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Sweet Basil

Restaurants
 Vail, 81657

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Call: (970) 476-0125
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About

Sweet Basil opened on Gore Creek Drive in June 1977 as a 47-seat restaurant, on a street then considered off the beaten path because it was not Bridge Street. Nearly five decades later it seats about 160, has been recognized by the Michelin Guide every year since 2023, and remains a special-occasion dinner in Vail Village.

It suits a birthday, an anniversary or a long dinner after the last day of skiing. The cooking is modern American and seasonal, the bar and wine list stand on their own, and lunch and an afternoon in-between menu offer a less formal way in.

Owners and kitchen

Kevin Clair founded the restaurant, and in 1993 it became the first in Vail to go completely smoke-free. Matt Morgan, hired as a busboy in 1987, became Clair's managing partner in 1998 and bought him out in 2017. Culinary director Paul Anders and executive chef Will Edwards run the kitchen today, and 43 former employees have gone on to open restaurants of their own.

The menu

The menus change with the seasons. Recent plates run from fried chicken with Kaluga caviar, whipped feta and short rib ramen at lunch to Alaskan halibut, lobster risotto and a Creekstone filet mignon at dinner, and a saffron pasta first served in 1989 has stayed on in some form ever since. In 2024 the restaurant added its first tasting menu, Elegance at Elevation, a set menu with wine pairings for one party a night; the FAQ has the terms.

Drinks and wine

The cocktail list is seasonal, and the wine list covers Champagne, whites such as Chardonnay and Riesling, reds from Pinot Noir to Cabernet Sauvignon, and dessert wines. The bar sits at the front, beside a small dining alcove facing the street.

Booking a table

Reservations open a month ahead and are strongly encouraged. Dinner bookings take a refundable deposit per person, parties are capped at ten, and larger groups book a private event. The dress code is smart casual; ski boots come off in winter, and there is a children's menu. Deposits and hours are in the FAQ.

Private dining

A private room at the back seats up to 45 with windows onto Gore Creek, the front room seats 21 beside the bar, a semi-private alcove takes 18, and a full buyout, with decks over the village and the creek, seats 100. It is a natural rehearsal-dinner venue.

Sister restaurant: Mountain Standard

Mountain Standard, the same owners' wood-fired tavern, opened in 2012 on the lower level of the same building at 193 Gore Creek Drive, on the creek side. It is the mountain-casual option, with an 18-seat bar that takes no reservations. Gift cards are valid at both.

Sources: Sweet Basil, history, team, menus, Elegance at Elevation, FAQs, private events. Checked September 23 and 26, 2026.

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Contact Information

Company Name
Sweet Basil
Phone Number
See Phone Number
Call: (970) 476-0125
Location
193 Gore Creek Dr
Vail, 81657

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About Sweet Basil

Sweet Basil opened on Gore Creek Drive in June 1977 as a 47-seat restaurant, on a street then considered off the beaten path because it was not Bridge Street. Nearly five decades later it seats about 160, has been recognized by the Michelin Guide every year since 2023, and remains a special-occasion dinner in Vail Village.

It suits a birthday, an anniversary or a long dinner after the last day of skiing. The cooking is modern American and seasonal, the bar and wine list stand on their own, and lunch and an afternoon in-between menu offer a less formal way in.

Owners and kitchen

Kevin Clair founded the restaurant, and in 1993 it became the first in Vail to go completely smoke-free. Matt Morgan, hired as a busboy in 1987, became Clair's managing partner in 1998 and bought him out in 2017. Culinary director Paul Anders and executive chef Will Edwards run the kitchen today, and 43 former employees have gone on to open restaurants of their own.

The menu

The menus change with the seasons. Recent plates run from fried chicken with Kaluga caviar, whipped feta and short rib ramen at lunch to Alaskan halibut, lobster risotto and a Creekstone filet mignon at dinner, and a saffron pasta first served in 1989 has stayed on in some form ever since. In 2024 the restaurant added its first tasting menu, Elegance at Elevation, a set menu with wine pairings for one party a night; the FAQ has the terms.

Drinks and wine

The cocktail list is seasonal, and the wine list covers Champagne, whites such as Chardonnay and Riesling, reds from Pinot Noir to Cabernet Sauvignon, and dessert wines. The bar sits at the front, beside a small dining alcove facing the street.

