6 Restaurants Worth The Hike
Because vacation adventures shouldn’t slow down at meal time.
There’s something to be said about a few days spent with Mother Nature: sweeping views, fresh air, and sunlight can do the body a world of good. But the adventure of a trip into the wild doesn’t have to stop come mealtime—plenty of restaurants capitalize on the power of nature, incorporating the outdoors into their menus, décor, and even their location.
You can hike, walk, or bike your way to and from these off-the-beaten-path eateries around the world.
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1. Log Haven, Salt Lake City, UT
Nestled within the heart of Wasatch National Forest along the Pipeline Trail—and just outside of Salt Lake City—the award-winning Log Haven lures endorphin junkies and fine diners alike. It’s no wonder: The restaurant’s menu is chockfull of locally sourced, gluten-free, vegetarian, and low-calorie options—all of which you can enjoy on the patio with waterfall and mountain views.
2. Restaurant 17, Greenville, SC
At 17-time Tour de France competitor George Hincapie’s Hotel Domestique in the Blue Ridge Foothills, you’ll find a bike lover’s paradise: An on-site bike mechanic, bike shop, and cycling specific massages at the spa. But this meeting place for two-wheel enthusiasts also has a seriously noteworthy eatery where you can fuel up on ingredients that are delivered daily from farms and fields just down the road. Don’t have time to sit down? Café 17—Restaurant 17’s offshoot—is your perfect pit stop.
Related: Why Hotels Are Embracing Nature
3. Chez Vrony, Zermatt, Switzerland
Ten minutes from the foot of Sunnegga mountain high in the Swiss Alps, Chez Vrony is esteemed with more than 100 years of history. It’s a luxe après ski spot by winter and breathtaking sundeck come summer. Fine wine, homemade mountain dishes, and incomparable views of Matterhorn promise to reward any journey up mountain—plus, the food’s organic. Owners have a cow on site to make cheese and cured beef.
4. West Point Inn, Mill Valley, CA
Once a lodge for those riding the “Crookedest Railroad in the World” to the top of Mount Tamalpais—just north of San Francisco—West Point Inn now also serves up a rustic pancake breakfast worth sweating for on Sundays. But you’ll have to work for it: Hike or bike two miles to the California peak, take in panoramic views of the Bay area, then fuel up with KIND Bars, fruit and healthy beverages (which the inn sells for their hikers and bikers) on your way out.
5. Pine Creek Cookhouse, Aspen, CO
Aspen might be a star-studded destination—but 11 miles outside of town, you’ll find a place where you can really see the stars. Accessible via cross country skis, snowshoes, or horse drawn sleighs in winter and by biking or hiking in warmer weather, Pine Creek Cookhouse prides itself on being the epitome of American alpine cuisine. It’s hard to say what you’ll enjoy more: the trek to and fro the property surrounded by the high peaks of the Elk Mountains or the seasonal menu of locally sourced, responsibly raised ingredients.
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6. Beano’s, Beaver Creek, CO
Unique transportation—by horseback, hiking boots, or, um, a John Deere tractor wagon—is just the beginning of this luxe log cabin’s lure. Live music, a kitchen you can trust (executive chef Bill Greenwood and his staff forage the food themselves), and a sustainable garden on the premises are all the perfect counterparts to top notch real estate amidst the White River National Forest atop Beaver Creek Mountain.
