Vail Dining Guide
Vail Ski Resort is one of Colorado’s best, with incredible terrain spanning over 5,000 acres. It’s also home to a robust dining scene in its Bavarian-style villages, showcasing local and international cuisine.
This article explores the best places to eat around Vail, many of them favorites among skiers since the resort opened in 1962.
In This Article...
Tips for Dining in Vail
Vail Village Restaurants
Lionshead Village Restaurants
Cascade Village Restaurants
Other Dining Areas Near Vail Ski Resort
With so many restaurants in Vail to choose from, it’s helpful to plan ahead. Not only in terms of where to eat, but also where to stay. The Lodging Company represents over 30 lodging options in Vail.
Tips for Dining in Vail
Vail Ski Resort can accommodate nearly 20,000 skiers per day, so the popular restaurants will usually fill up quickly on weekends and holidays. You will want to make reservations for busier days whenever possible.
The main villages are mostly pedestrian-only. Fortunately, Vail’s transportation system makes getting around easy, with buses and private shuttles that take visitors to the most popular restaurants.
The Lodging Company offers many accommodations with full kitchens. Take advantage of Colorado’s excellent local ingredients by shopping at local vendors. The Market at Vail and City Market are two popular places to buy local products for nights that you want to stay in.
Check restaurant hours if you plan to walk in. Many popular eateries are only open for dinner, and some are closed mid-week or seasonally.
Vail Village Restaurants
The central hub of Vail Resort, Vail Village is where visitors can find the largest selection of restaurants around the mountain. Though it’s connected to the other villages and neighborhoods by public transportation, the restaurants in the European-style village are mostly accessible on foot.
Deca + Bol
One location is home to two of Vail’s favorite places to dine.
Deca is a stylish, modern restaurant with a spacious dining room and a full bar. The menu features shareable plates, salads, and flatbreads, along with heartier fare. Entrees include braised bison short rib and Norwegian salmon, along with a kid’s menu featuring a burger, pasta, and grilled cheese.
Bol is a 10-lane bowling alley, where guests can have a more casual evening out while still enjoying the celebrated food from Deca’s kitchen. Guests staying at Solaris Residences can ask the concierge about priority reservations on busy nights.
Sweet Basil
This Michelin-recommended restaurant has been a Vail dining favorite since opening nearly 50 years ago. Open for lunch and dinner on the weekends and dinner during the week, diners can sample expertly prepared dishes with an international flair. From ricotta gnocchi to five-spice duck tacos and Iberian Duroc pork, there is something for everyone at this iconic Vail restaurant.
You can reserve a table 30 days in advance, which we recommend due to the restaurant’s popularity. Sweet Basil has such a reputation that many former employees have gone on to become restaurateurs of their own.
Almresi Vail
Almresi Vail is an Austrian restaurant in the heart of Vail Village. The decor leans into the Thoma family’s German roots, though the menu also features dishes from other European countries. Guests typically order fondue, schnitzels, and hearty soups as the main courses. There are also several desserts available, including a popular apple strudel.
The drink menu includes German hot chocolate, mulled wine, and the aprés-ski Jagertee (a rum-and-black-tea blend). Reservations are accepted, and we recommend them if you plan to visit during peak hours.
The George Restaurant & Pub
After a day skiing at one of Colorado’s best resorts, you might be ready for something to eat—and drink. The George is one of Vail’s favorite watering holes, located at Vail’s Mountain Haus lodge just steps from Gondola One. This classic pub is frequently filled with locals and visiting skiers and stays open until 2 am.
The menu has a nice variety of small and large plates, including quesadillas, poutine, tacos, and sandwiches. Happy hour runs from 3–8 pm, where guests can play pool and foosball while enjoying discounted food and drinks.
El Segundo Vail
Open daily from 11 am–9 pm, El Segundo Vail is a popular place to grab tacos and margaritas near Vail Village. The creative menu features options like 24-hour carnitas, beer-battered mahimahi, and Korean BBQ wagyu beef on top of large tortillas. There are also small plates and appetizers that lean into Southwestern flavors with some global inspirations.
Lionshead Village Restaurants
This village features another high concentration of Vail restaurants, with many near the Eagle Bahn Gondola (#19) and the Born Free Express Quad Chair (#8). These lifts take you to mid-mountain and higher-elevation ski runs.
