There’s nothing like outdoor fun in the mountains for working up a big appetite. Exploring Keystone’s 3,000-plus acres of four-season playground is bound to bring about a major craving for your favorite meal. If a burger is your go-to order when you need some mid- or post-adventure fuel, you’re in luck. There are many serious contenders for the title of the best burger in Keystone, and you don’t even have to leave the resort to find them. Whether you’re looking for a whole lineup of options at a dedicated burger joint, the convenience of a slopeside setting, or an elevated experience at a sophisticated eatery, you’re sure to find a fantastic burger in Keystone.
Mountain House Café
Quick, convenient, and always tasty, you can’t go wrong with the Mountain House Café, located in the Mountain House Lodge at the base of the Peru Express Lift. There are several dining options inside so that everyone in your group is satisfied. Craving something handheld and hearty? Stop at the burger line for the Pork Green Chili Burger and a side of fries. Veggie patties are available.
Go Big Burger
Dining at Go Big Burger in the Mountain House Day Lodge is a no-brainer for burger aficionados who want to stay close to the slopes. In addition to boasting some of the best burgers in Keystone, the casual restaurant has an unrivaled slopeside, on-resort location at the base of Peru Chair.
True to its name, Go Big Burger’s ski map-themed menu devotes most of its space to nine signature burgers. As promised, they’re massive, substantial enough to come speared with a steak knife, and require a strategy to get it into your mouth. You can customize any burger with add-ons and double or triple patties. Grab extra napkins.
While great versions of classic cheeseburgers are available, a few of the more elaborate creations stand out. These include the Mac and Steezy piled high with applewood smoked bacon and creamy mac and cheese. The Peanut Butter and Jealousy, topped with creamy PB sauce, a fried egg, and grape jelly, is served on a Belgian waffle bun.
Bighorn Bistro and Tenderfoot Lounge
Inside the resort’s Keystone Lodge and Spa, the Bighorn Bistro and Tenderfoot Lounge present two different dining options. The bistro is a stylish sit-down restaurant with a menu inspired by seasonal, local ingredients. The Tenderfoot Lounge has comfy seating around a fireplace, sports on TV, a live music schedule, and a more casual food menu. Both venues share unrivaled views of Keystone Lake and the mountains, and both offer one of the best burgers in Keystone.
The Bighorn Burger is a best-seller on both bistro and lounge menus. It features a blended brisket patty topped with cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, and signature Bighorn sauce. The burger comes on a brioche bun with a choice of sides: fries, sweet potatoes, or a side salad. You can substitute a grilled chicken or vegan patty and ask to make any burger a double.
Keystone Ranch
The Keystone Ranch doesn’t do anything half-way, and that includes the restaurant’s gourmet burger. This burger is big and full of flavor, with a double patty and white cheddar, watercress, garlic aioli, caramelized onions on a sesame seed bun. Add roasted bone marrow, a fried egg, or peach wood bacon for a richer flavor.
Known for its wine selection, the Keystone Ranch is one of the more upscale dining options at Keystone Resort and a must-visit for mountain ambiance and award-winning fare.
Kickapoo Tavern
Kickapoo Tavern is off the resort in River Run Village but conveniently located at the base of Keystone Mountain. A local institution established in 1995, the tavern specializes in comfort food classics, including some of the best burgers in Keystone.
Three signature burgers star on the lunch and dinner menus, along with a build-your-own option for diners who know precisely what they want in a burger. The custom option presents 14 toppings and a choice of beef, chicken breast, or Impossible burger. The tavern uses hormone-free Colorado beef, served on a brioche bun with a choice of fries, tater tots, or slaw. Upgrade to sweet potato waffle fries or garlic parmesan fries if desired.
Haywood Cafe
Haywood Cafe off the resort is a locals’ favorite for breakfast and lunch and is famous for its signature bacon bloody Mary. A few lunch-leaning standouts from its lengthy menu include a bacon-wrapped elk sausage on a roll and a prime rib Colorado cheese steak. If your craving is only for a burger, you can go classic or a bit wild. The classic option for cheeseburger purists is the Haywood Burger, cooked to order and topped with cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion. Or, walk on the wild side with Chad’s Burger, a fanciful creation with cheddar, avocado, jalapenos, a fried egg, and two slices of candied bacon. Kudos to Chad for his creativity!
Montezuma Roadhouse
In the heart of River Run Village, near the Keystone Resort and the gondola, is the Montezuma Roadhouse. The refined, family-friendly eatery specializes in contemporary cuisine and has a full bar. Burgers make up a good portion of the menu. They all feature hormone-free Colorado beef and are served on a brioche bun with a side of fries, homemade ranch potato chips, or apple-chipotle slaw. You can pair your burger with atypical sides like crispy Brussels sprouts, parm green beans, or garlic mashed potatoes.
Choose to build your own burger with a selection from over a dozen toppings on a beef patty, grilled chicken breast, or Impossible Burger. Or, veer away from convention with a unique burger creation like The Jam, dressed with bacon-onion apple jam, applewood bacon, brie, and arugula. The Summit satisfies a sweet-spicy-savory craving with cheddar, bacon, apple-chipotle slaw, mango, pickled jalapeno, and sweet heat sauce. Who’d have thought your search for the best burgers in Keystone would involve mango?
Looking For the Best Burgers in Keystone?
Try as you might, it’s impossible to declare a single best burger in Keystone. There are so many delicious burgers to choose from, and everyone has their own idea of what makes it the best. The good news is that it won’t stop you from tracking down your favorite burger during a Keystone Resort vacation.