The Little Diner

The restaurant had a classic diner vibe, which was nice to see. It was a little busy, so come prepared for a short wait as they cycle people in and out. For drinks, I like my coffee strong, so I ordered a hot Americano with two extra shots of espresso. It was perfect—just the way I like it. For the food, we loved everything here. You can't go wrong with anything. We shared several dishes, but my favorites were the Pork Chops & Eggs and the Pancakes. The service was excellent. I didn't catch our server's name, but he was great. He cracked several jokes, making the experience more enjoyable. I highly recommend stopping by for breakfast. I haven't tried their lunch or dinner, but I'm sure it'll be great. I'm looking forward to coming back.

Super group friendly, but definitely jump on the waitlist early if you missed the first rush. The corned beef hash was so yummy. Homemade hash browns are perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.. My bloody Mary hit the spot as well. Friendly staff and a great diner energy.

This vibrant diner in the heart of Vail Village pulses with energy from the moment you walk in. The dining room buzzes with an eclectic mix of fresh-off-the-slopes skiers still in their gear, snowboarders swapping stories, and locals nursing their Sunday morning regrets—all united in their quest for an exceptional breakfast. Arrive early if you can. The popularity of this spot means weekend waits are inevitable, but here's the silver lining: their cocktail program transforms waiting time into happy hour. Sip on expertly crafted morning drinks that go well beyond your standard mimosa. The menu delivers on all the breakfast classics you'd expect, executed with care and quality ingredients. But the real showstopper? The German pancake. This isn't hyperbole—it's genuinely to die for. Light, eggy, and dramatically presented, it's the kind of dish that makes you understand why people willingly queue out the door. The staff brings genuine warmth to what could easily be a chaotic environment. Despite the bustling atmosphere, our server made us feel individually cared for, delivering attentive service without hovering, all with authentic smiles that never felt forced. This is a repeat-visit establishment. The menu has enough variety and quality that you'll want to return multiple times to explore everything that catches your eye. Whether you're fueling up before hitting the slopes or recovering from the night before, this Vail Village diner delivers an experience that matches the mountain town's high standards.

If you’re looking for a group-friendly spot in Vail, The Little Diner is a fantastic choice, though I’d recommend joining the waitlist early to beat the post-rush crowd. The omelettes and breakfast burritos are excellent, but the real stars are the homemade hash browns, which are perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Even with a full house, the service is impressively fast and the staff is genuinely attentive to specific order variations, all while maintaining that classic, high-energy diner atmosphere.

If you like a big breakfast before skiing or your summer adventure/ this is for you. Big menu, big portions. Get in wait list in advance to sav time Attached menu for current prices - Jan 2026. Hit like if appropriate

What a fantastic little stop over for lunch I had here. We were headed to Georgetown and had this place marked on our map as we heard really great things about their food options. I had the BLT on menu and the sandwich was fantastic. Lots of really crispy bacon, fresh lettuce and tomato. In addition to the sandwich were a heaping pile of fries. There was so much food I had to take the rest with me for left overs. Highly recommend stopping here if you're staying in Vail or driving through!

I had an outstanding experience at The Little Diner in Vail. The food was delicious, perfectly prepared, and served hot and fresh. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming—exactly the kind of spot you want to find in a mountain town. A special shout-out to our waiter, Parker, who made the visit exceptional. He was friendly, attentive, and genuinely made us feel taken care of. His recommendations were spot-on, and his upbeat attitude added so much to the overall experience. If you’re in Vail and looking for a great meal with even better service, you can’t go wrong with The Little Diner. Can’t wait to return!

During our first of what will be many visits to Vail, our friends raved about The Little Diner for a classic and comforting brunch that hits all the right notes. My wife had the large, fluffy biscuits generously smothered in rich, creamy sausage gravy—savory and indulgent without being overwhelming. Accompanying the biscuits were perfectly scrambled eggs and a hearty serving of crispy hash browns, adding both texture and balance to the plate. Being an omelet fan, the Southwestern was a standout on the plate—beautifully golden and fluffy, filled with delicious chorizo, their specialty chili's (with more requested on the side), and chock-full of cheese. With both dishes, their crispy hash browns (watching how they were prepared) were a knock-out of the park. I was able to ask for a side of pancakes, and they were brought out early with our mimosas, which made for a perfect breakfast appetizer. Each component was well-prepared and flavorful, making the meal feel both satisfying and familiar. It’s the kind of brunch that reminds you why diners are such beloved staples—simple, hearty, and delicious. Plus, sitting at the bar not only gave you a look into how the kitchen runs, but also the friendly and regular touch from the wait staff. If you're in Vail and craving a traditional brunch done right, don't miss out on The Little Diner as a staple that's worth a visit.

