Estes Park has long been a favorite of weekenders, day-trippers, and adventurers looking to escape the bustle of Denver and settle into the mountain lifestyle for a few days--and Estes Park restaurants are built for that! Perfectly positioned to serve as a base camp for your Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary, Estes Park is also a destination in its own right, with plenty of experiences on offer that will entice you to stay a little bit longer.
The food in Estes Park goes a long way towards helping the town stake this claim as a multifaceted mountain hideaway, with restaurants that serve up flavors from around the world and the familiar tastes of home. From casual cafes to coffee shops, BBQ joints, and refined dining experiences, here are some of the best restaurants in Estes Park. Daniel and I loved exploring the different options that they had available!
The absolute best Estes Park restaurants
This guide covers where you will want to eat when it comes to Estes Park restaurants and what to expect.
915 Moraine Ave
+1 970 586-9832
One of the more upscale restaurants in Estes Park, this rustic-style eatery will leave you with no doubt that you're in the mountains once you walk through the front door and see the cabin-chic wooden features of the interior. The western, mountain aesthetic informs many of the food and drink options here, featuring hearty ingredients that imbue the recipes with a lot of character.
A generous happy hour runs from 1:30 to 5:00 daily with playful bar snacks like upscale chicken nuggets and plenty of specials, while the lunch and dinner menus are full of seafood, snacks, and savory entrees that are perfectly washed down by one of the bar's Smoked Old Fashioneds. Come here for some of the best food in Estes Park!
1700 Colorado Peaks Drive
+1 970 586-6409
One of the more storied restaurants in Estes Park, Colorado, this Lake Estes-side lodge offers fantastic views of the surrounding area and an immersion into local lore through tongue-in-cheek tributes to Italian culture and cuisine like the Mona Lisa wallpaper. The eye-catching decorations also include floor-to-ceiling collages of dollar bills that have been drawn upon and stapled to the wall by guests.
As much of an impression as these visual features are sure to leave, the food will be what truly leaves a lasting memory. With juicy steaks, sumptuous scallops and seafood, and traditional pasta dishes like carbonara, this is one of the go-to restaurants near Estes Park for delicious Italian food.
338 W Elkhorn Ave
+1 970 586-3330
This beloved spot serves up bespoke Italian comfort food in a classical, cozy riverside setting where diners can also enjoy people-watching on the riverside promenade from a quaint patio. This place has few frills and little fuss, but fast and friendly service to complement their home-style Italian cooking, made with love.
Try the caprese or fried zucchini for a delectable appetizer before setting your sights (and stomach) on one of their pastas or entrees, all of which are served with a side of mama's garlic bread. Do I really need to say anything else? The combination of old world charm with Colorado camaraderie here perfectly sums up Estes Park food.
820 Moraine Ave
+1 970 577-7427
A local chain in this part of Colorado, Smokin' Dave's is a fan favorite across all of its destinations, but the one in Estes Park really steals the show. With a mouthwatering selection of appetizers, ribs galore, and steaks and sandwiches to satisfy any appetite, you'll be very happy to see the impressive selection of brews to wash all of this down.
They've also got popular family platters that are perfect and reasonably priced for you and your little ones — all in all, the portions are generous and the price is right for you to walk away from this place suitably stuffed.
393 E Elkhorn Ave
+1 970 586-1173
This beloved breakfast spot recently reopened under a new name, but nothing has changed about the excellent service and scrumptious selection that one of the best Estes Park restaurants has come to be known for over the past 20 years. It's worth emphasizing that this place is incredibly popular, so unless you're showing up first thing in the A.M, you can expect a bit of a wait.
That said, the food generally comes fast and the welcoming service will be sure to get that morning cup of coffee into your hands once you get seated. They've got a healthy section to their menu as well as plenty of veggie options, modern staples like avocado toast, and hearty plates like breakfast burritos or pancakes that will really get your day started right.
1560 Big Thompson Ave
+1 970 586-7275
Often lauded as one of the best pizza places to eat in Estes Park, Antonios has a no-fuss focus on delivering authentic, New York pizza in both the Neapolitan and Sicilian styles. Their approach to their pizzas, calzones, and jumbo wings can pretty much be summed up with the phrase, "go big or go home." Nobody in your household is going to go hungry if you stop in at Antonio's or order takeout. Their wood-fired thin crust and thick crust pizzas are complemented by cheesy, savory meatball subs, garlic knots, and an all-star lineup of pizza-place appetizers that will have you double-checking that you aren't, in fact, at a mom-and-pop Brooklyn pizza kitchen.
