Mountain dining can be as pleasing to the eye as it is to the palate.
Great chefs know that presentation and surroundings have as much to do with a meal’s success as the food itself. Maybe that’s why everything tastes so much better in the mountains, where the great outdoors often serves as a spectacular backdrop for a sumptuous repast.
Now, that having been said, be advised that there are literally hundreds of restaurants in Colorado’s resort communities, and of those hundreds, scores provide outdoor seating during both summer and winter months. It would be next to impossible to list them all, so we’re going to give you a template and also encourage you to strike out on your own. The world of decks and patios is your oyster, and we wish you bon appetit!
In Summit County, if it’s traditional Tex-Mex food and drinks you seek, El Rio on West Main Street in Frisco is the ticket, with great margaritas and a deck that overlooks scenic Ten Mile Creek.
A block from the lake and across the street from the Dillon Amphitheatre is the Arapahoe Cafe and Pub in Dillon. It’s known for cozy “cabin dining” and has a spacious deck for summertime meals.
In Silverthorne, the quaint little town downstream of the dam, Matteo’s Pub is known for its pizza and deck with views of Buffalo Mountain at the southern end of the Gore Range.
Keystone Resort in Summit County is home to numerous first-rate restaurants, among them Kickapoo Tavern in River Run Village. The menu is eclectically Southwestern and offers nightly specials. The large deck overlooks the Snake River. Be sure to take note of the other great dining opportunities at Keystone Resort, including the Alpenglow Stube, the highest-elevation fine dining restaurant in North America (accessed by two gondolas), the elegant Garden Room, rustic (and Four-Diamond) Keystone Ranch and Ski Tip Lodge, a charming bed and breakfast.
“There are literally hundreds of restaurants in Colorado’s resort communities, and of those hundreds, scores provide outdoor seating during both summer and winter months.”
In the Victorian setting of Breckenridge, it’s difficult to find a restaurant without a great view. But some of the best decks in town belong to Bubba Gump’s at Main Street and Adams Avenue. You have a front row view of the Ten Mile Range, and the menu is pure Forrest Gumption, with lots of seafood options
Just across Adams to the south is Breckenridge Barbecue, where BBQ brisket and pulled pork share menu space with chicken and fish dishes, thick steaks and chops, chili, salads and soups. The deck here has been voted Best in Breckenridge.
A short half-block up the hill on Adams is Cafe Alpine, with its unique spin on American favorites for lunch and dinner, a terrific second-floor tapas bar and killer views from its sunny deck. The tapas are designed for “lighter appetites,” but they are as creative as the lunch and dinner menus.
Other notable restaurants with good outdoor seating are Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant and Cantina, with its deck overlooking one of Breckenridge’s Blue River ponds, the Whale’s Tail seafood restaurant (great deck for people-watching) and Poirrier’s at the Wellington, a wonderful Cajun restaurant renowned for its bread pudding.
Copper Mountain Resort, with its star-spangled views of the Gore and Ten Mile mountain ranges, is another cornucopia of outdoor dining. The patio at J.J.’s Rocky Mountain Tavern at Copper is the place to be on a sunny afternoon or balmy summer evening. Mouth-watering stone-oven pizzas, home-style meals or hearty salads are served at both lunch and dinner. You might opt for the “urban trendy” fare at Indian Motorcycle Café, or perhaps the huge sandwiches, appetizers and specialty drinks served at lunch and dinner will beckon you to the patio at Endo’s Adrenaline Cafe. Copper Mountain has a new restaurant opening, the Swivel, and outdoor seating will be available there as well.
Poets have been brought to their knees by the beauty of Vail Valley, and we think the only possible way to improve on it is to add some good food to the moment. The choices are plentiful. At the Blue Moon Bar & Restaurant and Talon’s Deck, located at the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola, you can dine on a weekend specialty barbecue dinner or vegetarian dish while you drink in the breathtaking sunset over the Rockies.
Lower in elevation but just as scenic is the Bully Ranch Restaurant at Sonnenalp Resort on Vail Road. Deck views of Gore Creek and the Gore Range are spellbinding, and the menu is equally impressive, with specialties including prime rib and steaks, burgers, chicken wraps, baby back ribs, fish and chips and all day munchies. Open for lunch and dinner, Bully Ranch is also known for its vegetarian dishes and its specialty drink, the Mudslide
Back on the mountain is Chap’s Grill & Chophouse at Vail Cascade Resort & Spa. This AAA Four-Diamond steakhouse overlooks Gore Creek, has a classic decor and outstanding wine list and features live entertainment in the lobby lounge. You’ll find game, seafood, grilled entrees and specialties such as portabella fries, smoked pheasant soup and Coriander Crusted Ahi Tuna.
In Vail Village, one of the most popular eateries is Pepi’s Restaurant and Bar, where both lunch and dinner are served on the deck. The atmosphere inside is described as “Austrian Gemutlichkeit,” and outside it’s pure Vail magic. Continental cuisine mixes it up with Austrian specialties that include wild game and gourmet fare.
If you’re in the mood for pasta and pizza, Vendetta’s in Vail has Northern Italian and then some. It was voted the Number One Ski Bar in Ski magazine, and you can hang on the deck and enjoy libations and a good meal while gazing at Vail Mountain.
One of the loveliest settings of all is found at The Wildflower in the Lodge at Vail. Vegetarian and American dishes are served at breakfast and lunch, with seafood and meat presented in a wonderful, imaginative array. And a feast for the eyes is to be had at this acclaimed restaurant, where the Wildflower Terrace affords you incredible hand-painted murals and giant baskets overflowing with flowers all summer long. Enchanting.
