Welcome to Curbed Ski's list of the 18 Best Ski Town Hot Spots, our answer to any question that begins with, "Can you recommend a restaurant in...?" This highly elite group will cover 18 restaurants and bars in ski towns across North America, spanning myriad cuisines and collectively satisfying all of your dining and drinking needs. Every couple months we'll be adding places that were omitted or have stepped up there game. Have a tip? Let us know here.
A year ago, Curbed Ski launched the "Eater Ski 18," a series mapping where to drink and eat in North America's most popular ski towns. Our first Eater Ski 18 guide featured Park City, North America's most accessible ski town (only 35 minutes from the Salt Lake international airport) and also one of its most famous. A lot has happened in Park City in the past year (like crazy lawsuits, plans for America's biggest ski area, and more), but the food scene is hotter than ever. Just in time for Sundance 2015 (which kicks off tomorrow), Curbed Ski humbly presents the top places to eat and drink in Utah's hottest ski town.
Please note that the establishments below are not listed or ranked in any particular order. Did we forget your favorite place? Send us an email or let us know in the comments.
-Laurel Miller contributed to the writing and research for this story.
UPDATE: Note that originally Lindzee O'Michaels appeared on this list, but was removed because it has closed.
Located in the Deer Valley Plaza in Snow Park, this tiny space turns out housemade baked goods and breads. For breakfast, get Challah French Toast with Fruit Compote or try the (also housemade) Yogurt with Deer Valley Granola. Breakfast Sammies make way for creative lunchtime sandwiches like the Tandoori Chicken Curry Wrap, Roasted Pork Loin Baguette, or Grilled Three-Cheese. Don’t forget to pick up some local specialty foods like jam and cheese to go.
You may find “Lots of peanuts. Sometimes a lingering odor,” as this locals favorite, but O'Shucks will always be one of Curbed Ski's favorite places to chill out and relax. So settle in with a pint or three (the cocktails are on the weak side, at least in our experience), play a few rounds of Big Buck Hunter or pool, and rub shoulders with the flannel-shirted, snowboarder pack.
It’s worth grabbing a pint just so you can gawk at the brick barrel-vault ceiling of this 1905 Mission structure, originally the Utah Independent Telephone Company. Now, the décor is more “random vintage crap,” so take in the mix of taxidermy, rusty outboard motors, old sleds, and full-size motorcycle, in between people-watching. Sure, it’s crowded and noisy, but you don’t come here because you “want to be alone.” Got the drunken munchies? Curb them with Artichoke Jalapeno Dip, burgers, and sandwiches (the Corn [sic] Beef Panini is a town classic), and enjoy the show.
This ain’t no disco, especially as it’s located in a 1926 brick building on Main Street, but it’s definitely Park City’s most hopping club. From the wine cellar/“lower” dining room to the mezzanine bar and glass-walled terrace, there’s a Sundance-y vibe to the whole affair. Start out with oddly compelling signature cocktails like the Beehive Fizz (Gin, Cointreau, lemon, lime, coconut milk, honey, black tea, cardamom) or Clean Shave (bourbon, aged rum, Benedictine, bitters). Starters have a mostly Mediterranean flair, as with Baby Octopus with Pimentón, Potatoes, Lardo, Olives, and Fennel. Tuck into entrees like Short Rubs, or a Wagyu Coulotte Steak but save room for the Salted Caramel Creme Brûlée.
Over a decade ago, Talisker, a “luxury real estate, recreation and hospitality company” came to be, and with it, this elegant, Main Street institution. Heirloom produce is seasonally grown on the rooftop gardens, and the staff take field trips to regional farms and food crafters. The menu changes accordingly, but cold weather dishes might include Roasted Pumpkin Bisque and Fried Chicken or the Sugarhouse Pork Rib Chop.
This sophisticated-but-unstuffy sanctuary on Main Street is justifiably one of the hottest spots in town—you'll need a reservation. But if Riverhorse offers big-city style, it’s still ski town small in its laidback, welcoming demeanor. Here’s a tip: the more sedate-but-chic upstairs bar is first-come, first-served, and service is every bit as friendly. Order up a house cocktail or glass of wine from the well-composed list, and enjoy. The main dining room, however, is stunning: all exposed brick walls, white linen, dark hardwood flooring, blown-glass clusters of light fixtures, and organic art installation-esque touches like…a denuded tree. Feast on locally-sourced rotating dishes like a Crispy Goat Cheese Salad, Hand-Cut Buffalo Tartare, Utah Red Trout, and decadent sides like Tempura Onion Rings.
