Here is a list of darn near all of the Estes Park restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, candy shops, delis, and bars. I've left a few off because it's tough to make a living in Estes Park in the winter, and I'm not sure if those places are still open. Contact me if you have a question about a particular restaurant, and I will do my best to answer your question.
Key
One of My Favorites Map (opens new window) Website (opens new window)
$ - average entree under $7 $$ - $7-15 $$$ - $15-25 $$$$ - more than $25
A&W 860 Moraine Ave., (970) 586-7867, $ Burgers, hot dogs, fries, onion rings, ice cream, and signature root beer.
The Baldpate Inn 4900 S Hwy 7, (970) 586-6151, $$ All-you-can-eat soup and salad bar with homemade bread and scrumptious pies. Beautiful, rustic building with view. World's largest key collection! Closed in winter.
The Bighorn Restaurant 401 W Elkhorn, (970) 586-2792, $$ Highly recommended for breakfast - good prices, big portions. The lunch & dinner menu is an assortment of burgers, sandwiches, and other American menu items.
Blimpie Subs 860 Moraine Ave., (970) 586-7867, $ Fast submarine sandwiches made to order.
Bob and Tony's Pizza 124 W Elkhorn, (970) 586-2044, $ A pizza joint, which, I must admit, I've never been to. I hear mixed reviews.
Caramel Corn 144 E Elkhorn, (970) 577-1216, $ Well caramel corn, of course! Plus other sweets for the sweet.
Caramel Crisp 108 E Elkhorn, (970) 586-9927, $ Ditto the above.
Casa Grande 220 E Elkhorn, (970) 577-0799, $$ Mexican restaurant with nice décor on the Riverwalk. My experience with the food has been hit or miss.
Cascades Restaurant (at The Stanley Hotel) 333 W Wonderview Ave., (970) 586-3371, $$$$ Fancy schmancy. The food is good, though not outstanding. Go more for the ambience and opulence of the beautiful Stanley Hotel, the inspiration for Stephen King's The Shining.
Chelito's Mexican Restaurant 145 E Elkhorn, (970) 586-0886, $$ Decent Mexican food (I'm so picky!) with a nice rooftop patio.
Chicago's Best 112 W Elkhorn, (970) 586-4796, $ Chicago-style pizza and hot dogs, homemade soups, and more. The appearance of the place belies the quality of the food, which is surprisingly good.
The Chocolate Drop 1751 N Lake Ave., (970) 586-2194, $ My favorite chocolate in Estes Park, and I am a serious chocolate snob, as evidenced by my chocolate website. Alas, they have closed their downtown location! *sniff sniff* You can call and place an order, however. I especially like the chocolate covered strawberries, the truffles, and the coconut haystacks.
Cisco's Restaurante y Cantina 509 Big Thompson Ave., (970) 586-5444, $ Mexican food with a lighter, fresher flair.
Coffee on the Rocks 510 Moraine Ave., (970) 586-5181, $ A brand new shop in a nice location next to the river and a trout pond. The way-cool Dick's Rock Museum is next door. Serving coffee, tea, soups, and super yummy panini sandwiches.
Country Supermarket Deli 900 Moraine Ave., (970) 586-2702, $ Large, made-to-order sandwiches, plus coffee & ice cream. Inside the grocery store. Perfect for a picnic lunch on the way to Rocky Mountain National Park.
Dairy Queen 218 E Elkhorn, (970) 586-4939, $ Ice cream treats plus an assortment of fast food.
Danish Cone Factory 191 W Elkhorn, (970) 586-8624, $ Freshly made waffle cones and a bazillion flavors of ice cream. Need I say more?
DeLeo's Park Theatre Café and Deli 132 Moraine Ave., (970) 577-1134, $$ Humongous and delicious East Coast-style deli sandwiches. Featured on The Food Network! Right next door to one of Estes Park's two movie theaters for your pre- or post-movie munchies.
