Winter Park's dining scene has quietly become a destination in its own right. Within a five-mile stretch of US-40 you can eat Nepalese, Spanish paella, Japanese-Mexican fusion, Texas barbecue, proper Irish pub food and a chef-driven tasting menu, then finish with a distillery cocktail. Not bad for a town of a few thousand people.
Here is every spot worth your evening, with addresses, phone numbers and hours, organized by town.
Read the closed days first. This is the single most useful thing on this page. Mountain-town kitchens close on days you would not expect, and nothing ruins an evening faster than a drive to Tabernash on a Tuesday.
Winter Park Restaurant Closed Days: Quick Reference
| Restaurant | Closed | Town |
|---|---|---|
| Tabernash Tavern | Mon, Tue, Wed | Tabernash |
| Fraser Valley Distilling | Sun, Mon, Tue | Fraser |
| Volario's | Mon, Tue | Winter Park |
| Devil's Craft | Mon, Tue (and opens late) | Winter Park |
| Solstice Winter Bistro | Mon, Tue | Fraser |
| Idlewild Spirits | Mon, Tue | Winter Park |
| Durbar | Tuesday | Winter Park |
| Casa Mexico | Wednesday | Winter Park |
| Fontenot's | Monday | Winter Park |
| Buddha Garden | Monday | Winter Park |
| Mi Pueblito | Sunday | Winter Park |
Downtown Winter Park
1. Deno's Mountain Bistro
78911 US-40, Winter Park, CO 80482
(970) 726-5332 | denoswp.com
Hours: Mon to Fri 3:00pm to 10:00pm, Sat and Sun 11:00am to 10:00pm. Happy hour daily 3:00 to 5:30.
One of Winter Park's longest-running and most consistently recommended restaurants. Ski boots, steaks, hand-tossed pizza and a genuinely serious wine list somehow all belong together here. The menu runs Angus steaks, seafood, mussels, pasta and Mediterranean-leaning plates, and the Gorgonzola fondue is the order regulars make without looking at the menu. Happy hour runs seven days a week and the bar gets fun. Reserve on weekends.
2. Paellas Restaurant
93 Cooper Creek Way, Winter Park, CO 80482
(970) 363-7535 | winterparkspanishfood.com
Hours: Daily 5:00pm to 9:00pm
A genuine slice of Spain in the Rockies, and one of the best-rated rooms in town. Chef Neil runs a small, personal operation where the paella is the headline but the ceviche, Chilean sea bass and steaks all hold their own. The Spanish wine list is deep and the chocolate soufflé has its own following. Regulars will tell you it is the best steak in Grand County, which is a bold claim in a state full of them. Intimate, ideal for date night, and there is a solid non-alcoholic option if someone is not drinking.
3. Volario's
78786 US-40, First Floor, Winter Park, CO 80482
(970) 722-1199 | volarioswinterpark.com
Hours: Wed to Sun 4:00pm to 9:00pm; closed Monday and Tuesday
Italian with a European alpine sensibility and the most ambitious pasta program in the valley. The 12-layer lasagna made with pasta rolled that day is the standout, the pizza dough gets a 72-hour ferment, and the rosemary focaccia is worth ordering before you have decided on anything else. Useful detail for dairy-free diners: their ricotta is a herbal, dairy-free blend, so more of the menu is accessible than you would expect. Dark, relaxed, mountain-modern room. Service can run slow on busy nights, so go when you have time rather than before a show.
4. Randi's Grill & Pub
78521 US-40, Winter Park, CO 80482
(970) 726-1172 | randiswinterpark.com
Hours: Mon, Sat and Sun 8:00am to 9:00pm, Tue to Fri 11:00am to 9:00pm
A proper Irish pub with a field-to-fork streak, sourcing local produce and Colorado-raised beef, lamb and chicken. Shepherd's pie, fish and chips and a first-rate Reuben sit alongside burgers and a hot turkey sandwich people write reviews about. One of very few places in the valley pouring a properly slow-poured Guinness, and the big screens make it the default for a game. The detail most guides miss: the 8:00am open on Mondays and weekends means Randi's serves breakfast.
5. Hernando's Pizza Pub
78199 US-40, Winter Park, CO 80482
(970) 726-5409 | hernandospizzapub.com
Hours: Daily 5:00pm to 9:00pm, dinner only
Locally owned since 1967 and a genuine Winter Park institution. The walls are papered with thousands of decorated dollar bills and you are encouraged to staple your own up. From-scratch pizza including gluten free, plus stromboli, lasagna, ravioli and Italian sandwiches, with a full bar behind it. Loud, unpretentious and exactly right with a big group after a ski day. Reserve or arrive early, because the wait here gets long and it is a dinner-only kitchen.