We all love a bar or eatery where everybody knows our name, even if we’re only in town for three days. Here, the staff, from receptionist and sushi chefs to servers (if you get the guy channeling Elvis Costello, score!) will know yours, and it’s totally genuine. Sit in the front where the action is, at one of the high bar tables or the sushi bar, and slurp up the rich, savory Pork Ramen (layered with thick slices of meat capped with burnished cracklings), or binge on house specialty rolls like the Executive (Tempura Shrimp, Avocado, and Cilantro, Maguro, Lime, Eel Sauce, and Habanero), or the Bruce Lee Roy (Spicy Tombo, Avocado, Shishito Pepper, Wagyu Beef, Truffle Garlic Ponzu, Crispy Shallots, and Black Sea Salt). Don’t forget “teasers” like the Goat Cheese Tuna Tataki, or sizzling hot plates like broiled, Miso-Marinated Black Cod.
This Park City watering hole has plenty of TV’s, tasty wings, beer, and nearby lift access. Avail yourself of delicious bar snacks like “Mixed Greens,” aka fried pickles and green beans, Chips and Queso, and Green Chile Cheese Fries. Then tackle the badass burger list- do you want yours smothered with jalapenos and cream cheese (“Hidden Splendor”), applewood smoked bacon, onion strings, and Collie’s bbq sauce (“Powder Keg”), or veggie (“Fool’s Gold”)? Perhaps you’ll spring for the “Widowmaker” (bacon, cheddar, hash browns, egg).
What’s not to love about a funky, oddly-shaped, timeworn food shack whose décor consists of thousands of vintage beer cans stacked up to the ceiling? Not much, and when you add affordable sandwiches (think Meatball Parm, Crispy Buffalo Chicken, and Philly Cheesesteak), pizza, burgers, and (random, we admit), “handmade, street-style” tacos, you have a drunk’s paradise. The kids will love it too.
Holy hell, this award-winning distillery known primarily for its small batch whiskies has become the belle of Park City. A reservation for dinner is a must, but you can kill time in the adjacent Saloon drinking lethal libations like the Dead Man's Boots (Rendezvous Rye, Tequila, Lime Juice, Ginger Beer, and Simple Syrup) or Miner's Life (Double Rye!, Roasted Coffee Syrup, Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout, and Lemon Juice). If whiskey's your jam, make sure you try a flight of four tastings. Once you've loosened up a bit, dinner means hearty Western-inflected fare like Bison Cottage Pie or a New York Strip. You’ll stumble out of here, but in the best way possible.
This sweet little indie book store/coffeehouse/tearoom is a favorite with locals, not least of which because the baristas, beans, baked goods and breakfast bagels are awesome. The emphasis on fresh and healthy stuff carries over to lunch, which features tasty wraps, salads, sandwiches, and smoothies. Cozy armchairs and couches make snacking on the slow fun; be sure to check out the great selections on ski town lifestyle and snow stuff in the “outdoor recreation” section.
Local and visitors love this wood-fired pizza joint for its no-muss, no-fuss yet friendly atmosphere. There are other niceties, like housemade meatballs, piadine, simple pasta dishes, a great kids’ menu (and kids friendly servers)…even gluten-free stuff. This is the place to go when you want to keep it short and sweet after a long one on the slopes, or when the kids are burning out.
While some may hate on slightly white-boy (read: lard-free) versions of Mexican classics, this clean, friendly joint is beloved by locals of all stripes. It’s just as popular with visitors, who come for the bomber-size Smothered Burritos, Chile Rellenos, Tacos, and Specialty Plates (Mole, Machaca, Enchiladas are but a few). All of that pales, however, in the face of the giant Salsa Bar, packed with all manner of housemade condiments, including charred jalapenos, escabeche, mole, and spicy crema. Love.
At the base of the Silver Star chairlift of Park City Mountain Resort, this inviting cafe serves up delicious burgers (try the Silver Star or the Northwest Burger), a great Chipotle BBQ Pulled Pork Wrap, and tasty salads. A great place to wait out a lift wind-delay in Park City.
This recently renovated on-mountain eatery offers better than the standard ski co glop in a convenient location at the Canyons. The new building has 316 seats and a large outdoor deck, located at the top of DreamCatcher and Dreamscape lifts. Fuel up on sandwiches, healthy salads, and tasty flatbreads and formulate your post-lunch plan of action while admiring the view from atop your perch on Dream Peak. Justin Olsen/Canyons Resort
The St. Regis Deer Valley isn't just cool because it has a funicular and amazing ski-in/ski-out access, it also boasts one of favorite spots for drinks. Copy up by the fire put on the expansive patio or hang out inside for custom cocktails, delicious Bloody Mary's, and even champagne sabering. This place has it all (and a price tag to match). Feel like staying for dinner? Hop over to the J&G Grill (also in the St. Regis) for a top-notch meal that's sure to impress.