Dennis Kitchen/Hunan Restaurant 406 W Riverside Dr., (970) 586-8287 An old standby for quick Chinese and take-out. They have recently changed their menu to become an "American Grill"/Hunan Restaurant... it's a little bizarre. The Chinese food is passable, the "American Grill" stuff is standard fare. Map note: the online maps were off, so I pointed to Mountain Woodcarvers (next door) instead.
Dolcetto's Authentic Italian Gelato 541 Big Thompson Ave., (970) 586-5044 A variety of delicious custom made gelato flavors, plus sandwiches and coffee. Make it a night out with pizza at Village Pizza and a movie at the theater (both next door).
Domino's Pizza 911 Moraine Ave., (970) 586-8181, $$ Decent pizza plus delivery. They get especially busy when the weather's bad and no one wants to go out. They often send out coupons; check with your host to see if they have any.
Donut Haus 342 Moraine Ave., (970) 586-2988, $ The best donuts in town, made fresh daily. I especially like the ones with the cream cheesy frosting and cinnamon. Map note: the online maps were off, so I pointed it to Anderson Realty (across the street).
The Dunraven Downtown 101 W Elkhorn, (970) 586-3818, $$ This used to be the downtown location of The Dunraven Inn, but they have since become two distinct entities. This would explain why I thought the food tasted different (better) at the downtown restaurant. They use natural, organic, and local products when possible. Hooray!
The Dunraven Inn 2470 Hwy 66, (970) 586-6409, $$ A truly unique environment - there are approximately 13,000 dollar bills signed by guests and stapled on the walls! The Italian food is tasty, but not exceptional.There could, however, be something wrong with my taste buds, because the Dunraven Inn has hordes of adoring fans.
Ed's Cantina 390 E Elkhorn, (970) 586-2919, $$ I gotta admit, I kind of miss the old Ed's. Before they remodeled, it was a cheesy sports bar with funky things like buffalo heads on the walls. Now it's got a more upscale image and *sniff sniff* a less character. The food is decent and the people very friendly.
The Egg & I 393 E Elkhorn, (970) 586-1173, $ A reliable breakfast favorite with a huge assortment. Also serving lunch. Go early, though, because the place gets packed!
Estes Park Brewery 470 Prospect Village Dr., (970) 586-5421, $$ Homegrown microbrews and typical sports bar fare. Nice view from the deck.
Estes Park Pie Co. 370 E Elkhorn, (970) 577-7437, $$ Veeeerrrrry tasty fresh pies and baked goods.
Estes Park Times & Old Fashioned Candy 102 W Elkhorn, (970) 586-3623, $ Old fashioned candy shop where you can get your face plastered on an "antique" newspaper.
Estes Perk (at the National Park Retreats) 3501 Fall River Road, (970) 586-4563, $ Standard coffeehouse fare with a nice deck and free Wi-Fi.
Fawn Brook Inn Hwy 7 Bus. (Allenspark), (303) 747-2556, $$$$ Excellent atmosphere and excellent food. Highly reviewed Continental cuisine served in a charming cottage-like restaurant.
14ers Café 116 E Elkhorn, (970) 586-8300, $ Quick and tasty sandwiches and wraps, all named for 14,000 ft. (and higher) peaks in Colorado.
Fusion 451 Steakhouse 451 S St. Vrain, (970) 586-9840, $$ Really good food and really nice people. An assortment of American cuisine.
The Gallery Restaurant and Bar 205 Virginia Dr., (970) 586-1865, $$$ An art gallery and a restaurant in one. The food can be quite good, and they often have live music.
Grandmaison's Chalet Room (at Mary's Lake Lodge) 2625 Marys Lake Rd., (970) 586-5958, $$$ Marc Grandmaison is well-known around Estes for creating delicious food. An excellent choice for a romantic dinner.
Grandma's Mountain Cookies 217 W Elkhorn, (970) 577-0967, $ They make big ol' cookies. They're good, but not outstanding. Then again, I am kinda picky about cookies. I have friends that are completely addicted to Grandma's cookies. And you can buy 'em online.
Grubsteak Restaurant 134 W Elkhorn, (970) 586-8838, $$ A variety of burgers and steak and such. Also serving breakfast.
