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Looking for the best restaurants in Truckee? I’ve put together the ultimate guide. Lake Tahoe has long been a favorite California destination of mine and one I visited often with family growing up in nearby Auburn.
It’s a perfect escape no matter the time of year, with winter bringing opportunities to ski and cozy up in an Airbnb or cabin and summer bringing endless chances for hiking and water recreation.
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When deciding which part of Lake Tahoe to visit, it’s important to understand the differences between North and South Lake Tahoe. In the South Lake Tahoe Area, you’ll find spectacular nature, great restaurants, and places to stay, as you will in North Lake Tahoe, as well as more nightlife and a buzzy vibe. North Lake Tahoe, on the other hand, is more relaxed—and if that’s your scene, then Truckee will likely be your hub and gateway to the area.
After many visits, these are my favorite restaurants in Truckee, CA, and the ones I think you shouldn’t skip on your visit. And if you’re looking for places to stay in the area, here’s a roundup of the best hotels and cabins.
What are the Best Restaurants in Downtown Truckee?
There are lots of great options in downtown Truckee, including many of the restaurants on the list below. Moody’s Bistro Bar & Beats, Jax At The Tracks, and Old Town Tap all combine great food and a lively atmosphere. For a great burger, don’t miss Burger Me. If you’re looking for something new, check out the recently opened Tangerine Bistro.
Planning a Trip to Truckee? Here Are My Top Picks for the Best Hotels in Truckee:
- Gravity Haus Truckee, for the best new hotel
- Ritz Carlton, Lake Tahoe, for the best luxury hotel
- Everline Resort and Spa, for the best family-friendly hotel
For for on how to make the most of your time in Truckee, don’t miss these guides:
- The Best Hotels and Cabins in Lake Tahoe
- A Quick Summer Guide to Lake Tahoe
The 18 Best Truckee Restaurants to Dine At
1. Manzanita at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe
Amazing food is the name of the game at Manzanita, a chic, fine-dining restaurant set inside The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it’s a restaurant featuring seasonal California fare, relying on locally sourced ingredients and accompanied by an extensive craft co*cktail and wine list. Dishes here are beautifully plated, making for a memorable dining experience in the area.
Address: The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, 13031 Ritz Carlton Highlands Ct, Truckee, CA 96161, United States
2. Great Gold
Combine a classic red-sauce, Italian American restaurant with a focus on the local, seasonal, and sustainable and you have Great Gold. This eatery aims to bridge the gap between old-school, Italian comfort food restaurants and more modern California Italian restaurants that have a focus on quality but a menu full of less familiar dishes. Pasta, which the restaurant makes in-house daily, steals the spotlight here. Try it in dishes like rigatoni alla vodka, bucatini carbonara, or hand-cut pappardelle with short rib sugo.
Address: 11025 Pioneer Trail, Truckee, CA 96161, United States
3. Jax At The Tracks
The 1948 dining car that today houses Jax At The Tracks made the long trip from outside Philadelphia to become Truckee’s first diner back in 1995. After a $1.2 million restoration, today it offers Truckee locals and visitors that classic diner feel with a menu to match. All-day breakfast, burgers and sandwiches, and a wide variety of milkshakes and malts are staples.
Address: 10144 W River St, Truckee, CA 96161, United States
4. Tangerine Bistro
A new edition to the Truckee dining scene, Tangerine Bistro is a modern French restaurant by the team behind Great Gold. The menu features an array of elevated french classics like duck rillettes, escagots de bourgogne, and cassoulet — all paired with an exceptional wine list.
Address: 10412 Donner Pass Rd, Truckee, CA 96161
5. Burger Me
Burger Me is a Truckee institution and our personal go-to for a burger anytime we’re in the area. The menu offers a diverse selection of traditional burgers as well as gourmet options like Lamb, Bison, Ahi Tuna, and more — all with a focus on locally sourced ingredients. The sweet potato fries and hand-dipped onion rings are a must try.
Address: 10418 Donner Pass Rd, Truckee, CA 96161
6. Drunken Monkey Sushi
Drunken Monkey brings time-honored sushi traditions and a distinctive Truckee flair to create something that’s all its own. Fish comes in daily from the same suppliers that serve some of San Francisco’s top sushi restaurants, and relationships with local providers ensure Drunken Monkey can pair that world-class fish with local, organic ingredients. Add high-quality food to the team’s innovation and you get a sushi experience you can’t get anywhere else.
