Taos Ski Valley has a modest selection of restaurants and bars in the small village. For greater variety, head to Arroyo Seco or the town of Taos.
Taos Ski Valley Restaurants – On-Mountain
In addition to the on-mountain cafeterias, there are a handful of Taos Ski Valley restaurants for evening dining.
The Blake Hotel features 192 At The Blake where you can sip on an après ski cocktail and stay on for a nice dinner.
The Bavarian Lodge at the base of the Kachina lift is open for dinner with shuttles available to and from the main base area. They have German fare on offer including weißwurst (“white sausage”), wienerschnitzel, sauerkraut, fondue and strudel. And considering the Bavarians are such beer-loving people, you won’t be disappointed with the beers on offer. All that beer and rich food will provide you with plenty of motivation to ski hard the next day.
Other restaurants include the Blonde Bear Tavern at Hotel Edelweiss and Hondo Restaurant at The Inn at Snakedance. And if you’re really game, go to Tim’s Stray Dog Cantina for New Mexico cuisine where the speciality is the green and red chile. Be warned though, this incredibly spicy food is not for pussies.
Arroyo Seco Restaurants
Sabroso in Arroyo Seco is a funky restaurant and bar with good food. It is small, dark and upscale cosy with sofas and overstuffed chairs and low key live music. There’s also an inexpensive Japanese restaurant and sake bar in Arroyo Seco.
Taos Restaurants - Downtown
Doc Martin’s restaurant at the Taos Inn is a favourite with visitors and locals. They have a great menu with interesting twists on common southwest dishes, as well as unique menu items such as rattlesnake and rabbit sausages. Save room for dessert because the pastry chef makes creations that are to die for. The wine list is also fabulous.
For a local fave rave try The Love Apple in Fernando Miera’s old chapel on Paseo Norte. The theme is New Mexican but many of the menu items are original and are prepared with organic ingredients. Beverage selections include a range of wines, beers and margaritas that are fabulously potent (or maybe I could just blame the altitude for my light headedness?!).
For unabashedly Mexican food, Guadalajara Grill has two locations at either end of town. The food is yummy and affordable.
Taos Ski Valley Bars & Nightlife
For a sophisticated drink, head to The Blake for a classy cocktail. Or Hotel St Bernard’s is great for an après ski drink, either on the deck or in the bar. Or if you want more of a family atmosphere you can hang out in the cosy dining area where there are kitsch ornaments hanging everywhere including copper pots, plants, old skis, colourful pendant lights, cowbells and even cutlery!
Other than the bar at the Inn at Snakedance, other après or evening bars at Taos Ski Valley also double as restaurants including the Edelweiss Bistro, The Bavarian, and Tim’s Stray Dog Cantina where they make mean margaritas.
Bars & Nightlife in Town
The nightlife in Taos is generally more spirited than that at Taos Ski Valley, but unless you catch the Alley Cantina on a wild night, the nightlife in Taos is still relatively mild.
Options for potential dancing are: the Old Blinking Light (on the way home from the Taos ski resort), particularly if everyone’s been drinking plenty of margaritas; the dance bar Shadows; Kachina Lodge; and The Sagebrush Inn if you want to take your partner by the hand.
A favourite nitespot is the Adobe Bar at the Taos Inn. It’s generally a relaxed affair with margaritas, beers and a range of live music, but the highlight is the eclectic mix of people that gather in this cosy bar.
For evening entertainment the other option is a spot of gambling at the Taos Mountain Casino at the Taos Pueblo.