Grumpy Gringo 1560 Big Thompson Ave., (970) 586-7705, $$ Mexican for gringos! The margaritas are popular, though.
Haley's Fudge 102 E Elkhorn, (970) 586-4207, $ The fudge shop formerly known as Fudgeworks. Fudge and candy, what's not to like?
Hunter's Chop House 1690 Big Thompson Ave., (970) 586-6962 Reliably good food and one of my favorite places for fish. Good salads too. Not being much of a carnivore, I can't comment on the "chops," but my meat-eating friends give it a thumbs up.
The Inn of Glen Haven 7468 CR 43 (Glen Haven), (970) 586-3897, $$$+ You'll think you've entered Great Aunt Edna's cottage when you take in this charming, Old-world restaurant decorated in warm, antique style. Pricey, but very good. (And filling! Come empty!) Glen Haven is 15 minutes from Estes.
Kelli's Lounge 112 W Elkhorn, (970) 577-0588, $ A nightclub for the younger crowd, 20-30 something, featuring Karaoke nights, salsa, and 80s music to present. The murals of famous entertainers are worth the look.
Kind Coffee 470 E Elkhorn, (970) 586-5206, $ A bright and airy coffee house. The coffee is roasted locally and is entirely Fair Trade and organic. Free Wi-Fi and on the Riverwalk.
La Chaumiere Hwy 36 (Pinewood Springs), (303) 823-6521, $$$$ Elegant French cuisine in an intimate setting. La Chaumiere is in Pinewood Springs, about 20 minutes from Estes.
Laura's Fudge 129 E Elkhorn, (970) 586-4004, $ Laura's creates delicious fudge, candies, and much-loved candy apples. Everything is created fresh on-site.
Local's Grill 153 E Elkhorn, (970) 586-6900, $$ Standard American grill fare, with the pizza being quite delish.
Longz (at the Holiday Inn) 101 S St. Vrain, (970) 586-2332, $$ The Holiday Inn's restaurant was recently revamped, and they are serving a lot of new cuisine; I haven't been yet and haven't heard any local gossip. I'll keep you posted.
Lonigan's Saloon 110 W Elkhorn, (970) 586-4346, $ It is an odd point of pride with me that I have never been in Lonigan's. Sorry. They're a bar with lots of local character and live music. Pool & darts, too.
The Malt Shop 125 Moraine Ave., (970) 586-3542, $ An ice cream lover's paradise with yummy shakes, malts, and more.
Mama Rose's 338 E Elkhorn, (970) 586-3330, $$ Good Italian food in a nice atmosphere on the Riverwalk. A good choice for families- last time I ate here I couldn't eat anything else for three days because I was stuffed! First it was the salad, then the bread, then the huge entrée, the dessert… They have very affordable winter specials, and they're just nice people.
McDonald's 501 Big Thompson Ave., (970) 586-3434, $ Ummm... what's there to say about McDonald's? Eat there if you must. Haven't you seen Super Size Me?!
Meadow Mountain Café Hwy 7 Bus. (Allenspark), (303) 747-2541, $$ About 25 minutes from Estes in the tiny mountain town of Allenspark, Meadow Mountain Café serves up some seriously tasty food in a backwoodsy, homey, hippie sort of place, with a friendly dog and a smile on every face. If you're hiking in Wild Basin, stop here for breakfast.
Mocha Angelo's 133 W Elkhorn, (970) 577-1957, $ A coffee shop specializing in foodie sorts of gifts, like syrups and sauces and whatnot. Super nice folks. Note: Looks like it's been awhile since they last updated their website.
Molly B Restaurant 200 Moraine Ave., (970) 586-2766, $$ Good old fashioned mountain cookin'.
Mountain Home Café 457 E Wonderview, (970) 586-6624, $$ A nice choice for breakfast, with tasty food and a small outdoor patio.
Mountain Munchies 189 E Riverside Dr., (970) 586-4546 Get a "Mountain Dog" or a burger with a side of sweet potato fries and a smoothie. Family-run fast food near the Post Office.
