The Rock Inn Mountain Tavern

We love everything about this place and you it in on our now bi annual trips to Estes. Servers, food, music and even the creative candles Ashley makes and sells there are just perfect. We passed this place for years and wondered about it, never stopping until they hung the Pride flags out! We are allys. After our first trip, we don't miss an experience there. Music starts at 5:00! There may be a line at 4:00 when they open, so don't be in a hurry! You will love this place!

Great place with amazing food, wide had a steak and I had Elk meat marinara. Could not have been happier with the meal and ambiance.

This was our third time to Estes Park. The Rock Inn was, by far, the best place we have been. We sat at the bar, and the staff was incredible. We had the Devils on Horseback appetizer which was probably the best we've ever had. The burgers and salads were equally amazing. The live music was wonderful as well. Everything about the visit was perfect, including a piece of art we purchased from Tracy Lytle, a local artist we love. If you're coming to Estes, PLEASE leave the restaurants downtown and come to The Rock. But don't tell anyone else!! LOL.

Very good restaurant to visit if you’re in the area. Got to enjoy some life music with our meal. Delicious all around and service was great!

We loved The Rock Inn! As a vegetarian I felt like I had many options to choose from. The roasted veggies and corn dip were my favorite! My partner said the steak was cooked and seasoned perfectly, and that it paired well with the mashed potatoes. The restaurant is very cozy and staff were kind.

Great atmosphere and amazing food. Don't miss out on the "Devils on Horseback" . All very tasty from the Heritage Salad , Beef Stroganoff, and NY Strip Steak. Highly recommend!

We had the Devil's on Horseback and they were excellent! Also had Gem salad which was a great variety of yum! The lemon dill buttered trout was perfect and so tasty. We added the steak tips and they had very good flavour. The mashed Yukon mashed potatoes and veggies were very good too. Our waitress was Sam A and she did a great job and was very attentive. Highly recommend!

food greatly surpassed our expectations, atmosphere was cozy and we loved the live music. The trout was perfectly prepared and stroganoff could not have been more perfect. We had the chocolate coffee cheesecake for dessert and it was the best thing I’ve tasted in a while. Definitely glad we stopped here while we were in town.

The vibe as soon as you walk in is great! It has an old rustic cabin vibe and really suites the experience. There is are all over from local artists which was a nice touch. The service was excellent. We were seated right away and our served was knowledgeable and prompt. Our food came out very very quick as well. The food itself was delicious. You can tell they use lots of locally sourced ingredients. As an appetizer we got the corn dip. For entrees, my husband got the 1/2lb burger and it was delicious and perfectly cooked. Even his French fries were above average for fries. I got the bison meet balls with red quinoa and vegetables. The gravy was flavour full and the meat balls were moist. Highlight of the meal was the apple and raisin bread pudding. A large portion, served warm with cream. It was the perfect cozy dessert. Priced are higher than we would typically spend on a meal but we splurged a little for our vacation. The quality of the food also made it worth it.

If you're looking for truly authentic Estes Park dining, this is the place! From the moment we walked in, everyone greeted us like family, which made the experience even more special. We loved the live music--it added such a warm, inviting atmosphere--and the homemade food was unforgettable. We ordered plenty of bread with the amazing cinnamon butter, and every dish we tried was incredible. The stroganoff, dill trout, and homemade cheesecake were absolute standouts. I'm still thinking about that meal! If you're in Estes, this spot is a must-visit. Highly recommend!

Food is good. It's a little unusual to not be able to get a baked potato with a nice steak cut though. Cocktails are quite expensive - $15 for a small glass that was mostly ice. I will stick with beer next time. Atmosphere is great though, has a rustic cabin type feel, and most importantly they very frequently have live music playing in the evenings.

We randomly drove to Estes Park, CO during a work trip and decided to stop at this restaurant for dinner. It had a very quaint, hometown feel with a very eclectic decor. The servers were some of the sweetest people you would ever meet. They were even helpful when we asked about sightseeing opportunities in the area. We ordered soup and salad along with French bread and it was all very tasty. This restaurant is definitely worth a visit when in the area

Great food and service! It's a cozy atmosphere with a live musician and everything was excellent!

