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. 

A little eatery overflowing with Tahoe charm is the Keys Cafe. Right about where Tahoe Keys Boulevard meets Lake Tahoe Boulevard, this cabin serves breakfast and lunch with free-range organic eggs, healthy and hearty sandwiches and seasonal homemade soups. You’ll also find fruit smoothies, coffee and tea. The cafe has a large catering menu and free WiFi.

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. 

If you are craving Southern cooking and comfort food, Moe's Original Bar B Que in Tahoe City is your best bet. They serve all the tasty dishes like Southern fried catfish, St. Louis-style ribs, cornbread and baked beans. Located on the shores of Lake Tahoe, the restaurant has great views of the water and surrounding mountains and is situated next to the bike path that takes you all around the lake. This is an excellent spot to take in the sunset too. Moe's offers live music on weekends.

Mountain Brew is more than a place to get a cup of coffee, whether it's served naked or not, hot or cold. Every batch of beans is hand roasted, and one-pound bags are available on-site or online, or you can join the coffee club for monthly deliveries. There's also chai, hot chocolate, matcha, herbal teas and more. This is also a place to enjoy a beer on tap or in cans or wine by the glass or bottle; you can imbibe on-site and shop for selections to take home. Mountain Brew offers sweet and savory grab-and-go foods whipped up by local chefs. It's fast, good food. Located right off the freeway in Truckee, Mountain Brew is a great way to start and end the day.

Pete 'n Peters is one of the more consistently happening bars in Tahoe City. Located a step or two off of the beaten path, its slightly hidden location does not at all take away from its popularity. A true sports bar at heart, it is adorned with its fair share of giant TVs as well as pool tables, dart boards and shuffleboards. It's definitely a hotspot during football season. Pepper's Taqueria, located at the rear of Pete 'n Peters, serves up affordable Mexican food.

Rosie's Cafe, a longtime player on the Tahoe City restaurant scene, has fed patrons since 1964. It not only offers basic American fare like hamburgers, salads and steaks, but also delicious breakfast and pizza. As a place that pays homage to the history of the area with local antiques, memorabilia and photos of long ago, the atmosphere is entertaining, homey and welcoming. The adjoining bar can be quite lively seven days a week and is a fantastic spot for enjoying Lake Tahoe at its finest. Be sure to try their prime rib, served only on Friday and Saturday evenings. When open, the patio at Rosie's Cafe is dog-friendly. 

If you are looking for a restaurant that celebrates the roots of Lake Tahoe, try Tahoe Tavern & Grill. Voted Best Chef in Tahoe, Tahoe Tavern & Grill takes pride in providing scrumptious meals and thirst-quenching drinks. Their focus is to provide each guest with the finest in fresh food and produce while serving up the tastiest American cuisine available, all in a casual atmosphere. To help keep patrons entertained, they also have an ample supply of bar gaming.

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.