The Little Diner is one of my favorite spots for breakfast and a must-stop whenever I'm in Vail. It's a casual, laid back diner with quick & attentive service. I HIGHLY recommend putting your name on the online waitlist as they get pretty packed especially on the weekends. Everything I've ordered here has been super tasty, but one of my absolute favorite things on the menu is the blintz with blueberry compote. It's so light and airy with the perfect sweetness. I order one every time. I also love their omelets. You get a nice sized portion with crispy hash on the side and your choice of toast. Always hits the mark. My husband craves their Taxi Driver Special (the pork green chili is delicious). I haven't tried any of their lunch items so this review is purely for breakfast. My only knock on the place is the bathroom situation, having just 2 right outside the restaurant passed the bar. Not a huge deal, just something to be cognizant of.

The Little Diner is definitely worth the wait! We put ourselves on the online waitlist on a busy weekend morning and got seated about an hour later, which wasn't too bad given how popular this place is. I ordered the eggs Benedict (highly recommend!) and a Dutch baby with strawberries, which was my first time trying one--it was really good! My friend enjoyed her veggie omelet and breakfast burrito, and she raved about how fluffy the pancake was. The Nutella crepe was another standout. But the real stars of the meal? The hash browns and corned beef hash. Hands down, our favorites! Perfectly crispy and packed with flavor. On top of the great food, our waiter was incredibly patient while we debated our order, and we never felt rushed while eating or even when finishing up. That level of service made the whole experience even better. If you're in Vail and craving a quality breakfast, The Little Diner is a must-visit!

Omg every ski village needs a little diner. Our crew woke up hungover after a little too much apres and stumbled over to The Little Diner seeking some filling brunch The little diner hit the spot with delicious offerings and very large portions. Vibes are spot on and there is sooooo much to choose from, you can't go wrong. The bagel breakfast sandwich was delicious, and my friends loved the omelettes. A great way to start your day in Vail - highly recommend!

This place is so super cute. We love sitting at the bar. The breakfast food just wasn't for me. I had the 2 egg breakfast and the eggs were just somehow a little too soggy. I also asked for the hashbrowns to be extra crispy but they serve them patty style so they were only crispy on the surface. All gooey on the inside and if you've read my reviews before you know I don't do gooey lol. The bacon was overcooked so overall I can say I really enjoyed the toast :sideeye: hubby had the omelet and said it was good but just had too much stuff in it. Had the burrito the day before and said it was pretty decent. What I liked the most about the place is the diner feel with great music! Fun place to go for breakfast in my opinion.

My boyfriend and I had a wonderful Sunday brunch here last week! This is one of my favorite spots in town. I ordered a patty melt medium-rare with hashbrowns with American cheese and onions and it was absolutely incredible! I also ordered a guava mimosa that was very yummy. Not only that, but our server Dylan was awesome! Super friendly and gave great suggestions. The ambiance is fantastic whether you're at a table or at the counter you'll have a blast. We can't wait to come back!

Items on menu are a bit pricey for portion sizes you get. There are other churro restaurants that are not as expensive for better product.

Great diner. One of the few truly casual restaurants in the area. Vail needs more places like this. Not a fancy tourist spot but great for a family meal if you are spending the day skiing.

We came here for breakfast twice during our stay in Vail. Very popular spot. Come early or later, but peak breakfast times are busy. The food was typical breakfast fare, but it was one of the few places I have been in a while that could truly cook an over easy egg! The accompanying potatoes were very well cooked! The coffee was hot and it kept coming.

Nice little breakfast spot in Lionshead Village. We sat at the bar and got great service. The eggs Benedict was fantastic, but the hashbrowns were the real star of the show. Loved the old school diner feel and being able to watch them make the food right in front of us. Great place to grab breakfast before hitting the slopes!

I REALLY REALLY love this place. It's tiny but so good. Their omelettes are delicious, as is their bacon and hash browns (the shredded kind). We love that if you can't decide what to get, their sides include one pancake, and one slice of French toast, which is so unique to see. The service is also great. When we visit our favorite place to sit is at the bar so that we can watch all the cooking happen. Thank you for being our go-to spot in vail!

