Where to Eat

A town that feeds a summer crowd and then a few thousand year-round locals eats two ways. Elkhorn Avenue handles the first: fudge, burgers, a patio by the river. The second is the breakfast counter where the plow drivers sit and the dinner spot that stays open in February. Both are here, and the listings say which kind each one is.

Restaurants68 restaurantsSixty-eight restaurants are listed for a town that swells every summer with people on their way into Rocky Mountain National Park.Breakfast & Brunch23 breakfast spotsBreakfast in Estes Park is a plan, not an afterthought.Coffee & Tea21 coffee shopsThe Park is the plan for most people who come through Estes Park, and the plan usually starts with coffee.Pizza6 pizza placesPizza in Estes Park is a short list with a split personality.Burgers, BBQ & Casual17 casual spotsCasual food carries a mountain town.Breweries, Distilleries & Bars33 bars and breweriesBeer, whiskey and wine have a long hold on Estes Park, helped by a valley full of people who spent the day outdoors.Sweets & Treats20 sweet shopsEstes Park does dessert as a main activity.Groceries & Markets9 marketsStocking up in Estes Park is a different job than in a city.Food Trucks & Catering9 food trucks and caterersWeddings, rehearsal dinners and brewery patios keep the catering side of Estes Park busy, and a truck parked beside a taproom is a normal sight.

Editors' picks

Restaurants

The Grubsteak Restaurant

Yak is why most people walk in.

See the listing

Restaurants

Twin Owls Steakhouse

Three miles south of downtown on South St.

See the listing

Guides

What's open in Estes Park in winter?How Estes Park changes after fall: shorter hours, Trail Ridge Road closed, what the Park offers on snow, and how to drive US 34 and US 36 in winter.