Vail

If eating out is your (other) favorite activity, Vail is the perfect choice. Vail caters to wide-ranging palates and budgets with 73 restaurants and 16 bars, and apart from Whistler no resort in North America has such a range of cafés and restaurants offering every kind of cuisine, from Chinese and Mexican through to native Californian, for which the Terra Bistro or the Vail Athletic Club are the tops. Vendetta’s is an Italian restaurant and is very very good—and who doesn’t like Italian? Colorado is a long way from the sea but the fish at Montauk in Lionshead is always fresh and excellent. But restaurants rise and fall, and chefs move about, so ask around among your fellow guests and find out where the good food is really at this season.

The Wildflower is the only Mobile four-star rated restaurant in Vail and it boasts one of the best wine lists in town. Sumptuous breakfasts and skiers’ lunch buffets are on offer slope-side for quick dining breaks at Cucina Rustica. It transforms into an authentic Tuscan grill for dinner. Established in 1977, Sweet Basil in the heart of Vail Village is renowned as one of Vail’s finest restaurants. The wine list continually receives the Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator magazine and the food features imaginative American entrées with Mediterranean and Asian influences from chef Bruce Yim.

For the family, the Red Lion is great for every member, with a children’s menu, great beer selection, and live entertainment, while Bully Ranch is a locals’ favorite serving true Colorado Western and barbecue, featuring everything from hand-cut prime beef to veggie wraps. On the budget side Bart & Yeti’s in Lionshead offers a variety of burger and sandwich options from US$5 to US$10, while Flying Burrito in Lionshead serves tasty burritos for less than US$6. They’re a meal in themselves.

It is strongly recommended that you make table reservations in advance, but beware that in this well-heeled resort standards are high and in the better restaurants (on and off the mountain) New York prices (expensive) are not uncommon.

Vail nightlife
After dinner, it’s time to check out Vail at night and find out why SKI Magazine rates Vail’s nightlife tops. There’s great entertainment with live music, offering everything from piano jazz and 80s music through hip-hop and reggae at places like 8150, Fubar, and Mickey’s Piano Bar. The George has sofas you can sink into, pool tables, and foos-ball, and the Tap Room specializes in great martinis.

Vail’s streets come to life every Wednesday night during the Budweiser Street Beat. This free series features nationally and locally recognized acts including the Young Dubliners, the Hazel Miller Band, and William Topley. After the concert, stop by the local’s favorite and ski patrol hangout, Vendetta’s, for a beer and a slice of pizza. Then hit the Fubar to sing along with Scott Ma.