Lake Tahoe Restaurants

Crosby’s Kitchen & Cocktail in Christmas Tree Village is a restaurant and bar with friendly staff, a welcoming vibe and ample TVs to watch sports. They’re open every day except Wednesday for all-day brunch, lunch and dinner with a little bit of everything on the menu. Lunch and dinner fare ranges from grilled salmon to chicken & waffles, Wagyu or crabcake sliders to their popular Chicken Enchilada Stacked Quesadilla. Sit at the bar to sip a specialty cocktail and catch your favorite sporting event on TV, slide into a booth with your friends or dine outside on their dog-friendly patio to let the babbling brook provide the perfect soundtrack to your sunny day. For those looking for a place to hold a reception or event, Crosby's is a great venue to keep in mind.

Every town has places where the locals go to have fun, and Emerald Bay fits the bill in South Lake Tahoe. Emerald Bay Bar & Grill serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily and offers daily happy hour specials. Be sure to try their famous $2 tacos, Chili Verde weekend breakfast and Steak and Shrimp Saturday dinner. The sports bar is a gathering spot for friends to meet and watch the game on one of the nine flat-screen TVs. This is a great spot for outdoor dining on the large patio with a fire pit as its centerpiece and horseshoes to play. The everyday happy hour runs from 3 to 6 p.m. and includes specials on beer, wine and liquor. Breakfast, running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., has long been a locals' favorite, with specialties such as the colossal country-fried steak, crab Benedict, Summit Sandwich and more. Don't miss Emerald Bay Bar & Grill's famous Ultimate Bloody Mary on weekends during the football season. 

Enjoy beautiful lake views from Jason's summer deck or dine inside in a rustic, old Tahoe atmosphere by their cozy fire-pit. Their menu features American classics such as slow-roasted prime rib, seafood, pasta, gourmet burgers and nightly specials. Savor their house specialty, slow-cooked baby back ribs. Jason’s offers a full bar with a wide selection of draft beers. A kids' menu is available, so bring the whole family. You'll find Jason’s on the beach in the heart of Kings Beach.

The Lake Tahoe AleWorX Taproom at the Y has a more family-friendly appeal. It features local craft brew with a self-serve concept that allows customers to pour for themselves, delicious wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas, salads and an atmosphere that is pure High Sierra. This location opens to a large patio that features fire pits and frequent live music for guests to enjoy. The patio is shared by its sister restaurant, The Cocktail Corner, where guests can order food from AleWorX, listen to live music and enjoy a craft cocktail all at the same time. 

There are cop bars, there are bars where journalists hang out after work, and at Tahoe there are ski bars. Mott Canyon Tavern and Grill on Lower Kingsbury is a ski bar. Pizza, burgers, fries and comfort food join a full bar with a party attitude. It’s not a large space, although the outdoor patio is a nice addition, but it’s packed with a lot of fun, from the jukebox to video poker and video games. The granite fireplace completes the whole Tahoe vibe.

Orchid's Thai Cuisine thrives in its little location just east of the Y. If you are looking for a Thai restaurant that is big on flavor and decorated with beautiful Thai decor, then this is a great place to enjoy. Their large menu offers something for everyone, and the dishes are perfect for sharing family-style. There are a lot of spicy dishes on their menu, and you can add heat if you'd like. Likewise, this restaurant is pretty good about accommodating special dietary needs. They also offer some nice desserts, including green tea ice cream, fried bananas and other treats.

Pepper's Taqueria is at the rear of Pete 'n Peters Sports & Spirits, Tahoe City’s original and much-loved sports bar. This means you can watch the game at the bar and enjoy Pepper's tasty tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, wings and cheeseburgers. Pepper's is known for its affordable Mexican food. 