This was our experience at the Rock Inn. Upon arrival we checked in with the host stand and found our people could call ahead and be put on the list but not make reservations. Not a good start... the waitress Megan was absolutely great! We ordered the spicy corn dip with bacon, Cajun chicken pasta and steak that was on special. The dip was the best!!! My husband's steak was great but my Cajun pasta was horrible. It was dried out pasta, barely any sauce and lukewarm at best. The decor was stunning with great music, pictures for sale on the wall as well. Drinks were great but to much ice in my old fashion. Overall, service 4 out of 5 and food 2 out of 5.

Boy does this place get busy! If this is on your list of places to eat in Estes Park, either come early or make reservations. It was jammed packed. Steak was good. It comes with some veggies and your choice of a side. We got mashed potatoes for a side. It's a great dinning experience and I'm glad we stopped in.

This place was popping on a Saturday night. Maybe they are most nights. Showed up a little after 5:30 and were told an hour wait. Even though they were turning tables fast, it was probably close to an hour, if not longer. Service was great once we were seated. We started with a bottle of house red wine, which was fine. We split the corn dip appetizer, which was good but could've used more dip. Bread and butter was good too. My sirloin was delicious, and my wife liked her burger as well. Brownie sundae was ok but a lot more whipped cream and ice cream than brownie. Service was attentive and excellent.

Did the touristy thing and visited Estes Park last Wednesday, 5-8-24. Per usual, the first stop was Coffee on the Rocks, per usual, a great delight for everyone! By happenstance, the flyer for live music at The Rock Mountain Inn Tavern was lying around inside the shop. After scanning the QR code that was presented, we saw that there was live music starting at 5pm. After investigation, we found this to be a common event for them, live music most nights, including weekdays. We decided to make that our last stop before heading out of town. It did not disappoint. They have a select menu which is helpful in creating better quality control. They do display specials as part of their menu, if you'd rather try that. They have a wide variety of drink options that are reasonably priced and they also have several Mocktails. Definitely a popular local hangout and special tourist dive. Be sure to stop by! (:

Returned to Estes again this year. So pleased to find the same great owners and a well run restaurant. Table for 12 seated quickly, food was excellent, as were the desserts. Live music was great, as was the service. I can't rave enough about this place. If you're visiting Estes, this is absolutely the best.

Stopped in here for dinner after going to Rocky Mountain National Park. They had live music and a decent patio. Service was good. The bread was nice and warm but the butter was a little sweet. The corn dip was good with a hint of spice. The filet was cooked a perfect medium rare with flavorful mashed potatoes and crispy vegetables.

My friend and I came here for dinner last night after a long day of hiking. We shared the corn dip starter and a house salad. I ordered the trout with mashed potatoes and my friend got the chicken flatbread - we both really liked our meals! My trout was a local fish and honestly, it was perfect. Friendly service but they got sooooo busy closer to the end of the meal, it was difficult to get the check. The walls of the restaurant are like an art gallery, it was cool to see. There was live music and we had a wonderful time! Highly recommend.

I was pleasantly surprised by this place. A filet for only $39? I wasn't skeptical but it was actually pretty good and I enjoyed all of the food. The music on the patio was also a nice relaxing addition to the evening. To start we had the spicy corn dip and I loved the little hint of spice. We also got the bread, but I wish the butter was more savory than sweet. The sweetness of it was a little unusual for a bread appetizer, I thought. The steak came out cooked nicely and not over seasoned. It was a nice solid dinner.

Food, music and cocktails were first rate! We started at the bar and my husband enjoyed an old fashion that he thoroughly enjoyed. Made with local ingredients! As for dinner, I had the sweet potatoes and black bean soup that was delicious. Now I'm a light brown eater, my husband and daughter enjoyed their meals. We even splurged on dessert - an apple bread pudding that was amazing! To make the evening more unique, a local singer entertained us with a sweet voice and a single guitar. Pretty rare to see live music over dinner.

This was a fun, new place to try in Estes. The love music was fun and the service was excellent. We ordered the ground beef pasta dish with an extra bison meatball, and the pan seared trout with mashed potatoes. Delicious and full of protein the way I like it.

What a perfect place to get a mountain town dinner after hiking! I was looking for seafood (not common around here) and the friendly folks at the visitor center suggested the trout here. It was delicious with options of how it's prepared. Service was very good. But my favorite part was the ambiance; the wood log cabin vibe with the warm lighting and live music and a nice mix of locals and tourists. I was by myself but felt comfortable at a little table off to the side. So cozy!

