On the ground floor of the historic Truckee Hotel is a fine dining-meets-supperclub establishment where one can find a bustling bar scene with live jazz, classic cocktails, and friendly patrons. If you’re going to order a martini in Tahoe, this is the place to do it. Beyond the bar area is a comfortable dining room with white tablecloth-covered tables and low lighting where you can tuck into neapolitan pizzas straight out of the brick oven, house made pastas, and a slew of steaks. Currently, lunch and dinner are being offered on the heated patio, and curbside service is available as well.

The perfect date spot, Pianeta is possibly the coziest spot in a region where every restaurant claims to be cozy. It is definitely the most romantic thanks to low lighting, exposed brick, dark wood accents, and flickering candlelight. The Northern Italian menu is also pretty sexy, assuming one finds housemade pasta and a hearty bolognese sexy. Pianeta also has an impressive wine list, as well as a full bar in case you’d like to start your evening with a cocktail. The outdoor dining options aren’t too shabby either thanks to a cozy patio with heat lamps and, if you can snag one, tables with a firepit in the middle.

Perched above the streets of Downtown Truckee, this rustic, yet industrial, restaurant is everything one could want in a tavern, including a second floor deck with mountain views and an abundance of heat lamps. The menu is heavy on meats cooked on the wood fire grill and all of the dishes are made with the best local ingredients available. The cocktail list is also more sophisticated than what you’ll find at most spots, all of which lends itself to an experience that feels approachable and satisfying, but also modern and refined.

Step back in time at this classic American diner that serves happiness in the form of corned beef hash, steak and eggs, chili cheese burgers, and banana splits. What better place to indulge in decadent comfort food than inside a 1948 Kullman dining car (or, for now, on the heated pop-up patio that looks out at downtown Truckee and those namesake train tracks).

Burgers, pizza, and craft beer are all on the menu at this casual brewpub known for its barrel-aged beers. Great place to check out when you’re in the mood for a laidback meal with friends, which you’ll currently enjoy in a cozy tent with firepit tables and heat lamps.

Go ice skating in the Village at Northstar and then walk over to Michael Mina’s take on an American pub/après ski destination. The menu is rich with playful takes on comfort foods, like a warm pretzel fondue and a double cheeseburger with American cheese and a secret sauce, as well as a fun winter-inspired cocktail menu and beers from around the world.

There’s no mistaking that Manzanita is the Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe’s fine dining restaurant. The space has soaring ceilings, an open kitchen, and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook Northstar’s ski slopes. The chef focuses on rustic cooking techniques and seasonal ingredients, and you can expect the highest level of service. A chef’s table experience is also available if you’d like to enjoy a tasting menu and more personal interactions (and spend a lot more).

Alibi’s original location, the Brewery and Barrel House, is also in Incline, but since you can’t get food there, the Public House is making the list instead. (There’s also a Public House in Truckee.) Alibi makes its beer with water from Lake Tahoe and you can get 22 of them on draft to enjoy in the spacious dining room or on the heated deck. The food is elevated pub fare, but you can still get the traditional stuff, like pretzels with beer cheese, burgers, and a sausage platter, as well as fill up your growler or grab cans and bottles to take home.

If you’re celebrating a special occasion, this restaurant that is part of the Hyatt, but in a completely separate building and zero hotel atmosphere (in a good way), is a great pick. The dining room is quite grand with a two-story stone fireplace and giant windows that ensure views of the lake at every turn, but also a touch of cozy lodge (this is Tahoe, after all). The menu changes seasonally, but what doesn’t change is the serious wine list, hearty entrees, and the “famous” Baked Tahoe: ice cream and cookie inside of a torched meringue and topped with chocolate sauce.  

This cozy log cabin restaurant with white tablecloths and a roaring fire serves gourmet food made with the kind of ingredients that San Franciscans expect (local, organic, free range, etc.), but at the same prices as most of the spots with lake views (so, still expensive, but not completely over-the-top). Note: there’s almost always some sort of romance in the air, so this one isn’t for the kiddos.

The riverside patio at the River Ranch is a nonstop party all summer long, thanks to the fact that it’s the final exit spot for anyone tubing or rafting down the Truckee River, and has a patio grill slinging up burgers and hot dogs, as well as a full outdoor bar. In the winter, the party mellows out a bit and also moves inside, where tables line the windows overlooking the river and lodge guests and locals mingle at the bar. River Ranch has elevated fare, like double-cut elk chops and Maple Leaf Farms duck breast, but the dish you’ll see coming out of the kitchen most often are the “famous” Ranch nachos, a mountain of chips, beans, guac, and a bunch of other tasty stuff.

