Warm up after winter fun with these Tahoe-based food-and-drink excursions.
When the caramel hues of autumn transform into sugar-dusted wintry hills, thoughts turn to carving through fresh powder on bluebird days … and Tahoe’s endless array of ways to après. After a full day of snow play, you’ll find abundant options around the lake to quaff and nosh, both on and off the slopes, and cap off your idyllic day away.
Après Your Way Through South Lake
Heading off the hills at Heavenly Mountain Resort? Hit the Lakeview Lodge, where the monthly Brews and Views event features live music alongside free food and beer sampling.
“There is something really cool about enjoying an après experience with your friends and family and soaking in some of the most incredible views of the lake,” says Heavenly Mountain Resort Communications Manager Cole Zimmerman.
Partner breweries from past events include Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Stella Artois, and Kona Brewing Co., which pour beers while Heavenly’s culinary team serves small plates and appetizers. A full bar also is available. Keep an eye out for Brews and Views dates on Heavenly’s social media pages and website.
At the base of Heavenly Mountain Resort is where the magic happens — literally. The Loft in Heavenly Village offers an intimate indoor space to unwind with the family off the slopes, where s’mores can be made tableside, shareable tapas-style cuisine tantalizes ravenous guests, and evenings can be crowned with a world-class magic show in The Loft’s theater.
Award-winning comedic magicians are brought in from Hollywood’s legendary Magic Castle to perform awe-inspiring feats for Tahoe audiences. Before the show, adults can imbibe cocktails that capture The Loft’s enchanting vibe, such as the bourbon-rich smoke and mirrors that’s finished in a smoke-filled chamber, or the butterfly effect, a gin cocktail topped with a lavender-infused smoke bubble.
A vast menu encourages sharing of items and features dishes ranging from the vegetarian-friendly tofu Buffalo wings and portabella tempura to the crispy tamarind chipotle duck tacos and ricotta gnocchi with wild boar and venison Bolognese. A guest favorite each winter is The Loft’s slow-cooked tomato bisque, topped with lump crab meat and crème fraîche and served with Gruyère and Cheddar grilled-cheese dippers.
“It’s more like a magic club; we rotate new magicians every two weeks so they always bring fresh illusions, fresh magic, and fresh comedy to the experience,” says Paul Reder, co-owner of The Loft. “It’s a special type of magic called parlor magic that’s only found at the Magic Castle and here at The Loft. That’s what sets us apart from other entertainment offerings — ours is always changing based on the performer, and they’re all regulars at the Magic Castle, which is considered the epicenter of magic in the United States.”
Down the road, Edgewood Tahoe Resort in South Lake Tahoe offers an upscale off-the-slope experience at its limited series of wine dinners hosted in the resort’s Bistro private dining room, featuring special guest and master sommelier Nick Hetzel. A different winery is showcased at each dinner, and guests revel in expert insights on the wines that are served alongside artfully curated courses. Past events have featured such wineries as Peju, Hartford Family, and Domaine Serene, with more coming this winter.
Should your vim and vigor for the snow continue to overflow, book Edgewood’s Après Adventure, a 1.8-mile excursion, on foot or snowshoe, led by expert guides around the resort’s fairways and meadows. Groups of up to 20 people get to explore eye-popping vistas and winter wildlife for about two hours before settling in for steaming cocoa and warm snacks such as popcorn, nuts, or a soft pretzel by the fire.
“Guests of Edgewood Tahoe Resort can indulge in exceptional dining experiences that capture the essence of the season, while our après scene offers the perfect backdrop to unwind against the views of Lake Tahoe,” says Siobhan Fajayan, the resort’s director of sales and marketing. “It’s truly a magical setting that enhances every meal and gathering.”
Westside Sipping and Dining
At Northstar California in Truckee, absorb après ski vibes while sipping on a glass of bubbly or sparkling cider at Tǒst. Ski into this mountainside hotspot by 1:30 p.m. to take part in the 2 p.m. toast (weather permitting, times subject to change), then enjoy light snacks and some more sparkling wine available for purchase. A bit farther down the hill is Northstar Village, home to an ice-skating rink, fire pits for thawing out and making s’mores, live outdoor music, and cups of hot cocoa, with tubing available for the whole family mere steps away at The Overlook.
