9 Restaurants Near Rocky Mountain NP That Are the “Height” of Estes Park’s Food Scene

Hello and welcome to my article on all the great restaurants that you can find around Rocky Mountain National Park. Like any of our national parks, Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) is a beautiful serene piece of our nation’s natural beauty that has been preserved for us all to enjoy. But unfortunately since the parks are preserved there aren’t a whole lot of options for food and drinks once you are in the park. But not to worry, that’s why I have a list today of a bunch of great restaurants you can find right nearby the park. I’ll be sure to give you every restaurant's address and a link to their website so that way you can dig a little deeper if one catches your eye. And I’ll also be sure to throw you a link anytime one of the great restaurants accept our convenient digital GiftYa gift cards!

WHAT’S THAT!!!??? YOU HAVEN’T HEARD OF GIFTYA BEFORE!!!???

Well that’s actually quite alright. See, a GiftYa is just a gift card that exists in an entirely digital format. Which makes them really convenient for anybody who likes to travel or explore. You see instead of having to keep track of those clunky plastic gift cards from the 90s you can just buy, send, and store your GiftYa entirely in a digital format on your phone. Which means you won’t have to worry about forgetting them the next time you are on a trip to one of our national parks or beautiful cities.

But enough about how convenient and modern GiftYas are, let’s get to that list of amazing restaurants near the park that you came here looking for!

1 - Bird & Jim

Locally Sourced Menu That Evolves With Each Season

915 Moraine Ave | Estes Park | www.birdandjim.com

Bird & Jim seek to define Colorado cuisine. And they do this by providing an always evolving seasonal menu composed of ingredient driven meals. They strive to provide a real taste of Colorado with their ingredients being sourced from nearby farms and farmers. As such, they serve a pretty unique take on modern American cuisine. You can get everything from smoked pheasant to kale salad. There’s a lot that they have to offer and I don’t really have a succinct way to explain their menu so I’d honestly recommend taking a look at the menu on their website to get a more full idea of what they have to offer. But no matter what you decide to eat, you can be sure that it is going to be served up by their charming and affable staff of wait staff and bartenders! 

“Sat at the bar so we could watch the MLB game and the bartenders working were very charming. They gave us some tips on places to visit while in the area and poured some great drinks.

Food was outstanding and service was quick, even with a packed house.” - Yelp Review 

2 - The Rock Inn

Enjoy Live Music And Breathtaking Views

1675 St Hwy 66 | Estes Park | www.rockinnestes.com

The Rock Inn first opened its doors in 1937 as a dance hall for the Big Band Era. But these days The Rock Inn serves as a great restaurant that serves delicious and filling comfort foods. But you can get a little bit of everything from soups and salads, to steak and chicken wings. But the real attraction at the Rock Inn is all of the great local music they have perform and the absolutely stunning views of the Great Rocky Mountain National Park. And you can enjoy those views from their outdoor dining patio. And their entire menu is crafted with the ideas of health and sustainability at the forefront. So not only do you get a great meal with great views, you also get to feel good about supporting a responsible business. 

“What a great experience! We went to The Rock Inn for a birthday dinner. There was live music, such nice staff and the food was awesome!” - Yelp Review 

3 - Claire’s Restaurant and Bar

A Restaurant With Amazing Views and A Great Menu All Day

225 Park Ln | Estes Park | www.clairesrestaurantandbar.com

Since Claire's Restaurant and Bar makes all their food with locally sourced food and is made fresh to order. And as such, their menu can vary from season to season as some local ingredients become unavailable. But they do keep some staples all year long if one of them becomes your favorite. 

The great thing about Claire’s is that they are great all day long. Whether you want breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner you can get something out of this world at Claire’s!

“Great food, great service! Nice views. Killer sweet potato fries   wanted a quick bite to eat after hiking. This was the perfect spot! Delicious” - Yelp Review 

4 - Smokin Dave’s BBQ & Brew

The Best Place for BBQ Around Rocky Mountain National Park

820 Moraine Ave | Estes Park | smokindavesbbq.com

Smokin Dave’s BBQ & Brew is a great place near Rocky Mountain National Park to grab lunch or dinner. As the name might suggest you can get fantastic barbecue here and plenty of cold beer to drink too. And they are going to have all the barbecue classics like chicken fried steak, pulled pork sandwiches, and brisket. So you should be able to get whatever great barbecue style meal you are looking for. 

They’ve been open since 2007 so you know they have to be doing something right. Especially when you consider they have opened four more locations around the state, and the fact they were named one of the “Best of the Best Barbecue Restaurants in America” by the National Barbecue News. Which is apparently a real thing. But I’m assuming if anybody is obsessed enough with barbecue to have a whole national news for it, they probably know what they are talking about. 

“This is my favorite restaurant in Estes park. What you get for the price is unreal. The food quality is so good! Love this place so much.” - Yelp Review 

5 - Himilayan Curry and Kebob

The Absolute Best Indian Food You Can Find Near Rocky Mountain National Park

Grab a Himilayan Curry and Kebob gift card by following the link!