Giving this a 3 star food was okay, one of our meals came out wrong and they took it back and said they wouldn't charge it and they still did, the sauce for the eggs benedict was the only good part, it's a cute diner and the worker was nice but overall just okay, probably wouldn't come back

Wow, come here hungry! This is the place to go before snowboarding and/or if you had too much fun the night before. The portions are huge and the grease will help. Cheesesteak: is massive but so tasty! Love the thin cut steak, especially when you get a burnt piece. The fries were solid too. Eggs Benedict: love how you can taste the lemon in the hollandaise sauce but the eggs benedict itself wasn't anything special. It's your typical diner benedict. The hashbrowns is a brick, I wish it was more crispy. Drinks: love how they offer a good drink menu! We loved the bloody and mimosa. The diner itself is adorable, love the old school feel. It's fun to see the cooks do their thing while sitting at the bar.

A lot is not little about the Little Diner. The portions are massive. The amount of bacon squeezed into the bacon omelette is not little. The 90's Pizza Hut-sized cups used for soft drinks are not little. The flavor in the entrees is not little either. The prices are not little, but they are fair for Vail for sure. The waitlist when you arrive will probably not be little, but it moves quick, and is easy to track on your phone. If you have little cash on you, that's okay, because they take all major credit cards. But if you don't have a little group, take note, as gratuity is added in for all parties of 5 or more. Whether you have a lot of time in Vail or a little, you should be sure to stop by.

We went here for a late breakfast, and the service was fast. I ordered the eggs breakfast with a side of sliced avocado and corned beef hash--the hash was quite good! My partner ordered the blintzes, which were more like crepes than traditional blintzes, but he enjoyed them. We'd come back.

I'm in heaven If you are ever up in Vail, Colorado you have to check out The Little Diner! Service and food are amazing! You won't be disappointed! Ask specifically for Miriam. She was truly amazing this morning (She's also been here for 15 years!) Thanks for the great experience this morning. Will definitely be coming back!

I want to say the food was amazing! I got the eggs benedict and a mocha latte and my husband got the biscuits and gravy. I was so impressed with the quality and quantity of food. The quite little bar top was cozy and comforting during the snowy weather. The only reason I wouldn't give it 5 stars is due to the service. There was a lady behind the counter who was quite snippy and borderline rude with her responses. The prices were pretty expensive, but for the quality of the food we didn't mind. The rude attitude did keep us from returning again during our trip. I would recommend this place, but maybe get ready for snippy waitress.

Vail was a ghost town in April! It was still poppin' at The Little Diner, so I can't imagine peak season. Came here for a work event and got immediately seated at the bar/kitchen area. It was a bit of a challenge to find at first. Unfortunately their espresso machine wasn't working, so I just had a drip coffee and the Taxi Driver Special. The combination of eggs, hash browns, and pork green chili really did it for me. Super warm and comforting. Customer service was wonderful and made me feel like I was dining in someone's home. Would definitely trek all the way here through Vail Village (with two suitcases) again to try other things! Everyone seemed to be having a great time.

Wow, so yummy. Cute little diner with great fast service, very friendly staff & GOOD food. Vanilla latte was delicious. The croissant sandwich was perfect, thick sliced ham with plenty of cheese and eggs. Pancake was so yummy.

The MOST DELICIOUS Ruben sandwich EVER! The bread was perfectly toasted and hugging thick slices of juicy corned beef with a light thousand island dressing and a bit of kraut. SO GOOD. Cute place, nice service. We would love to try everything on the menu.

Unfortunately I had the bad experience of seeing discussions in the kitchen for the second time!! It's a great place and the food is very good, but it's terrible to witness such strong fights from the kitchen team!

You may have to wait, but once you sit, the service is fast and the food is yummy and hot. I had the two-egg breakfast with ham and coffee, my spouse ordered the corned beef hash; homemade and yummy with two eggs over easy. Great food, good-sized portions, and wonderful coffee. The service is excellent. Yum!

Service was excellent. Comfortable atmosphere. Good location. Family friendly. Prices were average.

Highly recommend! Excellent service, great food and professional services. The staff was very considerate and felt like home.

10/10 Arrived around 930am on a Friday and was able to be seated immediately with a party of 2. Food was tasty, hearty, and portions were generous. Ambiance was cute I loved the logo and uniforms, felt like I stepped into a vintage diner. Would absolutely come back Biscuits & gravy: 5/5 Green chile burrito: 5/5

Great food and people. By far the best breakfast in the Valley. I would to suggest (2) things. (1) The hash browns have too much salt and are over done. Need to more fluffy. This has been the case on my last 3 visits. (2). they have the best Philly cheesesteak, but it should be served on a softer type of bread. Enjoy, this place is good

The food, portions and service are great! Great value for the price!!! Incredible breakfast!

