An Eater’s Guide to Palisades Tahoe

Friends enjoying happy hour at Rocker around a firepit

Come for the skiing, stay for the food! Across Palisades Tahoe is a diverse array of food offerings sure to satisfy every palate. While not every location is featured in this blog, every spot that offers an Ikon Passholder discount is included. This year, Ikon Passholders receive a double discount on food and beverage items at all locations (except Little Bear Café and Rocker) before 11:30 AM. I’ve highlighted some of my personal favorite offerings from each spot, but I encourage you to take a food tour and find your favorites too!

Palisades

The Village at Palisades Tahoe

Village at Palisades Tahoe with snow
Photo taken by Blake Kessler.

Starting at the Palisades Tahoe Base, The Village offers all your food and beverage needs, from a quick coffee pick-me-up before you hit the slopes to sit-down offerings with jaw-dropping views of Tram Face and KT-22.

Little Bear Cafe sandwich

Little Bear Café

The newest addition to Palisades Tahoe may have become my new favorite go-to. We’ve partnered with local coffee roasters, farmers, winemakers, brewers, and artists to bring the Palisades Tahoe community to you. You can savor our in-house baked goods, enjoy artisan sandwiches, sip fresh beverages, espresso coffee drinks, and admire local artwork in a warm, welcoming setting. It’s the perfect way to experience Palisades Tahoe. With grab-and-go options ranging from breakfast foods, pasta, salads, sandwiches, coffee, pastries, and other delectable goods, there is something for every craving. My current favorite is the Steak Sandwich, featuring tender beef strips, provolone cheese, pickled onion, arugula, tomato, and pesto aioli on a French roll. Mouth-watering to the max.

Friends enjoying nachos outside at Rocker

Rocker

Arguably the best spot to get loaded nachos in Tahoe, and named for the ski design invented by Palisades Tahoe icon Shane McConkey, Rocker celebrates Palisades Tahoe’s active outdoor culture and the legends it inspires, where families and friends can kick back in the sun or out of the snow to recount their own tales from the mountains while sharing simple, delicious food and drink from our local area. Rocker offers everything from brunch on the weekends, to daily happy hour deals, and is the best spot to watch live sporting events in The Village. And have I already mentioned the loaded Rocker Nachos? Complete with corn tortilla chips, cheese sauce, shredded cheese, black beans, corn, serranos, pickled onions, jalapeños, smashed avocado, pico de gallo, cilantro lime crema, salsa (and I promise it’s worth it to add the shredded chicken), it’s the perfect centerpiece to any table.

Sun Bowl acai bowl and salads

Sun Bowl Acai & Poke

Sun Bowl Acai & Poke is a breakfast and lunch joint, serving delightfully fresh and fully customizable acai and poke bowls, breakfast sandwiches, house-made baked goods, smoothies, and coffee drinks. With options for breakfast, lunch, and après, Sun Bowl is a great place to stop to prepare for (or recover from!) your day on the hill. Enjoy a menu of island-inspired vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and raw health food items. My personal go-to is the Roasted Beet Bowl, with furikake, edamame, red cabbage, cucumber salad, seaweed salad, scallions, jalapeños, sriracha & wasabi aioli, daikon sprouts, and crispy onions on quinoa and mixed greens. It hits my poke bowl craving while focusing on my veggie intake and I’ve even been able to turn my meat lover friends on to it.

Olympic House

Friends having happy hour outside at Olympic House

Located at the base of KT-22, Olympic House is the original lodge of our resort, and remains one of the best spots to sun-bathe and keep up on all the action happening on the slopes. Inside houses quick and easy lunch options ranging from a warm bowl of ramen to fiery chicken sandwiches.

3 Bluebird chicken sandwiches

Blue Bird Chicken

There’s nothing like a Blue Bird day! Our gourmet chicken shack offers both crispy hand breaded and grilled chicken sandwiches. Choose from the Blue Bird Classic, Spicy Nashville or Korean Fried Chicken as either a sandwich or salad. Or if you’re needing something to hit your sweet tooth, BlueBird has chicken & waffles with maple syrup and whipped butter. My personal favorite is the classic Blue Bird Chicken Sandwich, with honey butter sauce, creole aioli, and arugula on a freshly baked brioche bun.

Ramen bowl

Oishii Ramen

Need a hug? Try one from the inside out, with a warm bowl of ramen you can wind down after a long day on the slopes or enjoy a midday pick-me-up. Oishii Ramen has everything from ramen to curry bowls, pork dumplings, and karaage chicken. I like the Shitake Ramen, with noodles, veggie broth, shitake mushrooms, egg, and scallions.

Smash burger at Oh! Burger

Oh! Burger

For a classic ski lunch, head to Oh! Burger. Serving up juicy burgers, fries, and delicious chicken sandwiches made to your liking. New this year, this joint will be whipping up Smash Burgers with American cheese, lettuce, tomato and special sauce!

High Camp

Tram overlooking Lake Tahoe
Aerial Tram

Whisk yourself away to breath-taking views 8,200 feet above sea level, offering stunning mountain vistas, a view of Lake Tahoe, and no shortage of culinary delights. At High Camp, you can have it all.

