Where to Eat and Drink at Heavenly Ski Resort
Stateline is a lively tourist town on the border of California and Nevada. It’s home to Heavenly Ski Resort, where you can ski in two states before your morning coffee starts to cool down. The South Lake Tahoe ski village is busier than many of the ski resorts on the north side of the lake. And while parking can be tricky, it’s a breeze to find good places to eat.
If it’s your first time visiting, this dining guide will help you choose where to eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner while skiing at Heavenly.
Breakfast
The Red Hut Cafe
The original Red Hut Cafe is a short drive from the village, and it's worth the trip if you want to step back in time. Take a seat at the small counter and enjoy what they’ve been serving up since the 1950s, breakfast staples like waffles, eggs, and chicken-fried steak. But the popular local restaurant has opened several locations in recent years, including a large outpost at Ski Run Center.
This location (closest to Heavenly) is a popular place to fill up before skiing the California side of the mountain. It's about halfway between the Heavenly Gondola and the California Base parking lot. You won’t get lake views or fine dining here, but it’s a great place to start your day before hitting the slopes.
Order classic American breakfast staples like French toast or the bacon waffle and you might not have to worry about lunch.
Driftwood Cafe
The Shops at Heavenly Village is only a few steps away from the Gondola, and home to one of the area’s best breakfasts. Driftwood Cafe is the most popular place to get an early start before walking over to the ski rental shop or to get in line for the lift.
Inside, there’s enough seating to keep the line moving on busy days, with short-order cooks turning out eggs Benedict, 3-egg omelets, and crispy hashbrowns.
It's a popular place for families visiting Heavenly, as they have familiar favorites like Mickey Mouse pancakes for the kids. You can also order lunch, as the restaurant stays open until 3 pm.
Clydes Coffee Roasting Company
For a quick and casual breakfast on the Nevada side, Clyde's Coffee Roasting Company is hard to beat. The third-wave coffee shop run by the Quillon family serves up specialty blends from Brazil, Guatemala, and other renowned growing regions.
Inside, it has an Old West feel, with high wood-beam ceilings, European-style mounts, and a cozy gas fireplace that greets skiers before they hit the nearby Boulder Lodge or Stagecoach lifts.
The coffee shop also serves a few specialty baked goods, too. Grab a scone or apple strudel before they sell out.
Lunch
Tamarack Lodge
You can enjoy a quick lunch without heading back down to the village from the Tamarack Lodge at the top of the Gondola. The tables and chairs outside fill up early and stay packed, with skiers enjoying cocktails and snacks under the sun. It has a food court layout, with casual options ranging from Upper Crust Pizza to spicy chicken sandwiches from The Coop.
Thirsty kids can grab a hot chocolate, while mom and dad warm up with a cocktail from Bar 9150. There’s plenty of seating inside and out, with lockers and ski storage available.
Photo Credit: Vail Resorts - Heavenly
Boulder Lodge
If you’ve skied over to the Nevada side of the mountain, you can grab a burger and fries from the Boulder Lodge. At the bottom of the Boulder Chairlift, you can find freshly cooked burgers, chicken sandwiches, and chicken tenders. There are also bowls of chili and coffee to warm up before you head up the lift for more powder runs and views of Lake Tahoe. If you’re traveling from the Nevada side, there’s a large (and free) parking lot, and they open at 8 am.
Base Camp Pizza Co.
Base Camp Pizza Co. lives up to its name, as it’s right at the base of the busy Heavenly Ski Resort. This restaurant might not be a huge hit with locals, but that’s more about the wait times than it is about the food. Open from 11 am, it’s warm and inviting—with the aroma of freshly made sauce and the buzz of happy visitors scarfing down some pizzas for lunch.
The menu isn’t limited to pizza. If you’re in the mood for something else, there’s pasta, salads, and appetizers. Kids can get a personal pizza or items like spaghetti bolognese or chicken tenders from a large children’s menu.
California Burger Company
One of the busiest restaurants in the village, the California Burger Company, has become a familiar sight over the years. Skiers can walk over from the Gondola and enjoy live music near fire pits while peering back up the mountain, anticipating their next runs. There’s plenty of seating inside, too, where you can grab a French dip, hot dog, and boozy milkshake.
