Ahh, eating! It’s one of our favorite activities in Steamboat, and after your next trip, hopefully it will be yours as well!
There are a TON of amazing restaurants to choose from in Steamboat, you really can’t go wrong wherever you eat. You’ll find everything from cowboy inspired diner food to high-end sushi and everything in-between. Here are some of our favorites!
Breakfast/Brunch:
If you’re looking for the ambiance of a local diner with the menu of a higher-end cafe, look no further than Winona’s & Freshies. Freshies has a great menu of organic/locally-sourced food, and Winona’s has incredible omelettes, country-style breakfasts and cinnamon rolls! Trust me, if you forget everything else in this post, remember Winona’s cinnamon rolls.
Lunch:
If you’re in the mood for Mexican food, and don’t mind a wait, Taco Cabo is the place to go! They started as a taco truck and quickly grew into a cult sensation. They have some of the best burritos and tacos we’ve ever tasted (certainly the best in Steamboat) and they have a good selection of well/draft drinks too.
If you’re in the mood for something more healthy, check out Rootz. They have amazing bowls such as Coconut Green Curry, or the Maya with black beans, avocado, red onion, purple cabbage and cilantro lime yogurt sauce. They also have a ton of great smoothies that are perfect on a hot day.
Dinner:
Harwigs is a rare occasion for us, but always a special occasion. It’s one of those restaurants that you plan ahead for and look forward to for days or weeks on end. They have incredible food ranging from Escargot to Oysters on the 1/2 Shell, mouth watering steak, lamb and duck, as well as incredible drinks! All served in a quiet small-town restaurant feel.
Aurum is a bit more up-scale. Everything from their appetizers (Crispy Curried Cauliflower or Street Tacos) to their main courses (Grilled Vermont Quail or Pan Seared Scallops & Pork Cheeks) leaves you feeling more than satisfied. As with most restaurants in Steamboat, their drinks are to die for as well.
Happy Hour:
Speaking of drinks, we couldn’t mention food without talking about the most important hour of the day, happy hour! Nearly every restaurant in Steamboat has a happy hour, and all are great in their own right, but our favorites are below.
Mahogany Ridge Brewery (4-6pm) – Their happy hour menu changes from time to time, but the food is outstanding and it is incredibly cheap. ALL drinks are half price and they have a menu of 8-10 tapas that are ALL $1 each. Everything from Smoked Salmon Tostadas and Carne Asada Tacos to Brie and Mango Filo Cups. You will walk out stuffed and feeling super smart with your money.
The Laundry (4:30-6pm) – Similar to Mahogany, The Laundry serves up incredible food at a reasonable price. They charge a bit more per appetizer, but you get more as well (p.s. order the beef brisket and let us know how it is 🤤). The real reason we love going here are the drinks! They have a wide selection of happy hour drinks most of which are always changing and evolving based on the season and the bartenders mood that week. We can honestly say, we have never had a bad drink there. – You won’t go wrong!
Salt & Lime (3:30-5:30pm) – Salt & Lime has amazing food, specifically their tapas-style tacos and wide range of guacamole, queso and salsa. During happy hour they have great drink deals on Margaritas and drafts. They also have roof-top seating, so if you’re looking for a place to relax with a bird’s eye view of the town, Salt & Lime is the place to go!
Steamboat has something for everyone, no matter what your preference! Heading to Steamboat soon, or been there recently? Drop us a line and tell us what you enjoyed, we’d love to hear from you!
– Casey & Michaele