Address: 11253 Brockway Rd Suite #105, Truckee, CA 96161, United States
7. Moody’s Bistro Bar & Beats
Set inside the Truckee Hotel, Moody’s is the local hotspot for enjoying world-class music. On any given night, you might hear a nationally touring Jazz, Americana, Soul, or R&B band over your craft co*cktails and farm-to-table food. With a culinary style it describes as “regional mountain cuisine,” including brick-oven pizzas and roasted wild game, Moody’s looks to deliver a vibe reminiscent of 50’s supper clubs.
Address: 10007 Bridge St, Truckee, CA 96161, United States
8. Buoy & Trap Seafood
Buoy & Trap is serious about its seafood. Extensively researched and responsibly sourced by a native Rhode Island seafood connoisseur, the food here is as clean and sustainable as possible. Buoy & Trap also aims to be the area’s go-to resource on all things seafood in the area, offering recipe cards, teaching oyster-shucking classes and encouraging visitors to come in and ask questions.
Address: 10825 Pioneer Trail STE 100, Truckee, CA 96161, United States
9. Bar of America
The building Bar of America occupies has served as a stove shop, a Victorian hotel, multiple restaurants, and a Bank of America—but today, it’s an iconic watering hole in historic downtown Truckee. Food-wise, it serves a mix of soups and salads, wood-fired pizzas, and items off “the campfire grill,” along with breakfast on weekends. The bar is well-known for its special events and live music, which happens Thursday through Saturday.
Address: 10040 Donner Pass Road, Truckee, CA 96161, United States
10. Old Town Tap
The contemporary pizzeria, Old Town Tap, has served downtown Truckee since 2016 with locally inspired food employing old-school preservation methods. Plenty of shareables and sides accompany the pizza on the menu, including charcuterie and cheese boards featuring house-made meats. Drinks are a twin focus at Old Town Tap, with obsessively crafted co*cktails demanding a share of the spotlight. 16 beer taps and 12 wine taps serve up some of best drinks from across the country.
Address: 10164 Donner Pass Road #1, Truckee, CA 96161, United States
11. Cloud Sushi
The team between Tahoe Private Chef has been catering top-notch sushi for private groups since 2017 and created Cloud Sushi to bring its sushi to a larger swatch of the general public. Because of the busy catering schedule, sushi is only available on Wednesdays, and only for pickup—but it’s worth planning ahead to try it. Pickup slots range all afternoon until 7 p.m., but dinner preorder is highly recommended. Beer, highballs, and sake are also on offer.
Address: 10130 W River St, Truckee, CA 96161, United States
12. Squeeze In
You literally have to squeeze in to dine at the Squeeze In, at just 10 feet, 3 inches wide and with 39 seats. This tiny kitchen first started selling omelettes—which it claims are the best on the planet—in 1974, and its popularity has grown ever since. Today, it’s a family friendly Truckee institution, offering all kinds of breakfast classics with a dash of hippie vibes.
Address: 10060 Donner Pass Road B, Truckee, CA 96161, United States
13. Donner Lake Kitchen
One of the longest-running restaurants in the area, in operation since the mid-70’s, Donner Lake Kitchen is a local favorite. Its warm and cozy interior gives it a country diner feel, echoed by a menu featuring classic American comfort foods with a modern twist. Breakfast here is a must, with expertly done classics including eggs, hash browns, cinnamon rolls, pancakes, and Bloody Mary’s overflowing with garnishes.
Address: 13720 Donner Pass Road, Truckee, CA 96161, United States
14. Casa Baeza
Casa Baeza is a casual and colorful destination for authentic Mexican food in Truckee. The menu plays all the hits, from enchiladas to tostadas, nachos to tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and more. Margaritas are also free-flowing and offered by the pitcher.
Address: 10010 Bridge St, Truckee, CA 96161, United States
15. Smokey’s Kitchen
Smokey’s Kitchen is Truckee’s destination for barbecue, whether you’re looking for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Its menu is extensive, featuring all kinds of barbecued meats, combination platters, sides, and non-barbecue options like salads and wraps. Indoor and patio seating are both available, as is takeout, and service is fast and friendly.
