Where to Eat in South Lake Tahoe

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Tasty restaurants, blackjack tables and hiking galore.

It goes without saying that South Lake Tahoe is a magical place. An impressive variety of local wildlife acts as your welcoming committee as you wind your way from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport toward Heavenly Village; and by the time you reach the heart of the lake, you have forgotten about every remnant of that hectic last week at work before your sojourn in the California wilderness.

It really is paradise.

So, when a childhood friend of mine decided that it would be a perfect spot for her destination wedding in May of 2014, I volunteered to help l by reviewing the local food scene for her website. The list actually came in pretty handy as the weather was a bit sporadic for mid-May, so we were able to enjoy our culinary experiences both in the  great outdoors as well as within the comfort of some of the cozy local lodges.

So, without further ado, here is my list of the best breakfast, lunch and dinner spots in South Lake Tahoe, California! Bon Appétit!

Breaking Fast

Driftwood Tahoe

Cozy, absolutely delicious breakfast and lunch spot located in Heavenly Village. The menu has plenty of ‘flair’ with items such as ‘Outrageous Omeletes’ and ‘Wacky Waffles’ in addition to Huevos Rancheros (Driftwoods version), and a number of vegetarian specialties. Mimosas + Bloody Mary’s also offered…it was quite yummy!
Details: Open 7:00am-3:00pm, located at 1001 Heavenly Way Village, Suite 1a South Lake Tahoe, CA

Ernie’s Coffee Shop

Voted “best breakfast in South Lake Tahoe,” the menu at Ernie’s is relatively standard for a breakfast place (eggs, waffles, breakfast sandwiches, pancakes etc.). Also there is a downloadable “10% off your next meal coupon” available on their website!
Details: Open 6:00am-2:00pm, located at 1207 Highway 50, South Lake Tahoe CA 

Keys Café

This place received a 4.5/5 star rating on Yelp! (the highest of local ratings of any breakfast place). It’s a cozy little independent coffee house, restaurant, and wine + dessert bar. Offers items such as breakfast burritos, sandwiches, waffles, acai + yogurt bowls and more! Locally sourced, grown etc.
Details: Open 7:00am-4:00pm, located at 2279 Lake Tahoe Blvd #2, South Lake Tahoe CA

Red Hut Café 

Trip Advisor ranks this place as one of South Lake Tahoe’s Top Five Restaurants. It’s motto is “peace, love & waffles,” and serves breakfast and lunch all day. The menu is fairly extensive, and offers just a little bit of everything. I wasn’t able to make it here, so I was a little bummed, but a few other wedding guests sent along some rave reviews so I would make a point to stop in if you get a chance!
Details: Open 6:00am-2:00pm, Located at 2723 South Lake Tahoe Blvd

Lunch + Dinner

Basecamp Pizza 

Located in Heavenly Village, this gourmet pizza place is centrally located in South Lake Tahoe. It received a 4.5 star rating on Yelp!, and is quite delicious. Great appetizer selection, salad options, pasta dishes and specialty pizzas such as Thai Curry Chicken, Smoked BBQ Chicken, Pear & Gorgonzola (+more) make up a majority of the menu.  Wine + full bar are also on the menu. We got a pizza to go after the wedding and it was fabulous! (I’d highly recommend Thai Curry Chicken).
Details: Open 12:00pm-9:00 pm, Located at 1001 Heavenly Village Way, South Lake Tahoe, CA

Evan’s Gourmet American Café 

This place is a little schnazzier. It is located inside of a vintage Tahoe cabin amongst the pine trees (gorgeous view). It is Zagat-rated, and its menu includes: Scallop quenelles with sherry lobster cream sauce, chargrilled Korean short-ribs, steaks, rack of lamb + more! Dishes range from $14-$37, and they also have their own dessert page. So, that sounds horrible. Corking fee is $20/bottle with a limit of 2 bottles/table. SO BYO at your own risk.
Details: Located at 536 Emerald Bay Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA. Reservations recommended so call 530-542-1990

Himmel Haus (German Food + Beer, Yah!)

Bottomless bloodies and mimosas on Sundays! Lunch + Dinner only (I just added it here for brunch purposes…). This is a German restaurant and Bierhaus that prides itself on local sustainable practices as well as its great German beer selection.
Details: Open 12pm-12am (or 2am), Located at 3819 Saddle Road, South lake Tahoe CA 96150

Sams Place Bar & Grill

This is the oldest bar and grill in South Lake Tahoe. Menu is typical bar food (sliders, tacos, mozz sticks, onion rings) but also has a great selection of salads, soups, sandwiches, burgers & pizzas. Bar atmosphere, pool table, and good local spot to hang out and have a drink and some food!
Details: Open 11:00am-2:00am, Located at 611 Highway 50, Zephyr Cove NV 89448

Off the Hook

I know, what your thinking. ‘sushi? in South Lake Tahoe?’ Apparently! This sushi place is ranked on Urbanspoon, Yelp! and Google, so I had to throw it on here. It is a casual but high-quality sushi spot on Highway 50, and it also has a fun happy hour! Locals love the following eats: Holy Smokes roll, Crunchy Granola, Slammin Salmon, the Superstar and Funky Roll.
Details: Open 4:30-9:30 pm, located at 2660 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, South Lake Tahoe CA 96150

The Brewery at South Lake Tahoe

Alright, this place has a Happy Hour 3-5 every day, which includes $4 pints & food specials. It’s in close proximity to all of the hotels, and has outdoor seating. They have 10 beers on the menu that are brewed in-house, and the menu is super diverse. Fun spot to stop – it comes highly recommended by locals.
Details: Open every day at 11:00 am, Located at 3542 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe CA 96150