I don't have much to say about this meal because it was so unmemorable. Well, the price was memorable (expensive)! We ordered the MacGregor marinara and the pan-seared trout w/ Cajun seasoning. We were served free baguette with house made cinnamon butter. This was delicious but unfortunately, it was the best part of the meal and it was all downhill from there on. The marinara was solid. The flavor was on point. I don't have much negative to say about it. But then again, how do you mess up pasta right? The trout, on the other hand, was very underwhelming. We tasted zero spice from the Cajun seasoning. In fact, there wasn't much savoriness from the salt either. I would say this meal was 40% hit (shout-out to the cinnamon butter) and 60% miss. The 2 dishes with no drinks came out to $70 after tax and tip.

By far, the best meal experience in Estes Park. From the welcoming hostess, quick bar service, beautiful live music, quick seating, and amazing service, this is a for sure stop. And the food-oh heavens, the food was amazing! If you're looking for a welcoming environment for all, with an authentic Rocky Mountain feel, this is your stop.

Service was excellent! We arrived at 5:15 pm (no reservations accepted) and there were only two tables left. Live guitarist singing was too loud. Sound was better for dinner conversation later during the meal. My ribeye was cooked perfectly, but looked and had the texture of a strip steak. "Roasted" vegetables were more like overcooked in a broth. No baked potato option.

This place has got to be one of the coolest places I've ever ate at. The setting and vibe reminds me of an old cabin! It's not a very big restaurant but worth the wait. I think when we went we waited maybe 15 min for a table. All the food was good. I got bison sausage and it's was very flavorful and wasn't gamey thank god. For my main meal I got a steak medium rare with some veggies and mashed potatoes. The potatoes were so smooth and creamy! The steak was tender as they get melted right in my mouth. I believe some nights they have a band. They didn't that night though. Overall amazing place and I definitely hit them up every time I'm in town. It's great to take someone on a nice dinner date!

Got on the "call ahead" list and didn't have to wait very long, even on a busy weekend night. We were sat outside but the heaters helped and you could still hear some of the live music from inside. Food came out pretty quickly and everything we had was pretty good. Menu was pretty vast so it was a great option for anyone in our group. Really enjoyed their teas that they had available to go with or after dinner (you got the whole little kettle)

It's an immediate disappointment when the bar staff cannot accommodate a simple whiskey smash, so as a first impression, we weren't copasetic. Two nights ago, whilst camping, I had dehydrated mushroom stroganoff with filet mignon. So, when I tell you that my rehydrated stroganoff was like a gourmet treat compared to The Rock Inn's gravy-laden beef tip stroganoff, I hope you understand how revolting this dish was. The only thing going for this seemingly popular haunt was the live music and friendly staff.

Love the atmosphere and live music. The food was not bad. The elk sausages were tasty, but the steaks and trout didn't have enough seasoning. Which I guess is fine from a health perspective. Food was fresh and can't complain. Good service.

I had the stroganoff and it was delightful! Ambiance was great as there was a love musician playing and the service was good too. I don't usually eat my whole meal but I devoured this in one sitting. Great experience!

No reservations accepted and the place is busy most nights. Rock Inn serves good food and local music. What a great combination. Its rustic interior is perfect for the mountains. We arrived around 5:30pm and the place was packed. Only seating was on the outdoor patio. All good, music was still piped in and there was more room and ability to chat with my dinner companion. Well mixed cocktails. Very affordable wines by the glass. The tenderloin steak was cooked perfectly as requested and was very satisfying. House Garden Salad was delicious. Service was efficient. Well done. Prices were all reasonable.

Limited bar seating, but we snagged a high top. You have to walk up to the bar & order, but no biggie. They have live music most nights, it was good but the conversations were so loud it was hard to hear. My Mom loved her wine, nice generous pour. We split two appies; the dates and the corn dip. The dates were best, but small. Fun place and they do have a full menu. A little far from downtown to walk, but worth the 5 min drive. Cheers!

Had the Bison Marinara tonight. The term I am going to use is 'musty'. Wasn't good and to top it off, service was bad. Did not get waited on, never asked on how our meals are. Will not be going back.