Mountaineer Restaurant 540 S St. Vrain, (970) 586-9001, $$ If mountain men had a hangout, it might be the Mountaineer. Good old fashioned food.
Munchin House 130 E Elkhorn, (970) 586-8483, $ Homemade ice cream, coffee, caramel corn, candy, sugar, sugar, sugar, yum!
Nepal's Café 184 E Elkhorn Ave., (970) 577-7038, $$ One of my favorites in Estes, Nepal's Café has some seriously good food, just like your Nepalese aunt used to make... authentic and yummy. Watch for the buffet.
Nicky's Restaurant 1350 Fall River Rd., (970) 586-5376, $$-$$$ Nicky's has two restaurants - a steakhouse and a "garden restaurant" serving lighter fare. There is also a lounge/bar where, on summer weekends, you can hear the sound stylings of Ray Young on piano.
Notchtop Bakery & Café 459 E Wonderview, (970) 586-0272, $$ Notchtop has some reliably tasty food and even better baked goods.
Orlando's Steak House 132 E Elkhorn, (970) 586-6121, $$$ Orlando's is a bit of a throwback to the day when a steakhouse had a certain feel, sort of tinged with red and black décor, and it was a special place to eat. It's still good food.
The Other Side Restaurant 900 Moraine Ave., (970) 586-2171, $$-$$$ The Other Side offers two menus- steak/seafood and a lighter sandwich/burger menu. Beautiful views of their pond; lots of ducks and geese entertain adults and kids alike.
Penelope's Burgers and Fries 229 W Elkhorn, (970) 586-2277, $ Voted best burger in Estes, I have friends who swear by them.
Piccadilly Circus Pizza 860 Moraine Ave., (970) 586-7867, $$ Pre-topped pizzas that you can carry out, from individual to family sizes.
Poppy's Pizza and Grill 342 E Elkhorn, (970) 586-8282, $$ If I had to save one restaurant in Estes Park from burning, this might well be it. The food is great and the owners make everyone feel like a part of the family. The winter specials are a great deal. The one drawback is that it is super busy in summer. Serves pizza, sandwiches, soups, and salad.
Ptarmigan Restaurant (at The Aspen Lodge) 6120 S Hwy 7, (970) 586-8133, $$$ A nice atmosphere at the Aspen Lodge, and I enjoyed the food, although I have to admit it's been several years since I've been there.
The Redstone Restaurant 225 W Riverside Dr., (970) 586-2014, $$ My friends swear it is the best chicken salad for miles around. I like the food, but have yet to swoon.
The Rock Inn Mountain Tavern 1675 Hwy 66, (970) 586-4116, $$ Fantastic live music (lots of bluegrass) and a friendly mountain atmosphere, plus good food.
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory 517 Big Thompson Ave., (970) 586-6601, $ I tend not to like chocolates that are mass produced and then trucked to locations such as this one. Then again, I am a chocolate snob. Lots of people really like Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.
Safeway Bakery & Deli 451 E Wonderview Ave., (970) 586-4447, $$ Not my first choice for a sandwich, not because the food is bad, but because this Safeway may be the busiest grocery store on the planet. Unless you go at 7:00 a.m., it will almost certainly be busy. There is a Starbucks in the store too.
Schmidt's Bakery 900 Moraine Ave., (970) 667-9811, $ Bakery items such as donuts, pies, and coffee cakes. Located in the Country Supermarket. They also do wedding cakes.Note: Not sure if their website is up yet.
Shakes Alive! Fruit Shakes 513 Big Thompson Ave., (970) 577-7007, $ Tasty smoothies and fruit shakes made to order. Lots and lots of flavors to choose from and the owners are super-friendly. Some small sandwich items too.
Silverado Restaurant (at Lake Shore Lodge) 1700 Big Thompson Ave., (970) 577-6422, $$$ Lakeside dining and good food. It's been awhile, but I seem to remember some baked brie with lingonberries that was to die for.
