As the seasons change and the aroma of pumpkin pie fills the air, the historic towns of Stillwater and Lake Elmo become a playground for your Thanksgiving traditions — whether you’re dining out, brunching with friends, or picking up a feast to share at home. For 2025, here are standout local spots to help you capture the holiday in style.
Brunch or Day-Out Gathering
Keys Café Bakery & Bar — Stillwater
If your Thanksgiving plan includes a relaxed brunch or a mix of breakfast and holiday flavors, Keys Café in Stillwater is a terrific starting point. They’re open on Thanksgiving Day from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and offer a range of classic breakfast dishes along with family-style turkey dinner options for carry-out.
They also accept family-style turkey dinner and pie orders for pickup.
Pro tip: Reserve early — family-style dinners often sell out before mid-November.
Full Dinner Out Experience
The Lora Hotel — Stillwater
For a high-end, sit-down Thanksgiving experience, the Lora Hotel offers an elevated atmosphere paired with regionally-sourced cuisine. Their dining program focuses on seasonal ingredients, beautifully executed dishes, and a luxury-forward ambiance perfect for holiday gatherings.
Their pastry chef is also accepting Thanksgiving pie orders for pickup — ideal for guests who want to enjoy dinner out but take home a show-stopping dessert.
Suggested highlight:
“Let the pastry chef at the Lora take care of the pie — you focus on the wine.”
Dessert & Take-Home Pie Central
Sara’s Bake Shop – Tipsy Pies — Stillwater
If you’re hunting for memorable desserts, Sara’s Bake Shop specializes in “Tipsy Pies” — hand-pies and full-sized pies infused with local whiskey, wine or craft beer. These are perfect for hosts, gifts, or friends-giving dinners.
- Standout flavors include:
- Drunken Pumpkin
- Boozy Blueberry-Lemon
- Irish Pecan
- French Silk (seasonal availability)
A fun hosting idea: Pair one large pie with several smaller hand-pies for guests as they arrive.
Take-Home Feast & Dine-In Option
Lake Elmo Inn — Lake Elmo
For an elegant take-home or dine-in Thanksgiving solution, Lake Elmo Inn is offering three outstanding options: a four-course dine-in experience, a “Take-Home Thanksgiving for Two” box, or a larger family-style to-go feast. Lake Elmo Inn Restaurant+1
For example: their Take-Home box serves two, with hot-and-ready pickup on Thanksgiving Day at their Lake Elmo location. You choose one dish from each course — starter, soup/salad, entrée (traditional turkey feast) and a slice of pie (pumpkin, Dutch apple, pecan, French silk). Lake Elmo Inn Restaurant
Pro tip: Great for hosting small gatherings or gifting a ready-made holiday experience.
Grocery & Meal-Kit Support
Kowalski’s Markets — Metro Area (for Lakes Region)
Looking for a full blown holiday meal kit, sides, desserts or a fully cooked turkey? Kowalski’s has an expansive Thanksgiving offering: fully-cooked turkeys, oven-ready turkeys, complete turkey dinners (serves 10-12 or 4-6), sides, pies and more. Kowalski's Markets+1
Example: Their “Large Turkey Dinner (Serves 10-12)” includes a 11-12 lb fully cooked free-range turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, sage & onion dressing, sweet potatoes, green beans, cranberry relish, dinner rolls, a 9″ pumpkin pie and a 9″ pecan pie. Order must be placed by Nov 21 for pickup/delivery Nov 25-26. Kowalski's Markets
Pro tip: Ideal for those who prefer to host at home but want to off-load cooking and focus on presentation & company.
A great Thanksgiving itinerary might look like:
- Brunch at Keys Café for early risers
- Dinner at The Lora Hotel for a full-service luxury holiday experience
- Pies from Sara’s Bake Shop for the perfect dessert
- Holiday boxes from Lake Elmo Inn for elegant take-home or intimate dinner
- Meal kits from Kowalski’s for flexible hosting at home with minimal prep
This mix supports local small businesses while giving your family a curated, stress-free holiday.
Booking Tips:
- Keys Café: Pickup or dine on Thanksgiving Day; place family-style orders early.
- Lora Hotel: Reservations are strongly recommended — holiday fills fast.
- Sara’s Bake Shop: Preorder pies ahead of time for best selection.
- Lake Elmo Inn: Book the dine-in experience or secure your to-go box early — options fill.
- Kowalski’s Markets: Order online for pickup/delivery; placement deadlines apply (e.g., Nov 21 for some meals) so plan ahead.