6. The Ditch on 40
78941 US-40, Unit A, Winter Park, CO 80482
(970) 363-7113 | theditchon40.com
Hours: Mon to Wed and Sun 11:00am to 8:00pm, Thu to Sat 11:00am to 9:00pm
The most-reviewed restaurant in Winter Park and the busiest room in town, for good reason. The Ditch Burger is the signature, New Mexico green chili runs through most of the menu, and the margaritas come out by the fourteen. Everything is made in the kitchen rather than reheated. Like Hernando's, there is a dollar-bill tradition on the walls, and regulars add one every year. Two honest notes: the green chili is genuinely spicy and you can ask for dishes without it, and by lunchtime the line is often out the door and the room is loud. Open continuously from 11:00am, which makes it one of the few reliable mid-afternoon options.
7. Pepe Osaka's Fishtaco
78707 US-40, Winter Park, CO 80482
(970) 446-8642 | pepeosakasfishtaco.com
Hours: Daily 12:00pm to 9:00pm
Japanese-Mexican fusion, which sounds like a gimmick until you eat here. The strip-mall exterior undersells it badly. Fish tacos are the headline and the spicy tuna is what people come back for, backed by handcrafted margaritas, infused tequilas, an unusually deep mezcal selection and sake. Tacos arrive with rice, black beans and plantain. Open continuously from noon, so it works when the mountain kitchens have shut.
Local's tip: ask what tequilas they are pouring. They will often let you sample before you commit.
8. Fontenot's Seafood & Grill
78336 US-40, Winter Park, CO 80482
(970) 726-4021 | fontenotswp.com
Hours: Tue to Fri 11:30am to 8:30pm, Sat and Sun 9:00am to 8:30pm; closed Monday
Cajun and Gulf-inspired cooking in the Rockies, and a local favorite since 1990. The gumbo, catch of the day, bacon-wrapped scallops and Southern chicken fried steak do the heavy lifting, and the beer list is one of the better ones in town. When locals get asked where to eat seafood this far from the coast, this is the answer. The detail most people miss: the 9:00am weekend open means Fontenot's does brunch, which almost nothing else here does.
9. Durbar Nepalese & Indian Bistro
47 Cooper Creek Way #222, Winter Park, CO 80482
(970) 363-7081 | durbarbistro.com
Hours: 11:00am to 2:30pm and 4:30pm to 9:30pm; closed Tuesday
Authentic Nepalese and Indian cooking tucked into Cooper Creek Square, and a fixture in the local rotation. Momos, tandoori breads, sizzlers, curries and a genuinely strong vegetarian section. What sets them apart is spice management: they will calibrate heat across a whole table so nobody suffers and nobody is bored. Chicken Tikka Masala is the local order and the garlic cheese naan is not optional.
10. Casa Mexico
47 Cooper Creek Way, Winter Park, CO 80482
(970) 726-9674
Hours: Mon, Tue, Thu and Sun 11:00am to 9:00pm, Fri and Sat 11:00am to 10:00pm; closed Wednesday
Chef Esteban Rocha and his wife Imelda have run restaurants for decades, and Casa Mexico trades on real hospitality as much as the food. Everything is made in house, from the chips and salsa to the tortillas. White jalapeño queso, street tacos, pork carnitas and less common items like beef tongue. The margaritas bring a lot of people through the door on their own.
Local's tip: ask about the hoof, their house-made tequila served out of an actual hoof. Exactly as memorable as it sounds.
11. Buddha Garden Thai Food
47 Cooper Creek Way, Unit #221, Winter Park, CO 80482
(970) 447-5140 | buddhagardenwp.com
Hours: 11:00am to 2:30pm and 4:30pm to 9:30pm; closed Monday
Casual family-friendly Thai in Cooper Creek Square with prices that are reasonable for a resort town. Drunken noodles and the curries are the strongest orders, and they will modify dishes to make them vegan if you ask. The dining room is small and there is a 2:30 to 4:30 service gap, so plan around it. Medium spice runs hot and builds, so order down if you are unsure.
12. Mi Pueblito Taco Bus
1567 Lone Mountain Trail, Winter Park, CO 80482
(970) 223-6421 | Order online
Hours: Mon to Sat 10:00am to 7:00pm; closed Sunday
A converted bus near the Ace Hardware turning out what may be the best value meal in the valley. Six tacos runs around $13, which in this town is close to a miracle. Carnitas and al pastor are the standouts, and the wider menu covers super burritos, enchiladas, shrimp quesadillas, sopitos and tortas. Covered outdoor seating, lovely in summer and character-building in February. They take cards, and ordering ahead is the smart play at lunch.