Booking a table

Reservations open a month ahead and are strongly encouraged. Dinner bookings take a refundable deposit per person, parties are capped at ten, and larger groups book a private event. The dress code is smart casual; ski boots come off in winter, and there is a children's menu. Deposits and hours are in the FAQ.

Private dining

A private room at the back seats up to 45 with windows onto Gore Creek, the front room seats 21 beside the bar, a semi-private alcove takes 18, and a full buyout, with decks over the village and the creek, seats 100. It is a natural rehearsal-dinner venue.

Sister restaurant: Mountain Standard

Mountain Standard, the same owners' wood-fired tavern, opened in 2012 on the lower level of the same building at 193 Gore Creek Drive, on the creek side. It is the mountain-casual option, with an 18-seat bar that takes no reservations. Gift cards are valid at both.

Sources: Sweet Basil, history, team, menus, Elegance at Elevation, FAQs, private events. Checked September 23 and 26, 2026.

New American Wine Bars Fine Dining restaurants restaurants/american restaurants/lunch nightlife nightlife/apres-ski restaurants/vail-village

Quick Snapshot

Neighborhood: Vail Village
Cuisine: New American
Service: Lunch • Après • Dinner
Established: 1977
Phone: (970) 476-0125

Business Hours

Today
Monday
3:00 - 9:00 PM
Tuesday
3:00 - 9:00 PM
Wednesday
11:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
11:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday
11:30 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
11:30 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday
11:30 AM - 9:00 PM
+ Expand

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Where is Sweet Basil?+
At 193 Gore Creek Drive in Vail Village. From the Vail Village parking structure, cross the covered bridge, turn right on Gore Creek Drive, and it is on the right just past the children's fountain.
Q. What are the hours?+
Lunch Wednesday through Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; an in-between menu 3 to 5 p.m.; dinner 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Q. How do reservations and deposits work?+
Reservations open one month ahead, to the date, online or at 970-476-0125. Dinner requires a $25 per person deposit, refunded if you cancel at least 24 hours ahead or returned on arrival. Lunch parties of five or more pay a $10 per person deposit. The maximum party is 10, and several bookings made for one party are treated as separate reservations rather than one table.
Q. Can Sweet Basil host a private event?+
Yes. The private dining room seats up to 45, the front room 21, the semi-private alcove 18, and a full buyout up to 100. Groups larger than 10 book as a private or semi-private event with a deposit and contract.
Q. What is the dress code?+
Smart casual: some guests dress up, others wear a nice shirt or sweater and jeans. Remove ski boots in winter. A staffed coat check runs nightly in the winter season, and at lunch during the busy two weeks over Christmas.
Q. Is it good for children?+
There is a children's menu for kids 12 and under. Mention booster seats, high chairs or a stroller when you book.
Q. Where do I park?+
There is no parking at the restaurant. The Vail Village parking structure is about a quarter mile east of the main roundabout at exit 176 on the South Frontage Road, past the Solaris building. Parking there is free after 3 p.m., and businesses cannot validate. From the structure, cross the covered bridge, turn right on Gore Creek Drive and walk about 100 yards; the restaurant is on the right just past the children's fountain. For accessible parking, take the Vail Road exit from the roundabout and stop at the Checkpoint Charlie booth, about 50 yards from the restaurant.
Q. Can it handle dietary restrictions?+
Menus can be modified for vegetarian, vegan and other restrictions; discuss them with your server. The kitchen cannot guarantee against cross-contact with allergens.
Q. Are dogs allowed?+
Only ADA-certified service dogs are allowed in the restaurant. Mention a service animal when you book so the staff can arrange seating.
Q. What is Elegance at Elevation?+
Sweet Basil's tasting experience: a set menu with wine pairings for one party of 2 to 6 guests a night, seated at 6:30 p.m. at a counter-height table beside the wine room, with the chef and sommelier guiding the meal. It is $375 per person, prepaid and non-refundable, before gratuity, cannot accommodate dietary restrictions, and is booked only through OpenTable Experiences. The restaurant currently lists it as by request only, so email or call to ask about dates.