The “East-West” cuisine at Wolfdale’s, an upscale restaurant on the lake, is some of the best you’ll find in Tahoe — skip a generic bowl of chili on a cold winter day and get Thai stew with prawns, scallops, crab (and an option to add lobster tail) instead. In the winter there’s an amazing happy hour that people line up for since it’s only at the bar (first come, first served), and in the summer there’s a deck for outdoor dining and a courtyard with fire-pit tables and bocce. One thing that’s constant year-round: the stellar cocktails and wine selection. Right now, you’ll just have to enjoy it as takeout.

If you have a hankering for barbecue and/or outdoor seating with lake views from every table, head to Moe’s. Here you’ll find Alabama-style barbecue that’s smoked daily (so when it’s gone, it’s gone), homemade sides like baked beans, marinated slaw, potato salad, banana puddin’, a bunch of beers on tap, and some of the best live music on the lake. Prefer to get your meal to-go? Moe’s does “to-go family packs” with meat, sides, pickles and sauces.

When you’re looking to share wings and a pizza while enjoying a couple of drinks and, as the name denoes, views of the lake, hit up Za’s. It’s open for lunch and dinner year-round and has picnic-table seating on the deck and a tiny outdoor bar during summer.

This very popular bar and restaurant has the most creative cocktails and wood-fired pizzas in town, as well as a crave-worthy burger with Taleggio cheese, caramelized onions, bacon, and a “bacon secret sauce”. Also, it’s open later than most nearby bars and restaurants, which makes it the perfect place for “one last drink,” especially if it’s during the late night happy hour.

When you’re in the mood for Mexican food or just a tasty margarita with lake views (it’s across the street from the lake, but you can definitely still see it), the Blue Agave is the place to go. This laid-back spot is located in one of Tahoe’s most historic buildings, and has patio seating when the weather allows, a huge dining room that’s a great option for large groups, and an expansive bar area with pool tables and free chips and salsa. Just be careful because at the Agave, one margarita can easily turn into three margaritas and the next thing you know, the sun has set, and the views are long gone, but you’re still having the time of your life.

No matter the time of year, there’s nothing better than heading to the BT for a burger and beer (there are 15 on draft). During the winter, you’ll enjoy it either at the bar or in the cabin-esque dining room, but when the weather warms up, it’s all about the riverfront patio, a mini oasis with tables by the river and a cozy bar with log stools. (Good news: this winter, the patio has lots of heat lamps and is open when weather permits.) No matter the season, you’re always guaranteed great service, affordable food, and a laid back vibe.

This not-quite-but-almost hidden gem has the best bread you’ll find anywhere around the lake. Order one kind for your deli sandwich, and buy a loaf to enjoy at home later. This bakery also has all kinds of sweet treats, including cookies, cakes, European-style tortes, and every kind of breakfast pastry one could ever want, as well as fantastic coffee, gourmet to-go options, and a tiny market with housemade sauces and dressings, as well as other artisan goods. Basically, it’s very dangerous in the best way possible.

Winter, spring, summer, or fall, this neighborhood grocery and deli is just steps from the lake and is the perfect place to stop and pick up all of your provisions, including gourmet snacks, super tasty sandwiches (of both the breakfast and lunch variety), salads, flatbread pizzas (weekends only), beer and booze, and even a scoop of gelato (or a pint of beer) to tide you over. Still looking for the perfect souvenir? The West Shore Market also offers really cool locally made jewelry, housewares, and gifts.

Sunnyside is popular year-round for a couple of reasons. Yup, it’s right on the lake, so it has great views, but it also has the option of a chill bar vibe (that allows children) or a more formal dining room setting. In the summer, obviously the place to be is the expansive deck overlooking the lake. (Yes, you can valet your boat if that’s your preferred mode of transportation.) In the winter, the bar area beckons; there’s usually live music on Fridays, and Taco Tuesday and Burger and a Beer Monday (the Sunnyside Classic with special sauce is a go-to) are popular for good reason with locals looking for a deal.

This charming restaurant on the West Shore serves delicious seasonal food, amazing cocktails, and has an award-winning wine list. Winter dining means a table inside of the stylish and cozy dining room (yes, with lake views), while summer dining (and this year, winter dining as well) means seating on the outside deck or private pier on the lake. And yes, there’s a boat valet that will ferry you between your boat and the dock because that’s who you are now (or at least who you’ll likely wish you were once you get a glimpse of it).