Found hair in the zucchini, shrimp and grits was unseasoned and my steak was still mooing. Service was good but food was below subpar. Beef stroganoff came with overcooked beef and under cooked noodles. I could understand the appeal to some but there is much better food in the area.

Great atmosphere, great food, great entertainment. Something for the whole family. One of our favorite spots in EPCO!

We got there in time to catch the end of the live music. It was a beauty of a night and we were lucky enough to sit outside with a nice view. I had the steak and it was delicious. My husband really liked the trout. Really cute place with nice employees and great service.

After hiking the Rocky Mountains we were hungry. We checked out The Rock Inn Mountain Tavern def recommend this place. I had the Cajun Chicken Pasta special and my bf had their burger w/fries both were great. The fries were really good :) The place was clean and Jake was our waiter cool guy provided great service. They had live music - a guy solo and talented.

Fantastic food, service & music. I started with an amazing salad & then had the filet. It was scrumptious and absolutely melted in my mouth. He had a strip and really enjoyed it. We loved that there was a lot of local art on the walls that are for sale too.

Our favorite place when we visit Estes! The Rock Inn has great food and a wonderful atmosphere!

Great spot, perfect for couples and fresh new do's! We did the touristy stuff and found this place for the perfect date night.

Needed a place for dinner and found this restaurant on yelp. Saw their menu had some decent selections and a separate beer flight menu, which some of my companions were interested in. When we arrived, there was a wait. Place looks super popular with locals and tourist. There was live music and a lot of energy amongst the patrons. We had a lovely and friendly food server, Andi, who took our orders and was able to keep up with the busy pace of this restaurant. I decided on the trout with dill, lemon, and butter with polenta, vegetables, and gluten-free toast. The trout was a nice size in portion, but a bit on the dry side for my liking. I added a dash of salt and a lot of black pepper also to kick it up a notch since I found it to be under seasoned. I also ordered a cocktail called "Love on the Mountain," which is Breckenridge vodka, pine syrup, Peach Schnapps, Leopold Brithers Tart Cherry Liquor, mixed with orange juice, and a splash of cranberry. This tasted like a spiked fruit punch. Tbh, I actually enjoyed the polenta (delicious!) more than the trout, but the two went well together along with my 2 other sides that I orderd. I was happy to see this restaurant had gluten-free bread as a side option. And french bread with cinnamon flavored butter also came with some of our meals. I did slather a lot of this yummy butter all over my bread. And eventually added it also to my polenta, which didn't need it, but I ran out of bread xD This is a fun restaurant to visit with lots of energy and live music. All the staff we interacted with were friendly and hospitable, including our server Andi. This restaurant I would say is a solid 4 stars, but I took off a star since I thought my meal did not meet up to my expectations. I wouldn't hesitate to come here again though to try other items on their menu and their home grown cocktails while enjoying their live music!

Our absoluten go-to in Estes. Fun experience. Enjoyed the food, staff and overall environment. We ate here 2 days in a row. Stroganoff. Baked potatoe soup.

Excellent potato soup and salad for one of us and Alfredo pasta with chicken for the other. Fun, lively atmosphere with live music which was a bonus on the evening we attended. Our waitress seemed put out by serving but we didn't let her impact our evening. We would recommend.

The food was very good and the waitstaff was kind and attentive. We went on a Tuesday evening and the wait was about 20 minutes. They have live music most nights which is nice. The steaks were perfectly cooked and the cinnamon butter for the rolls was delicious. I would come back again for sure.

Honestly the food was average - I guess we set our expectations too high based on recommendations. The atmosphere was great and our waitress was really nice and bubbly. But as a couple we spent over $100 on dinner and left to get ice cream in town to make up for it.

We really sampled what the area offered and this was our favorite meal. We both had the trout. The value was good, the food was tasty, the service was quick, and the music and ambiance were a great touch.

My favorite spot in Estes!!! The stroganoff is out of this world! We came here spontaneously on a date night and it didn't disappoint!

This place may have the best thin crust pizza I've ever eaten. And I'm not even that big a fan of thin crust. The drinks were super tasty (the pine simple syrup was smooth) as was the spicy beverage. Plus--the service was impeccable. So kind and accommodating. And did I mention the outdoor seating gives you a view of the mountains?