Patina at the Park Hyatt at Beaver Creek is yet another option for outdoor dining during the summer. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Patina is a casual spot that features Pacific Rim “fused with Southwest,” which makes for an intriguing combination. The deck also offers views of Beaver Creek mountain.
Think we’re at the end of the road? Not hardly, although we might be at the end of the rainbow when we hit Aspen. This town simply overflows with views, atmosphere and, of course, food.
At Boogie’s Diner in downtown Aspen, you’ll find “Gringo cuisine” in the form of meatloaf, salads, soups, sandwiches, fish and award-winning desserts. There’s an outdoor deck on which you can enjoy your lunch or dinner, too.
Definitely not diner fare is Cache Cache on Mill Street, where you’re transported to the French countryside with specialties such as Ossobucco in Marsala Sauce and vegetarian entrees, along with an extensive wine list. Cache Cache means “hide and seek,” but it’s doubtful you’ll be tucking away in the bistro when you can enjoy its signature drink, the Bomb, as well as your dinner outdoors, where there’s ample seating.
The Cantina on Main Street is known for its hot food, Tex-Mex style, cool drinks (“any kind of margarita you can imagine”), house specialties and plenty of outdoor seating.
Southern barbecue and ribs — even for breakfast — are the Hickory House’s signature dishes, and this Aspen Main Street spot has good views from its patio.
One good word sums up The Little Nell on East Durant Avenue in downtown Aspen: Incredible. With the prestigious Relais and Chateau affiliation, AAA’s Five-Diamond Award, Mobil Travel Guide Five-Star designation AND Zagat Survey recognition to its credit, The Little Nell boasts a premiere restaurant, Montagna. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Montagna presents a menu inspired by traditional European cuisines, and you can savor dishes of pheasant, wild game, fish and fresh vegetables. The lovely patio provides a scenic window on the Aspen world.
Mezzaluna means “half moon,” but there’s nothing halfway about this Cooper Avenue restaurant. The cuisine is global, Mediterranean with Pacific Rim and Southwestern influences. The menu changes frequently, and there’s a wonderful summertime patio with happy hour.
Aspen’s oldest bar and restaurant, the Red Onion Restaurant on Cooper Avenue, is a locals’ favorite for lunch and dinner, with soups, salads, sandwiches and Mexican entrees. Drink specials and “summer spectaculars” are served on the patio during the summer.
“Austria in Aspen” can be found at the Wienerstube on East Hyman Avenue, where breakfast, lunch and dinner can be partaken on the patio. Central European dishes mingle with burgers and salads, and daily specials promise to be lively.
Restaurant Mogador’s innovative menu incorporates Spanish influences with Southern French and Moroccan. Specialty dishes run the delectable gamut — Chicken Tagine, Black Mussels, Red Wine Duck Confit and Foie Gras. The restaurant is open for dinner only, and there’s a great patio.
At the Silvertree Hotel on Fall Lane, Brothers’ Grille is a slopeside restaurant with a breakfast buffet, lunch and dinner available on the deck. It’s traditional American fare, with a daily three-hour happy hour.
The Daly Tavern in the Snowmass Inn is a casual place with a deck, and the Grill On The Deck has a menu that features fresh fish, barbecue and salads, with outdoor seating available for lunch and dinner.
You want gonzo? The Woody Creek Tavern in Woody Creek is the place for you, with claims to “the best burger in the state,” Mexican specials, dishes using Limousine beef and daily specials. There’s a deck as well, and you might just run into someone famous out there.
Our parting words are saved for the Pine Creek Cookhouse, which is situated in the Castle Creek Valley 12 miles from Aspen. This splendid restaurant is accessible only by horse-drawn sleigh or cross-country skis in the winter but by car in the summer.
Surrounded by the Elk Mountains with breathtaking views, Pine Creek Cookhouse prides itself on gourmet salads, home-baked goods, wild game dishes and trout. You can dine outdoors in a pristine setting and perhaps catch sight of a few woodland creatures.
Now it’s your very enviable position to choose from this list. Our advice? Try them all, and as you savor every morsel of your meal, let your spirit soar with the view. It is, after all, part of the presentation.
Kathleen Thomas is a freelance writer living in Hartsel, Colorado.
A Taste of High Country
Now, that having been said, be advised that there are literally hundreds of restaurants in Colorado’s resort communities, and of those hundreds, scores provide outdoor seating during both summer and winter months. It would be next to impossible to list them all, so we’re going to give you a template and also encourage you to strike out on your own. The world of decks and patios is your oyster, and we wish you bon appetit!
Copper Mountain Resort, with its star-spangled views of the Gore and Ten Mile mountain ranges, is another cornucopia of outdoor dining. The patio at J.J.’s Rocky Mountain Tavern at Copper is the place to be on a sunny afternoon or balmy summer evening. Mouth-watering stone-oven pizzas, home-style meals or hearty salads are served at both lunch and dinner. You might opt for the “urban trendy” fare at Indian Motorcycle Café, or perhaps the huge sandwiches, appetizers and specialty drinks served at lunch and dinner will beckon you to the patio at Endo’s Adrenaline Cafe. Copper Mountain has a new restaurant opening, the Swivel, and outdoor seating will be available there as well.
Mezzaluna means “half moon,” but there’s nothing halfway about this Cooper Avenue restaurant. The cuisine is global, Mediterranean with Pacific Rim and Southwestern influences. The menu changes frequently, and there’s a wonderful summertime patio with happy hour. 