Our Top Dinner Recommendations in South Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe has so many great options for dinner but here are a few of our favorites in order of expense ($$, $$$, and $$$$) and atmosphere.
$$ - Casual Dining | Casul Atmosphere:
The Divided Sky
The Divided Sky is a best-kept secret for live music and a great local bar with good eats. Located in Meyers, just outside of South Lake Tahoe, it’s removed from the touristy scene down. The menu serves standard bar food fare, with salads and sandwiches on the healthier side and sources organic ingredients and makes a lot of its meals from scratch. They have great veggie options, such as the Pollard with grilled eggplant and the Edinburgh with portobello mushrooms. Keep an eye on the events calendar to catch bluegrass bands and DJ parties for a good time without the cloud of cigarette smoke on the casino strip.
Aleworx
South Lake Tahoe’s only self-pour bar, where you get to choose from 25 regional craft beers—including seasonal limited releases, artisan fruity sours, and made-in-Tahoe IPAs— then pour just a few sips or a full glass. Don’t worry, your high-tech “wristwatch” will keep track of your tab. If beer isn’t your beverage of choice, AleWorX also has wine and kombucha on tap. Whatever you choose, pair it with a hearty salad or thin-crust pizza made in the open kitchen’s wood-burning oven (take a close look—it’s completely covered in copper pennies) and know that the best seats here are outside by the fire pits, often watching Live Music all year long.
Cold Water Brewery and Grill
Located on South Lake Tahoe’s main drag, the Cold Water Brewery & Grill is a warm and friendly restaurant, often packed with crowds and good vibes from long days hiking or skiing in the woods. The burgers are made with a short rib blend beef patty and go well with the brewery’s selection of craft beers. Try the BBQ Bacon Burger with the hoppy Tahoe Cross IPA, or the BBQ Pulled Pork sandwich with Mr. Toad’s Wild Rye, named after the iconic mountain bike trail in South Lake Tahoe.
Elements
The newest restaurant in town is Elements. The locals love this restaurant that specializes in Mexican-American innovative cuisine with organic ingredients as well as a great selection of craft beer and cocktails. The servings are huge, the service is super friendly, and even better: weather permitting, you can sit outside and catch lake views. The restaurant is cozy and bright with a seamless blend of Mexican and Tahoe aesthetics.
Base Camp Pizza Co.
Located at the base of Heavenly Ski Resort (hence the name), this family-friendly spot with indoor and outdoor dining serves up tasty pies and craft beer to hungry tourists and locals. This vibrant eatery is known for its artisanal pizzas crafted with high-quality ingredients. From classic Margherita to inventive creations like the Smoked Salmon Pizza, Base Camp Pizza Co caters to all taste buds. The lively atmosphere and extensive beer selection make it a perfect spot for a casual evening out. Expect long waits during the high season (summer and winter).
Zephyr Cove Resort
This year-round resort has snowmobiling, horseback riding, a beach and a marina, and two solid dining options. From late spring to early fall, the spot to be at is the very popular Sunset Beach Bar & Grille. Because it faces west, Zephyr Cove might just be one of the best spots in Lake Tahoe to watch the sunset behind the mountains. Just find a home base under one of the umbrellas, and your server will bring you whatever your heart desires (as long as that is a frozen drink and pub fare). There is also a deck with umbrellas that feels like a 24/7 beach party. If you need a break from the sun, but still want the fun, the Zephyr Cove Restaurant (open year-round) still has lake views, but in a quaint space with Old Tahoe vibes, including a stone fireplace, a full bar, and a menu of casual American classics.
$$$ - Dining with a View
Boathouse on the Pier
The key to maximizing your enjoyment at the Boathouse on the Pier in the summer is to get there for the afternoon happy hour (daily, from 3 to 6 p.m.). Then you can sip discounted drinks on a picnic table on the longest pier in Tahoe while watching people boat, kayak, and paddle board around the lake. If you go for dinner, be sure to arrive well before the sun goes down and grab a seat on the top deck for maximum romance (or by a window during cold weather). Like almost every restaurant with a view in Tahoe, the prices aren’t cheap, but the fish tacos are reasonable, though it’s worth it to shell out a little more for the Cajun shrimp boil pasta, “a Tahoe twist on the Southern classic.”
Riva Grill
Riva Grill, sister restaurant to Gar Woods in North Lake Tahoe, is an ode to Lake Tahoe’s wooden boat history and culture, named after the Riva runabout, a wooden boat company originally from Italy. The two-story restaurant is a great place to enjoy lake views year-round, but the outdoor patio situated on the marina is the spot to be in the summer. You can watch boats pulling in and out of the lake as you eat a Dungeness crab sandwich and sip on boozy cocktails, like the signature (and more than slightly dangerous) Wet Woody.
Artemis Cafe
The Artemis Lakefront Cafe has an ideal location at the Ski Run Marina, where you can sit outside with your dog friend, while eating tasty Greek and Mediterranean food and taking in the views of Lake Tahoe and the snow-capped Sierra. Everything is good, but you can’t go wrong with the falafel or veggie pita, both of which are fresh and filling.
The Grove at Camp Richardson
When it comes to lakefront dining, you can’t get much closer to the water than The Grove, an “old Tahoe” establishment that’s been voted Tahoe’s best outdoor patio. The signature Rum Runner cocktail is a great pick for a sunny afternoon or happy hour. Food is casual and approachable—burgers, wings, and homemade clam chowder are on the menu. The Grove is part of Camp Richardson Resort & Marina.
$$$$ - Upscale Dining
The Bistro at Edgewood
Situated at 100 Lake Parkway, this restaurant offers a sophisticated menu with a focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients. Enjoy your meal while overlooking the breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe. The Bistro’s diverse menu includes delectable dishes like Grilled Filet Mignon and Wild Mushroom Risotto. Floor-to-ceiling windows show off stunning views of the lake and mountains, and the entrees, as well as the wine selection, are fantastic. Be sure to book your reservation with the timing of the sunset in mind; it will help take the sting out of your bill.
Wolf Vanderpump
Team Vanderpump recently opened a brand new restaurant in Harrah’s casino which serves signature fried goat cheese bites paired with hot honey and a cabbage and pear slaw. To describe this dish in culinary terms, it’s f*k’g delicious. Equally good is the herb and gruyere Wolf bread, a pull-apart delicacy paired with a duo of butters (hot honey and whipped lava salt). The best thing I ate was the lobster ceviche crisp, which I haven’t stopped thinking about. Perfect for a fancy celebration.
Jimmy’s at The Landing
Stunning lake views, an intimate dining room, and a firepit-lined patio are all hallmark features of Jimmy’s, the restaurant within The Landing Resort & Spa. The menu is studded with seasonal dishes inspired by Lake Tahoe, and the beverage options include selections from a 1,500-bottle wine vault.
Maggie’s Restaurant at Desolation Hotel
Maggie’s is the Goldilocks of restaurants—not too casual and not too upscale, featuring homey classics with a sophisticated twist. Chilaquiles, for example, comes topped with slow-braised osso bucco, while shoestring fries get a drizzle of truffle oil and confit garlic. The restaurant sits within the Desolation Hotel, a property inspired by preservationist Joh Muir.
Cafe Fiore
Longtime favorite Café Fiore serves a lengthy fine-dining menu of handcrafted Italian dishes, but locals and longtime guests know that it also serves some off-menu “special plates,” too. Its cozy, wood-paneled interior is reminiscent of a cabin in the woods, perfect to tuck into during the colder months. The signature eggplant crepes are a standout.