Starbucks 356 E Elkhorn, (970) 586-1600, $ If you need me to review Starbucks, you probably live in the bush in Australia. 'Cause isn't there a Starbucks on every corner in the world by now? *sigh*
Steamer's Café (at the Stanley Hotel) 333 W Wonderview Ave., (970) 586-3371, $ More Starbucks coffee! (That makes THREE locations in Estes Park.) Plus café sorts of items and Stanley Hotel souvenirs. Worth it just to see the opulent Stanley Hotel, inspiration for Stephen King's The Shining.
Subway 111 W. Elkhorn, (970) 586-4688, $ There were, at one time, FOUR Subway locations in Estes Park, plus a Blimpie's. Amazing. I think we're down to two and a half (the half is open seasonally at a mini golf place.) Anyway, they serve sub sandwiches made to order.
Subway 517 Big Thompson Ave., (970) 577-7744, $ Ditto the above.
The Sundeck 915 Moraine Ave., (970) 586-9832, $$ A rustic mountain atmosphere, nice people, and good food. Some of the best trout around.
Sushi Yama Express 356 E Elkhorn, (970) 577-1688, $$ I don't do sushi, but I have friends who not only lived through the experience, but they even recommend the place.
Sweet Basilico 430 Prospect Village Dr., (970) 586-3899, $$ EXCELLENT Italian food. One of the best restaurants in Estes. They are always packed, so reservations are a good idea. (Although, since they just moved to a larger location, this may be less of a problem now. Here's hoping they do just as well in the new location.)
Taco Bell/KFC 537 Big Thompson Ave., (970) 586-0408, $ Fast food "Mexican" and fried chicken.
The Taffy Shop 121 W. Elkhorn, (970) 586-4548, $ If you like taffy, stop here for a gazillion flavors. Sometimes they have the taffy machine going in the window; it's fun to watch.
The Tavern (at Mary's Lake Lodge) 2625 Marys Lake Rd., (970) 586-4777, $$ A lively atmosphere, live music, great food, and a nice deck make this one of Estes' popular nightspots.
Thai Kitchen 401 S St. Vrain, (970) 577-7112, $$ Excellent Thai food. But not for wimps! Their "mild" seemed pretty hot to me, but it was delicious.
Trailhead Restaurant (at Rocky Mountain Gateway) 3450 Fall River Rd., (970) 577-0043, $$ Very nice atmosphere, and the deck is great in the summertime. I had a delicious grilled vegetable wrap. Adjacent to the largest gift shop in the area and the Fall River Visitor Center of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Twin Owls Steakhouse 800 MacGregor Ave., (970) 586-9344, $$$+ A beautiful, rustic building and excellent food.
The View Restaurant (at The Crags Lodge) 300 Riverside Dr., (970) 586-6066, $$$ A beautiful atmosphere in an historic lodge with fantastic views. Oh, and the food is good, too.
Villa Tatra Hwy 36 (Pinewood Springs), (303) 823-6819, $$$ Located about 20 minutes from Estes in Pinewood Springs, Villa Tatra's specialty is smoked salmon (they smoke it themselves) plus European cuisine.
Village Pizza 543 Big Thompson Ave., (970) 586-6031, $$ A family pizza joint with an excellent menu plus video games and TV. Next to the movie theater for a fun night out.
The Wapiti Restaurant and Pub 247 W Elkhorn, (970) 586-5056, $$ "Wapiti" (WAH-pit-ee) is Shawnee for elk. The Wapiti is a carnivore's paradise. I had the ribs and they were yuuuumy. That was back in my "must have BBQ once in awhile because I'm from Texas" days.
The Wheel Bar 132 E Elkhorn, (970) 586-9381, $ Downstairs from Orlando's steakhouse, The Wheel has a nice location on the Riverwalk, with outdoor seating that flows inside, so it doesn't have that stuffy bar feel.
The Wild Rose Food and Spirits 157 W Elkhorn, (970) 586-2806, $$+ Yikes! I think the last time I went to this restaurant it was called something else. Better make a stop there soon, sorry...
One of My Favorites