Roslyn, Washington sits about 15 minutes from the Suncadia Resort gate and contains one of the most concentrated collections of interesting small-town dining in the eastern Cascades. The town of under 1,000 people has a legitimate history — founded in 1886 as a coal mining settlement, later used as the filming location for the 1990s television series Northern Exposure — and that history has shaped a downtown that feels genuinely unlike anywhere else in Washington State.
The dining scene here is small but personal. You won’t find the range of a city or even a large suburb, but what exists is done with character — from Washington’s oldest continuously operating bar to a bookshop that’s also a restaurant and speakeasy. If you’re staying at Suncadia for more than one night, Roslyn is worth at least one meal.
The Short Drive Is Worth It
Roslyn is accessed via WA-903 west from Suncadia — a scenic 15-minute drive through the Cle Elum valley that passes farmland and mountain views before arriving at a downtown that looks, in certain light, exactly like it did when the Northern Exposure camera crews showed up to film. The historic coal mining streetscape along Pennsylvania Avenue and 1st Street is a National Historic Register district. Most of the restaurants and bars in Roslyn are within two blocks of each other, making it easy to explore on foot once you’ve parked.
The Brick Saloon
The Brick Saloon is the anchor of Roslyn dining and one of the most historically significant bars in Washington State. Established in 1889 — the same year Washington became a state — the Brick has operated continuously since then, making it the longest-running drinking establishment in Washington. The original bar back is intact, the room has barely changed in character, and the famous 23-foot running water spittoon (a coal mining era fixture) remains in place.
None of this would matter if the food were bad, but the Brick earns its reputation on cooking too. The menu covers pub classics: burgers, fish & chips, melts, dips, soups, and salads, alongside more substantial options including a Rib Eye and Surf & Turf for guests who want a proper sit-down dinner. The kitchen takes the food seriously rather than treating it as an afterthought to the bar’s historical draw.
The Brick has live music most Friday and Saturday nights, which makes it particularly lively on summer weekends. The dining room is family-friendly until 9pm, so it works for groups with kids earlier in the evening. The bar side is 21+ after 9pm.
Address: 100 W Pennsylvania Ave, Roslyn, WA 98941
Hours: Mon–Thu 11:30am–10pm | Fri 11:30am–1am | Sat 11am–1am | Sun 11am–10pm
Best for: Historic atmosphere, pub fare, live music, post-hike burgers, a beer worth raising in a genuinely old room
Coal Chute Café & Pub
The Coal Chute Café & Pub sits just before you enter downtown Roslyn proper on WA-903, at 719 S 1st Street. It’s a newer arrival to the Roslyn scene and has established itself quickly as one of the more versatile dining options in the area — serving breakfast through dinner with a menu that covers traditional pub food (burgers, fish & chips, soup, salad, chili) plus espresso drinks, specialty cocktails, and a full bar.
The Coal Chute is family-friendly for the dining portion of the establishment, with the pub side available to 21+ guests. It’s the easiest breakfast-through-dinner option in Roslyn — open on weekend mornings when some downtown options aren’t yet running, and open late enough for dinner. For Suncadia guests who want a full-service meal in Roslyn without having to plan too carefully, the Coal Chute is the most reliable choice.
Address: 719 S 1st St, Roslyn, WA 98941
Hours: Mon–Tue 11am–7pm | Fri–Sat 9am–9pm | Sun 9am–7pm (verify current days of operation)
Best for: Breakfast, casual lunch, pub dinner, family-friendly meals, weekend morning coffee
Basecamp Books & Bites
Basecamp Books & Bites is a downtown Roslyn institution that manages to be simultaneously a bookshop, coffee shop, restaurant, bar, and speakeasy — a combination that sounds like it wouldn’t work but does. The book selection focuses on regional and outdoor titles (the kind of curated inventory that makes sense given its location at the foot of the Cascades), and the food side covers seasonal fare, espresso drinks, and light meals. In the evening, the Speakeasy portion of the space operates as a proper bar.