The Little Diner is a hole in the wall gem in Lionshead at Vail. It's a fantastic diner that serves delicious breakfast and lunch options. Approved by the locals, The Little Diner is also reasonably priced, and is a must visit when you come to Vail. My Overall Rating - 5 Stars (Atmosphere, Service, Food, Return) Atmosphere - You'll find The Little Diner behind Moe's BBQ in Lionshead. There's outdoor and indoor seating Inside, it's a classic diner - complete with a bustling open kitchen with bar seating, and shiny red leather booths if you want more privacy. It's also very busy. There will be people standing outside, waiting for a table. 1 Star. Service - Start by visiting https://thelittlediner.com/ and look for the wait time. The Little Diner uses a first come/first serve waiting list system. When you arrive, you'll register and get on the list. On my two visits, the first wait time was 45 minutes with 60 people in front of me. I waited 20 minutes with 20 people ahead of me on the second visit. Inside, the servers and friendly, fast, and super-efficient. 1 Star. Food - I dined at The Little Diner twice in three days. I love breakfast, and diners, and The Little Diner epitomizes both.. The star is their Steak & Eggs Wedge Sandwich. Thinly sliced beef (like what you'd find in a Philly Cheesesteak), is topped with hash browns and two over easy eggs onto a nice sandwich roll. Eat it with your hands or with a fork. Just eat it. The second star was the Biscuits & Gravy. Honestly, I don't know if the biscuits were flaky because they sat in a warm pool of delicious sausage gravy. The flavor was super savory and this felt like a hearty meal. Lastly, the MVP of my meal was the pancake. Simple, fluffy, delicious. I ordered one pancake as a side, and quickly ordered another one once I finished the first. 2 Stars. Will I Return? - Yes. I visited The Little Diner twice in three days. I enjoyed all my dishes. It has great charm, is in a great location (Lionshead), and serves delicious food. 1 Star. My Yelp Rating Scale (Sum of all parts): 1 Star - Atmosphere - Is it a cool dive? Perhaps an upscale place? No matter the type, atmosphere plays a big part and I'll give a star if I like it or thinks it has great charm. 1 Star - Service - You can have a great meal with bad service. But that's also what can make a five star joint drop to four. It's important to the dining experience that service is great and on point. 2 Stars - Food - I'll award up to two stars for the food, since this is the main reason we dine out. Sometimes the extra star is given for value, but it's really all about the food. 1 Star - Will I come back? - If I know for a fact I'll return, I'll give this a star. A place has to make an impression for me to return. Each Category can be given up to 1 star except food (2 stars) because I consider all these categories important to the overall dining experience. I will sum them up to provide my final Yelp score.

Great if you know what to get. The espresso was 3 out of 5 okay, but it was good. Caffeine for the morning. The blueberry pancake was amazing. ... Steak, onion, omelette was great. And the hashbrowns were great. Kinda hate how they used the Sysco cooking oil, but that's just whatever. I'm being nitpicky. The service is great, as always.

This place was packed in late April, when the rest of Vail Village was quiet. The coffee is very good. I was not impressed with the biscuit, however, the Dutch baby pancake and strawberry blintz were very good. Staff were professional and effective. Nice place to get good old fashion breakfast.

Excellent food and large menu. There is something for everyone. The food portions are large and service is quick and excellent. They open at 7am and I recommend getting there upon open if you don't want to wait for a table as the inside is super small.

The hubby and I have been going to The Little Diner for at least 12 years and used to frequent it quarterly when we lived in Denver. Now that we've moved away, we make a point to go there every visit we take to CO which is about once a year. This year, we went on a Friday and got to sit at the counter which is our favorite spot to watch the action in the kitchen. The hubby ordered the mixed grill which is like a large thin frittata with eggs, hash browns, lots of fresh vegetables and meat of your choice cooked in a pan and take up an entire plate. It's a low carb, satisfying meal. I ordered the two egg breakfast and ordered my eggs over hard with a sausage patty, grits and then I upgraded to a pancake on the side and slid it on over to my husband. My grits were perfectly salted and so creamy and buttery. The eggs and sausage paired nicely with it and the pancake was nice and golden. If you're visiting Vail or are looking for a place to stop as you drive through the passes, head on down to the Little Diner. The hash browns are killer, pancakes delicious, their Swedish pancake is delightful and the service top notch. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu.

My FAVORITE breakfast place in Vail!!! Amazing food, delicious coffee, friendly staff, decent prices (compared to other Vail restaurants), and a homey, welcoming vibe. 5 stars! This is a must for all Vail vacationers!