Address: 2036 Donner Pass Road, Truckee, CA 96161, United States
16. FiftyFifty Brewing Co.
FiftyFifty prides itself on its self-sourcing and attention to detail, and that extra care comes through in the beer and restaurant experience. At its Truckee pub, it serves up brewery classics like chicken wings, build-your-own burgers, tacos, and pulled-pork sandwiches, all to accompany a selection of its always-on beers and seasonal favorites. The pub also hosts events, including beer release parties.
Address: 11197 Brockway Rd #1, Truckee, CA 96161, United States
17. Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar
Set at planned community Hilltop within an authentic, hand-built ski lodge from 1928, The Cottonwood is filled to the brim with history. Its interior is dedicated to showcasing Sierra skiing heritage, with photographs taking visitors on a visual journey from the early 1900s to now. A varied menu gives diners lots of options, including plenty of vegetarian dishes, and frequent open mic nights complete the atmosphere with music.
Address: 10142 Rue Hilltop, Truckee, CA 96161, United States
18. El Toro Bravo
El Toro Bravo has long been a go-to spot for Mexican dinners in Lake Tahoe and Truckee after opening its doors in 1988. Its authentic cuisine and co*cktails draw patrons to its location in historic old town Truckee, as well as a location in Capitola. Now in its third and fourth generations as a family-owned and run establishment, the restaurant aims to treat its diners as part of the family, too.
Address: 10186 Donner Pass Road, Truckee, CA 96161, United States
19. Craft and Logic Taproom
Craft and Logic — a downtown, family-owned taproom and bottle shop — is a haven for craft beer lovers with more than 30 rotating taps spanning a wide array of styles and geographies. Here, the focus is on self-distributed craft breweries, making it the perfect place to discover a new favorite beer. Craft and Logic also has fresh small plates, non-alcoholic options, and taps of hard kombucha, cider, and wine for the non-beer drinkers. Inside displays works by local artists, while outside there’s a large outdoor patio with postcard-worthy views of the Sierra Nevadas.
Address: 10192 Donner Pass Road, Truckee, CA 96161, United States
20. Coffeebar
Coffeebar has café locations scattered around California and Nevada, but the Truckee location was “the OG,” as the brand calls it, and it holds a special place in its history—it was born out of an old tin garage on a backstreet in downtown. Now a local staple, Coffeebar prizes its community, its commitment to sustainability, and the partnerships that help bring it high-quality coffee and food. Don’t skip over the pastries here, and if you like them, consider a stop at Coffeebar’s bakery, also in Truckee, or their Olympic Valley location.
Address: 10120 Jibboom St, Truckee, CA 96161, United States
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PS — Are You Booking a Trip Soon? Use My Booking Checklist!
These are the sites I use most to book my own trips. Using the links below is a great way to support Bon Traveler’s travel journalism at no extra cost to you. If you need help organizing your itinerary, get my free travel itinerary template here.
1. Book Your Flights
Use Skyscanner to find the best flights. It searches 100s of airlines and websites across the globe to ensure you’re not missing out on any route options or deals.
2. Book Your Accommodations
Use Booking.com for hotels and guest houses. They have the biggest inventory and consistently offer the best rates.
3. Book Your Tours & Experiences
Use Viator or Get Your Guide to find the best tours and experiences. They are my favorite tour search engines. I always check both as their inventory varies depending on the destination.
4. Book Your Car
Use Discover Cars or Rentalcars.com to find the best car rental deals. I recommend comparing rental agency reviews on Google to ensure you are booking with the best company in that destination, as the reviews are often more accurate than the car rental search engines.
5. Don’t Forget Airport Lounge Access
Get a Priority Pass membership to gain access to 1,400+ VIP lounges and airport experiences worldwide. The Priority Pass app is the first thing I check when I have a layover. I’ve been a member for over a decade, and having a comfortable place to relax before and between flights makes air travel so much more enjoyable.
6. Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
I never leave the country without travel insurance. It provides comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong (ie. illness, injury, theft, and cancelations, etc.). I use it frequently for my travels to stay protected.
My favorite companies that offer the best coverage and rates are:
- World Nomads (best for all-around)
- Safety Wing (best for frequent travelers)
Xx,
Jessica