Highly rated by Zagat and a slew of other food publications. The Mariposa is Deer Valley's most gourmet dinner destination. Expect tasting size portions on the small plates menu with vegetarian and gluten-free options available. And while the food might be high-end, the atmosphere is classic, low-key ski lodge, which suits the Silver Lake Village location.
Locals and visitors alike love Cortona for its amazing handmade pasta and delicious gelato that tastes like Italy. You'll also find panini's on the menu at this tiny spot located in a strip mall outside of Park City in Kimball Junction. It's a great choice on your way into or out of town, or a solid option for dinner after skiing Canyons Resort.
Located in the Deer Valley Plaza in Snow Park, this tiny space turns out housemade baked goods and breads. For breakfast, get Challah French Toast with Fruit Compote or try the (also housemade) Yogurt with Deer Valley Granola. Breakfast Sammies make way for creative lunchtime sandwiches like the Tandoori Chicken Curry Wrap, Roasted Pork Loin Baguette, or Grilled Three-Cheese. Don’t forget to pick up some local specialty foods like jam and cheese to go.
You may find “Lots of peanuts. Sometimes a lingering odor,” as this locals favorite, but O'Shucks will always be one of Curbed Ski's favorite places to chill out and relax. So settle in with a pint or three (the cocktails are on the weak side, at least in our experience), play a few rounds of Big Buck Hunter or pool, and rub shoulders with the flannel-shirted, snowboarder pack.
It’s worth grabbing a pint just so you can gawk at the brick barrel-vault ceiling of this 1905 Mission structure, originally the Utah Independent Telephone Company. Now, the décor is more “random vintage crap,” so take in the mix of taxidermy, rusty outboard motors, old sleds, and full-size motorcycle, in between people-watching. Sure, it’s crowded and noisy, but you don’t come here because you “want to be alone.” Got the drunken munchies? Curb them with Artichoke Jalapeno Dip, burgers, and sandwiches (the Corn [sic] Beef Panini is a town classic), and enjoy the show.
This ain’t no disco, especially as it’s located in a 1926 brick building on Main Street, but it’s definitely Park City’s most hopping club. From the wine cellar/“lower” dining room to the mezzanine bar and glass-walled terrace, there’s a Sundance-y vibe to the whole affair. Start out with oddly compelling signature cocktails like the Beehive Fizz (Gin, Cointreau, lemon, lime, coconut milk, honey, black tea, cardamom) or Clean Shave (bourbon, aged rum, Benedictine, bitters). Starters have a mostly Mediterranean flair, as with Baby Octopus with Pimentón, Potatoes, Lardo, Olives, and Fennel. Tuck into entrees like Short Rubs, or a Wagyu Coulotte Steak but save room for the Salted Caramel Creme Brûlée.
Over a decade ago, Talisker, a “luxury real estate, recreation and hospitality company” came to be, and with it, this elegant, Main Street institution. Heirloom produce is seasonally grown on the rooftop gardens, and the staff take field trips to regional farms and food crafters. The menu changes accordingly, but cold weather dishes might include Roasted Pumpkin Bisque and Fried Chicken or the Sugarhouse Pork Rib Chop.
This sophisticated-but-unstuffy sanctuary on Main Street is justifiably one of the hottest spots in town—you'll need a reservation. But if Riverhorse offers big-city style, it’s still ski town small in its laidback, welcoming demeanor. Here’s a tip: the more sedate-but-chic upstairs bar is first-come, first-served, and service is every bit as friendly. Order up a house cocktail or glass of wine from the well-composed list, and enjoy. The main dining room, however, is stunning: all exposed brick walls, white linen, dark hardwood flooring, blown-glass clusters of light fixtures, and organic art installation-esque touches like…a denuded tree. Feast on locally-sourced rotating dishes like a Crispy Goat Cheese Salad, Hand-Cut Buffalo Tartare, Utah Red Trout, and decadent sides like Tempura Onion Rings.
We all love a bar or eatery where everybody knows our name, even if we’re only in town for three days. Here, the staff, from receptionist and sushi chefs to servers (if you get the guy channeling Elvis Costello, score!) will know yours, and it’s totally genuine. Sit in the front where the action is, at one of the high bar tables or the sushi bar, and slurp up the rich, savory Pork Ramen (layered with thick slices of meat capped with burnished cracklings), or binge on house specialty rolls like the Executive (Tempura Shrimp, Avocado, and Cilantro, Maguro, Lime, Eel Sauce, and Habanero), or the Bruce Lee Roy (Spicy Tombo, Avocado, Shishito Pepper, Wagyu Beef, Truffle Garlic Ponzu, Crispy Shallots, and Black Sea Salt). Don’t forget “teasers” like the Goat Cheese Tuna Tataki, or sizzling hot plates like broiled, Miso-Marinated Black Cod.
