Vail Mountain's lodges are seasonal, and most of them are open only in winter. Hours and menus are set by the resort and change, so use the Vail Mountain dining page for anything you plan around.
On-mountain restaurants by location
| Restaurant | Where | Season | Hours | Reservations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The 10th | Atop Gondola One (#1), at Mid-Vail | Winter (select Sunday brunches in summer 2026) | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Recommended |
| Mid-Vail | Atop Gondola One (#1) | Winter and summer | 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. | None |
| Eagle's Nest: Marketplace, Bistro 14, Upper Crust Pizza, Simba's Cafe | Atop Eagle Bahn Gondola (#19) | Winter and summer | Marketplace 10:30 to 3; Bistro 14 11 to 2; Simba's 9:30 to 2; pizza hours to be announced | None |
| Buffalo's | Atop Mountain Top Express (#4), High Noon Express (#5) and Northwoods Express (#11) | Winter only | 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. | None |
| Two Elk Lodge | Atop Sourdough (#14), Tea Cup (#36), Orient (#21) and Sun Up (#9) express lifts | Winter | 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. | None |
| Wildwood Smokehouse | Top of Wildwood Express (#3), Game Creek Express (#7) and Sun Down Express (#17) | Winter | 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. | None |
| Express Lift Bar | Base of Gondola One, Vail Village | Winter only | 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. | None |
Belle's Camp, Dawg Haus and The COOP round out the mountain's food stops; none has posted hours, and each is covered below.
Top of Gondola One: The 10th and Mid-Vail
The 10th is Vail's full-service on-mountain restaurant, at the top of Gondola One on the upper floor of Mid-Vail. It serves contemporary mountain cooking and is open to the public for lunch seven days a week through the ski season. Reservations are recommended, though walk-ins are seated when there is room. The restaurant's name nods to the 10th Mountain Division. You do not need to ski to get here, but you do need lift access, because the ride up Gondola One is the way in. In summer 2026 it ran select Sunday brunches on July 12, 19, 26 and August 9, 16, 23 and 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a brunch reservation including Gondola One access.
Mid-Vail is the quick-service alternative in the same building; It's the mountain's original lodge, established in 1962. The top level, called Look Ma, serves burgers, tenders, mac and cheese, ramen bowls and a salad bar. Powerline Pub on that level is the bar. The lower Terrace level is food-hall style, with pizza, poke bowls, salads, burgers, pasta and dessert, and a sun terrace outside. It takes no reservations, and it's one of the few on-mountain spots open in both winter and summer.
Eagle's Nest, above Lionshead
Eagle's Nest sits at the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola, the lift out of Lionshead. Four outlets share the building: the Marketplace, the largest, with sandwiches, soups, salads and tenders; Bistro 14, a fast-casual restaurant with a full bar and art by photographer Gray Malin; Simba's Cafe for coffee, cocoa and ice cream; and Upper Crust Pizza, which sells personal-size pizzas. Views run to the Gore Range in the north and the Sawatch Range to the south. Skier access isn't required for Eagle's Nest, so it works for non-skiers who buy a gondola ticket; this post covers what the gondola costs. In summer, Talon's Grill (also called Talon's Deck Outdoor Grill) serves burgers, hot dogs and beer and wine here, Bistro 14 switches to bar service only, and Simba's keeps serving coffee and ice cream.
The Back Bowls side: Buffalo's, Two Elk and Wildwood
These three are for people already skiing. Each requires skier access, meaning you arrive on skis or a board.
- Buffalo's sits at the Back Bowls gate, and is the only daily on-mountain breakfast, with breakfast sandwiches, grilled cheese and soup. Across the snow from it, Henry's Hut is a small deck set aside for people who packed their own food.
- Two Elk Lodge is on the saddle of China Bowl and is Vail's largest on-mountain lodge, serving tacos, burritos and Southwest-inspired food, with a Biergarten next door pouring European beers and bratwurst.
- Wildwood Smokehouse is the barbecue stop at the Back Bowls hub between the Game Creek, Sun Down and Wildwood lifts, with daily smoked meat and a chicken and wild rice soup. It is winter only. If you are heading out there, this guide to reaching the Back Bowls covers the lifts.
Blue Sky Basin and the picnic decks
Blue Sky Basin has two food stops on Vail's list. Belle's Camp, the mountain's farthest outpost, has 360-degree views, outdoor seating, water and restrooms, and several public grills for cooking your own burgers and hot dogs. Dawg Haus serves lunch and snacks in Pete's Bowl in Blue Sky Basin. The route out there is covered in getting to Blue Sky Basin. Smaller picnic decks are scattered at Jebbie's, Windows, Hawks Deck, Steady's and Game Creek Bowl. Pack out whatever you bring in, and be off the mountain before the lifts close.
Base of the mountain and village options
Express Lift Bar at the foot of Gondola One is Vail Village's base-area après spot, with weekend DJ sets in season and hours of 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The COOP, at the bottom of Avanti Express (#2), serves fried chicken. Cucina, in the Lodge at Vail, is open 7 to 10:30 a.m. and 4 to 9 p.m. for a breakfast buffet and firepit après.
Practical notes
- Vail Resorts does not take cash in its restaurants; cards, Apple Pay and resort charge only.
- Outlets marked eligible for Epic Mountain Rewards, which include Mid-Vail, Buffalo's, Two Elk, Wildwood and Eagle's Nest, offer Epic Pass holders 20% off food. Details are on the Epic Pass page.
- For a lunch off the mountain, see where to eat lunch in Vail.
