The Vail experience begins with spectacular scenery and a shamelessly relaxing stay at an elegant vacation rental in Vail, Colorado, but all of that wonderful leisure tends to leave one hungry and thirsty. While Vail is a world-renowned destination for skiing and summer recreation, it is fast becoming as famous for its daring libations and cultured dining scene featuring highly celebrated chefs such as Paul Ferzacca and Kelly Liken. We have recommendations on the best restaurants in the valley.
Breakfast/Brunch:
Ludwig’s Restaurant – The restaurant’s famous breakfast buffet features crepes, waffles, omelets and $5 mimosas. Brunch is available every day from 7AM to 11AM and 12PM on Sundays. $21 for adults and $14 for children between the ages of 7 and 12. Children under 5 years old eat for free.
The Little Diner – Don’t let the small size of this restaurant deter you from experiencing a delicious morning meal. Select from the tasty breakfast sandwiches, fresh omelets and south of the border dishes including huevos rancheros.
Westside Café and Market – Grab a table on the deck to breathe in the fresh mountain air as you eat your way through the café’s appetizing breakfast dishes. The morning favorites include biscuits and gravy, corned beef hash, chicken fried steak n eggs and bison meatloaf with eggs!
Route 6 Café – Located in Eagle, Route 6 Café provides for a great dining stop as you travel through the Rocky Mountains. Choose from an assortment of pancakes, eggs, bacon and their specialties including the Denver omelet and breakfast burrito.
Lunch/Dinner:
YellowBelly – Most famous for the fried and rotisserie chicken, YellowBelly’s menu features salads, sandwiches and tasty sides including citrus quinoa, macaroni pie, brussel slaw and much more. YellowBelly is happy to play host or prepare the meal for takeout- it’s up to you!
Sweet Basil – Overlooking a stream, Sweet Basil offers impeccable service and delicious dining choices including lamb shank, pork tenderloin and trout. Sweet Basil also offers an impressive dessert menu!
Mountain Standard – From the owners of Sweet Basil, Mountain Standard offers a warm, rustic, tavern atmosphere. Most items on the restaurant’s menu are prepared over an open wood fire. Popular menu choices include the animal crackers, the rotisserie lamb, the pork belly and the Rocky Mountain trout.
La Tour Restaurant & Bar – La Tour hosts brunch, lunch, dinner and happy hour. Chef Ferzacca creates fresh dishes using seasonal, organic ingredients. The pan roasted duck, the wild burgundy escargots and the bacon wrapped pork tenderloin are favorites!
The Dusty Boot – The Dusty Boot features steaks, seafood, pasta, burgers, salads, Mexican fare and more with an extensive kids menu. 16 Beers on tap and over 40 tequilas. Located in the St. James Building.
Blue Moose Pizza – This lively Italian eatery offers the perfect locale for a fun and casual dining experience for groups of all kinds and sizes. Kid friendly, from the menu selection down to the paper tablecloths perfect for a creative coloring session, the Blue Moose has established itself as a family favorite amongst its guests.
Beano's Cabin – Along with our unique transportation and location we offer a culinary adventure with a 5-course menu crafted by Executive Chef Kevin Erving. Chef’s menu highlights Coloradan cuisine with hearty, flavorful dishes. A 3-course menu is available for children under 12 years old.
Splenditos – Splendido at the Chateau offers wonderful Rocky Mountain dining featuring hearty yet refined American-European cuisine. In summer, enjoy a cocktail or dine outdoors on our flower filled deck and enjoy great views of Beaver Creek Mountain. As the sun sets and the mountain chill sets in, retreat indoors and get cozy next to our lovely, double-sided, wood burning fireplace. Splendido offers entertainment by Peter Vavra, Kathy Morrow, Taylor Kundolf and Bob Finnie in the piano bar.
Toscanini – Toscanini is nestled at the base of Beaver Creek Mountain, next to the skating rink in the heart of the village. The alpine backdrop lends itself to la dolce vita, and the atmosphere is lively and informal. The cuisine is stylish and contemporary, the flavor authentically Italian. Watch as our chefs prepare individual pizzas, house-made pastas, and fresh seafood in the open kitchen. Enjoy a selection from our award winning, 100% Italian wine list. Our newly expanded bar and lounge is the perfect stop for cocktails or dinner before heading down the escalators to the Vilar Center for the Arts.
8100 at the Park Hyatt – Explore bold, regional flavors that showcase the natural, organic ingredients of the Rocky Mountains at our unique Beaver Creek restaurants. At 8100, food is a celebration of the Rockies. Enjoy some of Colorado’s best craft beers, fine wines and signature craft cocktails with sustainable cuisine, from local elk to all-natural beef and trout. Kick off your adventure filled day at the Café with a fresh cup of coffee then pack your basket with gourmet sandwiches, salads, and pastries for your midday picnic.
Saddleridge – SaddleRidge is closed for the spring and summer seasons with the exception of Group business. If you have a group that would like to book a private function, please contact us at [email protected] or call (866)395-3185 or +1-970-754-5762 if calling from outside of the United States. A delicious blend of flavors. The menu is pure contemporary, based on Colorado regional cuisine and featuring steaks, succulent seafood and signature wild game dishes.
The setting, a living museum of frontier artifacts such as Geronimo's tomahawk and General Custer's hat and canteen. SaddleRidge's spectacular international wine list was awarded the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.
Hooked – Hooked is an American Seafood House serving the freshest fish in an eclectic collection of hot and cold dishes.The amazing food and exciting ambience creates memories forever. Get Hooked!
