Eating Before, During, and After Your Ski Day

Utah holds the title for having the greatest snow on earth, which means if you’re coming to visit, it is important to know where to eat so you can stay energized throughout the day. If you decide to travel up one of the three canyons to visit one of the seven resorts, there are a few spots you should consider dining at along the way.

Park City Mountain Resort

PCMR is located up in Park City, which can be accessed through Parley’s Canyon in the Wasatch Front. If you forgot to eat breakfast before you left, stop by Whole Foods in Kimball Junction for a croissant and a few pocket snacks. This area is usually a lot less busy than the stores near the main parking lot to the resort. For Lunch, the Mid Mountain Lodge and Summit House are two very fun places to eat on the mountain, although they are a bit pricey. If you’re looking for a less expensive route and a really fun experience, make your way into the town by taking Quit N’ Run off of Payday. From here you can cross the bridge and stop in Davanza’s for a cheap yet delicious slice of pizza and a refreshing drink. For dinner, I would recommend taking the same route down and stopping by the High West Distillery, which offers a variety of delicious foods. They moved into their space that was initially built in 1907 as a stable to service workhorses that pulled carts through the Park City mines. Another option to dine for dinner once your back in your car, is to drive to Squatters Roadhouse Grill for a delicious meal.

Deer Valley Resort

Deer Valley is also located up in Park City, just East of PCMR. My recommendation for breakfast if needed before you leave is to stop by Whole Foods in Kimball Junction for a croissant and a few pocket snacks. It’s on the way and can save a lot of time, so you are able to spend more time on the slopes. For lunch, there are two restaurants I would recommend, which are the Silver Lake Restaurant located mid-mountain and the Empire Canyon Grill, located on the upper mountain. They both offer gourmet lunches that will most definitely leave you impressed. For dinner, again I would recommend going to the High West Distillery or Squatters Roadhouse Grill. They both offer memorable meals and have an alpine ambiance, which makes for an enjoyable time.

Solitude Mountain Resort

Solitude is located up Big Cottonwood Canyon, neighboring Brighton Mountain Resort. For breakfast if you have time to get up about an hour early, I would highly recommend stopping by the Silver Fork Lodge, which is a log cabin restaurant located about half way up the canyon. They have delicious French toast, fresh coffee and much more. There is also a 7-Eleven located at the base of the canyon to pick up snacks if needed.  For lunch, on the mountain there are three restaurants. The Honeycomb Grill and Moonbeam Lodge Café are located at the base, and the Round House Café is located mid-mountain. I would recommend their sweetish meatballs and cranberry sauce. For dinner, if you were not able to go to the Silver Fork Lodge, call in for a reservation and dive into one of their delicious dinner meals. Another great option is to head down the canyon and right near the base is Porcupine Grill. I have to recommend getting their nachos, which can easily serve four hungry people and they are not something you want to miss out on.

Brighton Resort

Brighton is located up Big Cottonwood Canyon as well, just past Solitude. For breakfast, I would recommend stopping by the 7-Eleven to pick up some snacks. Or if you have more time, go grab a bite at the Silver Fork Lodge which is on the way to Brighton up Big Cottonwood. For lunch, I would recommend stopping by the Milly Chalet for some good comfort food and a refreshing beverage. For dinner, again I would recommend getting a reservation at the Silver Fork Lodge, or the Porcupine Grill. They both have really uplifting atmospheres and the food is amazing.

Snowbird Resort

Snowbird is located up Little Cottonwood Canyon. For breakfast, I would recommend stopping into the 7-eleven at the base of Big Cottonwood Canyon, which is on the way up to the resort. For lunch, snowbird has a plethora of options. I would recommend the Bird Feeder, Mid Gad Restaurant. For dinner, I would recommend going to the Tram Club, which is located directly underneath the loading and unloading dock for the tram and it is a very fun place to go relax after a long day of skiing. I would also recommend heading down the canyon to the Porcupine Grill for a burger or their reputable plate of nachos.

Alta Resort

Alta is located up Little Cottonwood Canyon as well, just past Snowbird. For breakfast, again I would recommend stopping into the 7-eleven before you drive up the canyon because the prices at the convenience stores on the mountain can sell for double the amount. For lunch, I would recommend stopping by the Watson Shelter Cafe, which is located mid-mountain, or the Alta Lodge, which is located at the base of the resort. For dinner, head down the canyon to the Porcupine Grill. They have a great restaurant and more often than not you can watch the end of a sports game. If you need to know more about where to park, stay, or ticket prices, head over to our ultimate Alta guide here!

If you end up staying in Salt Lake City, or feel the urge to venture down there to experience the emerging nightlife, “Foodie Nightlife in SLC: The Best Bars for Nighttime Grub” is a great way to find a unique spot to fit any mood for the evening.

If you are interested on hearing more about each individual resort, you can check out this page on skiing in Utah, from a local’s perspective. The Wasatch Front has so much to offer, now it’s your turn to come experience it for yourself.