Offering hearty gourmet dining and bar specials in a nostalgic atmosphere, River Ranch is a landmark destination for visitors and a locals' favorite year-round. Nestled on the banks of the Truckee River, River Ranch is poised to catch people tubing down the mellow rapids during the heat of the summer and to capture the après-ski crowd funneling down from the ski resorts during the cold winter nights. Their seasonal patio is home to an outdoor bar that serves the iconic Class V River Rum Punch and their famous nachos, with alfresco dining under the stars. The cozy and intimate indoor bar and restaurant are known for memorable meals, scenic river views and gathering around one of the two fireplaces. Their menu brings together all the summer and winter favorites with California cuisine and rotating specials and is proud to offer game, fish, chicken, burgers and veggie options. They also provide 19 small, boutique-style rooms for guests; reservations are highly recommended.

A favorite among North Shore locals, this tap house in the Cobblestone Shopping Center provides an exceptional opportunity to enjoy tasty brews, juicy burgers and some of the best views of the lake that Tahoe City has to offer. Serving lunch and dinner, Tahoe Tap Haus has an atmosphere that is open, inviting and welcoming, like walking into your best friend's home. They have a large selection of beers on tap, including 16 taps that always include local breweries, a full bar and specialty cocktails. Their menu includes popular items like hamburgers and salads as well as nannwiches, a twist on sandwiches. They also offer a large outdoor beer garden and patio that is conveniently located across the street from Lake Tahoe, making it simple to enjoy Commons Beach after a brew. Dogs are welcome outside as well. Owned by the same team that operates the popular Tahoe Art Haus and Cinema, the Tap Haus is family-friendly and a fantastic way to support local Tahoe business owners. 

A feast for all the senses, The Bistro is the pinnacle of casual contemporary dining in a breathtaking setting. Savor the finest curated seasonal fare expertly crafted by a team of skilled tastemakers. Fresh, locally sourced ingredients blend with exotic specialty proteins in a setting that will make the entire table relax, open up and share the adventures of the day. The warmth and familiarity of the immaculate architecture and the panoramic views of the property and lake provide a sense of openness and light as diners enjoy hand-crafted meals and carefully selected wines and cocktails. Reservations are encouraged.

Getaway Cafe has garnered local acclaim as the go-to spot for great breakfast and lunch experiences. With a legacy of six consecutive years as the recipient of the Best Breakfast and Best Lunch awards, and the prestigious honor of ranking 10th in Yelp's Top 100 Spots to Celebrate Mother's Day nationally, Getaway Cafe has been delighting patrons since its establishment in 2006. Serving alpine comfort cuisine, every dish on their menu is meticulously crafted using locally sourced ingredients, ensuring freshness and quality with each bite. Whether you're craving the vibrant flavors of Mexican/American fusion or the comforting classics of traditional breakfast fare, their house specialties such as chilaquiles, deluxe eggs Benedict and Coconut French Toast are sure to please. From their scratch-made creations to their use of locally sourced meat, produce and dairy suppliers, authenticity is at the heart of everything they do. Their dedication to quality extends to their partnerships with esteemed local vendors, including fresh-baked Truckee Sourdough bread, Alpen Sierra Coffee and Overland Meat Company's breakfast sausage patties. Their inviting atmosphere beckons guests to relax and unwind. During the summer months, the large, dog-friendly outdoor patio is a beloved gathering spot for locals and visitors, offering the perfect setting to savor brunch amidst scenic surroundings. With generous portions, attentive service and an extensive selection of draft beer, Bloody Marys and mimosas, every visit to Getaway Cafe is an unforgettable culinary journey.

The Village at Palisades Tahoe is the epitome of ski-in, ski-out luxury. Nestled just steps away from world-class skiing, thrilling activities and captivating events, this extraordinary lodging offers a perfect blend of comfort and convenience with stunning mountain views and a bird's-eye perspective of the vibrant village below. Whether it's a romantic evening dinner, a family-friendly meal or a lively night out, you'll find a plethora of dining options to suit your tastes. From charming coffee shops to lively bars, from street dancing to the rhythm of live music or a serene yoga studio, there's something for everyone. The Village at Palisades Tahoe is also the launchpad for the Aerial Tram, which soars 2,000 vertical feet to High Camp, for breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe, hiking in wildflowers in the summer, skiing in the winter and dining year-round.