Watson Cafe
Bar & grill · Alta ·

Watson Cafe

Bar & grill · Alta ·

Mid-mountain lodge with espresso, Italian hot chocolate, lunch

Watson Cafe by null
Watson Cafe by null
Watson Cafe by null
Watson Cafe by null
Watson Cafe by null
Watson Cafe by null
Watson Cafe by null
Watson Cafe by null
Watson Cafe by null
Watson Cafe by null
Watson Cafe by null
Watson Cafe by null
Watson Cafe by null
Watson Cafe by null
Watson Cafe by null
Watson Cafe by null
Watson Cafe by null
Watson Cafe by null
Watson Cafe by null
Watson Cafe by null
Watson Cafe by null
Watson Cafe by null
Watson Cafe by null
Watson Cafe by null
Watson Cafe by null
Watson Cafe by null
Watson Cafe by null
Watson Cafe by null
Watson Cafe by null
Watson Cafe by null

Information

Collins Rd, Alta, UT 84092 Get directions

$10–20

Information

Static Map

Collins Rd, Alta, UT 84092 Get directions

+1 801 799 2296
alta.com

$10–20

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Last updated

Nov 16, 2025

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The Utah Ski Destination You'll Want to Visit Next

"Watson Shelter is a three-story building located mid-mountain, right off of the Collins lift. It opens on the earlier side for those looking to warm up with a coffee (or something stronger!) and serves lunch daily. Within Watson Shelter, there are three separate entities all with floor-to-ceiling glass windows which provide an unforgettable panorama of both Mount Baldy and Mount Superior. On the first floor, swing by Baldy Brews for a selection of snacks, baked goods (made in-house daily), espresso, or their famous house special: Italian Hot Chocolate. Located on the second floor is Watson Café, serving lunch daily with an extensive menu of everything from organic soups and vegetarian chili to sandwiches, salads, and burgers made with 100% grass-fed meat. The french fries complete with their special 'fry sauce' are not to be missed. Collins Grill (reservations recommended) offers a more formal lunch, with a private dining room and a variety of courses on the menu they describe as "European mountain bistro-grill." The views cannot be beaten, and for those skiers looking for a relaxing lunch experience, complete with slippers to give your feet a much-needed respite from your ski boots, Collins Grill is the perfect option." - Travel + Leisure Editors

https://www.travelandleisure.com/hotels-resorts/mountain-ski-resorts/alta-utah-ski-resort-guide
Watson Cafe

K B

Google
Great place to grab lunch on the mountain. Build your own burrito, grain bowl or salad for $20. Huge portions with tons of different options; everything was super flavourful!

Paras D.

Google
Great food. They have a shop downstairs where the sell Alta merchendise. Everything is great, and I fact I'm writing this review in the lodge right now, where I'm watching the skiirs pass while sipping my hot chocolate.

Hans Peter B.

Google
Love Watsons. Good food for on-mountain dining. Great location and nice outside space when it warms up a bit in March/April. They try to make it sustainable by paying attention to both ingredients and the utensils++. You may also want to try the upstairs fine dining experience. Not many places in US has this. Nice (on mountain) menu and beautiful views.

Troy L.

Google
Always stop here mid morning to warm up with a coffee (save that receipt for your second cup) and something sweet. Good place to shake the chills off, grab a bite and rest those knees.

Peter B.

Google
This year Watson's has gone to hell in a handbasket. Nothing is ready @10:30. Coffee not made, soup is cold. I'm not writing this on a one off. My 12th day and this is a recurring theme. Watson's has been my go to for 42 yrs. Never complained before.

Stormy H.

Google
•They are doing burritos again this season. Didn't have one, but looked tasty. •Fountain soft drinks, but not allowed refills - seems kinda rude when it's $6 for the standard cup. Maybe sometime they will change it where refills are like ¢50 or something. •Fries were hot and perfectly salted. Large was $14. *Update 02/12/25- restaurant states they don't do refills due to public health, but what public health concerns are there now when every restaurant in SLC that has fountains allows refills? Seems like an excuse rather than a real reason. Additionally when we went it was $6 for the cup we purchased not $5....*

Andrea G.

Google
Big disappointment. As a long-time Alta devotee I was shocked, shocked that Watson’s has gotten rid of all the favs: No more burgers; no grilled cheese, no fries; no pasta or Mac and cheese. only two soup selections—and those are mediocre. Price tag for bowl of meh chili & salad: $37…

Chris P.

Google
We come here every year as part of a conference. It’s a nice place to sit and have lunch with colleagues. The views are exceptional and the food is usually pretty good. One of the best parts is that you can take your ski boots off and put on warm slippers. The major improvement needed is speed. We are typically a group of 20-30 so I’m not expecting to get out in 10 mins but a little shorter total time would make this place the perfect lunch stop at Alta.
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Rose H.

Yelp
Great tasting hot chocolate!! I like that there is a good variety of hot drinks on the menu and they did latte art with the hot chocolate. Pricing is on-mountain pricing but the location is great since it's a place to stop mid-run. There are bathrooms and lots of seating inside the lodge.

Andrea G.

Yelp
Big disappointment. As a long-time Alta devotee I was shocked, shocked that Watson's has gotten rid of all the favs: No more burgers; no grilled cheese, no fries; no pasta or Mac and cheese. only two soup selections--and those are mediocre. Price tag for bowl of meh chili & salad: $37...
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William H.

Yelp
They got rid of the burgers!!! That's really the entire reason for this review, but Yelp requires a longer review. The burgers are sorely missed.
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Doug M.

Yelp
Tried the burger at the grill due to its claim of being voted "Utah's Best 100% grass-fed beef burger". It's not clear who voted for this, but given that on-mountain dining is limited I figured, why not give it a shot? The burger was tasty, but nothing special. Also got a half chicken pesto pizza - it also was tasty but average for pizza. The burger and half pizza set us back $30 - obviously steep for city standards but standard for on-mountain dining. Would I dine here again? Sure - options are limited on-moutain and Watson's fills the belly and satisfies the taste buds well-enough, just don't expect anything out of the ordinary.
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Rick M.

Yelp
Watson's is nice. Located mid mountain under the Collins lift it is easily accessible. Park ski up top for easier return to angle station. We use it mainly as a coffee stop. Cafe downstairs serves up some delicious coffee. If you are naushey then head upstairs to the cafeteria or up another level to Collins Grill, which is a bit more upscale, serves up wonderful vistas to the Mountain and surrounding area.
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Eileen C.

Yelp
This is just for Watson Cafe. The ladies there know how to make espresso drinks tailored to way you like it. Just describe what you like (which in my case was a cappuccino w silky micro foam texture) and they'll make it for you. Plus they are so friendly. Wonderful mid-mountain stop.
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Paul M.

Yelp
Great location! Good food and fair prices! Be careful how many fries you order, you may end up with too much like we did! (They aren't as good as they look) But the soups and sandwiches were very tasty with a decent beer selection and easy to get in and out of quickly to get back on the slopes!

Dave B.

Yelp
Watson's used to have the best food at Alta. The quality has gone down the past few years. Today the cook was super slow and spacey. He totally over-cooked my burger while my fries got cold. The burger patties are way smaller now vs a few years ago.

Jen H.

Yelp
Amazing Mid-Mountain eatery, with the BEST FRIES ABOVE 10,000 FEET! The kids at ski school actually get to pick from the regular menu, unlike most other resorts. There are great views from the top floor, and it looks great since the original structure. It doesn't have the wild game chili you would find at the Stein Eriksen lodge at Deer Valley, nor the Himalayan Curry at Solitude, but a great on mountain place nonetheless.