians gather for an open blues jam hosted by John Firshi, with a different set of songs and a different mix of musicians each week. Live music follows most weekends as well. Upstairs, guests will find extra room and a game area with a shuffleboard table, pool, darts, and board games, plus a fireplace for cold North Idaho nights.
Eichardt's is open every day and opens at 11:30 in the morning, which makes it an easy recommendation for anyone staying at Schweitzer or passing through Sandpoint. Come for the garlic fries and a well-poured pint, stay for the music and the company, and you will have found one of the places that explains Sandpoint best. For visitors who want to understand the town beyond the slopes and the lake, an evening at Eichardt's is a very good place to start.