Must-Try Restaurants in Lake Tahoe

In summer, Lake Tahoe is booming with visitors eager to hike, bike, and enjoy the waters of the largest alpine lake in North America. All that active leisure time is sure to build up an appetite. Here are some of the best restaurants around Lake Tahoe to check out while staying at Marriott’s Timber Lodge^® and Marriott Grand Residence Club^®, Lake Tahoe.

Breakfast and Brunch

The Fire Sign Café, about 30 miles from the resorts, has been a staple of the Tahoe City dining scene since 1978. Come by for breakfast and try the challah bread French toast, buckwheat pancakes, or the smoked salmon eggs Benedict. The restaurant, renovated from a private home, has a cozy feel with spacious backyard seating. Don’t worry if you wake up late, breakfast is available all day.

Ernie’s Coffee Shop in South Lake Tahoe dates to 1968, attracting customers over the years for its wide variety of breakfast and lunch plates. All-day breakfast includes a whole category of Mexican-inspired dishes, while the lunch menu features specialty burgers and a big selection of cold and hot sandwiches. The coffee is an exclusive roast from locally based Alpen Sierra.

The original Squeeze In is a longtime favorite in Truckee if you’re visiting the north side of the lake. The dining room is a cozy collection of mismatched decor and furniture that matches the eclectic breakfast menu. Go with the signature Racy Tracy omelet with a mimosa and chocolate-covered bacon on the side.

Lunch/Quick Bites

Rubicon Pizza Company, a northside staple,serves up vibrant flavors for those seeking pizza and pasta. Whether a traditional margherita or the indulgent Big Mountain pie with four different meat toppings, the restaurant makes a point to use regional, organic ingredients whenever possible. Visiting the south side? The same operators run Base Camp Pizza Co. in the Heavenly Village area.

If you’re craving seafood, The Oyster Bar is one of the few raw seafood bars in the Stateline/South Lake Tahoe area. The intimate counter wraps around an open kitchen serving oysters, shrimp, mussels, clams, and cooked dishes like jambalaya and a variety of pan roasts. The Oyster Bar also offers a choice between New England or Manhattan-style clam chowder.

Dinner

Kalani’s has been a local favorite in South Lake Tahoe since it opened in 2004, combining a unique mix of Hawaiian and Asian recipes in a tasteful island-themed environment. The sushi rolls and sashimi are among the best around with fresh fish flown in directly from Hawai‘i. Come early for happy hour in the Puka Lounge Monday through Friday, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

For something a little different, create a custom meal with fresh ingredients at FiRE + iCE at Marriott’s Timber Lodge. Watch as your meal is fired on an oversize open grill. It’s dinner and a show.

Eating In

Create a brand-new signature dish or delight in an old family recipe right in your villa when you take advantage of the fully equipped kitchen. Head to local grocery stores for fresh ingredients and make your own delicious meal. And with your in-villa dishwasher, cleanup is a breeze.

Where To Stay:

Marriott’s Timber Lodge

Marriott's Timber Lodge

Immerse yourself in the vacation lifestyle and surround yourself in comfort. Located at the base of beautiful snow-capped mountains, Marriott’s Timber Lodge is your gateway to hiking, boating, and many other outdoor activities for the whole family. It doesn’t matter if you want to see the trees up close and personal or want to experience the outdoors with a round of golf, Marriott’s Timber Lodge has it all. When you come back to the resort, take some time to relax poolside, or have an energizing workout in the fitness center.

Marriott Grand Residence Club, Lake Tahoe

Nestled in the grand landscape of Lake Tahoe, this resort is truly a relaxing oasis. Stay in and take a dip in the pool or treat yourself to a body treatment at the Serenity Spa. Get your exercise done indoors at the fitness center or simply walk the grounds of the resort. Once you’re ready for adventure, take on the hiking trails and ski slopes nearby. If you’re looking for on-the-water fun, check out any of the nearby beaches.

Owner Login

See Offers

Marriott Vacation Club International and their respective affiliates and subsidiaries make no warranty, express or implied, as to the condition, capacity, performance, or any other aspect of the activities, events, or service providers listed herein. No inquiry has been made into the activities or events, or the qualifications or the quality of services offered by the providers. Do not consider this an endorsement of or recommendation for any of the activities, events, or providers. Hours of operation and offerings of any service providers are subject to change.