Basecamp is the kind of place that earns regulars: a space with genuine personality in a walkable downtown location, where you can buy a book about Washington alpine routes, eat something well-made, and sit outside if the weather cooperates. It’s not a destination dinner restaurant, but it’s worth stopping into on any Roslyn visit — and for guests who want a quiet morning coffee away from the resort, it’s the best option in the immediate area.
Best for: Coffee, light meals, browsing regional books, afternoon drinks, solo visitors who want a good room to sit in
Roslyn Café
The Roslyn Café serves as one of the most locally flavored food options in downtown Roslyn, with a menu that genuinely reflects the place rather than just importing generic diner food. Highlights include the banh mi burger, pulled pork sliders, and the Salmon La Sac omelet — a signature preparation with house-smoked sockeye salmon, green onions, diced tomatoes, and cream cheese that takes its name from the Salmon La Sac road that leads into the Cle Elum River valley. This is the kind of localized menu item that rewards paying attention to where you are rather than defaulting to a familiar order.
The café occupies a space in Roslyn’s historic downtown and is recognizable to Northern Exposure fans as one of the storefronts visible in the show’s exterior shots. The food, however, stands on its own merit rather than trading only on nostalgia.
Best for: Locally inspired menu, breakfast and lunch, the Salmon La Sac omelet
Why Visit Roslyn Beyond the Food
A meal in Roslyn is also a reason to spend an hour on Pennsylvania Avenue and 1st Street — one of Washington’s most intact historic mining town streetscapes. The coal mining history is visible everywhere: in the building facades, in the names of the streets and local establishments, and in the small Roslyn Museum (free to enter) that documents the 13 distinct ethnic communities that came to work the Roslyn seams. For guests at Suncadia who wonder what was here before the golf courses and luxury rentals, Roslyn is the answer.
The town’s other cultural landmark: the entire downtown served as the fictional Alaskan town of Cicely in the television series Northern Exposure (1990–1995). The outdoor mural at the Roslyn Café, Ruth Ann’s store, and the KBHR radio station building are all recognizable from the show’s opening credits. Northern Exposure has cult status among a certain generation of Pacific Northwest viewers, and the location tourism is genuine.
Getting to Roslyn from Suncadia
Head north on Bullfrog Road from the Suncadia gate, then continue on WA-903 west toward Roslyn — approximately 15 minutes and 5 miles from the resort. The road passes through the Cle Elum valley with views of the surrounding hills before descending into the Roslyn townsite. Most restaurants in Roslyn are within walking distance of each other once you park on Pennsylvania Avenue or one of the adjacent side streets. The drive back to Suncadia takes the same amount of time from any of the downtown restaurants.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the oldest bar in Washington State?
The Brick Saloon in Roslyn, established in 1889, is Washington’s oldest continuously operating bar. The original interior is largely intact, including the 23-foot running water spittoon.
How far is Roslyn from Suncadia?
Approximately 15 minutes (about 5 miles) from the Suncadia Resort gate via WA-903 heading west. The drive passes through the Cle Elum valley and is scenic in most seasons.
Was Northern Exposure filmed in Roslyn?
Yes — the exterior shots for the 1990–1995 television series Northern Exposure were filmed in Roslyn, with the town standing in for the fictional Alaskan town of Cicely. The downtown streetscape, Roslyn Café mural, and several other buildings are recognizable from the show.
Are Roslyn restaurants family-friendly?
The Coal Chute Café & Pub and The Brick Saloon both have family-friendly dining sections open until 9pm. Basecamp Books & Bites and the Roslyn Café are casual environments appropriate for families. Roslyn is a small, walkable town that suits families with children exploring on foot.
For the full dining picture, see our Suncadia on-property dining guide, our Cle Elum restaurant guide, and our complete Suncadia visitor guide.
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