Proving that there’s so much more to Mexican food than tacos, chips, and salsa (though Del Toro serves those too), chef Jesus Del Toro opened Del Toro in the Highline Vail hotel to probe his Mazatlán roots. All of which is to say that many of the dishes lean heavily on seafood—marinated head-on shrimp, tuna toro tostada, seafood enchiladas. But there are also braised lamb shanks, a hearty chile mole, and rib-eye aguachile. Across the board, flavors are fresh, bold, and worth seeking out. 

Just as Del Toro explores Mazatlán’s coastal ways, El Sazón in Eagle draws inspiration from chef Rafael Garcia’s time spent in Monterrey, Mexico. A two-and-a-half-hour drive from the Texas border, the capital of the northeastern Mexican state of Nuevo León is perhaps best known for its cabrito (goat) dishes. But Garcia knows his audience, and instead of sourcing goat, he leans on beef. Bone marrow served with lime and fresh tortillas sits on the appetizer menu, and a grilled steak platter with chile relleno and a ground beef burrito is built for sharing. Speaking of sharing, don’t miss the “taco party,” a selection of beef, carnitas, al pastor, and grilled chicken tacos meant to serve a crowd. 

There are multiple ways to enjoy Makoto, the excellent sushi restaurant located inside the Grand Hyatt Vail. Post up at the sushi bar, enjoy an omakase experience, or go with a group and order enough sushi to pile the table high in the dining room. Now the restaurant, which is headed by celeb chef Makoto Okuwa, is also launching sake tasting and sushi rolling classes. These events aren’t posted on the website, so give the restaurant a call. Insider tip: Don’t make the expensive mistake of self-parking in the hotel’s garage; instead, use the valet—it’s complimentary when dining at Makoto. 

When Columbine Cafe closed in 2024, many were left wondering what could replace the family-owned purveyor of European pastries and delicacies. Enter Avon chef Riley Romanin of Beaver Creek’s seafood-forward Hooked. Now called R Farmers’ Market & Kitchen, the space Romanin has created is at once an upscale coffee shop, a gourmet marketplace, an artisan butcher and cheesemonger, and a patisserie with divine treats. Go for breakfast, stay for lunch, or just browse for inspiration. Whatever the occasion, you won’t leave empty-handed, and your belly will be delightfully full. 

Dinner at Sweet Basil is already a special occasion, but owner Matt Morgan has taken the experience up several notches with Elegance at Elevation. Offered intermittently throughout the year during shoulder season, Sweet Basil’s Chef de Cuisine Will Edwards and Wine Director Jeremy Gramling host an extremely limited (up to four reservations per week for two to four guests) multicourse tasting menu where every element is choreographed. With wines matched to each hyper-seasonal dish and impeccable service, consider this the meal of a lifetime. 6:30 p.m. June 4–7 & June 11–13, $350 per diner.