13. Smokehouse BBQ
78656 US-40, Winter Park, CO 80482
(970) 722-0227 | smokehousewp.com
Hours: Daily 11:00am to 9:00pm
All meats smoked nightly, so nothing has been sitting around. Brisket, pulled pork, turkey and wings, with sides that genuinely hold their own and a Colorado Cubano with a following. Full bar, solid taps, regular live music. Open continuously from 11:00am, which puts it on the short list for a mid-afternoon meal. The patio catches the Winter Park sunset, so time dinner around it.
14. Idlewild Spirits Restaurant & Distillery
78737 US-40 #1000, Winter Park, CO 80482
(970) 281-5773 | idlewildspirits.com
Hours: Wed, Thu and Sun 4:00pm to 9:00pm, Fri and Sat 4:00pm to 10:00pm; closed Monday and Tuesday
Opened in 2016 and recently remodeled, Idlewild has grown from a distillery with snacks into one of the better kitchens in town. Single malt whiskey, gin, rum and vodka made on site, paired with a menu that now runs bulgogi ribs, coconut curry soup, lettuce wraps and an unexpectedly good burger. Gluten free and vegan options are handled properly rather than grudgingly. The lower-level space still has speakeasy energy and there is a lounge with a live fire if you have to wait.
Local's tip: the Hibiscus Gin Mule, then take canned Moscow Mules home with you.
15. Devil's Craft: Kitchen, Bar, Stage
63 Cooper Creek Way, Ste 133, Winter Park, CO 80482
(970) 363-7276 | devilscraftwinterpark.com
Hours: Wed and Thu 8:00pm to 1:00am, Fri to Sun 5:00pm to 1:00am; closed Monday and Tuesday
Read those hours carefully: this is a late-night spot, not a lunch stop. Devil's Craft is Winter Park's live music venue with a kitchen attached, and it is where the evening goes after dinner. Order at the bar, grab a high table, and expect burgers, barbecue plates and shareable food alongside a strong drinks list. There is a pool table, a stage with regular touring and Colorado bands, and a genuinely friendly room. No kids' menu, so this one is for the grown-ups.
At the Resort Base
16. Vertical Bistro & Tap
130 Parry Peak Way, Winter Park, CO 80482
(970) 363-7053
Hours: Daily 11:00am to 9:00pm
The most convenient real sit-down dinner if you are staying slopeside, and better than base-area dining usually manages. Wild mushroom ravioli, elk steak, rainbow trout, Thai lettuce wraps and firecracker shrimp sit alongside burgers and a genuinely good kids menu. Strong wine and cocktail program, and the service reputation is one of the best in town. Open continuously from 11:00am.
17. Stoney's Winter Park
120 Parry Peak Way, Winter Park, CO 80482
(970) 363-7744
Hours: Mon 11:00am to 6:00pm, Tue to Thu 11:00am to 8:00pm, Fri 11:00am to 9:00pm, Sat 10:00am to 9:00pm, Sun 10:00am to 8:00pm
The base village apres pick for anyone who wants a burger and a beer without ceremony. Smash burgers, wings, cheese curds, tots, wraps and a Philly cheesesteak, served fast. Patio with cornhole, and the room handles big groups well. Note the early 6:00pm close on Mondays.
18. A-Frame Club Grill
1008 Winter Park Dr, Winter Park, CO 80482
(303) 709-1451 | aframeclub.com/grill
The most design-forward room in Winter Park, with cozy indoor nooks, a heated outdoor apres deck and a retro sensibility that avoids feeling like a theme. Locally sourced comfort classics done properly, with short rib stroganoff and steaks as the standouts and a cocktail list worth arriving early for. The grill and bar are open to the public, not just hotel guests. Call ahead, since the grill runs a seasonal schedule.
Fraser
19. Solstice Winter Bistro
40 County Road 804 #130, Fraser, CO 80442
(970) 531-5400 | solsticebistro.com
Hours: Wed to Sun 4:30pm to 9:00pm; closed Monday and Tuesday
The highest-rated restaurant in the valley and the one that most surprises people. It sits in Fraser rather than Winter Park, and the exterior undersells it considerably, but inside it is an intimate, genuinely upscale room with the owners usually on site. Beef carpaccio, bison short ribs, wild mushroom ravioli, Hokkaido scallops, smoked prime rib and tenderloin tip stroganoff, with a well-chosen and reasonably priced wine and cocktail list. Vegan and dietary requests are handled with real care.
If you book one special-occasion dinner on your trip, make it this or Tabernash Tavern. The room is small, so reserve.