401 W Elkhorn Ave
+1 970 586-2792
Of all the places to eat in Estes Park, few are able to capture the down-home feeling of family as Big Horn Restaurant — all I really need to do to explain myself is tell you about their Big Horn special, where they pack your picnic lunch for you while you eat breakfast. Known for being family-friendly and family-run, this spot is known to be accommodating and have a plate of food with your name on it at any time of the day, whether you're an early bird grabbing breakfast at 6am or bringing in your loved ones for dinner.
457 E Wonderview Ave Ste C-1
+1 970 586-6624
As the name suggests, this laid-back eatery is your home away from home among Estes Park restaurants. Their menu mixes in American favorites with southwest flavors and house specialists, like the delicious Migas tacos that are really everything a breakfast taco needs to be: savory with a little spice to kickstart your day. Elsewhere on the menu, American entrees like burgers are complemented by dishes like chile relleno and those with a sweet tooth will have their choice between pancakes and churros. And if you're looking for breakfast places to eat in Estes Park that have mimosas, look no further!
Nepal's Cafe
184 E Elkhorn Ave
+1 970 577-7035
At first glance, this appears to be a casual spot tucked into the quaint river district of town, but this is really one of the best places to eat in Estes Park. The first hint of this will be the gentle aroma of Nepalese and Indian spices wafting down the street! If that's enough to get you in the door, you won't be disappointed. With favorites like saag paneer and chicken tikka and house specialists like chicken momos and chana masala all available for a very reasonable price, this might be a spot you return to once or twice during your culinary tour of Estes Park restaurants.
3110 S St Vrain Ave B
+1 970 586-9344
Perched on a winding mountain road, this aptly-named spot offers that cozy cabin feeling, sweeping views, and choice meats that all combine for a rustic, but elegant experience perfect for special occasions. A tasteful choice for fresh seafood and perfectly-cooked steak for over 20 years in the Estes Valley, this is one of the crown jewels of Estes Park restaurants that now also offers lodging on-site with a brand new accommodation that has opened recently.
Their hand-crafted cocktail list is complete with twists on classics and some house specialties, while an expertly curated wine list adds that extra touch of splendor to your dining experience.
861 Moraine Ave
+1 970 586-3137
What looks like an unassuming burger or hot dog stand is actually one of the best places to eat in Estes Park if you're looking for grub that isn't just a chip off the old block. This place is perhaps best known for their seasonings and sauces, which elevate their fries from being a side order to genuine show-stoppers.
The tzatziki sauce is a favorite with their gyros, too. Vegetarians will delight in the garden burger, which is juicy far from the stock-standard black bean burger typical of other joints. Their elk burger is also famous for those carnivores amongst us who want a more exclusive taste of the regional game.
225 Park Ln
+1 970 586-9564
Claire's takes full advantage of its central location among places to eat in Estes Park by going above and beyond the typical tourist fare that they could probably get away with peddling. From breakfast favorites to good pub grub, the food here uses local ingredients that shine alongside a star-studded bar lineup of local beers and spirits. The bloody mary selection here includes one with bacon-infused vodka, and there's everything from Colorado-distilled coffee whiskey to sour ales and vanilla porters to satisfy even the most discerning of beer snobs.
911 Moraine Ave
+1 970 586-8383
One of the best Estes Park restaurants to stop in for a quick bite to eat in-between adventures, Scratch is a deli that takes the art of sandwich making very seriously despite their modest digs. They make their own bread in-house and offer a wide selection of toppings, in addition to specialty sandwiches, so you can decide to design a mouthwatering sammie yourself or kick back and know that the experts are in control of your (awesome) lunchtime decision.
510 Moraine Ave
+1 970 586-5181
Close your eyes and picture the quintessential coffee shop, "Central Perk" Rocky-Mountain style—there you have Coffee on the Rocks. Any cozy cabin vibe is sure to be enhanced by the sweet aroma of arabica, but how many coffee shops have their own duck pond out back with garden seating?
Depending on the season of your visit, you can stay warm in their expansive indoor space or cool down with an iced latte while chilling in the shade out back. They have some breakfast options, too, so look no further for a chill spot to enjoy food and beverage while drinking in all the beautiful Estes Park views.
1690 Big Thompson Ave
+1 970 586-6962
This place's dedication to delivering high-quality seafood and game is probably evident in the name, but experiencing it for yourself is a different thing altogether! This is the hidden gem of Estes Park restaurants for eating game meat such as bison and elk, which headline the menu and make this a stand-out experience from other places to eat in the area.
Take your pick of steak, burgers, or chops and you'll be treated to a juicy cut of meat cooked to perfection and drizzled in a house-made sauce or lush wine glaze. Some of the prime dishes command higher prices, but the bang is certainly worth the buck and the excellent service here makes a visit for any occasion feel that extra bit special.
Have any recommendations for Estes Park restaurants? Share your favorites in the comments below!\
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