This Park City watering hole has plenty of TV’s, tasty wings, beer, and nearby lift access. Avail yourself of delicious bar snacks like “Mixed Greens,” aka fried pickles and green beans, Chips and Queso, and Green Chile Cheese Fries. Then tackle the badass burger list- do you want yours smothered with jalapenos and cream cheese (“Hidden Splendor”), applewood smoked bacon, onion strings, and Collie’s bbq sauce (“Powder Keg”), or veggie (“Fool’s Gold”)? Perhaps you’ll spring for the “Widowmaker” (bacon, cheddar, hash browns, egg).
What’s not to love about a funky, oddly-shaped, timeworn food shack whose décor consists of thousands of vintage beer cans stacked up to the ceiling? Not much, and when you add affordable sandwiches (think Meatball Parm, Crispy Buffalo Chicken, and Philly Cheesesteak), pizza, burgers, and (random, we admit), “handmade, street-style” tacos, you have a drunk’s paradise. The kids will love it too.
Holy hell, this award-winning distillery known primarily for its small batch whiskies has become the belle of Park City. A reservation for dinner is a must, but you can kill time in the adjacent Saloon drinking lethal libations like the Dead Man's Boots (Rendezvous Rye, Tequila, Lime Juice, Ginger Beer, and Simple Syrup) or Miner's Life (Double Rye!, Roasted Coffee Syrup, Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout, and Lemon Juice). If whiskey's your jam, make sure you try a flight of four tastings. Once you've loosened up a bit, dinner means hearty Western-inflected fare like Bison Cottage Pie or a New York Strip. You’ll stumble out of here, but in the best way possible.
This sweet little indie book store/coffeehouse/tearoom is a favorite with locals, not least of which because the baristas, beans, baked goods and breakfast bagels are awesome. The emphasis on fresh and healthy stuff carries over to lunch, which features tasty wraps, salads, sandwiches, and smoothies. Cozy armchairs and couches make snacking on the slow fun; be sure to check out the great selections on ski town lifestyle and snow stuff in the “outdoor recreation” section.
Local and visitors love this wood-fired pizza joint for its no-muss, no-fuss yet friendly atmosphere. There are other niceties, like housemade meatballs, piadine, simple pasta dishes, a great kids’ menu (and kids friendly servers)…even gluten-free stuff. This is the place to go when you want to keep it short and sweet after a long one on the slopes, or when the kids are burning out.
While some may hate on slightly white-boy (read: lard-free) versions of Mexican classics, this clean, friendly joint is beloved by locals of all stripes. It’s just as popular with visitors, who come for the bomber-size Smothered Burritos, Chile Rellenos, Tacos, and Specialty Plates (Mole, Machaca, Enchiladas are but a few). All of that pales, however, in the face of the giant Salsa Bar, packed with all manner of housemade condiments, including charred jalapenos, escabeche, mole, and spicy crema. Love.
At the base of the Silver Star chairlift of Park City Mountain Resort, this inviting cafe serves up delicious burgers (try the Silver Star or the Northwest Burger), a great Chipotle BBQ Pulled Pork Wrap, and tasty salads. A great place to wait out a lift wind-delay in Park City.
This recently renovated on-mountain eatery offers better than the standard ski co glop in a convenient location at the Canyons. The new building has 316 seats and a large outdoor deck, located at the top of DreamCatcher and Dreamscape lifts. Fuel up on sandwiches, healthy salads, and tasty flatbreads and formulate your post-lunch plan of action while admiring the view from atop your perch on Dream Peak. Justin Olsen/Canyons Resort
The St. Regis Deer Valley isn't just cool because it has a funicular and amazing ski-in/ski-out access, it also boasts one of favorite spots for drinks. Copy up by the fire put on the expansive patio or hang out inside for custom cocktails, delicious Bloody Mary's, and even champagne sabering. This place has it all (and a price tag to match). Feel like staying for dinner? Hop over to the J&G Grill (also in the St. Regis) for a top-notch meal that's sure to impress.
Highly rated by Zagat and a slew of other food publications. The Mariposa is Deer Valley's most gourmet dinner destination. Expect tasting size portions on the small plates menu with vegetarian and gluten-free options available. And while the food might be high-end, the atmosphere is classic, low-key ski lodge, which suits the Silver Lake Village location.
Locals and visitors alike love Cortona for its amazing handmade pasta and delicious gelato that tastes like Italy. You'll also find panini's on the menu at this tiny spot located in a strip mall outside of Park City in Kimball Junction. It's a great choice on your way into or out of town, or a solid option for dinner after skiing Canyons Resort.
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