When it’s time to take your next meal function to new heights, you’ll find a plethora of intriguing venues in mountain destinations in the Western U.S.
Whether it’s enjoying gourmet fare on a “moving” gondola or locally blended whiskey at an old-fashioned saloon, the options are diverse and exciting.
Following are several delectable experiences across the West that transcend the ordinary when it comes to dining events, treating attendees to inspirational settings and innovative food and drink.
SKYHIGH–A Dinner With Altitude
If you want to take your dining experience to unparalleled heights, Canada has you covered. In British Columbia, the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation stages an annual fundraising event each summer with a dining experience aboard a private gondola cabin at an altitude of nearly 1,500 feet.
Taking place on Whistler’s PEAK2PEAK Gondolas at Whistler Blackcomb Resort, the “SKYHIGH–A Dinner With Altitude” event essentially transforms each 10-person gondola into a miniature fine-dining restaurant.
“The amount of equipment needed to execute this event involves several days of deliveries up and down each mountain,” said Mei Madden, executive director of the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation. “There literally is no other place in the world that offers this experience, and it really is an event of a lifetime.”
Madden said the event dates for 2018 will be announced later this year. Groups lucky enough to be in town during that time can purchase tickets, which are priced at $8,500 for a gondola accommodating 10 people.
The event starts with a cocktail reception, and then guests are treated to a seated five-course dinner in the gondola as they enjoy awesome mountain panoramas and sunset views. The menu features innovative gourmet cuisine with wine pairings.
The experience has been a huge hit since its inception in 2014, according to Madden.
Breckenridge Brewery and Farmhouse
With microbreweries, brewpubs and gastropubs exploding in popularity since the late 1990s, Americans can enjoy their beer in many different ways at a variety of venues.
The Breckinridge Brewery in Littleton, Colo., nine miles south of Denver, is a beer lover’s nirvana with tasting and special event rooms, a restaurant, a beer garden and expansive views of the Rocky Mountains.
“Groups can experience our brewery through meetings, special events, Farmhouse Restaurant buyouts and tours and tastings,” said Alexa Taylor, event coordinator for Farmhouse at Breckinridge Brewery.
The Farmhouse Restaurant, which can accommodate buyouts for up to 500 people, has a rustic dining room with private event areas, a beer garden with fire pits, bocce ball, giant Jenga and corn hole, and a back porch that overlooks the mountains.
Transcending the ordinary, the menu features entrees such as roasted red pepper creme spaghetti and pork green chile mac and cheese.
For beer lovers, the Tour Tasting Room can seat up to 45 guests for lunch or dinner and handle a standing reception for up to 75 people.
Breckendridge Brewery offers 47 varieties of beer. Among its most popular choices are Agave Wheat, Vanilla Porter and Avalanche Ale.
“Typically, tastings or beer dinners feature four or five different beers,” said Jimmy Walker, head brewer at the Breckenridge Brewery & Pub.
Round House
The iconic, octagon-shaped Round House restaurant in Sun Valley, Idaho, is a must visiting groups.
Perched on Baldy Mountain, the restaurant boasts an ideal vantage point.
“The Roundhouse is a memorable experience for any group, and one that is truly unique to Sun Valley,” said Brent Gillette, director of sales at Sun Valley Resort. “Built in 1937, it sits at the top of the Roundhouse Gondola and features epic views, a cozy setting and fine mountain dining.”
Highlighting the menu are items like crab grilled cheese and alpine elk burger, as well as an impressive wine list and homemade pastries.
Adept at handling groups, The Roundhouse can accommodate up to 100 people for buyouts.
Piste Mountain Bistro
Piste Mountain Bistro in Jackson Hole, Wyo., features a sleek dining room and bar, with stainless steel appointments and designer lighting.
The bistro is accessible via the Bridger Gondola at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, which takes guests to 9,095 feet to indulge in views of the entire valley of Jackson Hole.
Emblematic of the diverse menu is mushroom strudel, an appetizer with wild mushrooms, goat cheese, leek cream and lemon, and Columbia River king salmon. A high-quality wine list and creative cocktails are also big draws at Piste Mountain Bistro.
Million Dollar Cowboy Bar
Planners can immerse groups in the Wild West for an evening at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Located on the town square, the bar oozes Old West ambience, including lots of Western memorabilia, cowboy murals, animal mounts, knotty pine architecture and genuine saddle barstools.
The Million Dollar Bar can be rented for the day, evening or by the hour. The capacity is 400 people, which includes the 28 saddle stools at the world-famous bar. In addition, the lounge next to the dance floor has its own bar and seating for 65 guests. Dance lessons are available for additional fees.