101 Elkhorn Ave | Estes Park | https://estesparkcuisinenepal.com

If you are looking for something more exciting than the American style cuisine featured further up the list, you will definitely want to give Himalayan Curry & Kebob a visit. They specialize in Indian and Himalayan style cuisine so you can get fantastic meals like chicken tikka masala and all sorts of amazing curries and kabobs. And on top of the amazing food there are also great beer and wine selections that you can choose from. And they also offer all kinds of take-out and catering. If you are looking for authentic and delicious Indian food then this is without a doubt the best place ion all of Estes Park

“So so good! Food was delicious and portion size was just about right. I can't wait to go back and eat here again!

It's tucked around the corner in Estes Park but definitely a hidden gem. Waitress was super nice. Has indoor and outdoor seating” - Yelp Review 

Digital Himilayan Curry and Kebob gift cards can be grabbed by following this link!

6 - Casa Grande Mexican Restaurant

Incredible South of the Border Flavors At This Mexican Restaurant In Estes Park 

Grab a Casa Grande Mexican Restaurant gift card by following the link!

210 E Elkhorn Ave | Estes Park | www.casagrandemexicana.com/menu

Casa Grande is definitely going to be at the top of your must haves whenever you are looking for fantastic Mexican food around Estes Park. Like most Mexican restaurants you will be able to get all your favorite dishes. They have everything from fish tacos to enchiladas so I am sure they will have whatever it is that you are looking for. And not only can you expect top-notch South of the border flavors at Casa Grande, you can also expect to get ample portions at a fair price. 

“We ordered two orders of chicken fajitas for our family of 5 and it was the perfect amount. Coming form TX we are pretty picky about our Mexican food, but this did not disappoint.

Yes you did have to pay for the chips and salsa, but they were very good!” - Yelp Review

Anybody can grab a Casa Grande Mexican Restaurant gift card by following this link!

7 - Wild Rose Food and Spirits

The Best Wings Anywhere In Town

Grab a Wild Rose Food and Spirits gift card by following the link!

157 W Elkhorn Ave | Estes Park | www.wildroserestaurant.net

Wild Rose Food and Spirits aims to provide a pretty traditional American/European style dinner cuisine. They have everything from rocky mountain trout to elk burgers. But the thing that really sets them apart is the fact that they have the best wings anywhere around Rocky Mountain National Park. But don’t worry, if you aren’t in the mood for wings Wild Rose haws plenty more to offer. They have fantastic soups, salad, and seafood along with a happy hour and a lounge for when you feel like indulging in the myriad of different spirits and cocktails that they have to offer. And you can expect a friendly staff and great customer service to accompany all their amazing dining options. 

“Great food, great service, clean and nice atmosphere. My wife and I were the only ones there in a Monday evening and it was a very nice time. Ribeye was delicious, sausage sampler was amazing. Philip was an amazing server. Will definitely be back again.” - Yelp Review 

Get yourself a convenient digital  Wild Rose Food and Spirits gift card by following the link!

8 - Lonigans Pub and Grill

An Irish Pub With Altitude!

Grab a Lonigans Pub and Grill gift card by following the link!

110 W Elkhorn Ave | Estes Park | www.lonigans.com

If you are looking for more than just to sit down and have a meal with your night on the town near Rocky Mountain National park then you are definitely going to want to check out Lnigan’s Pub in nearby Estes Park. The great thing about Lonigans is not only that they have fantastic pub food and excellent drinks, they also have plenty of big screen tvs that you can catch the game on. And if sports aren’t your thing don’t worry, they also have plenty of other fun activities like a karaoke night or live music from local musicians. And there are of course pool tables and dart boards available. And to top it off their happy hour is everyday from 4PM - 6PM!

“Stopped in for a beer and a quick snack had delicious cheese curds, a perfect Guinness pour, and a super friendly bartender!” - Yelp Review 

You can grab a digital Lonigans Pub and Grill gift card in just seconds by following the link!

9 - Flavor of the Rockies

The Best Place Near RMNP to Grab Dessert, Ice Cream, and Frozen Yogurt!

Grab a Flavor of the Rockies gift card by following the link!

101 W Elkhorn Ave | Estes Park | www.flavoroftherockies.com

And to round out my list of great places to get food around Rocky Mountain National Park I am featuring Flavor of the Rockies. Which is a great little ice cream shop that also specializes in frozen yogurt and cookies. And if you happen to be out and about on the hiking trails after a day stuck in the car traveling with your kids, then this one's for you. I know everybody of all ages loves ice cream, but young kids love it more than anyone else. So if your young one has gotten too much sun out exploring the park, or they’re just cranky from being in the car, you are absolutely going to be able to brighten their day and bring a smile to their face when you stop in at Flavor of the Rockies!

“Had a cookie and ice cream cone here and both were great! Highly recommend. I'm drooling just thinking about it.” - Yelp Review 

Grab a Flavor of the Rockies gift card by today by using that handy little link!

And there you have valued internet readers! That is my list of some of the best restaurants you can find near Rocky Mountain National Park. I hope I was able to at least help you narrow your choices down. And if you are around Rocky Mountain National Park or Estes Park Colorado for a vacation be sure to check out one of our other great articles on all the amazing hiking trails you can find, activities and things to do in the city, or even another one of our articles on great places to eat. I couldn’t possibly have fit them all into just this article afterall!