Don’t just eat

Dine with a lake view

Lake Tahoe provides the backdrop for many delectable dining experiences. When seeking sweeping panoramas along with mouthwatering cuisine, a multitude of lakeview restaurants serve up both.

Lake view dining at the Boat House at Tahoe Beach Retreat Friends enjoying drinks at the Beacon at Camp Richardson Lake view dining at Riva Grill

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Lakefront Dining at Lake Tahoe

Let Lake Tahoe reveal the unforgettable dining experiences it’s celebrated for—delicious meals along with Mother Nature’s show. 

It’s early evening. You’ve settled into your chairs, menus at the ready. Wine in-hand, you prepare yourself for the spectacle beyond the glass.

And…action. Appetizers are served as a cacophony of colors begins to paint the sky above the glimmering water. As the radiant sun is swallowed by the horizon, the lake reflects the vibrant shades above it. It’s phenomenal, like nothing you’ve ever seen. A delectable dinner arrives and somehow, your food tastes even more delicious.

Desserts are on the way. Cue the twinkling stars on their velvet-black backdrop, like small diamonds above gently lapping waves. It’s all as visually delicious as the sweets serving to end your meal.

This is nearly every night dining in Lake Tahoe. The only exception? When the backdrop is playing another stunning scene, such as exquisite snowfall, gentle rain or moody clouds.

All four elements . . . in equal measure – the cuisine, the wine, the service, and the overall ambience. It taught me that dining could happen at a spiritual level.

Charlie Trotter

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Romantic Lake View Dining

When candlelight, delicious cuisine, and romance-inspiring views call, Lake Tahoe’s lake view restaurants answer. Romance is definitely in the air at these picturesque dining hotspots.

Couple having cocktails at Edgewood Tahoe
A couple having cocktails at Edgewood Tahoe

Towering windows at Edgewood Restaurant frame picture-perfect vistas of Lake Tahoe and its stunning surroundings, while tables frame enticing cuisine. Their gourmet dishes extravagantly entice taste buds, with an impressive wine selection offering ideal pairings.

Not lakefront, but impress your partner with a trip to Gordon Ramsey Hell’s Kitchen inside Harvey’s Lake Tahoe. Indulge on menu items orchestrated by a multi-Michelin star celebrity chef.

Family Friendly Fare with a View

Got a few hungry kids in tow?

Head for these family friendly and picturesque places to eat.

Amidst the pine trees and perched on the lake is the historic Zephyr Cove Restaurant. Rustic Tahoe vibes seep through the wood-laden interior and a central, blazing hearth. American comfort foods accommodate all ages, and one of their milkshakes, renowned around the region, is a must-have for dessert.

At Camp Richardson, the Grove spoils the whole family with stunning lakeside views, yummy foods, and a well-known cocktail known as the Rum Runner for those of imbibing age.

Sage Room Steak House at the top of Harveys

Lakeside Beach Patio and Grill is an outdoor restaurant right on Lakeside beach overlooking the shores of Lake Tahoe. Perfect for eats, drinks, good company, and live music daily. Be sure to check out their new bar overlooking the beach! Open Seasonally.

Artemis Lakefront Cafe provides great-tasting Greek and Mediterranean food that’s prepared fresh daily with the highest quality of ingredients. Artemis offers a full espresso bar as well as a great selection of beer, wine, and specialty cocktails. Located in the Ski Run Marina, Artemis Lakefront Cafe is just steps away from the beach and offers beautiful views from their patio and front dining room. 

Friday’s Station is a Lake Tahoe steak and seafood restaurant specializing in a wide variety of certified Angus and USDA Choice beef, ocean-fresh seafood specials, and tantalizing side dishes, all served up with a breathtaking panorama of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierra Nevada’s. The friendly, knowledgeable staff will help you choose the perfect wine to accompany your meal from a newly expanded list of domestic and imported vintages.

Romantic lake views are elevated, literally, at the Chart House Lake View Restaurant. High on the hilltop, the Chart House’s panoramic vistas are accompanied by sumptuous steaks and seafood dishes plus a lavish wine list.

Chart House Lake Tahoe
Chart House Lake Tahoe

Idle Hour Wine & Bubbly Bar. Visitors and locals looking for a unique location to relax and enjoy an array of boutique wines while soaking up the South Lake Tahoe lakefront will delight in the views from our patios. We are the best place to watch the sunset in South Lake Tahoe!

Idle Hour Wine Bar Lake Tahoe
Idle Hour Wine & Bubbly Bar Lake Tahoe

A rich, mahogany interior inspired by the classic wooden boats still frequently seen on Lake Tahoe embraces diners at the romantic Riva Grill on the Lake. Rustic Tahoe teems throughout this restaurant, also known for its crave-worthy rum cocktails, while views of a marina and the expansive azure lake captivate diners from beyond the windows.

Riva Grill on the Lake Aerial of the Outside Deck
The deck at the Riva Grill on the Lake

Firelight always seems to spark other flames, so gaze at Tahoe’s panorama by the fire pits in the intimate private dining alcoves at Jimmy’s Restaurant at the Landing.  Their California and wood-fired cuisine is largely locally sourced and even more decadent with luscious lake views.

Jimmy's at the Landing Resort Lake Tahoe
Jimmy’s at the Landing Resort Lake Tahoe

Since 1947, The Sage Room Steak House offers the perfect view, fine cuisine, and first-class service. Top off your meal with the Sage Room’s famous Banana’s Foster. Now located on Harveys 19th floor.

Watch the sun dip behind Mt. Tallac while nibbling on dishes lakeside at The Boathouse on the Pier. Plus, it’s fun for the whole family, including four-legged members.


Dine and Imbibe with a View

Some restaurants are renowned not just for their cuisine and views, but for their adult beverages. Check out Riva Grill’s world-renowned Wet Woody or Trader Vic’s Mai Tai and The Beacon’s Rum Runner. For striking glimpses of the lake in an intimate setting plus intricately crafted cocktails and small plates, try Taste at The Loft. Or get up-close views of Edgewood Golf Course and Lake Tahoe while imbibing on Brooks’ signature Bloody Mary or Manhattan at Brooks Bar and Deck.

Family eating outside at the Beacon Bar & Grill Lake Tahoe
The Grove at Camp Richardson Resort

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