Grouse Mountain Grill – Perched on the hillside adjacent to Beaver Creek ski slopes the view from the floor to ceiling windows is simply enormous. With a panorama from the ski slopes to a wide valley, the beauty is well observed from everywhere in the room. Arrive from within the resort via complimentary Beaver Creek shuttle that responds to your call for a ride. If arriving by private vehicle, complimentary parking by valet is available. The dress code is “Smart Casual”- jeans to jackets.Grouse Mountain Grill is located in The Pines Lodge in Beaver Creek Resort at 141 Scott Hill Road, in Beaver Creek, Colorado. Complimentary valet parking is available on site.
Chophouse – Featuring spectacular slope side views in both Beaver Creek and Vail at Lionshead, our locations sit amidst all of the seasonal action and beauty! Our extensive lunch and dinner menus are filled with great steaks and fresh seafood. With our spacious, mountainside decks and evenings filled with live music and magic, there’s no better place to enjoy the mountains! Fantastic Prime Steaks | Fresh Seafood | Signature Cocktails
Over 80 wines come from across the United States and around the world including Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. These wines are hand picked by Operations Manager Alexis Gruczkowski along with bar expert Jeff Anderson, who between them have over 40 years of restaurant, fine dining and wine experience.
Hooked – “Hooked on a seafood experience like no other” was our vision when we conceptualized this exciting and innovative restaurant. HOOKED is a blend of our travels far and wide, which enable us to bring unique seafood preparations from around the world to your palate. The wood interior of our beautiful Beaver Creek location is recycled from our forest to invite you in to our local surroundings; our fresh fish is brought to you from our dedicated fisherman and their families from around the world; and our eclectic group of culinarians create unique meals and one-of-a-kind experiences that will leave you...HOOKED.Whether your home is on the beach, or in a high-rise in the Big Apple, you'll find yourself asking how fish can be this fresh in the middle of the Rocky Mountains. The answer: Our passion for great food, along with hard work and mind bending logistics.
Join us to experience the freshest seafood this side of the beach, and GET HOOKED!
Gas House – Specializing in Rocky Mountain cuisine and seafood. Unique Rocky Mountain Log Cabin atmosphere with great food in a casual environment. Kid friendly and locals’ favorite since 1983. Serving lunch and dinner daily starting at 11 am. Daily Happy Hour with 30% off all drinks and apps, Beautiful garden patio dining dining available. Come check us out and find out why we are the Valleys favorite spot for over 30 years.
Juniper – Doug Abel at Juniper Restaurant Carving out a niche as a master of fine dining just down the road from Vail is Douglas Abel at Juniper Restaurant, located along the Eagle River in Riverwalk at Edwards. Abel, says he brought his dream for a new restaurant to Edwards in 2002 based on a proven model.
Fiesta Jalisco – There's a reason why there are Fiesta Jalisco restaurants from Avon to the mountains beyond the Front Range — not only do we provide authentic Mexican cuisine, but we also have great service and a welcoming atmosphere! Our recipes are created with the freshest ingredients and recipes have passed down from generation to generation. We have a full to compliment your lunch and dinner. Enjoy a margarita, beer or any of our special drinks and cocktails. Let the fiesta begin!
Nozawa – “Nozawa Sushi has been serving the Vail Valley since 2002. Loved by locals and out of town guests we are more than just sushi offering a full Asian and Thai inspired menu there is something for everyone. Avon Locations offer outdoor patio seating during the summer months.Nozawa Sushi has a daily happy hour from 4-6pm with 20% off Beer and Sake. Call us today for reservations or for pick up orders, sorry discounts don’t apply to take out orders.”
Ti Amo–Our Northern Italian restaurant is located in a quaint, romantic atmosphere, where you leave the Vail Valley and travel to Italy for a unforgettable dining experience. Try our house specialties like Pollo ala Fragole (strawberry chicken) or homemade gnocchi in Gorgonzola cream.
View our entire menu here.
Après Ski:
Pepi’s Restaurant & Bar – Pepi’s offers a deck and live music for a relaxing après ski experience. The menu features Austrian beers, specialty drinks and snacks including schnitzel.
The George – The George offers great food and drinks at a reasonable price. The laid back atmosphere provides for the perfect spot to kick back and relax after a day on the slopes. Make sure to try the popular surf and turf for only $20.
The Sitzmark Lodge – The property’s après ski is available every afternoon at 3PM featuring mulled wine and warm soup!
Bistro Fourteen – Located at the top of Eagle Bahn Gondola, Bistro Fourteen offers a casual dining atmosphere. Menu items include crab dip, steamed mussels and buffalo nachos.
Wine & Dessert:
Sweet Basil – Overlooking a stream, Sweet Basil’s Chris McKenzie prepares delicious desserts including hot sticky toffee pudding cake, homemade ice creams and sorbet. The dessert menu features recommended wine pairings.
La Tour Restaurant & Bar – The bar features a full cocktail and wine menu. For diners craving something sweet, treat yourself to the warm apple date pecan pudding cake, the super food dark chocolate and avocado mousse or the desert trio for a sample of a few desserts!
Kelly Liken – Whether you’re looking for cocktails, digestif and dessert wine flights or something sweet, you’ve found the right place! If you’re feeling lost on what wine to select, ask to speak with the restaurant’s Sommelier.
Leonora – Located at The Sebastian, the bistro serves tapas and an excellent selection of wine. For those wine lovers, take a peek at the circular glass wine cellar located in the middle of the restaurant.
For additional dining out options, please review the comprehensive Vail Dining Guide provided by Vail Valley Authority. For more information on arranging a private chef during your Vail vacation, please do not hesitate to reach out to VHR Travel for professional recommendations.
