Walking into the Mammoth Tavern for the first time, you’re immediately struck by two things. The first, and one of my favorite reasons to visit the Tavern, is the view. Beyond the structure’s panoramic windows sits the expansive Mammoth backcountry. From a window seat, you can see from Laurel Mountain all the way past Mammoth Rock to the ski area. It’s a glorious view of the meadow, and best viewed at sunset.
The second thing you’ll notice is just how popular the place is. Snagging one of those window seats can be a challenge, especially on a weekend when the place is often packed with diners just getting off the hill.
The crowds are no surprise, given the eclectic fare and excellent drinks served up by skilled chefs and bartenders. Along with local beers on tap from Shelter, Distant, and the Mountain Rambler, the bartenders and mixologists at the Tavern are slinging some of the very best cocktails in town.
The interior space feels like the inside of a Moscow mule mug, an intentional detail that echoes their best-selling drink. The tavern has sold more than 100,000 copper mugs of the cocktail since Jessica Manning and chef Kerry Mechler took over the space from Skadi in 2013. The copper-colored walls are decorated with hand-written notes on the night’s food and drink specials, along with a massive chalk mural by local artist Chris Benchetler. The TVs over the immaculately stocked bar show the biggest games of the night, and, when appropriate, Olympics and X Games coverage.
The progressive drink menus rotate often and each bartender is expected to tinker in their off-time to bring new recipes to the table each month. Some recent highlights include the Dram It, a wintry old-fashioned riff with rye whiskey, hazelnut, and amaro–garnished with a dehydrated apple chip, and the TimBrrr, a dessert cocktail with blanco tequila, cream, pistachio orgeat, and white chocolate.
A true highlight of a night at the tavern is a splurge on its alpine fare: the bodacious cheese fondue platter, which includes bavarian pretzels, sausage, apples, homemade potato chips and other hors d'oeuvres to dip in the silky gruyere and white wine sauce. The fondue is recommended for three or more people—it’s a real bounty and worth the $43 price tag.
I’d be remiss not to mention the Tavern burger, which is among the very best in town. It comes with fries or an (excellent) side salad but I prefer to pair it with their exceptional onion rings—light, crispy, and served with a garlic aioli. The burger is topped with bacon, white cheddar, grilled onions, tomato, and speared with a generous pickle. It’s a must-order.
If you arrive early—the Tavern opens at 4 P.M. just as the lifts stop spinning—you’ll be treated to one of the best happy hour specials in Mammoth. The food and drink deals are killer, 30% off draft beer, well drinks, and wine by the glass as well as a special deal on Moscow and Kentucky Mules. They also have a special food menu including their homemade chips and onion dip and a great short rib grilled cheese.
The waitstaff at the tavern are friendly and knowledgeable. A few visits ago after I had worked my way through the month’s cocktail menu, a bartender told me to try a pour of one of their specialty whiskeys. I was able to try an extraordinarily expensive and delicious bourbon for about the price of a regular cocktail. They’ll trade stories of backcountry skiing and alpine lakes until closing time around 9 P.M.
The Tavern delivers the perplexing-but-wonderful combination of a homey corner bar and a lively destination. The food and drinks are hard to beat and the views and vibes are among the very best that Mammoth has to offer. Come early, snag a table or a stool at the bar, and chat up a stranger. It’s the perfect place to discover a new favorite meal or a new friend.