Café Fiore 

Quaint and cozy Italian restaurant. When I say cozy, I say that because there are only 7 TABLES! (Yes, make a reservation). Menu includes eggplant crepes, an array of pasta dishes, oh, and white chocolate ice cream! Yummy!
Details: Open at 5:30 pm, Located 1169 Ski Run Boulevard #5, South Lake Tahoe CA. Reservations at 530-541-2908

McP’s Irish Pub Tahoe

This is a typical Irish pub, located close to most of the hotels in South Lake Tahoe. Food is served until 9:00pm on weekdays, 10:00pm on weeknights, and the menu is pretty diverse. Soups, crocks, Irish Shepherds Pie, and daily food specials are all on the menu. *As a note, you can’t do separate checks here so make sure you have cash or plan on playing credit card roulette!
Details: Open 11:30am-9:00 (or 10:00 )pm, Located at 4093 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe CA 96150

Taqueria Jimenez 

Hole-in-the-wall local favorite Mexican place. Very cheap, locals say to order the “super chicken burrito” and also hit the salsa bar. Tacos are $1, burritos are under $5…yum! This spot is also very close to the hotels and casinos, and is easily walkable.
Details: Located at 913 Friday Avenue, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

Late Night Eats
Keep in mind that everything (delivery included) in South Lake Tahoe stops serving food by 11 if not sooner! 

Blue Dog Pizza

Alright people, this place delivers (until 11pm!). Delivery number is 530-541-0123. Typical pizza place, locals like it.
Details: Open 11am- 11pm, Delivery

McP’s Late Night Menu 

I already reviewed McP’s above, but they do have a late-night menu that is available until 11:00 pm. So, check out the review above, and head to McP’s if you need some late-night eats!
Details: Open 11:30am-9:00 (or 10:00)pm, Located at 4093 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe CA 96150

Himmel Haus 

I already reviewed Himmel Haus, so check it out above! They are open until 2am on weekends, so it’s important to state that here.

The Land of the Pueblo

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My heart will always live in Santa Fe.

Picture this:  Turquoise-speckled sidewalk displays, modern-art galleries, dive bars featuring hundreds of different tequilas, and hiking to native hot-spring saunas…all the while breathing-in the faint scent of slow-roasting pork and green chile. Sound dreamy? You bet.

To put it lightly, Santa Fe is the gem of the Southwest, and a must-see on anyone’s bucket list. While I will dedicate a separate post on the restaurants you should visit, here are a few of my favorite spots to frequent should you ever make it to the capital city of New Mexico!

The Plaza
Loretto Chapel, Ortegas, Georgia O’Keefe Museum + more

Santa Fe Plaza, a view towards the Loretto Chapel

A visit to The Plaza (the quaint downtown area) is one of the reasons I dub this city to be one of the most charming and authentic destinations in the United States. This city center has been inhabited since 1610, and is still thriving as a premier cultural and political center. Follow the Old Santa Fe Trail to the heart of The Plaza, where you will discover the iconic Loretto Chapel (known for its mysterious spiral staircase, who some believe was built by St. Joseph himself!),  the handcrafted jewelry of award-winning local artists at Ortega’s on the Plaza, or discover the famous avant-garde artistry displayed in the Georgia O’Keefe Museum.

Jackalope Mercato
Pottery, Antiques + Craftsmanship at its finest!

Jackalope Outdoor Entrance

This outdoor market features the best of Southwest culture; from Prairie dogs, clay pottery, antiques dating back to the 1800’s, hand-painted beads (and so much more), this is potentially my favorite spot in all of Santa Fe. Oh, and you’ll want to accustom yourself to the name behind this outdoor mercantile (it is actually an animal with a legendary combination of a male jackrabbit and a female antelope).

Bandelier National Monument
hiking + ceremonial caves galore!

Ancient Ceremonial Cave at Bandelier National Monument

Situated outside of Los Alamos, New Mexico, Bandelier National Monument is a staple for outdoor enthusiasts who want to experience a unique taste of nature. Carved by the Rio Grande River and protected by intricately marbled volcanic rock, the hiking trails at Bandelier are both breathtaking and historic. Petroglyphs and pictographs are common, as are cave dwellings, vita holes and ancient ceremonial caves. Cerro Grande Trail and the Frijoles Canyon Trail are my two favorite shorter hikes, as both are 2 miles long or less and offer immediate gratification. I’d suggest doing several hikes in one day, as they can take over an hour to complete due to the picturesque settings (make sure to check out the Tyuonyi  Ruins) and picnic spots that are offered along the way.

Ten Thousand Waves Spa
A traditional Japanese spa in the Southwest!

Wind and weave your way through the desert to one of the most luxurious spas in New Mexico: Ten Thousand Waves. Nestled amongst juniper trees and situated on a scenic hill overlooking the National Forest, this spa has some of the best massage therapists I have ever encountered. A must-visit after a long day of hiking, for sure!

Santa Fe School of Cooking
Agave nectar and green chiles, anyone?

Specializing in New Mexican, Native American, Mexican, Spanish, vegetarian and contemporary Southwestern cuisine, the culinary masters at the Santa Fe School of Cooking are excellent at teaching the ins and outs of Southwest cooking. I’d recommend taking the “Rellenos” or “Tacos” class, but you really can’t go wrong with this place. Plus, you get to taste the food and shop for the Cooking’s Schools unique ingredients after the class is over, which is a MUST!