By Charlene Corson Selbee
Whether you’re a resident or a visitor, enjoy a self-guided historic walking tour in downtown Harmony while enjoying a wide selection of mouth-watering culinary entrees, baked goods, desserts, and drinks found only in Harmony.
Your first stop is the Harmony Visitor and History Center where you can pick up a copy of the historic walking tour map. The Center is located at 15 2nd St. NW, next to the town’s historic McMichael Grain Elevator, built in 1879.
Before heading out on your tour, take advantage of the clean restrooms at the Visitor and History Center. Pick up a copy of Visit Bluff Country to extend your visit in Historic Bluff Country. If you have any questions about Harmony or the surrounding area, make sure to ask the knowledgeable and helpful volunteers at the Visitor and History Center. The Center is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and closed on Sunday.
The interpretive signs listed on the map are located along Main Avenue which runs north and south through the town’s rich historic downtown district. Take time to read the signs as there is a lot of interesting information written and photos of the town and the buildings you will be visiting.
Your first course is at Breakers, a deli, coffee shop, and ice cream shop all-in-one. It is housed in a quaint Victorian pink and green cottage just across the parking lot from the Visitor and History Center. Select from an array of cold drinks, smoothies, malts, or specialty coffees to take with you or enjoy on the colorful outdoor patio. If it is closer to noon and you are hungry, enjoy a fresh deli sandwich before heading out on your self-guided tour.
Estelle’s Eatery & Bar is the perfect stop for appetizers made from scratch. The pork nuggets, barbacoa nachos or wings are this visitor’s favorites. An all-time favorite Midwestern dish is beef stroganoff. Estelle’s has added a large outside patio and offers music throughout the summer. The appetizers are so good it is recommended that you share an order, so you can try more than one.
An All-American restaurant with a Rt. 66 theme, new to Harmony but not new to Southeast Minnesota is The Bite. The restaurant previously called Lanesboro home. Burgers, wings (bone-in and boneless), salads (veggie, steak, Asian, and Mediterranean chicken), onion rings, French fries, cheese curds, pickle fries, pizza, ice cream, and daily cheesecake specials round out the menu at The Bite. 
The restaurant also offers a bite size menu for children. Creativity and one-of-a-kind entrees go together. Each week the restaurant offers a hamburger of the week. One week it was a hamburger topped with peanut butter, pickles, and bacon. Every month they serve a different specialty pizza. One month the specialty pizza, “I like it Elote,” was out of this world. The thin crust was topped with Mexican street corn sauce, roasted corn and pepperjack cheese finished off with chili powder and cotija cheese. Definitely, a five-star pizza. You can’t go wrong ordering the pizza of the month.
Indoors and outdoor seating are available at Harmony Spirits located one block off main street, just across the street from the grocery store. There is a locally crafted drink for every taste bud. Their Vodka, Rum, Gin, Whiskey, and Bourbon Whiskey are produced from locally sourced grains. Their Pina Colada is a favorite of this visitor.
End your day at On the Crunch Side, an American Bar & Eatery, for a relaxing evening in a historical building. The restaurant/bar is decorated for every holiday. The one-of-a-king “yuppie” cuisine prepared and served by friendly owners and staff will not disappoint you. The restaurant offers a variety of activities, live music, dances, darts, pool, and a variety of other activities. Made from scratch and delicious.
If you made it to Harmony in time for breakfast, check out Gabby Lou’s Kitchen. The quaint family friendly restaurant is open from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy a down-home breakfast ranging from fried eggs, hashbrowns and toast, French toast, biscuits and gravy, omelets, breakfast tacos and burritos. You will also find a wide selection of baked goods to eat in-house or take with you at Gabby Lou’s Kitchen. The staff is very friendly and helpful.
Enjoy your visit and make plans to come back for another visitor.
