Steamboat Springs
This is the best of the ho-hum food on the mountain – the view is commanding. Inside Thunderhead Lodge a casual lunch gives way to a modestly upscale…
Must-see restaurants in The Rocky Mountains
Vail
Located beneath the Transportation Center and next to the Ski Museum, it should come as no surprise that Vail's cheapest meal has a rather quirky location…
Jackson
We know it’s corny, but all who visit rave about the sing-along chuck-wagon suppers, featuring BBQ beef, biscuits and beans. Pork ribs and steak cost a…
Vail
Almost under the bridge, this low-key underground cafe serves bagels and breakfast burritos, espressos and soy lattes, and sandwiches and smoothies for…
Rio Grande Southern Restaurant
Southwest Colorado
Downstairs from the historic hotel, this welcoming dining room functions as a German restaurant with generous portions of bratwurst and Wiener schnitzel…
Southwest Colorado
The town meeting spot is this shoebox cafe serving strong coffee alongside fresh and organic baked goods and sweet-potato breakfast burritos. If it's hot,…
Wyoming
Decompress from long hours of travel or adventure at the backyard patio of Gannett Grill, an institution serving seriously good, local grass-fed beef…
Telluride
Two veterans of upscale local catering started this heartbreakingly cute cafe, and nowhere else in town beats it for breakfast. Generous sandwiches with…
Bozeman & Gallatin Valley
Down-home burgers with none of the frills and frippery that challenge the primacy of the perfect burger. These are Bozeman's best – we loved the Cowboy…
Montana
A local's favorite breakfast diner serves large portions of chilaquiles that you can drench in their house-made chipotle-coffee hot sauce. Don't miss the…
Southwest Colorado
Consider yourself lucky if the morning starts with a chorizo-stuffed breakfast burrito and white cheddar grits from Kate’s: it’s the best breakfast joint…
Northern Colorado
Most of the menu is standard diner fare in lumberjack portions, but the French toast – fluffy, expertly golden slices smothered in homemade blueberry…
Aspen
Vegetarian-friendly juice bar and cafe, with a good choice of tofu scrambles, tempeh burgers, seitan fajitas and plenty of greens. Service can be…
Wyoming
For a real slice of modern Americana, wait in line at this wildly popular place, order from an extensive menu that ranges from slow-cooked ribs and Black…
Southwest Colorado
If you’re after healthy breakfast and lunchtime eating in Gunnison, it’s hard to go past the Firebrand Deli. The freshly made sandwiches are always…
Northern Colorado
Organic, vegetarian dishes at this bright lunch spot are delicious, with a menu focused on hearty sandwiches, baked tofu dishes and soups. Tacos, with…
Boulder
Serving excellent East Coast–style subs with a side of attitude, this busy kiosk and shop offers classic goodies such as slow-roasted prime rib subs,…
Durango
A charming patisserie serving mouthwatering delicacies made from scratch. Breakfasts are all-out while dinner is a much more formal affair. Prices are…
Montana
The pick of some excellent Italian eateries around the town center, this classy places sources local ingredients, makes its own Italian sausage and serves…
Southwest Colorado
Hit this bright, sleek cafe for Grand Junction’s best breakfast. Our favorite of the five eggs Benedict dishes is the California Dreamin’ Bene, topped…
Aspen
Open since 1892, this saloon has a distinct mountain-bistro flair. The food is pretty darned good, with elk Bolognese and bacon-and-jalapeño mac and…
Aspen & the Maroon Bells
For the best breakfast in town – pancakes that droop over the edge of your plate, skillets and scrambles with a Southwestern flavor, and the adventurous…
West Yellowstone
An island of modern upscale cuisine in a sea of chicken-fried steak and gravy, sophisticated Serenity is the place to turn to for a pear-and-walnut salad…
Woody’s Wood Fired Pizza & Watering Hole
Colorado
After you make it past the 'watering hole' part of Woody's, with its selection of some of the area’s best brews, order up a crusty, wood-fired pie…
Idaho
Chickpea stew, sockeye salmon and an elk-and-beef burger are the highlights of this fresh, modern place in the newish Town Square development. Leave room…
Steamboat Springs
This Colorado sandwich chain is magic: the bread and ingredients are fresh, it opens early to sell hikers and outdoorsy types box lunches, and it’s…
Canyon Yellowstone General Store
Yellowstone National Park
The fun, old-fashioned soda-fountain counter here churns out burgers, chili dogs and root-beer floats, plus there’s ice cream and coffee (with refills)…
Northern Colorado
This brilliant little deli opens early so that outdoors-bound patrons can get out and on the trail with box lunches in their pack. The Pilgrim – a pile of…
Cody
The food here is good, from burgers, ribs and salads for lunch to steaks, mac 'n' cheese and Cajun pasta for dinner. But the view from the deck is the…
Montana
Fortunately, the cooking is a little more imaginative here than the name. It's a popular place for breakfast, and come nightfall the homey bistro…
Central Colorado
Fun and funky, this canary-yellow train car of a diner on Hwy 24 north of Main St is where you’ll find some seriously tasty offerings, such as brownie…
Central Colorado
Half brick-walled pool hall, half checkerboard-tiled Cambodian restaurant, this Salida stalwart delivers the goods: pho (noodle soup), bun (cold noodle…
Aspen
This is a townie favorite for breakfast. The diner-style eatery offers all the Benedicts, crepes and waffles your heart could desire. They know how to get…
Denver
This fun LoHi food hall has great panoramic views of the downtown skyline, a good mix of restaurants, and super-hipster bartenders that sling out…
Central Colorado
Texas-style brisket, Carolina pulled pork, all-you-can-eat ribs on Monday and $2 cans of PBR ensures the parking lot here is perpetually full. Stop by for…
Estes Park
Lamp-heated lunch buffets are usually a no-no, but this place might make you reconsider. The curries are spiced just right and the momo (dumplings) are a…
Colorado Springs
One of the coolest spots in Old Colorado City, this richly atmospheric divey bar and grill has old dark-wood furnishings, exposed brick walls and a local…
Southwest Colorado
In an adobe-style building on the edge of town, this bar and grill serves up traditional breakfasts as well as grilled specialties and usually tasty…
Aspen & the Maroon Bells
The most atmospheric place to eat and grab a beer in Basalt is this old timber warehouse that opens directly onto the Fryingpan River. Flat-screens strobe…
Central Colorado
This casual Italian is one of several good choices in Avon, with housemade pasta, pizza, subs and traditional secondi like osso buco. There's a sun…
