Garfinkel's Profile Photo - Restaurants in Vail CO
Garfinkel's

Restaurants
 Vail, 81657

Send Message
Show Phone Number
Do you own or operate Garfinkel's? Claim this listing now. Claim this listing

About

Garfinkel's, Garf's to locals, has been a Lionshead sports bar and grill since 1992, and it is still locally owned and operated. Its sunny deck looks over the gondola and Vail Mountain, which makes it one of the easiest après seats in Lionshead and, by the bar's own account, at its best in late spring and summer.

It suits families, groups of friends and anyone who wants a burger, wings and the game on without dressing up. Inside, the walls are covered with photos of patrons, athletes and events from over the years.

Food and drink

The menu covers ski-town bar classics such as fish and chips, burgers, wings and nachos, with a drinks list of local drafts, cocktails and wine. The kitchen runs weekly specials, and a happy hour (Monday, Thursday and Friday, 3 to 6 p.m.) discounts select drafts and bar snacks.

Getting a table

Seating is first come, first served. You can also order online for pickup, but to-go orders may be turned down at the busiest times of day.

Groups and events

Garf's hosts large groups, wedding parties and corporate events on its deck and inside. For parties of 20 or more, use the contact form on its website rather than calling. Space is tight in the winter and summer seasons, so plan ahead.

Sources: Garfinkel's story, menus, happy hour, groups. Checked September 23, 2026.

Get Directions View Larger Map

Contact Information

Company Name
Garfinkel's
Phone Number
Show Phone Number
Location
536 E Lionshead Cir
Vail, 81657

Garfinkel's Photo Albums

Posted by Garfinkel's
Garfinkel's Photos
Garfinkel's Photos

Photos of Garfinkel's.... View More

We may earn a commission from links on this page, at no cost to you. Disclosure

Visit Website View Menu

About Garfinkel's

Quick answer: Garfinkel's is a restaurant at 536 E Lionshead Cir, Vail, CO 81657. Garf's is Lionshead's locally owned sports bar and grill, open since 1992, with a sunny deck overlooking the gondola and Vail Mountain.

Last updated

Garfinkel's, Garf's to locals, has been a Lionshead sports bar and grill since 1992, and it is still locally owned and operated. Its sunny deck looks over the gondola and Vail Mountain, which makes it one of the easiest après seats in Lionshead and, by the bar's own account, at its best in late spring and summer.

It suits families, groups of friends and anyone who wants a burger, wings and the game on without dressing up. Inside, the walls are covered with photos of patrons, athletes and events from over the years.

Food and drink

The menu covers ski-town bar classics such as fish and chips, burgers, wings and nachos, with a drinks list of local drafts, cocktails and wine. The kitchen runs weekly specials, and a happy hour (Monday, Thursday and Friday, 3 to 6 p.m.) discounts select drafts and bar snacks.

Getting a table

Seating is first come, first served. You can also order online for pickup, but to-go orders may be turned down at the busiest times of day.

Groups and events

Garf's hosts large groups, wedding parties and corporate events on its deck and inside. For parties of 20 or more, use the contact form on its website rather than calling. Space is tight in the winter and summer seasons, so plan ahead.

Sources: Garfinkel's story, menus, happy hour, groups. Checked September 23, 2026.

Sports Bars American restaurants restaurants/lunch restaurants/casual restaurants/family-friendly nightlife nightlife/apres-ski nightlife/sports-bars-pubs restaurants/lionshead

Quick Snapshot

Neighborhood: Lionshead
Cuisine: Sports Bar & Grill
Service: Lunch • Dinner
Show Phone Number

Business Hours

Closed · Opens 12:00 PM Thu

Show all hours
Mon
12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Tue–WedClosed
Closed
Thu
12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Fri
12:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Sat–Sun
11:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Amenities at Garfinkel's

  • Sun deck/outdoor seating
  • Full bar
  • Happy hour
  • Online takeout ordering
  • Vegetarian and vegan dishes
  • Gluten-free options
  • Private events
  • Sports TVs