This is not just your normal restaurant. If it had been, I would have given it just four stars. First, it is housed in a log structure built in 1937, which you structural engineers would enjoy seeing and analyzing the truss designs. Second, it is a live music venue and on the Sunday night in August that we were there, they had acoustic music that did not prohibit conversation. Finally, the food and drink: a full bar with 6 or 8 draft beers, including Guinness. The menu is exceptionally varied and I uploaded a copy for you. Some examples: smoked elk sausage, smoky-lime black beans, bison meatballs, stroganoff, salmon bowl--you get the idea. But you've got to try the very first item on the menu--"Devils on Horseback," which is garlic-stuffed, bacon-wrapped dates served with aioli. Don't blame me if you didn't go here--I tried my best to convince you. And I promise I don't own the place and had never been there before.

The service was outstanding and the food came out quick. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming. Bacon wrapped dates were one of the best things we have ever had, and the Colorado hot cider was a delight. Warm bread and cinnamon butter was great. However, 4 stars would be generous. I'm not sure we would come back. Despite the things they did well, we left kind of disappointed. The stroganoff was really bland. That was surprising considering the price. It's not really a difficult dish to execute. The Meatballs were fantastic, but again, the price is set too high and the taste didn't make up for it.

We came up for a little getaway from the big city and we were treated to a great night out. The live music was a bonus. The food was very good. The burger size was out swinging the bun size, which was a nice surprise. The burger itself was cooked a bit too well, but a large portion of the flavor was retained. The Alfredo pasta was extremely tasteful with a pleasant hit of mushrooms. It could have been improved by a less dry pasta, but it still gets an 8/10.

We dined at the Rock Inn on Thursday, April 11 and loved it. The place wasn't too busy on a Thursday in April so we got in right away. The grill stops serving at 8pm but that was not a problem. Our server was helpful and informative and gave us no sense that we had to rush. My wife and I split three samplers and all were excellent: the smoked elk sausage, Devils on Horseback (garlic stuffed bacon wrapped dates), and the spicy corn dip. Everything was delivered hot and timely. I also ordered the Alpine Manhattan which is made with a local rye whiskey, pine syrup, and black walnut bitters. Excellent! A local musician played solo guitar, singing classic 70's folk and country. The music was just what we wanted to hear and perfect background music. I expect in the summer this place gets quite busy but we will definitely go back.

We were absolutely starving after a day in Rocky Mountain National Park, and chose The Rock Inn based on its great reviews. The restaurant was very large, with an outdoor patio in addition to its spacious interior. I loved the ambiance - it was basically a large wooden cabin with rustic decor, high ceilings, and live music. We were seated right away and our server was friendly/attentive. For drinks, my sister and I both ordered Piney Palmers (Arnold Palmers with pine syrup), which were refreshing and not too heavy on the pine flavor. We also got a bunch of food to share - the Cajun Shrimp, Spicy Corn Dip, and 1/2 Pound Char-Grilled Beef Burger with mushrooms, onions, and cheese. All the food came out pretty quickly. The Cajun Shrimp was easily my favorite part of the meal - so much flavor! It came with creamy polenta, which tasted more like grits, but it was delicious. The Spicy Corn Dip and Burger were good too, but very standard. The Burger was very customizable, but they did up-charge for every additional topping, including the cheese. Overall though, good for a hearty dinner!

Our family of 4 was here for dinner after a long and wonderful day in the Park. I ordered a beer and gave my 20 year old daughter a sip. That's it. A sip so she could taste it. (It was good beer!) The waitress was delivering our salads at that point. She asked our daughter for an ID and because she was 20 she said "I should really just take that away. In fact, I think I will." It was rude and abrupt. No listening to an explanation that it was a sip to taste it. I know it's illegal to serve minors, but taking away a beer because of that? And then giving us attitude and refusing to serve us alcohol? Ruined our evening. As for the food - Gem salad: delicious; chicken flatbread sandwiches and Caesar salad: extremely meh. Diners next to us sent back their steaks for being overdone, then complained about the replacements. I'd give it a miss.

Came for the elk sausage and it did NOT disappoint, 10/10. The special they were having for the Honey Cajun Salmon was flavorful and tasty! We got there around opening and were sat instantly, however the crowd as we left was big. Be prepared to wait if you come at prime dinner time but worth the wait!