Almost any restaurant can be bought out for a private party, and some will do catered on-mountain meals. But even without going to these extremes, the following experiences are always standouts.

It’s not easy retaining your edge for 45-plus years, but that’s just what makes Sweet Basil so very special. Of course, you can dine off the Michelin-recommended restaurant’s regular menu, but those in the know watch for the announcement of Elegance at Elevation dinners—a special tasting menu that’s the combined vision of both chef and sommelier. 

When Tavernetta Vail, from the same James Beard Award–winning and Michelin-starred team as Frasca Food and Wine, opened in the Four Seasons last winter, it immediately raised Vail’s bar on hospitality and dining. The restaurant, which pulls inspiration from the Italian Alps, is available for full buyouts, as is the small private dining room. Also look for special wine dinners, such as the Barolo & Truffle event (Dec 11), that offer deep glimpses into regional pairings.

Tableside service always makes things feel extra special, and that’s one of the many draws at the Antlers Room when you order the steak tartare, Caesar salad, or flambéed half duckling (pairs well with the signature bananas Foster shared dessert, likewise theatrically flambéed tableside). The space itself, nestled inside the iconic, saffron-yellow Hotel Gasthof Gramshammer, is an ode to Old Vail. Austrians Pepi Gramshammer and his wife, Sheika, settled here when Pepi, a professional skier (who coined the name of the Back Bowl’s blissful “Forever” run because it took him that long to hike back up the then-not-lift-served terrain), was still racing. They opened the hotel in 1964, which Sheika ran while Pepi was on the ski circuit, and it also served as their home. (Sheika still lives upstairs; Pepi died in 2019, but his trophies fill the case in the bar area along one of the picture-packed walls of fame). 

The sushi at Makoto Vail is stunning, especially when paired with the restaurant’s Art of Sake tasting. The one-hour, intimate showcase allows guests to try four unique sake styles, each hand-selected from different Japanese prefectures. As guests sip three-ounce pours, an expert guides them through the flavors, history, and craftsmanship behind each variety. 

There is little that Michelin-recommended Mirabelle, helmed by chef-owners Daniel Joly and his wife, Nathalie, won’t do to make your evening exquisite. The historic ranch house has a treasure trove of rooms that can be bought out—either for one large party or for smaller ones—and paired with chef Joly’s nuanced French cuisine. Although not available in the winter, the outdoor spaces are particularly special. 

Truly one of the best ways to experience Beaver Creek is via its dining cabins. Accessible only by snowcat in the winter, these gems—Beano’s, Zach’s, and Allie’s—which are tucked away on the resort’s slopes, each have their own distinct personalities. The crown jewel is Beano’s, which is the finest dining of them all, while Zach’s serves Alsatian cuisine, and the Allie’s menu is rooted in Italian. In the last couple of years, the cabins have offered a guest chef series called Alpine Table. Previous collabs have featured Duncan Holmes of the Michelin-starred Beckon, James Beard winner Kelly Whitaker of the Wolf’s Tailor, and James Beard-nominated chef Hosea Rosenberg of Blackbelly. The cabins are also available for private events.

The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch also has its own dining cabin. With a 10-guest capacity, plus a private chef and server, Anderson’s Cabin, which was originally the homestead of one of the valley’s earliest settlers, is a favorite of many a Ritz guest. 

In the winter, the best seats at Alpenrose are outside in one of the restaurant’s five cozy dining gondolas, which can be reserved for two hours. Each romantically lit private cabin seats four adults, has a heater and Bluetooth speakers that stream guests’ favorite tunes, and includes a two-course fixed price raclette and fondue menu. At the top of Bridge Street, Alpenrose’s sister restaurant, Almresi Vail, with a gorgeous interior redolent of a European mountain hut, also shines during the winter season. Both establishments’ dining rooms can be bought out for private events year-round. 

READ MORE

Experience the Vail Valley Like a VIP
Private Chefs for Hire
Private Outdoor Adventures
Exclusive Ski Town Experiences
Chic Boutiques
Getting Around in Style