The Little Diner
Located in Concert Hall Plaza in Lionshead Village, The Little Diner is a popular spot for skiers and snowboarders looking for something to eat before or after a long day on the slopes. The interior is everything you expect from a classic American diner, with bright red booths and a bar counter where you can watch short-order cooks prepare eggs, hash browns, and pancakes.
The restaurant is also open for lunch and dinner, where diners can grab a burger or steak followed by one of their decadent desserts. It’s affordable and convenient for skiers on the west side of the mountain, though you may need to wait for a table during peak hours.
Left Bank Restaurant
Stepping inside the European-inspired storefront into the luxurious dining room instantly transports guests to the Alps. For over 50 years, the Left Bank Restaurant has been one of Vail’s best fine dining restaurants in Lionshead Village. The classic French fare has many familiar dishes, including French onion soup, escargot, beef tartare, and bouillabaisse. Diners can pair the excellent food with selections from an extensive wine list from across France.
Montauk Seafood Grill
If you’re looking for a taste of the Atlantic in the heart of Colorado, Montauk Seafood Grill is worth a visit. The seafood restaurant’s cozy interior has a nautical theme, with hungry patrons filling the comfortable space. Dishes range from seared tuna to shrimp and scallop bucatini, with a raw bar, salads, and soup to enjoy first.
If you’re traveling with a group, the Chilled Seafood Tower is a shareable feast, with oysters, lobster tail, and crab served three ways.
Bart & Yeti's
For visitors who want a taste of old Vail, Bart & Yeti’s is a local icon that has called Lionshead Village home for nearly 40 years. It is a casual pub with a storied history and a soft spot for four-legged friends. The dog-friendly bar and restaurant is named after two local canine celebrities, one of which made fast friends with Clint Eastwood.
Despite being a bar, it’s a great place to bring kids, who can people-watch (and dog-watch) while enjoying burgers, fries, and chicken tenders. The laid-back atmosphere is perfect after a few runs on Vail Ski Resort.
Cascade Village Restaurants
The smallest of the villages, Cascade Village, has some good eats near some of our favorite accommodations in Vail.
Makoto Vail
This Japanese restaurant from celebrity chef Makoto Okuwa is located inside the Grand Hyatt Vail. The upscale dining room is open from 5–9 pm, and reservations are highly recommended. Diners can sample sushi and small bites à la carte or choose one of the chef’s combination platters.
In addition to sushi, the menu also features steaks and grilled seafood, along with rice and noodle dishes. Guests staying in other areas of Vail can take advantage of the complimentary shuttle service.
Topgolf Swing Suites
Guests staying at the Grand Hyatt Vail or the Vail Residences can enjoy a more casual meal and some entertainment at Topgolf Swing Suites. Groups of up to 12 people can reserve a suite for 1.5 hours for $150.
In addition to virtual golf and several other competitive games, a full menu of snacks and beverages is available. The menu features a meat-and-cheese board, chicken wings, and several sandwiches for diners looking for something more substantial.
Other Areas Near Vail Ski Resort
In addition to the 3 villages, there are restaurants in some of the nearby neighborhoods surrounding Vail Village. Here are a couple of standouts.
Après Café
Located at the Vail Racquet Club Mountain Resort, Après Café is a popular place to eat in the quaint East Vail neighborhood. The warm, lodge-like interior is often filled with locals and weekend visitors at the cozy bar or out on a scenic patio.
The menu focuses mainly on pizzas, but also offers specialty sandwiches, salads, and appetizers. Guests can also order local beer, wine, or craft cocktails. The café is currently open Thursday through Monday from 3–9 pm.
Avanti Food & Beverage
This spacious food hall in Golden Peak is just steps from the Riva Bahn Express. The casual interior and outdoor patio are often filled with visitors before and after hitting the slopes. Restaurants inside open as early as 7 am, where skiers and snowboarders can grab coffee and breakfast to go. Later in the day, several restaurants serve everything from grilled cheese with tomato soup to vibrant Mediterranean cuisine.
There’s also a restaurant serving smash burgers and another offering New York-style pizza, making this an excellent choice for groups who can’t agree on a single cuisine.
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.