Who knew a ranching town in northwestern Colorado would turn into a genuine food destination? The Steamboat dining scene has grown enormously, and with roughly 130 restaurants in town there is something here for even the pickiest eater in your group.
After you have hit the slopes, shopped Lincoln Avenue, and soaked in a hot spring, here are the 15 places we send our guests. Every address, phone number, and set of hours below has been checked.
Local's Tip: Steamboat runs on seasonal hours, and several of these extend once the resort opens on November 21. Reservations are strongly recommended at the smaller rooms during ski season and holiday weeks. Call ahead.
Steamboat Restaurants at a Glance
| Restaurant | Cuisine | Area | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aurum | New American | Yampa Street | 970-879-9500 |
| Café Diva | Fine dining | Mountain base | 970-871-0508 |
| Brass Kitchen & Bar | Modern fusion | Yampa Street | 970-875-3304 |
| Salt & Lime | Mexican | Downtown | 970-871-6277 |
| Bésame | Latin tapas | Downtown | 970-761-2561 |
| E3 Chophouse | Steakhouse | Yampa Street | 970-879-7167 |
| The Paramount | Breakfast & lunch | Mountain base | 970-879-1170 |
| Laundry Kitchen & Cocktails | Shared plates | Downtown | 970-870-0681 |
| Primrose | Steak & seafood | Yampa Street | 970-761-2860 |
| Saffron | Indian | Downtown | 970-367-9385 |
| Table 79 Foodbar | Elevated comfort | Downtown | 970-761-2463 |
| Yampa Valley Kitchen | Organic, all day | Downtown | 970-875-3989 |
| Brick | Neapolitan pizza | Mountain area | 970-761-2400 |
| Cypress | Southern comfort | Yampa Street | 970-875-3131 |
| The Commons | Food hall | Downtown | 970-579-3663 |
1. Aurum
811 Yampa Street, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
Phone: 970-879-9500
Hours: Daily, 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Website: aurumsteamboat.com
Aurum tops our list on the strength of its happy hour and the live music in the bar. It sits right on the banks of the Yampa River, with a choice of bar seating, the main dining room, or the expansive veranda.
The menu is seasonal new American, built by their in-house chefs, alongside a serious craft cocktail program and a well-regarded bourbon list. In summer the outdoor green space becomes a grassy knoll where kids can run while you listen to the river go by.
Order this: the lamb dumplings, the Korean fried chicken, and the crispy Brussels sprouts. All three show up repeatedly in guest reviews for a reason.
2. Café Diva
1855 Ski Time Square Drive, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
Phone: 970-871-0508
Hours: Daily, 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Website: cafediva.com
For a genuine special occasion, book Café Diva. A pillar of the Steamboat restaurant community for over two decades and still operating at the top of its game, it sits on the corner of Torian Plum square at the ski area base, right in the heart of the Mountain Village.
Chef Kate Rench builds a new menu each season around the freshest market ingredients. The wine program is the other draw: an expansive cellar with hundreds of bottles and a sommelier team that guests consistently single out for knowing their stuff without any pretension.
Local's Tip: visiting in the quieter spring or fall shoulder months? Check their website. Café Diva often runs themed weekday dinners like Fondue Night or a Sunday Date Night with two appetizers, entrees, and a shared dessert.
Reservations essential, especially during ski season.
3. Brass Kitchen & Bar
700 Yampa Street, Unit A102, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
Phone: 970-875-3304
Hours: Daily, 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Website: brasssteamboat.com
Yampa Street's modern take on fine dining, and one of the highest-rated rooms in town. The seasonal menu changes constantly, running local game like elk and bison alongside creative small plates and desserts worth photographing.
Two things guests mention over and over: the trout, which people describe in genuinely emphatic terms, and a clearly labeled gluten-free menu that celiac diners can actually trust. There is also a view of the ski slope lit up at night.
Order this: the trout. Then the gochujang ribs and the lamb meatballs.
4. Salt & Lime
628 Lincoln Avenue, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
Phone: 970-871-6277
Hours: Daily, 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Website: suckalime.com
Rex's Family of Restaurants' twist on classic Mexican. Bright, vibrant, and loud in the good way, with modern and traditional Mexican decor and an emphasis on tacos built with traditional techniques and regional ingredients. The bar turns out craft tequila cocktails with fresh juices and natural ingredients.
Local's Tip: the rooftop deck is the move whenever weather allows. Salt, lime, and sunshine. Olé.
Order this: the chorizo and al pastor tacos, the street corn and avocado starter, and a margarita that is not too sweet.
5. Bésame
818 Lincoln Avenue, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
Phone: 970-761-2561
Hours: Sunday to Thursday 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday 4:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., Saturday 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Website: besamesteamboat.com
If tapas and small plates are your thing, Bésame brings the flavors of Cuba, Argentina, Portugal, and Spain to downtown Steamboat. The menu is an inspired collection of regional Latin cooking, rich and aromatic, with a Hot Zone section of handcrafted South American fusion dishes for anyone feeling brave.