What a great little breakfast spot deep in the Rockies. Very small location so be prepared to sit close to others or be at the counter with someone next to you. The counter offers the added bonus of being able to watch the cooking in action. The pancakes are incredibly light. The bacon is thick and prepared just perfectly. The toast was perfectly toasted each time and the portion size is just all around generous. Arrive early or prepare to wait a bit. You can sign up for the waitlist online. You can also shop the nearby area a bit while you wait to be seated. The Little Diner is a definite - YES.

Cute diner vibe with very reasonably priced food with good portions and friendly staff. Would recommend for a family friendly fun breakfast spot

Couldn't have asked for a better brunch stop on our first visit to Vail. We kept checking the online waitlist through Google because we had heard how small this place is but how busy it gets. We thought we were doing great since it continued to say no wait every time we checked as we approached Vail. Of course when we got to the restaurant at 9:35 AM on Friday (maybe 10 mins after our last waitlist check) there was now a waitlist of 15 people. We thought we were in for a long wait but got called almost immediately since we were only a party of 2! We were seated at the counter which was fun to watch them make the food. Our waitress, I think her name was Miriam, was so nice & prompt with service. We ordered the dutch baby with cinnamon apples, a side of hashbrowns, orange juices, & blueberry pancakes. Everything tasted fantastic but the dutch baby was the star because we don't get to have it everyday. Be forewarned the pictures online don't do it justice; the thing is massive! Still worth getting though & don't forget to add toppings! My husband & I agreed we'd come here everytime we stop in Vail.

This place is not healthy and the food is terrible. I had the apple crepe and Dutch Baby. The crepe was dry and had no flavor. The Dutch baby was a mushy pile of grease and also terrible. Don't waste your money here. Go to Vintage or Westside Cafe instead.

Went there with a friend after his surgery. Asked for over easy eggs and got over hard with broken yolks. Would have asked for them to be remade but he was falling asleep in his breakfast so I just ate em and was sad. Friendly folks, reasonable prices

Great food. Fun atmosphere. Busy. Prices on the higher side. Great selections. Not much of a view.

Gotta go there if you are in the area! We had burgers and it was delicious! We had great service and a great time with friends.

Driving thru Vail and needed a quick lunch. Found this on Yelp and picked it due to the high ratings. I had the Philly Cheese Steak, others had the BLT, and Patty Melt. Some had the sweet potato fries and others tried the onion strings. Everyone raved on how good everything was. The onion strings were the biggest hit. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. If I'm ever in the area again, will definitely stop in for a meal at The Little Diner.

Checked in and was told 25 mins. After 30 mins checked in, the host said it was 45 mins, not 25. Waited 15 more minutes, and then he said, "I have no idea how long it's going to be. We still have to seat a 10 top"

Fun little diner to eat at before a long day of hitting the slopes! The food here is really good and reasonably priced for a mountain town. Just make sure to join the waitlist before you come because this place gets super busy, had to be 10+ people waiting when we got seated. I ordered the 2 egg's breakfast with cheese grits, sausage and rye bread. It was the perfect amount of food and for 12.99 a great deal in Vail. It was all cooked well and a great start to my day, loved the old timey diner vibe!

Great spot for breakfast/lunch in the village. I'm conflicted on service: on one hand, the staff was incredibly friendly, however, food took forever, and there was a cheque mishap at the end that was slightly frustrating. Overall though, really tasty spot! We sat outside, so it was pretty cold!

Went here on Monday morning around 8a in September. No waiting to get seated. We sat at the counter. I had the Mixed Grill. Really big serving. Couldn't finish it. Definitely consider getting it to share. Friendly staff. Great diner feel. Would definitely go back.

Lovely place for breakfast. I'm not a local so this place was a little hard to find. FYI, it's located inside the plaza doors. Eggs Benedict was perfectly seasoned and hash browns were super tasty. My husband got the blueberry pancakes which were so fluffy and the portions were perfect.

Very good breakfast spot. All four of our meals were delicious. Thick bacon, awesome grits, and very nice and quick waiting staff!

Yummy food and pretty decent pricing for something so close to the resort. We got to sit by the grill and watch the chefs make our food which was so fun to watch. Definitely a great place to fuel up and grab some drinks before hitting the slopes!

Quick service, good food, and a cute diner atmosphere! This is a great breakfast spot to try when in Vail.

My favorite place to eat in Vail. We always arrive close to 7:00 when they open and sit at the counter. The friendly staff embraces you as you watch the creation of the best breakfast on the planet