Sometimes, when we think back on our favorite vacation memories, many of the bright spots revolve around the food we ate. We become more adventurous in our travels, trying out foods we’ve never experienced before, just as we are visiting new places we have never visited before, and when your summer journey brings you to our Voyago Vacation Rentals in the town of Estes Park, your dining adventures are sure to be memorable ones. This guide to must-try Estes Park restaurants will make your mouth water and your stomach grumble that you aren’t feeding it these wonderful meals right now!
Bison Tacos at Ed’s Cantina & Grill, 390 E Elkhorn Avenue
Tacos are the world’s obsession, and we personally feel that no one does tacos like Ed’s Cantina & Grill. If you have never tried bison meet, we are thrilled to introduce you to the delicacy! First of all, bison meat is lower in fat and cholesterol, so it is a healthy protein choice, but when you eat Mexican food, do you really care about fat and cholesterol? These delicious tacos, made with a crispy corn shell, Pico de Gallo, and cheese, will put some spice into your life and perhaps spoil you against all other taco meats!
Homemade Biscuits and Gravy at Big Horn Restaurant, 401 W Elkhorn Avenue
Our mamas taught us that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and apparently the owners at Big Horn restaurant agree! Offering a menu filled with hearty and delicious breakfast foods, including a monster-sized breakfast burrito that we considered choosing for our favorite meal. The homemade biscuits, however, topped with homemade sausage gravy, are a habit we don’t want to kick, and we bet that you too will fall in love at first bite!
Spicy All Game Elk Burger at Elevations Eatery & Bar, 153 E Elkhorn Avenue
We really are trying to take you out of your comfort zone during your unforgettable vacation in Estes Park, first with the bison tacos, and now with the spicy all game elk burger at Elevations Eatery & Bar. Served on a pillowy brioche bun, the elk patty is topped with pepper jack cheese AND wild game boar sausage, which adds an extra kick you will soon begin to crave. For those looking for something a little lighter, their Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl is a game changer!
Dirty Martini Artichoke & Spinach Dip @Smokin’ Dave’s BBQ, 820 Moraine Avenue
Sometimes you just want to share some appetizers as you sip cold craft beers, and although the barbecue served at Smokin’ Dave’s BBQ is some of the best BBQ we have ever tasted, you may be equally delighted with snacking on their Dirty Martini Artichoke & Spinach Dip. Made with a blend of cheeses that now includes bleu cheese, garlic, cream, spinach, roasted green chiles, and artichoke hearts, we don’t really care to know the calorie count and while on vacation you shouldn’t have to worry about that either!
Huckleberry Oreo Ice Cream at Pines & Cones Ice Cream, 125 Moraine Avenue
It’s summer, of COURSE, you want ice cream, and Pines & Cones Ice Cream, one of Estes Park’s newest ice cream shops, has already won our hearts, offering homemade ice cream and their own waffle cones. Every flavor is worthy of trying, but the blend of huckleberries and Oreos is a unique one that tastes so good you will dream about it long after you have returned to real life.
Cherry Streusel Pie at the Colorado Cherry Company, Stanley Hotel
The Stanley Hotel is famous for a lot of things, including its longevity, its starring role in a very popular horror movie, and the fact that the hotel is very much haunted, but here in town, we also appreciate it for the Colorado Cherry Company café that does business from inside the hotel. Offering all the pies in all the flavors and a variety of what they call pie pockets (small, handheld pies that slightly resemble the ones that used to come in wax paper that you remember from your youth). But it is their cherry streusel pie that we hope you try, savoring the tart and sweet treat that has been a mainstay for the Colorado Cherry Company throughout 4 generations of ownership.
Your Family Recipes Made at Home in our Voyago Vacation Rentals
Now that you have enjoyed a sample of the culinary landscape of Estes Park, it is time to insert your own creations into the mix, with the final must-try item on our list being the family recipe that yours has always cherished. Our fully equipped kitchens might just bring a tear to the eye of the chef that is hiding within, offering high-end appliances, plenty of counterspace, and the vibe of the heart of the home. Contact us to reserve your favorite Estes Park vacation rental today!