There are about a dozen burgers on the menu, with interesting choices like the Caprese (mozzarella, Roma tomatoes, and fresh basil) or Inferno (guacamole, bacon, ghost pepper habanero Jack, spicy honey). It’s a hearty lunch, but you’ll need the energy for Heavenly’s 4,800 acres of terrain.
Fox & Hound
Overlooking Carson Valley from over 7,000 feet up, Fox & Hound is a quick drive over from either of the Nevada entrances at Heavenly. While they’re open until 2 am, we like going here for lunch so you can take in the beautiful mountain views from a table or the bar.
There’s something for everyone, with many choices from their BBQ, pizza, and bar menus. They have video poker machines, plenty of TVs, and a fun, festive atmosphere that’s great for families or outings with friends. It’s a no-frills spot, but there’s a reason that locals and lucky visitors have filled the busy dining area for over 30 years.
Dinner
The Loft
The breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe aren’t the only magical thing about Heavenly. There’s also a popular dinner theater, which hosts a magic show every night.
The Loft is a fun place for a date or a night out with the family. The shows begin at 7 or 9 pm and feature professional magicians who are masters of their craft. The restaurant serves small and large plates, with anything from grilled steaks to goat cheese, mushrooms, and spinach arancini.
It’s a fun place to spend an evening indoors, taking in the atmosphere in the heart of Heavenly Village.
Edge Restaurant & Lounge
A trip to Heavenly isn’t complete without visiting the idyllic shores of South Lake Tahoe. While it’s a bit too cold to take a glass kayak out on the water, you can enjoy the scenery inside from the upscale dining room in the Edge Restaurant & Lounge.
The stunning views are nearly one-upped by the delicious cuisine—which you can sample a la carte or with a five-course tasting menu for $165. Guests can enjoy hearty fare like American Wagyu filet or an Elk Chop alongside an excellent wine list featuring many California classics.
Himmel Haus
A short walk from the California Lodge at Heavenly, Himmel Haus greets hungry skiers and transports them to Europe. The large dining hall has all the trademarks of a German Biergarten, with long communal tables, tall beer mugs, and the aromas of sausage and pretzels wafting through the air. This popular restaurant isn’t open for lunch, but it’s a great place for après ski, staying open until 10 pm on weekends.
Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen
Inside the Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe (formerly Harvey’s) is an outpost of Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen. The celebrity chef is as famous for his onscreen outbursts as his food, with his most popular dish being a near-perfect Beef Wellington. It’s not the only item diners visit in the high-end restaurant just across the State Line of Nevada.
The lobster risotto, sticky toffee pudding, and excellent cocktails are all popular too.
Lucky Beaver, Bar & Burger
Sometimes all you need after a day on the slopes is a pint of beer and some fried food. Lucky Beaver, Bar & Burger is a short walk from the Gondola, and is open 24 hours a day.
It’s not the type of place we’d recommend for the whole family, but if you’re traveling with friends, it’s hard to walk past the flaming grill and cheerful atmosphere of this longstanding Stateline pub.
Dining Tips
Make reservations at popular spots, or show up early. Heavenly Village is busy almost any day of the year, and wait times can drag out on busy days.
Parking is limited around many of the village restaurants. There’s an indoor parking garage behind the shopping center, which is the easiest for the restaurants near the Gondola.
You can find local favorites outside the village. Try restaurants down Highway 50 on the California or Nevada side if you want to escape the crowds.
Ski and Dine at Heavenly
Heavenly is a truly massive ski resort with nearly 5,000 acres of terrain accessible from four different entrances. There are restaurants throughout the village and along thoroughfares like Highway 50 and Ski Run Blvd.
We think these are some of the best restaurants near the resort, but we encourage you to visit them yourself. Explore Heavenly Ski Resort and see why it’s one of the top destinations for skiers in Nevada and California!
Deric Brown is a writer who has traveled domestically and internationally, writing about his journeys along the way. A storyteller at heart, he’s always looking at both the small details and the big picture. Whether snowboarding in the Sierra Nevada Mountains or hiking the Marin Headlands near his San Francisco home, he loves experiencing the beauty of California and beyond and writing about each solo adventure and family trip.