Their happy hour is one of the best values in town and turns this into a genuinely good apres ski option. Note the late Friday close, which makes Bésame one of the few downtown kitchens still going after midnight.
Order this: the short rib empanadas, the al pastor gyoza, and the fried plantains. For a group, the Pineapple and Banana Elyx Punch for two arrives in a copper pineapple and will absolutely get attention.
6. E3 Chophouse
701 Yampa Street, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
Phone: 970-879-7167
Hours: Monday to Friday 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Website: e3chophousesteamboat.com
There is a steak lover in every group. Send them here. E3 is the traditional white tablecloth chophouse with a river view, created by the LaRoche baseball family and built around E3 Ranch beef. Think ranch-to-table rather than farm-to-table.
Daily specials, fresh fish, wild game, and serious desserts, all with sweeping views of the Yampa. Weekend hours now start at 10:30 a.m., so brunch is on the table too.
Local's Tip: ask for a seat at the large bar for the best people watching. In summer, ask for a table by the river. If the view matters to you, say so when you book rather than when you arrive.
7. The Paramount
1865 Ski Time Square Drive, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
Phone: 970-879-1170
Hours: Daily, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Website: theparamountcolorado.com
Steamboat's mountainside breakfast and lunch spot, at the base of the resort in Torian Plum Plaza. Ski-in ski-out, everything made from scratch, and the bar serves espresso, beer, wine, and specialty drinks built on house-infused liquors and fresh juices.
This is the pre-first-chair stop. Doors at 8:00 a.m., which is exactly when you need it.
Order this: the breakfast burrito or the breakfast sandwich. Both are large enough to carry you to mid-afternoon.
8. Laundry Kitchen & Cocktails
127 11th Street, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
Phone: 970-870-0681
Hours: Daily, 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Website: thelaundryrestaurant.com
Cocktail lovers, this is your room. A historic building turned restaurant, serving expertly infused liquors alongside small and large shared plates. The chic industrial atmosphere fills a niche nothing else in Steamboat quite occupies.
The kitchen specializes in smoking, preserving, and curing, with a seasonal menu built on locally grown products. The building itself housed the original Steamboat Laundry from 1910 to 1977. The wine list is comprehensive and the house-infused spirits are the reason to sit at the bar.
Local's Tip: ask to sit Creek Side. And if you want the full experience, the chef's tasting menu is worth the commitment.
9. Primrose
1110 Yampa Street, Suite 100, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
Phone: 970-761-2860
Hours: Daily, 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Website: primrosesteamboat.com
Chef-driven mountain casual, with hand-cut steaks, jet-fresh seafood, curated wines, and a cocktail list that makes choosing genuinely difficult. Works equally well for a group or for a date night for two.
The happy hour is one of the better ones downtown and gets repeatedly singled out by guests. Indoor seating year round, with patio seating seasonally in summer.
Order this: the steak with the sauce trio, which is worth the upcharge, plus the oysters and the Korean fried quail.
10. Saffron Indian Restaurant
425 Lincoln Avenue, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
Phone: 970-367-9385
Hours: Daily, 11:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Website: saffronsteamboat.com
Step in and the aromas do the work. Saffron is a celebration of culture, tradition, and one-pot cooking, and it has quietly become one of the highest-rated restaurants in Steamboat.
The owners' cooking experience across rural Nepal and various parts of India shows up in the spice work: each dish is genuinely layered rather than flattened into generic curry. There is a wide range of vegetarian and vegan options, which are otherwise thin on the ground in this town.
Order this: the butter chicken, the lamb korma, the palak paneer, and the rosemary garlic naan. Ask for your preferred heat level and they will actually deliver it.
Bonus: open for lunch daily, which not many Steamboat dinner spots are.
11. Table 79 Foodbar
345 Lincoln Avenue, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
Phone: 970-761-2463
Hours: Daily, 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Website: table79steamboat.com
A bright, modern space serving elevated comfort food built around seasonality and local ingredients, and one of the best happy hours and craft cocktail bars in Steamboat. Seating runs from stools at the open-concept kitchen bar to the dining room, with limited seasonal patio seating.
They frequently run a multi-course Dinner for Two special that guests rave about, so ask when you book.
Order this: the short rib with kimchi fried rice, and the mushroom bisque. Do not question the mushroom soup. Just order it.
Local's Tip: in summer, walk over to the rodeo grounds afterward for some western flair.
12. Yampa Valley Kitchen
207 9th Street, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
Phone: 970-875-3989
Hours: Daily, 7:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Website: yampavalleykitchen.com
YVK, as locals call it, is a locally owned, organic, sustainable restaurant one block off the main drag. The commitment runs all the way down to the salts, oils, and spices in the kitchen. The menu changes seasonally because they only use locally sourced and organic ingredients.