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the hours of Garfinkel's in Vail, and is it open in the shoulder season?
Right now the official site lists Garfinkel's as closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, open Monday and Thursday noon to 8 p.m., Friday noon to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., with hours "subject to change without notice". Many listings, including older snapshots of this one, show seven-day hours, which reflects the in-season schedule. In the shoulder seasons (spring mud season and the fall), check garfsvail.com or call (970) 476-3789 before going, and do not plan on a Tuesday or Wednesday.
Does Garfinkel's take reservations?
No. Seating is first come, first served, inside and on the deck, and there is no booking service for Garfinkel's. For a party of 20 or more, a wedding party, or a corporate event, use the contact form on garfsvail.com (the restaurant asks for no phone calls about groups) and an event coordinator will reply; group space is limited in the winter and summer seasons. Note for groups of 6 or more: the menu applies a 20% gratuity to parties of 6 or more and to split checks.
Does Garfinkel's have a happy hour?
Yes, on Monday, Thursday, and Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. (not every weekday). Select drafts are $3 (the official page names Coors Light, Pacifico, Mountain Time, Hazy Blues, Sweet Ride IPA, and Miller High Life), and chicken wings, chicken fingers, and plain half nachos are 30% off. Mug Club discounts do not apply to happy hour specials. There is no happy hour on Saturday or Sunday, and the restaurant is currently closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
What do reviews say about Garfinkel's?
Well reviewed for the deck and the room, more mixed on value. As of October 2026, Google rates Garfinkel's 4.3 out of 5 from 1,199 reviews; Yelp rates it 3.5 from 429 reviews; Restaurantji aggregates 4.2 from 438 ratings. Diners praise the sunny deck over the gondola, the mountain-sized nachos, and fast, friendly service, and criticise prices at the top of the starter menu and food they call standard pub fare.
What does a meal cost at Garfinkel's?
Most mains sit between $18 and $26. Burgers and sandwiches run $18 to $26 (the Wagyu burger is the top), pastas $24 to $26, salads $16 to $20, and the after-5 p.m. dinners $29 to $36, topped by the 12 oz ribeye. Starters run $10 to $21, except the nachos: a full combo nachos is $30, the one order reviewers single out on price. Desserts are $12.
What should I order at Garfinkel's?
Start with the dish reviewers name most, the Prime Rib French Dip ($20), followed by the Buffalo Chicken Wrap ($20), the chicken wings ($21, with Garf's house sauce among seven sauces), and the fish & chips ($20). The nachos are the table order: half $18, full $27, or $30 loaded with chicken, beef, or both. After 5 p.m., the 12 oz ribeye ($36) is the dinner reviewers single out.
Does Garfinkel's have a deck, and can I bring my dog?
Yes, the deck is the point of the place: a large, sunny deck at 536 East Lionshead Circle, across from the Eagle Bahn Gondola, overlooking the gondola and Vail Mountain, which the restaurant calls its best seat for après ski and for late spring and summer. Leashed dogs are welcome at the outdoor deck tables, per BringFido's listing for the restaurant; the restaurant's own site does not publish a dog policy, so dog access rests on that third-party listing.
Does Garfinkel's have vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free options?
Yes to all three, which is unusual for a sports bar. Vegan: a Vegan Bolognese ($26, built on Impossible) and a Veggie Burger ($22, Impossible). Vegetarian: Garf's House Pasta ($24), salads, cheese quesadillas, and most starters. Gluten-free: the menu marks dishes as available gluten free (including dinner and salad substitutes), any burger can take a gluten-free bun for $3, and the Reese's Peanut Butter Pie is labeled gluten free. Tell your server about allergies when ordering; the menu marks availability, it does not certify a gluten-free kitchen.
Is Garfinkel's kid friendly, and is there a children's menu?
The atmosphere is, officially, family friendly, and families are a core crowd, including parents watching kids in ski lessons on the beginner terrain below the deck. But there is no children's menu on the current menu. The workable kid orders are the shareable starters: chicken fingers ($18, or $21 with fries), mozzarella sticks ($12), and cheese quesadillas ($17). Groups of 6 or more are charged 20% gratuity.
Where is Garfinkel's, and where do I park?
At 536 East Lionshead Circle in Lionshead Village (the Vail Square area), across from the Eagle Bahn Gondola, a short ski-boot walk from the lifts. The restaurant has no parking of its own. The public option is the Lionshead Parking Structure at 354 S Frontage Rd W, about a 5-minute walk from the gondola, with the Lionshead Transit Center and the free Town of Vail in-town bus on site. Lionshead Village itself is pedestrian, so park once and walk.

Winter in Vail

Book a Vail winter extra

See all Vail tours

More restaurants on VailVacay