Not only did we immediately bomb Sun Valley into one of our favorite ski areas after our visit, the associated town of Ketchum also stole our hearts! We fell for the authentic atmosphere and were surprised by the culinary palette. Here literally applies: you-can-eat-your-heart-out! Here are our tips for a pleasant après-ski, typical American bear, burger & steak addresses or an evening of fine dining.
Food in Sun Valley: for all tastes
For lovers of good food, you will find a world of cuisines here, except for the well-known fast food chains. Yes, it’s true; the locals don’t want Sun Valley on the streets here and for the time being they are complying with that! And rightly so, we say, because we ate the best hamburger & fries at Grumpy’s . And if only for the location, you’ll want to have been here: inside the gray-painted wooden chalet it’s a cacophony of beer cans, car signs, stickers, sharks and blow-up dolls! Definitely a hilarious recommendation! A bit out of the center, count on a 10 to 15 minute walk.
The favorites of the ‘locals’
Most restaurants are located on Main Street and Washington Avenue. Here’s a selection of the local favourites:
The Covey , 520 Washington Avenue
A modern restaurant and the place to eat for a good piece of meat or fish. Reservation recommended.
Rickshaw , 460 Washington Avenue
In this small, cozy restaurant you can enjoy creative dishes inspired by Vietnamese, Thai and Cambodian cuisine. Reservation not possible; First come, first served.
Enoteca, 300 N Main Street
First of all, an excellent wine bar, but also a restaurant where the wood oven pizzas, salads and trout are the main ingredients. Reservation possible.
This address is the undisputed fine-dining address in Ketchum. It’s been around since 1959 and Ernest Hemingway even had his own table there. Both the owner, former Olympic ski coach Michel Rudigoz and chef Laurent Loubot are originally French and the menu includes many French classics such as Soupe à l’oignon (onion soup) and escargot Bourguignon (snails), but also their own version of the oh-so-American Mac ‘n Cheese. You can also stop here for an aperitif in the Olympic Bar, which is full of photos of ski champions from Michel’s Olympic glory days.
The Pioneer Saloon , 320 N Main St.
If you haven’t been to the Pioneer Saloon, you haven’t been to Ketchum! And there is nothing too much said because if you want to have a real American experience , then you should not miss this. Both the facade and the interior are completely Saloon-proof . This is where you come to drink beer and eat the Prime Rib with roasted potatoes . We warn you in advance: it’s big ! Open daily, no reservation possible.