Breakfast:
Located in the base village a short walk from the lifts, Mountain Nectar offers fresh-squeezed juices and smoothies, as well as coffee, tea, bagels, wraps and tables for sitting down with children (530-584-6161). For a fast cup of coffee and a muffin before rushing to the hill, Starbucks is also located in the base village.
Lunch:
The Arc in the Gold Coast mid-mountain lodge is the place to gather without leaving the slopes. The menu features Kobe beef burgers, Asian bowls, soups and more. For those who don’t mind walking into the base village, Mamasake (530-584-0110) is a favorite lunch spot, featuring a Cal-Asian menu of sushi, sashimi, bento boxes and tapas, along with a variety of sakes. For a late lunch or early après meal, try their beer and handroll for $5.
Dinner:
High-end: PlumpJack Café, owned by the family of former San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, is located a short walk from the lifts and village lodging. The menu changes seasonally, with a focus on local ingredients and novel wine pairings chosen by the sommelier. Daring foodies will go for the crispy veal sweetbreads, while meat lovers will enjoy the ribeye with bacon confit potatoes and haricots verts (530-583-1578). Located in the Resort at Squaw Creek, Six Peaks Grille (530-581-6621) features biodynamic seafood and produce. Starters include the wine braised short ribs with black truffle cheese, and mains featuring a variety of heritage meats and a uniquely prepared Columbia River sturgeon.
Mid-range: 22 Bistro (530-584-6170) is located in the village near the KT-22 lift. Specializing in tapas and social plates, as well as reasonably priced salads and burgers, 22 has a children’s menu and a to-die-for dish of potato-bacon donut holes.
Low-key: Fireside Pizza in the base village serves up gourmet pizza and pasta and is ideal for budget-conscious families. Fireside is known for its sourdough crusts, and their signature pie is the pear and gorgonzola (530-584-6150).
Aprés: With a large outdoor seating area, Le Chamois is the main gathering spot for beer drinkers and is one of northern California’s largest sellers of Budweiser. Regulars buy the $40 Buddy Pass, good for 20 pints of Bud. Duck inside to warm up and sit down in the Loft Bar, which is decorated with ski schwag from the 1970s and earlier eras. Just around the corner from Chamois, PlumpJack Bar located at PlumpJack Café has a daily happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. for those seeking a more formal setting. Wine lovers can experiment with the “mystery wine flight” with three half pours for $15.
Nightlife: Cornice Cantina (530-452-4362) is a great option for après on the sundeck or late-night drinks indoors. DJs spin dance music on Friday and Saturday nights, making the “Cantina” a favorite local hangout for off-duty patrollers and Squaw employees. It’s located in the middle of the East parking lot, a five-minute walk from the base village lodgings. In the heart of the village, the Auld Dubliner is modeled after a rural Irish pub and features live music on weekends as well as a large beer and whiskey selection (530-584-6041).
