Your guide to capturing the best photos in Eau Claire is here! Get inspired and locate the most Instagrammable spots near Eau Claire including restaurants, cocktail lounges, floral gardens, charming bookstores, and more. Check out our complete list below!

A group of 4 people sitting around a fire at The Lakely

Photo Credit: Megan Zabel Holmes

The Lakely

The vibes at The Lakely are retro, hipster, and moody, and the back patio is a beautiful place to snap some photos for your Instagram. Whether you're relaxing by the fire pits outside or listening to live music inside, The Lakely and Oxbow Hotel has various scenes to hang out, munch on tasty food, sip on seasonal drinks, and strike a pose! While you're here, tune into open mic nights, Bingo events, trivia challenges, drag shows, and live music in the lounge. Check out our blog "The Lakely: Not Your Average Midwest Cocktail Lounge" to learn more.

Justorian Alpacas

Justorian Alpacas is not only one of the cutest places in Osseo, but it makes for incredible photo ops– just sayin'! This alpaca farm can be visited by setting up appointments to tour the farm, and the tour includes meeting the alpacas up close and personal. Snap some goofy pics with the animals and shop their farm store in downtown Osseo for all the alpaca fiber products. The countryside looks stunning, and the alpacas will add a quirky & cool touch to your Instagram feed!

two girls having cocktails at Helix on the patio

Helix

If you're looking for a place to get cute photos on your next girls' night out, Helix is just the spot! The interior of this wine & cocktail bar is stunning, and the patio and rooftop are even better– there's really not a bad spot to sit! During the day, the giant windows let a ton of natural light into the lounge, but the nighttime vibe is extra urban and moody with cocktails in hand. The outdoor patio features flower pots that will add a little color and life to your photos, and you'll have a stunning backdrop of River Prairie Park. Browse the food and drink menu at Helix, and add this cocktail lounge to your next date night out!

Amanita Books

For the cozy, whimsical, mysterious Instagram accounts, Amanita Books is a bookstore that's filled with character, charm, and all the vintage vibes you're looking for. This store was inspired by woodland creatures and the infinite world of literature, and it is filled with treasures from every genre. Shop for rare and used books on your next adventure through Eau Claire!

Two girls drinking wine and laughing in the vineyards at River Bend

River Bend Winery & Distillery

Wander through the vineyards in Wheaton, WI for the perfect photo at River Bend! Order a glass of wine from the winery, or try a cocktail made with vodka, whiskey, or gin from the distillery. While photos with families & friends along the vines are always stunning, the lawn right outside the winery & distillery is a picture-perfect setting as well! Relax on blankets or in lawn chairs to live music, bask in the sunshine, and sip on the currents of River Bend's wine!

Phoenix Park

Phoenix Park is a gold mine for photo opportunities in downtown Eau Claire with endless events & activities to capture for your Instagram feed. In the summer afternoons, hang your hammock along in the park and listen to the Chippewa River run by. Hit up the farmers market throughout the summer, and pick out a bouquet of fresh-grown flowers to pose with in a photo. Grab lunch at Food Truck Friday and show off your delicious food truck picks, or dance to the beat of the music at the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series. Snap some quick pics of your crew putting in your tubes for a river float, or pile into your kayaks for another water adventure! Explore all the ways to enjoy Phoenix Park in Eau Claire here.

Two girls picking lavender at Pondview Farm

Pondview Lavender Farm

One of the area's newest attractions is certainly an unbeatable location to pose for outdoor photos. Pondview Lavender Farm is located alongside Highway 29 in Wheaton, WI, and opened its doors to the public in the summer of 2024. The lavender starts to bloom in the last two weeks of June and remains in season through the first two weeks of July. During these prime weeks, the fields are open to pick your own lavender and frolic through the fields. The farm also has its own shop that sells a variety of lavender products like soaps, oils, teas, dried lavender, and more. Stay in touch with Pondview's event calendar to participate in yoga in the fields, workshops, and crafting classes!

