Estes Park Restaurants (Buena Vista, Lyons, Allenspark: hotel, home, YMCA)

[headingtoDenver]

My wife and I will be spending this weekend in Estes Park for our 5 year anniversary. Can anybody recommend some good restaurants? I know this weekend is going to be crazy up there due to the bicycle race, but oh well.

We will be spending Friday through Sunday up there and staying at the Stanley. Should be a good time as long as we don't get run over by a bicycle.

[Neditate]

Estes Park isn't necessarily known for "great" dining but there are some good restaurants. Our favorite in the area is in Allenspark, a 15-20 minute drive The Fawn Brook Inn |
Here's a link to a discussion about restaurants Good restaurants in Estes Park - Estes Park Forum - TripAdvisor

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

Make sure you check the Town of Estes Park website for road closures on the 24th. We are currently in Buena Vista and the Pro Cycling Challenge came through town today. They started closing the roads hours before the race was due to arrive and I had to find an alternate route.

Enjoy your get-away!

[Snikt]

I thought Smokin Daves BBQ was pretty good, but I only went to the one in Lyons, I think the one in Estes Park is supposed to be the same thing

[davebarnes]

Yelp.com is your friend in this regard.

[ironlady]

I've been to many of the restaurants in downtown, and I think Poppy's Pizza and Grill is pretty great. Not fancy, but good food.

[Idunn]

You should be able to get a fine, if somewhat expensive, meal right at the Stanley Hotel. A pleasant dining room.

Marys Lake Lodge used to have quite good food. Apparently their chef split town, and I heard some troubling things since. Perhaps try a simple lunch in their bar/lunch room (with great views); if that works out, then adjourn later to their formal dining room for dinner.

For Nepalese fare you can try Nepals fronting the Riverwalk.

There is a relatively recent Thai restaurant near the post office which I haven't tried, but it might well be worth exploring.

For pizza, sandwiches and hamburgers there are any number of choices along Elkhorn Avenue. Prices are relatively modest for a resort area, and you may well enjoy some of them. Decide on the spot.

Then there is also a McDonald's and other fast food available, if in the mood.

Last but not least, the Dunraven Inn on Highway 66 (towards the YMCA of the Rockies), serving Italian fare in an upscale and pleasant environment. It used to be quite good, and word has it still is.

This should at least get you started.

[MotoMoose]

Dunraven is still nice and consistent; another place we like for an occasion is Twin Owls Steakhouse.

Breakfast at Bighorn and Mountain Home Cafe along with Village Pizza are some that we hit every time we're in town. Mama Rose's can be good but is very hit/miss. Don't bother with Sweet Baslico though.

[toxicavenger]

First one I can NOT recommend is Nicky's which is before you get to the National Forest. This place is really bad and not worth eating at.

Ed's Cantina Grill is a really great place that serves more towards a organic style of food. While I am not a huge fan of organic their food is fresh and taste awesome. Worth a stop.

Bob & Tony's Pizza is okay but it has no waitstaff and sometimes get's super crowded but still not bad.

I have say my favorite there so far has been Claire's on the Park. Not a greasy spoon but not organic based like Ed's. It does get packed but worth the wait imo.

These are the few we tried this summer on two visit's to Estes.

[hardtostarboard]

I second the vote for Dunraven. The drive out 66 is pretty and we've always had very decent Italian there (still have a few of our dollars on the wall as well).