Northstar Bars & Restaurants
The two best places for apres ski are the Alpine Bar in the village, and on the mountain the deck at the Lodge at Big Springs.All the bars are primarily après-ski places, so they are suitable for all and there are no restrictions on children coming in. The Alpine Bar features major sporting events on multiple T.V.s, live music, games, pool tables and an arcade. Appetizers and full bar are available. The minimum legal age to be able to buy or drink alcohol is 21 years.
In the village, Timbercreek Restaurant has been voted one of Tahoe’s best restaurants. Try out its California-American cuisine, with hints of Pacific Rim flair. The Ski Express breakfast buffet, lunch and dinner are served daily mid-December through April. There’s also an après-ski bar with café and children’s menu. Reservations recommended. At Cippolini’s Pizzeria there’s homemade pizza and calzones with soup and a salad bar. Use the on-mountain pizza phone at the top of the Big Springs Express Gondola to place your order. Takeout orders are welcome. Go to the Village Food Company for daily breakfast specials, sandwiches and sushi for lunch, and dinner specials.
A unique feature at Northstar is Polaris Park, across from the Lodge at Big Springs, an evening adventure park for skiing, boarding, tubing, snow toys, live entertainment and dancing. It’s open most Fridays, Saturdays and peak season evenings until 7:00 pm. Tickets can be obtained from the Tubing Center at the top of the gondola.
While Baxter’s, TC’s Pub, and the Chocolate Bar are popular options for enjoying a post-skiing cocktail, the best place to grab a hot toddy or irish coffee is the Cabana Bar, adjacent to the ice skating rink. More “South Beach” than North Lake Tahoe, the chic Cabana Bar is one of the hottest apres-ski scenes in California. Come early to grab one of the heated booths or a coveted spot around a firepit.