Shift Cyclery & Coffee Shop

A place to work, catch up with an old friend, rent bikes, and grab charming photos is Eau Claire's downtown coffee scene– starting with Shift! This cycle shop and coffee house is often occupied by biking enthusiasts, studying students, or working professionals. The baristas whip up tasty coffee & tea beverages that pair perfectly with their fresh pastries, and the bike experts can be seen working on equipment repairs in the shop. Photos at Shift can include a stunning brick wall, a collection of plants, select wall art, and even murals behind the shop!

Two women enjoying beer at the beer garden at Lazy Monk Brewing in downtown Eau Claire

Lazy Monk Brewing

Of course, craft beers make wonderful props in your Instagram photos! And not only does Lazy Monk Brewing offer a tasty beer variety, but the back patio's garden and river views will take your pictures to the next level. Lazy Monk is a German-style beer house located in downtown Eau Claire serving stouts, ales, lagers, IPAs, sours, and flights to try a little bit of everything! Check out the Lazy Monk website to browse through their menu, view the food truck schedule, and plan your visit to check off Lazy Monk on your Eau Claire Brew Pass!

Kahvi Coffee House & Cafe

Another coffee shop in Eau Claire with all the vibes for your Instagram feed can be found on the south end of town at Kahvi Coffee House. This coffee shop doesn't have the vintage charm that other shops in Eau Claire have, but the modern finishes at the stop look just as stunning! The outdoor patio is pet-friendly and is a relaxing spot to hold a meeting, grab coffee with a friend, or study with your peers. Grab a cup of Joe, order a pastry, and snap an aesthetic morning photo at Kahvi!

Couple walking past Cascade mural in downtown Eau Claire

Photo Credit: Travel Wisconsin

Eau's Claire's Murals

There's no better photo backdrop than a glorious, colorful mural! These artsy walls can be found scattered all over Eau Claire and Altoona, and each piece has its own story and inspiration behind it. Some of Eau Claire's most popular photo-friendly murals include "Cascade," "Sanctuary," "Bon Iver's 22 a million," and "The Brewing Projekt Mural." Other individual murals can be located on Eau Claire's Color Block in downtown Eau Claire, in Altoona, and along Galloway Street. Discover vibrant, eclectic street art one mural after another, and bring your family, friends, & kids to appreciate the stunning murals around town! Visit our blog here to view more murals in Eau Claire and to learn more about Color Block.

Big Falls County Park

Adventure through the Eau Claire River's waterfalls at Big Falls County Park for stunning outdoorsy photos during every season! In the summer, pack your coolers & beach bags for a picnic & swimming excursion, or climb the rocks in the fall & winter months for breathtaking views of the changing seasons. This family-friendly attraction made our list of "Outdoor Hidden Gems Near Eau Claire," and it's also a location on the free Geau Outside mobile pass. You know you're in for a treat when you can win prizes for visiting one of the hottest attractions in the area!

The rooftop at the Dive bar at the Lismore Hotel

Dive & The Informalist at The Lismore Hotel

For a trendy, photo-friendly dinner & drinks location, The Lismore Hotel's facilities have it all. For mouth-watering pizza & pasta photos, grab a table at The Informalist for a lovely dinner and even prettier pictures. Afterward, head upstairs to Dive for cocktails on the rooftop patio. While the lighting & sunset views are stunning in the summer months, it's just as magical in the winter while sipping on signature drinks in igloos on the patio. Check out our blog to learn more about The Lismore Hotel and all the aesthetic amenities the property has to offer!

Down to Earth Garden Center

Have a botanical photoshoot at the glorious Down to Earth Garden Center in Eau Claire! Add to your garden collection with various house plants, outdoor shrubs & flowers, trees, baskets & pots, and decorations at the shop. Browse through multiple greenhouses to shop for well-maintained plants, or enjoy a Five & Two coffee & brunch in the greenhouse's Cafe Corner. The natural lighting at Down to Earth is healing, inviting, and absolutely perfect for your next Instagram photoshoot!

Eau Claire looks GOOD on your Instagram feed! #CaptureEC

More Photo Ops in Eau Claire

These will look fabulous on your Instagram feed!