Situated on a floor beneath the bar is the Million Dollar Cowboy Steakhouse, a high-end establishment headed by chef Paulie O’Conner. The menu features an array of dry-age and Wagyu beef from local and regional farms, as well as an exceptional wine list.
High West Distillery
“Whiskey is often misunderstood, and we make it interesting to all of our visitors,” said Justin Lew, director of High West Distillery in Park City, Utah. “Our tours and tastings explain the distilling process, history and how best to sip and enjoy whiskey, and women enjoy it as much as men.”
High West Distillery has several locations, including the distillery and tasting room in Wanship, Utah; a saloon in the heart of Old Town Park City at the base of Quit’n Time ski run; Nelson Cottage in Park City; and a restaurant at Salt Lake International Airport.
The High West Saloon, situated in an old horse stable, is a classic Wild West watering hole with an extra-long wooden bar and leather bar stools. It can host up to 270 people for a reception with customized food and drink options. Guests can enjoy whiskey flights, aged whiskey, specialty drinks and other beverages. Among the more intriguing food choices are baked macaroni and mountain cheese, and whiskey hummus “nachos.”
Other special event options include the Nelson Cottage, located near the saloon, which can accommodate up to 36 guests for a plated dinner and 65 people for a reception.
Additionally, High West Distillery, which is a 20-minute drive from Park City, features tours and tastings and can handle 150 people for a sit-down dinner and 300 for a reception.
Flagstaff House
Built into a mountainside about a five-minute drive from Boulder, the Flagstaff House overlooks the city at an elevation of 6,000 feet.
In addition to postcard-like views, the family-owned Flagstaff House has a 15,000-bottle wine cellar and a menu with French-American cuisine.
Enhancing its appeal are floor-to-ceiling windows, a mahogany bar, a fireplace, a rare crystal collection and outdoor terraces.
Allred’s
Jaw-dropping views of 13,000-foot mountain peaks and the town of Telluride below, 25-foot floor-to-ceiling glass windows, a huge stone fireplace and a world-class wine list are just a few of the elements that make Allred’s at Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado a phenomenal dining experience.
The eclectic menu boasts an impressive list of dishes, such as cider-brined Berkshire pork chop and crispy shishito peppers and juniper bourbon-marinated elk strip loin.
Equally impressive is Allred’s wine list, featuring more than 1,200 different labels that span the world, a wine cellar with 5,500 bottles and two custom Telluride Resort wines.
“We work closely with planners to select the perfect wines for group dinners and wine pairing dinners,” said Andrew Shaffner, wine director for Telluride Ski Resort. “Our selection is heavy in French, Italian and California wines as well as Argentina malbecs and German rieslings.”
Allred’s is available for buyouts for 130 people or up to 24 people in a small private dining room that offers a fireplace and mountain panoramas.
Game Creek and The 10th
Colorado’s iconic Vail Mountain treats groups to a variety of delectable adventures.
Its most exclusive group dining option is Game Creek, a European-style chalet set 10,500 feet above Vail Village in Game Creek Bowl. Half the fun is getting there, as guests take a ride on the Eagle Bahn Gondola and then hop on a snowcat that takes them to the mountaintop retreat during winter. In summer, they are escorted via a four-wheel-drive vehicle from the gondola.
Game Creek, which serves upscale American cuisine, can accommodate 120 guests in the dining room, 28 guests in the club room and 60 guests in the lower-level bistro.
Another fine-dining experience at the resort is The 10th, a nod to the 10th Mountain Division and many of the founders of Vail Mountain. Guests access The 10th via a ride to the top of Gondola One at Mid Vail and are treated to majestic views of Gore Range.
Dishes at The 10th are a reflection of French, Swiss, Italian and Rocky Mountain cuisine with a contemporary touch.
The 10th can accommodate up to 200 guests, with additional seating available in tented outdoor space.
Everett’s 8800
Providing great views of Lone Peak Mountain in Big Sky, Mont., Everett’s 8800 sits atop Andesite Mountain and features an expansive deck and huge indoor/outdoor fireplaces. The rustic interior has a log-beamed ceiling, leather seats and large windows for scenic views.
Serving American alpine fare, the menu is dotted with intriguing entrees such as bison ravioli, elk chili and open-faced walleye and Swiss potato gratin.
Beano’s Cabin
Set in a mountain meadow at the base of Larkspur Bowl in Beaver Creek, Colo., this beautiful log structure has an open lawn and wrap-around deck at the foot of Grouse Mountain.
Oozing with Western mountain chic, the interior has vaulted ceilings, antler chandeliers and a stone fireplace. A gourmet organic menu and a superb wine list highlight cuisine offerings.
Suitable for up to 150 guests, Beano’s Cabin is available for group functions from December to April and June to October for group functions.
