Lookout Bar at the Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa in Avon offers spectacular fare, panoramic views

When speaking about the culinary/beverage/social scene of the valley, there’s elevated and then there’s elevated. Lookout Bar deserves the latter inflection for both its location and its vibe. Perched on the fifth floor of the easternmost building of the One Riverfront Condominiums at the Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa, guests ride a dedicated elevator before being delivered, awestruck, into a space designed for views with 180-degree panoramas.

The space feels cozy — there are tables, bar stools and seats in front of the retractable windows, but it’s limited seating and reservations are encouraged. However, the experience is anything but diminutive.

The food menu features small bites, or “noshes,” as well as shareable options from Executive Chef Angel Munoz, Jr., who also leads the team at Stoke & Rye and the Lobby Bar in the hotel. Delight in earthy pleasures with the roasted wild mushroom toasts or cover two major food groups with the sausage and cheese board. Oysters in a land-locked state? Yes, please — if they’re the Oysters Rockefeller with gruyere and white wine. Feeling a bit naughty? Indulge in the pimento cheese with bacon jam: Serving up sass like a backhanded compliment, the pimento cheese is smooth, creamy and has a definitive kick, balanced by the sweet and savory jam. 

As a self-proclaimed pimento cheese (pronounced “pimenna cheese”) connoisseur, I offer unabashed approval of Lookout Bar’s rendition. This is a version that I would happily adopt for family gatherings or game days. Petite but mighty, these nibbles provide sustenance while complementing the real reason you’re here: the cocktails. 

A spectrum ranging from classic to classy, the cocktail menu is a tour for the taste buds. Try the Wildcard, a mezcal-based concoction that tastes like a beach-front bonfire and looks like alpenglow over the mountains. Their Leave the Beav (as the place in Bachelor Gulch makes its own version) features house-infused dill and birch vodka along with Aquavit, basil and lemon, packing a savory, flavorful punch. For those missing the moguls on the mountain (or wanting to celebrate them), try the Goose Bumps, a choose-your-own-adventure style experience with a salt or pepper martini served with caviar. 

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But the fun doesn’t stop there. Lookout also has an extensive NA (non-alcoholic) drink menu crafted with the same care as the fully-loaded version with drinks to enjoy all day including the First Chair (Amass NA, lemon, Earl Grey syrup and tonic) and Last Call with Lucano sour NA, lemon and honey.

Whether you’re looking for delectable snacks and drinks after a day outside, a stop before dinner, or a final nightcap, Lookout Bar is true to its name. Take in the stunning afternoon sky or the end-of-day alpenglow while enjoying cocktails and small plates at this destination location that is celebratory, inviting and intimate. By providing a festive ambiance, Lookout Bar is an ideal place to spend a special afternoon or evening at what feels like the apex of the Vail Valley. 

Regardless of when you visit, a ride up to Lookout Bar is a memory-making opportunity. Grab some friends, figure out who’s ordering which cocktail (so everyone can find their favorite, of course) and enjoy the rarefied air and revelry of Lookout Bar.