Estes Park is a northern town known as a base for Rocky Mountain National Park and has some of the most scenic views of Colorado.
Aside from breathtaking landscapes and outdoor activities such as hiking and mountain biking, Estes Park is a popular vacation destination with some of the most delicious food and spectacular restaurants!
If you’re looking for fine dining options, Estes Park is home to a myriad of exciting spots that offer excellent food, world-class service, and unforgettable experiences.
This article is the ultimate guide to the top fine dining restaurants in Estes Park from a local’s perspective. It will provide their contact information, hours of operation, general price range, house specialties, hand-picked recommendations, and much more.
I’ll take you on an Epicurean journey through the culinary delights and unique elements of these luxurious establishments:
- Twin Owls Steakhouse
- Bird & Jim
- Notchtop Bakery & Cafe
- The View Restaurant
- Cascades Restaurant & Lounge.
Ready to learn all about what the best fine dining restaurants in Estes Park have to offer? Let’s get into it!
Top Fine Dining Restaurants in Estes Park
Although Estes Park is primarily known as a mountain adventure spot, it certainly has no shortage of fine dining options. Some of the most notable establishments are situated along Moraine Avenue and Elkhorn Avenue.
After a day of hiking up a summit for a stunning view or exploring the downtown area, there’s nothing quite like treating yourself to a fancy meal out!
Give your hiking boots a break and let’s check out the top 5 fine dining restaurants in Estes Park to make it a truly magnificent evening:
1. Twin Owls Steakhouse
- Address – 3110 S St Vrain Avenue Suite B, Estes Park, CO 80517
- Phone number – +1 970-586-9344
- Price range – $22 – $66
- Cuisine – Steakhouse, American
- Reservations – Takes reservations (not required)
- Hours of operation – Wednesday to Sunday – 5 PM to 8 PM
- Special features – Gluten-free options, Vegan-options, Vegetarian-friendly
- Parking – Available through the Lodge entrance
Taharaa Mountain Lodge is nestled in the Rocky Mountains and features the award-winning cuisine of Twin Owls Steakhouse.
It serves contemporary American dishes and includes a full-service bar and three dining rooms that are ideal for special occasions.
The 90-year-old lodge and restaurant exudes a rustic elegance with its cozy fireplaces, hardwood floors, and log walls that function as a delightfully intimate setting for visitors and diners.
The legendary Chef Rich Sickler is known to focus on fresh seafood and high-end cuts of meat.
It is the perfect steakhouse to enjoy everything from elk kabobs, beef steaks, elk steaks, bison steaks, and tons of surf ‘n’ turf varieties as well.
Their wine list offers globally renowned vintages, hand-crafted cocktails, and local craft beers. Fellow locals who haven’t experienced Twin Owls Steakhouse yet are definitely missing out!
2. Bird & Jim
- Address – 915 Moraine Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517-8204
- Phone number – +1 970-586-9832
- Price range – $7 – $43
- Cuisine – American
- Reservations – Takes reservations (not required)
- Hours of operation – Monday to Wednesday – 11 AM to 9 PM, Thursday to Saturday – 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM, Sunday – 10:30 AM to 9:30 PM
- Special features – Gluten-free options, Vegan-options, Vegetarian-friendly
- Parking – Available
Stepping into Bird & Jim for some of the country’s best seasonal American food after a fun-filled day on the slopes hits the spot like no other.
The restaurant’s contemporary decor and chandeliers hanging from wooden ceiling beams create an elevated dining experience for all guests!
Most restaurants in Colorado like Bird & Jim that boast an upscale appeal are known for their casual dress codes, so diners can come in their jeans and standard attire.
Chef Ethan Brown and the restaurant pride themselves on their ingredient-driven menus that offer local farm-to-table delicacies and the finest wines.
From their iconic bowl of smoked pheasant chowder and hearty game sausages or pork chops to flavorful salads, everything is made from the highest quality locally sourced meats and produce.
My personal favorites are the BBQ flank, lamb, and elk, especially when paired with potatoes and garlic broccoli.
3. Notchtop Bakery & Cafe
- Address – 459 E Wonder View Ave Unit 5 Upper Stanley Village Shopping Center, Estes Park, CO 80517-9658
- Phone number – +1 970-586-0272
- Price range – $7 – $20
- Cuisine – Cafe, Southwestern, Diner, American
- Reservations – None
- Hours of operation – Monday to Sunday – 7 AM to 3 PM
- Special features – Gluten-free options, Vegan-options, Vegetarian-friendly
- Parking – Available
Notchtop Café is named after Notchtop Mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park and first opened in 1993. Today, Notchtop Bakery & Cafe has gained immense popularity for also serving an incredibly tasty breakfast and lunch.
They aspire to purely stick with using fresh and naturally grown local ingredients in their food. Everything their kitchen makes is from scratch.
You can expect their hamburgers and sausages to be handmade and that pork, beef, and turkey are always slow-roasted.
Notchtop Bakery & Cafe does not use any fructose corn syrup and focuses on using non-genetically modified flour, bread, cane sugars, and pure vanilla.
They can accommodate most food allergies and also offer vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options.
If you can’t decide on what to order, I highly suggest trying their Polish Breakfast!
Some of the most recommended items on their menu include Dragon’s Eye Egg Benedict, cinnamon Roll French Toast, Rocky Mountain Trout, and Dragon’s Egg Rock Benedict.
4. The View Restaurant
- Address – 300 Riverside Drive, Estes Park, CO 80517
- Phone number – +1 970-586-1087
- Price range – $10 – $40
- Cuisine – American, British, Scottish, Italian
- Reservations – Takes reservations (not required)
- Hours of operation – Thursday to Monday – 5 PM to 9 PM
- Special features – Gluten-free options, Vegan-options, Vegetarian-friendly
- Parking – Available
The View Restaurant is situated on a hill in the historic Crags Lodge by Diamond Resorts. It is an elegant fine dining establishment with fantastic views and mountain scenery.
Whether you simply want to have an intimate celebration with somebody special or plan to throw an all-out event, The View Restaurant has got you covered with stylish outdoor and indoor seating along with chic decor accentuated with rustic grandeur!
The magical setting is often used for weddings and private functions and is the perfect spot for a romantic celebration.
The seasonal menu offers everything from lamb and burgers to pasta and items fresh from the grill.
My go-to choice has always been their filet mignon topped with Bordelaise sauce, finished off with a serving of peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream and warm caramel.
5. Cascades Restaurant & Lounge
- Address – 333 E Wonder View Ave The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, CO 80517-9665
- Phone number – +1 970-577-4001
- Price range – $10 – $50
- Cuisine – Bar, American
- Reservations – Takes reservations (not required)
- Hours of operation – Sunday to Wednesday 11 AM to 9:30 PM, Friday to Saturday – 11 AM to 10:00 PM
- Special features – Gluten-free options, Vegan-options, Vegetarian-friendly
- Parking – Available
The 109-year-old Stanley Hotel is a historic landmark in Estes Park that is well-known and beloved as the inspiration for Stephen King’s The Shining and the timeless Stanley Kubrick film that followed it.
Cascades Restaurant & Lounge is located in the hotel and is a highly acclaimed traditional steakhouse that serves gourmet burgers, wild game, fresh seafood, and prime steaks.
Their menu boasts mouthwatering selections such as elk, buffalo, free-range pork and chicken, and thick cuts of house-butchered USDA choice steaks. Some of my all-time favorites are the Kurobuta pork meatloaf and pesto salmon with couscous, yellow squash, and zucchini.
The full-service bar offers a massive menu of over a thousand whiskey varieties, craft beers, seasonal cocktails, and many more.
