This Beaver Creek neighborhood staple is more than just a coffeehouse. Open from early morning until late at night, the place serves as a comfy cafe for coffee lovers, a happy-hour spot for booze hounds, and a lively entertainment venue for one and all. See website for photos, directions, monthly drink specials, and event calendar (including live music, trivia night, karaoke night and more).

The Left Bank is authentic French cuisine at its best. Appetizers include escargots, French onion soup and lobster bisque. Entrees are similarly traditional, though they make liberal use of fresh local ingredients (note the roasted rack of Colorado lamb). Seafood fans will swoon over the bouillabaisse of lobster, shrimp, scallops and mussels. Meat lovers will marvel at the Veal Rossini, a milk-fed veal chop topped with a generous helping of sauteed foie gras. Seasonal specialties include quail, halibut, steaks and more. Save room for the elegant desserts as well: choose from peaches on puff pastry, chocolate souffle, sorbet and others. See website for full menu, newsletter and wine list.

Larkspur is comfort. Dinners begin with appetizers like Celery Bisque and Salmon Carpaccio, proceed into entrees such as Black Truffle Lasagna and Porcini-Dusted Beef Tenderloin, and end with desserts like the Peanut Butter Brownie Napoleon or the 23 Karat Carrot Cake. Lunch is similarly great, but features a number of gourmet pizzas and sandwiches (as well as a whole new selection of desserts). A kids menu features high-end takes on burgers, mac & cheese and pepperoni pizza. A special bar menu brings out the kid in all of us (try the Truffle-Parmesan French Fries or DK's Texas Chili). The wine list is positively expansive, and many entries are available by the glass or the half bottle. Pop into Larkspur's onsite market for a range of specialty food items such as sandwiches, soups, salads, cheeses, rotisserie game birds, smooked meat and more. See website for menus, wine list and everything else.

When it is prime rib that you crave, make a bee line for Lancelot. Choose from the 8-oz Knight's Cut, the 10-oz Sir Lancelot Cut, or the 12-oz King Arthur's Cut. All are served with a baked potato and a generous splash of au jus. An international array of appetizers are available, ranging from stuffed jalapenos to breaded brie and tuna sashimi. The other entrees contribute to this worldly flavor as well (try the BBQ beef ribs, wiener schnitzel, cajun style trout, or coconut-crusted seabass). Wash it all down with a selection or two from the impressive wine list. See website for full menu, wine list, group accomodations and more.

La Bottega is Vail Village's version of a homey, neighborhood Italian restaurant. Locals and travelers alike return time and again for the distinctive cuisine. Rustic pizzas are fired in stone ovens, daily specials are scrawled on a chalk board, and wine flows freely at the wine bar.

Juniper bills itself as a restaurant specializing in "contemporary American fusion," and one look at the menu confirms the claim. Appetizers such as the Foie Gras with Funnel Cake and the Tuna Tower with Mango and Avocado leave no doubt that innovation is the name of the game here. Entrees include BBQ Spiced Alaskan King Salmon with Eggplant Parmesan, as well as Baby Back Ribs with Spicy Thai Slaw. Other specialties include veal scaloppini, lamb t-bones, soft-shell crab and mushroom and truffle risotto. In the mood for something less refined? Opt for the "Mike's Burger" with String Fries. The wine list and dessert menu are similarly impressive. See website for reservations, photos, menus, wines and more. This place opens daily at 5.30pm.

Located on the grounds of The Lodge & Spa at Cordillera, Grouse on the Green is as authentic an Irish-style pub experience as one will find in the Vail Valley. Belly up to the bar for any of a number of imported and microbrewed beers. Hungry? Have a plate of traditional Corned Beef & Cabbage or Fish & Chips, or get a bit cheeky with an order of Shrimp & Chips. A solid selection of other pub-style meals is available (from burgers and sandwiches and steaks, to meatloaf, seafood and tacos, and even fancy gourmet salads). See website for full menu, other resort amenities and more. Call +1 800 877 3529 (Toll Free).

Colorado is famous for its beloved microbrews, and this Edwards outpost is no exception. They brew a handful of favorites year round, as well as a rotating selection of seasonal specialties. The menu consists of traditional pub-style fare, with the occasional hint of mountain-air flair. Pizzas range from the basic three cheese, to meaty Italian-style and a California-inspired veggie-heavy version. Family-style salads can come loaded up with chicken, salmon and more. You may decide to look no further than the lengthy menu of wood-fired rotisserie specialties (BBQ chicken, baby back ribs, pulled pork plate). A ton of hearty steaks, burgers and sandwiches round out the offerings. See website for menu, kids menu, wine list, beer list, Mug Club info and more.

Dine high atop a mountain at Game Creek. This luxurious dining experience begins with a gondola ride to the peak, and a shuttle or snowcat ride from the peak to the dining room. And it only gets better from there! First courses include apple-glazed venison, duck spring rolls and tuna tartar. The truly rustic selection of entrees ranges from elk chops and pheasant breasts, to pumpkin seed encrusted veal roast and lamb sirloin with purple potato strudel. Desserts are similarly decadent, and the wine list is without peer. See website for menu and more.

Frites puts a French twist on meals fit for mountain-man appetites. Appetizers range from traditional pates and onion soups to baked cheeses and sea scallop gratin. Pizzas are topped with decidedly French combinations (caramelized onion and gruyere; andouille sausage and spinach). They offer four different mussel preparations, including saffron and cream and skillet roasted. Enticing as all that is, the real draw here is the steak. Choose from five luxurious recipes, all served with frites. As if that were not enough, the menu is rounded out by roast chicken, veal and lamp chops, burgers and a number of seafood options. See website for full menu and more. This place opens daily at 5pm.