20. Elevation Pizza
551 S Zerex St, C106, Fraser, CO 80442
(970) 726-0066 | elevationpizzaco.com
Hours: Mon, Tue and Sun 11:30am to 8:00pm, Wed to Sat 11:30am to 9:00pm
Quality pies, calzones and sandwiches well beyond basic takeout, and one of the best-value meals in the valley. The crust is the thing people write about. The Meatza drizzled with hot honey and the Adam Bomb are the two most-ordered pies, and the pepperoni with hatch chile and cream cheese has a cult following. Calzones are big enough to defeat most people. Easy parking and a laid-back room make it the natural call on a night when nobody wants to dress up.
21. Sharky's Eatery
221 N Doc Susie Ave, Unit 221, Fraser, CO 80442
(970) 726-8646
Hours: Daily 7:00am to 2:00pm
A brother-and-sister operation and the breakfast spot locals have used for twenty years. Grab a breakfast burrito on the way to the lifts or sit down for a proper weekend brunch. Hollandaise made from scratch, tender corned beef, eggs cooked right every time. Small room, fast service, affordable. Lunch is served too, and plenty of regulars will tell you the lunch menu is the stronger half.
Local's tip: Eggs Benedict and a Bloody Mary.
22. Fraser Valley Distilling
410 N Zerex St, Fraser, CO 80442
(970) 363-7792 | fraservalleydistilling.com
Hours: Wed and Thu 3:00pm to 8:30pm, Fri and Sat 12:00pm to 8:30pm; closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday
Family owned and operated in downtown Fraser. The spirits are made on site and they are the reason to come, but the kitchen has quietly become a draw of its own, with everything made fresh (they do not keep a freezer on the premises) and every sauce from scratch. Brisket sandwiches, crispy Brussels sprouts, flatbreads, and a chocolate cake locals will argue is the best in the valley. Heated patio with a fire pit. Ask about a tour, the owners love showing off the operation.
Local's tip: the gin and tonic, made with their own house tonic, is the signature pour. Flights come with a glass to take home.
Tabernash
23. Tabernash Tavern
72287 US-40, Tabernash, CO 80478
(970) 726-4430 | tabernashtavern.com
Hours: Thu to Sun 4:00pm to 9:00pm; closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
The best special-occasion dinner in Grand County, and worth the ten-minute drive from the resort. Chef Alberto Sapien's menu ranges globally alongside USDA prime aged beef, nightly specials and a rotating card, backed by a Wine Spectator award-winning list and a carefully chosen craft beer selection. The signature paella never leaves the menu, and the steelhead trout and steakhouse Caesar are consistent favorites. Intimate room, warm service, live music regularly.
Reservations strongly recommended, and note the four-day week before you build an evening around it.
A Better One-Day Food Itinerary
- Breakfast: Sharky's Eatery in Fraser, open from 7:00am, for a burrito on the way to the lifts.
- Lunch: The Ditch on 40 or Smokehouse BBQ, both open continuously from 11:00am, so you are not stuck when the mountain kitchens close.
- Apres: the A-Frame Club heated deck, or Stoney's patio at the base if you want to stay in your boots.
- Dinner: Solstice Winter Bistro or Tabernash Tavern for a special night; Hernando's, Elevation Pizza or Pepe Osaka's for a relaxed one.
- Late: Devil's Craft for live music, open until 1:00am Wednesday through Sunday.
Practical Notes for Eating Here
- Reserve everything you care about. Holiday weeks, Presidents Day and spring break turn walk-ins into a gamble.
- Watch the mid-afternoon gap. Several kitchens close between lunch and dinner. If you come off the mountain hungry at 3:30pm, aim for The Ditch, Smokehouse, Pepe Osaka's, Vertical Bistro or Deno's happy hour.
- Take the free town shuttle. The Lift connects Winter Park, the base and Fraser at no cost, so nobody has to skip the wine list. It does run late in heavy snow, so allow a buffer.
- Cook a night or two. Every one of our rentals has a full kitchen, and after three restaurant dinners a night in is both cheaper and genuinely welcome.
Stay Where the Food Is
Where you sleep decides how easy dinner is. Downtown Winter Park puts you walking distance from Deno's, Hernando's, Randi's and Cooper Creek Square. Base Village and ski-in ski-out keep you steps from Vertical Bistro and Stoney's. Fraser is your base for Solstice, Elevation and Fraser Valley Distilling, and Tabernash puts the Tavern minutes away.
Every property comes with a full kitchen, and our private homes and luxury rentals have kitchens genuinely worth cooking in, plus a hot tub for afterward.
Check current specials, browse all our properties, or call our local team at 800-215-6535. We eat at these places. Ask us what is good this week.
Restaurant hours in Grand County are seasonal and change frequently. Addresses, phone numbers and hours were verified as of publication. Please confirm directly with each restaurant before you go, especially in shoulder season.
