Historic and Hip
About thirty minutes south of Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), on US-40, sits Tabernash Tavern. It’s right there on the side of the road and you’ll miss it if you don’t keep an eye out. It’s not a sparkly place in daylight. Rather, it’s an old abode with rustic signs and unpolished finish. Although strings of lights do make it sparkle a bit after sundown, it was on a day trip that I first noticed it.
Last April, we traveled to Winter Park, CO in preparation for trekking the Peruvian Andes. (Stay tuned for more on Peru in a later post.) The objective was to do as much high altitude hiking as possible during our stay. Our hope was to reach the top of some of Colorado’s famous “14-ers” but wintry weather prevented that. Daily snowstorms made it difficult to believe it was spring and added challenges to the hiking we did accomplish. It was still snowing when we departed at the end of May.
We were able to reach altitudes above 12,000 ft at Rocky Mountain National Park. On one of our trips up US-40 toward RMNP this little “hole-in-the-wall” caught our attention. That’s Tabernash Tavern I said aloud as it was shrinking in the rear view mirror. Our friends, Kelly and Jay, told us about the place when they heard we were staying in Winter Park. So, we decided to give it a try.
After hiking the Onahu Trail, we stopped at the tavern. Clad in hiking attire and dirty boots, we discovered they were closed. Only open Thursday through Saturday during mud season. (May is mud season in Colorado and appropriately named.) Well, it was Wednesday so we headed back to Winter Park with intent to return to Tabernash.
Thursday of the following week…
We traveled south to do some snow shoeing on Saint Mary’s Glacier. After working up an appetite, we decided to give that little hole-in-the-wall a try. We stopped to clean up before heading to Tabernash which is just ten minutes north of Winter Park. When we stepped through the hippie entrance, I was glad we shed the hiking clothes before dinner. Although hiking attire is acceptable at the tavern, it’s a much nicer place than I imagined. Bill and I were in awe. We expected a few beat up stools at a sticky bar, sawdust and peanut shells on the floor, and maybe some country music playing from a juke box.
Instead, we were surprised by the eclectic atmosphere. It’s posh yet casual… cozy yet upscale… historic yet hip… and definitely romantic. Tabernash Tavern is a little bit of everything. Like the ambiance, the menu offers a little bit of everything from around the world.
The cuisine includes appetizers and entrees from Mexico, Spain, Argentina, France, and Portugal. Executive Chef Alberto Sapien changes the menu frequently so when we return (which we have and will again), there are new items to try. The tavern also offers an extensive wine list, several craft beers, and signature cocktails.
For Starters…
On our first stop in May we loaded up on appetizers, a great way to taste several items in one visit. We had lobster mac and cheese, wild game barbecue meatballs, and maple brussel sprouts. The mac and cheese was extremely rich as the chef didn’t skimp on the lobster. The meatballs are a trio of antelope, buffalo, and venison. The flavor is out of this world with no gamey taste and the brussel sprouts pair perfectly with them. All complimented with a bottle of Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir and a grand finale of scrumptious cheesecake.
During a short stay in Denver last month we returned to the tavern to enjoy a bottle of Penner Ash Pinot and a few more appetizers. A canoe of olives, Guajillo mussels, and homemade ricotta cheese. Truth be told, I wasn’t a fan of the ricotta but the olives and mussels were fantastic. Four varieties of mussels were available. A patron sitting next to us recommended the Guajillo and he was spot-on! We finished with a mud slide pie and cleaned the plate.
Stop here along the way…
Tabernash Tavern is perfectly located for those traveling to Winter Park or Rocky Mountain National Park.
Winter Park is a ski haven in snow season with seven territories and over 3,000 acres of breathtaking terrain. It’s also a summer paradise for mountain bikers where ski lifts transport cyclists and bikes to the top of the mountain for an adventurous ride down.
Rocky Mountain Park has over 350 miles of trails for year round hiking, snow shoeing, and cross country skiing. The scenery is breathtaking with 12,000+ ft. peaks, waterfalls, forestry, and wildlife.
Both parks will provide a rocky mountain high for outdoor adventurers. Plan for dinner at Tabernash Tavern for a perfect ending to your day. As for us, we will put this tavern on our itinerary when we return to Colorado. Even from Denver, the ninety minute drive is well worth the cuisine.






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