Nearby, tucked against Olympic Valley’s skyscraping peaks at Palisades Tahoe, is an après-ski institution: Le Chamois.
This longstanding watering hole has served skiers snacks, steaming beverages, and libations since 1969. Favorite fresh-from-the-slope menu items include wings, jalapeño poppers, mozzarella sticks, and an enormous pretzel served with two kinds of mustard plus warm beer cheese. Meanwhile, let your eyes feast upon decades of memorabilia and photographed alpine adventures dotting the cozy interior, while you listen to live music or DJ sets that are played outside.
While pitchers of beer are popular here, regular visitors to Le Chamois are encouraged to purchase the restaurant’s signature beer pass. This convenient pre-paid punch card gets a guest either 20 pints of beer or 10 pitchers at a discount before turning the card over to a bartender for a chance to win skis, snowboards, gear, and other prizes at a raffle taking place each spring at Le Chamois’ customer-appreciation party.
If racing down the slopes doesn’t satisfy your appetite for snow, Palisades’ Snowshoe Tour & Chalet Dinner at Alpine just might.
Beginning at Alpine Lodge, guests are greeted with a beverage to sip while gearing up. A safety briefing precedes a gentle, 15-minute snowshoe hike along a groomed ski run to The Chalet, where a gourmet four-course dinner will be served.
Taking place December through March (dates and information are posted on the Palisades website), the event includes a hearty dinner that is authentically alpine, with a Bavarian-style smorgasbord that includes an appetizer such as spaetzle. A refreshing salad course comes before several entrée options, such as braised lamb shank, salmon, or a vegetarian option. Desserts continue the theme and may include sachertorte or apple strudel. New this year, guests can make their menu selections when booking, then dream of the upcoming day when they can savor their choices.
Even the hungriest of diners may be staggered by the dinner spread. The Chalet’s general manager, Sully Ware, explains that the restaurant doesn’t skimp on portions, and guests are encouraged to bring their appetites. Beer, wine, and cocktails also are available for purchase, and any dietary need can be accommodated.
After dessert and any desired nightcaps, guests journey by snowshoe back to the lodge under a blanket of stars.
“These dinners are a highlight of our winter offerings, combining the adventure of a snowshoe tour through a beautiful winter landscape with an intimate, fine-dining experience in the cozy, alpine setting of The Chalet,” Ware says. “It’s a unique opportunity to enjoy gourmet cuisine in a setting that feels both rustic and refined.”
Eastside Excitement
On Tahoe’s Nevada side, eager après lovers can purchase tickets for Diamond Peak Ski Resort’s Last Tracks events on Wednesday afternoons from February through the end of the official ski season. These sought-after wine-and-craft-beer tastings are complemented by an array of appetizers on the Snowflake Lodge deck but sell out almost instantly once tickets are released.
Should your admission to Last Tracks prove elusive, happy hour drink specials run from 2 to 3:30 p.m. daily at the Snowflake Lodge, and from 4 to 5:45 p.m. at the Loft Bar at Diamond Peak’s Base Lodge. At the Loft Bar, sip on primarily locally crafted beers, such as two Alibi Ale Works brews made exclusively for Diamond Peak, or freshly poured mead and cider. Creatively concocted cocktails on offer include the coconut mai-tai and the popular yellow snow, made with Tito’s Vodka, soda water, and a splash of lemonade.
Perhaps the ultimate après-ski celebration in Lake Tahoe is Diamond Peak’s Ullr Fest Parade & Community Party, happening on Jan. 31, 2025. A fundraiser for the Diamond Peak Ski Team, its festivities feature a torchlight parade, bonfire, plenty of food and drink, live music, raffles, and more in honor of the Scandinavian god of winter and snow, Ullr.
Whether it’s a bluebird day or storms are in the offing, opportunities to après ski abound all over the Tahoe area … the skiing part is not even necessary.
RESOURCES
Diamond Peak Ski Resort Diamondpeak.com
Edgewood Tahoe Resort Edgewoodtahoe.com
Heavenly Lake Tahoe Skiheavenly.com
Northstar California Northstarcalifornia.com
Palisades Tahoe Palisadestahoe.com
The Loft Thelofttahoe.com