Scenic view from Terrace Restaurant and Bar

Terrace Restaurant & Bar

The Terrace Restaurant & Bar stuns with one of Palisades Tahoe’s most breathtaking venues. Located at High Camp, elevation 8200 feet, The Terrace features panoramic views of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierras. The Terrace will be featuring a full-service bar daily, with a light lunch menu Monday through Thursday, and amp it up a notch with an Italian-themed buffet available Friday through the weekend and on select holidays.

Friends enjoying lunch at Granite Bistro

Granite Bistro

Floor-to-ceiling windows at Granite Bistro ensure you’re still a part of the action while you’re grabbing a bite to eat. The menu features a variety of burgers, sandwiches, salads, and drinks. I’m a sucker for burrata, so of course, the Basil Marinated Burrata, with creamy tomato sauce, kale, and a grilled baguette is my guilty pleasure.

High Camp Marketplace pastry case and fridge

High Camp Marketplace

The High Camp Marketplace offers delicious grab-and-go food featuring locally and regionally sourced ingredients in our sandwiches, salads, and quick healthy snacks. Grab a delicious espresso or a fresh-baked pastry. Pizza by the slice made with Sicilian style crust from our local partner Truckee Sourdough, beer, wine, kombucha, and mountain retail items are also for sale. When I’m in a rush, I devour Palisades Tahoe’s Pastry Chef Cortney’s Energy Cookie with: gluten-free oats, unsweetened coconut, maple syrup, raisins, pumpkin seeds, coconut oil, ground flax seed, chia seeds, ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. As cookie monster says, ” I’d give you a cookie, but I ate it”.

Gold Coast Lodge

Friends enjoying drinks overlooking Gold Coast

Step off the Funitel and into the middle of the action! The Gold Coast Lodge is situated mid-mountain at Palisades and is fully equipped to service all your ski, ride, après, and culinary needs. Just kick-back, relax and let the day sink in.

Storefront at Funi's Mountaintop Cafe

Funi’s Mountaintop Café

Funi’s on-mountain market is designed especially for skiers and riders who want to hit the slopes right away. Wired for convenience and flavor, the menu offers Mexican-inspired food, and grab-and-go items to fuel your adventure. I personally like the Barbacoa Burrito Bowl with slow-roasted beef, mixed greens, red rice, black beans, shredded cheese, pico de gallo, and Funi sauce.

Pastries from the Marketplace at Gold Coast

The Marketplace at Gold Coast

The Marketplace is another great grab-and-go spot at the top of the Funitel. Come inside to warm up while you wait, or stop by our drive-thru window. The Marketplace offers delicious grab-and-go drinks and food featuring locally and regionally sourced ingredients in our sandwiches, salads, and quick healthy snacks. Grab a coffee or a fresh-baked pastry to-go. Another go-to for a quick pocket sandwich is the Caprese Chicken, with grilled chicken breast, fresh mozzarella, basil, sliced tomato, and balsamic glaze on a grilled ciabatta roll. Yum!

Customer ordering food from The Arc

The Arc

The Arc is located on the middle floor of the Gold Coast Lodge and is a fantastic spot to grab food, sit outside and enjoy the day. There are multiple different food stations and you can get anything from burgers, to butter chicken, to hot dogs, mac and cheese, and baked potatoes. My favorite is the BBQ Pulled Pork Baked Potato with olive oil, salt, pulled pork, chipotle orange bbq sauce, shredded cheese, and green onion.

Customer ordering food from 39 Degrees North

39 Degrees North

Located on the bottom floor of the Gold Coast Lodge, is a quick and easy spot for lunch, snacks, and drinks. 39 Degrees North features specialty food stations with distinctive soups, grilled fare, and Asian cuisine. Outdoor seating on the deck is ideal for soaking up sunrays and watching action on the slopes. I’ve loved getting the Paneer Curry when I need something to warm me up, it has fresh cheese in a green curry sauce served with naan, dahl, and jasmine rice.

Alpine

Sunrise view over Meadows Cafe

Meadows Café

Meadows Café, located in the Alps-inspired Alpine Meadows Base Lodge, offers a food court and expanded marketplace. Options include fresh pastries, pizzas, burgers, Asian bowls, and a large selection of grab-and-go salads and snacks. A self-serve barista bar pours espresso, cappuccino, lattes, and more! Outdoor seating is available just outside Meadows Café on the beloved Alpine Lodge deck. I usually go for a pizza and seasoned pretzel bites with mind-bending cheese sauce.

Pretzel and brats from Alpine Meadow's Chalet

The Chalet

The Chalet at Alpine Meadows is an on-mountain Bavarian-style beer garden & restaurant.
Try our signature Frankfurter, Bratwurst, and one of six different beers on tap. Cozy up inside or post up on the deck and take in the sun. I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about the BAP (Big Alpine Pretzel). It is a giant 1.5 lb pretzel served with warm beer cheese and stone ground mustard… could even be the 8th wonder of the world.

Meat on barbeque from Stoked Oak

Stoked Oak

New this year and located on the gondola side of the sun deck, Stoked Oak will feature traditional smoked BBQ platters, old world sausages and cold beverages. Supported by a giant 16’ reverse flow smoker, Alpine’s smoked brisket and chicken will be available 7-days a week (either inside the Café or outside by the Gondola). The BBQ Platter is going to be mouth-watering, with house smoked brisket or bone in chicken thigh, cole slaw, house-made chips, and cowboy beans.

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Maddy Condon

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