The real advantage here is the hours: breakfast, lunch, happy hour, and dinner all under one roof, which makes YVK the answer whenever your group cannot agree on a mealtime. Sit in the outdoor garden in warm weather or settle in indoors.
Order this: the huevos rancheros at breakfast (large enough for two), the Truffalo burger at lunch, and the bolognese or salmon at dinner. The bread service is excellent.
13. Brick
1195 Bangtail Way, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
Phone: 970-761-2400
Hours: Daily, 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Website: bricksteamboat.com
Wood-fired Neapolitan pizza in the mountain area. Owner and pizzaiolo Leopoldo Demusis grew up spending every summer among the hills of Sant'Angelo all'Esca in Italy's Campania region, and in December 2016 he brought that tradition to Steamboat. Hand-built 100% wood-fired brick oven, imported tomatoes and flour, and a real effort to keep the integrity of southern Italy intact.
Order this: the pizza. Genuinely, stick to the pizza. Regulars are consistent that the pies are excellent and the rest of the menu is less remarkable.
Local's Tip: waits can be long for both dine-in and takeout. Call ahead and plan around it.
14. Cypress
700 Yampa Street, Unit 103, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
Phone: 970-875-3131
Hours: Monday and Tuesday 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday to Friday 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Slow-country fare meeting high-country vibes. A stylish downtown spot serving elevated comfort food with a southern twist in a warm, welcoming, neighborhood room. Pinkies in, please.
Weekend hours start at 11:00 a.m., which makes this one of the better late-morning options on Yampa Street.
Order this: the hot honey Brussels sprouts, the fried chicken, the crab cake, and the chicken pot pie. The happy hour ribs come with steamed towels, which is a nice touch.
Note: Cypress refreshes its menu periodically, so call ahead if you are coming for a specific dish.
15. The Commons: Steamboat's Food Hall
56 7th Street, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
Phone: 970-579-3663
Hours: Sunday to Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Website: steamboatcommons.com
A centrally located food hall in downtown Steamboat with multiple local food vendors and a full service bar across two levels, indoors and out. Poke, ramen, tacos, pizza, pasta, Jamaican, and more, all under one roof.
This is the answer when your group wants six different things. It is also the best spot in town for solo travelers and remote workers: come for a midday lunch break, get some work done, or meet people for apres. Free live music some evenings.
Order this: the poke from Poke the Bear, and whatever the pasta bar is running.
Local's Pick: MEATBAR
1009 Lincoln Avenue, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
Phone: 970-846-6443
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Website: laurathebutcher.com
MEATBAR is a must when visiting downtown Steamboat and consistently one of the highest-rated food businesses in the entire valley. This charcuterie-focused gem is beloved by locals and visitors alike. Come for the daily selection of meats and cheeses, sit back, and enjoy a glass of wine.
Part restaurant, part bar, part shop. You can eat in and then walk out with a bag of things for later.
Order this: a charcuterie board, the goat cheese and 'nduja, the meatballs, and the ham and cheese sandwich. Save room for the house cheesecake.
Important: closed Sundays and Mondays, which catches out plenty of visitors.
Dining Tips for Ski Season
- Book ahead for holiday weeks. Christmas through New Year's, Presidents' Day weekend, and WinterWonderGrass weekend fill the small rooms weeks out.
- Happy hour is the value play. Aurum, Bésame, Table 79, Primrose, Cypress, and Mambo all run genuinely good ones, and several start right when you come off the mountain.
- Bar seats beat waiting. Most of these serve the full menu at the bar on a first-come basis. If the dining room is booked, the bar often is not.
- Cook a few nights. Every property we manage has a full kitchen. A week of eating out in a resort town adds up fast, and a couple of group dinners at home are usually more fun anyway.
Stay Close to the Table
Where you sleep determines how easy dinner is. Staying downtown puts Lincoln Avenue and Yampa Street on your doorstep. Staying at the mountain puts Café Diva, Paramount, and Brick within reach without moving the car.
- Downtown Steamboat rentals, walkable to most of this list
- Mountain area rentals
- Ski-in ski-out lodging
- Private homes and townhomes for groups
Browse all Steamboat Springs lodging and check our current lodging deals.
Contact Steamboat Lodging Company
We live here and we eat here. Tell us what your group is into and we will tell you where to go and which property puts you closest to it.
Phone: 970-457-4785
Email: Contact us here
Office: 1169 Hilltop Parkway, #101A, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
More Steamboat Planning Resources
- How to Fly Into Steamboat Springs
- 11 Things To Do in Steamboat Off the Slopes
- Steamboat Winter Event Calendar '26/27
- Steamboat Resort Opening Day Guide
Addresses, phone numbers, and hours verified as of publication and subject to change. Steamboat restaurants adjust hours seasonally and several extend once the ski resort opens. Please call ahead to confirm.