Whether you are skiing the biggest terrain in America or working the wildflower trails on foot, bike or horseback, Big Sky will build you an appetite.
Between Mountain Village, Meadow Village and the ever-evolving Town Center, the dining scene punches far above what a town this size should manage: pizza joints for the kids, wild game fine dining, and adventure dining experiences you cannot get anywhere else in the country.
One standing rule: Big Sky restaurant hours are seasonal and shift with the ski calendar. Reservations are required at most of these during peak weeks. Always call ahead.
1. Horn & Cantle
Address: 750 Lone Mountain Ranch Rd, Big Sky, MT 59716
Phone: (406) 995-2782
Hours: Daily. Breakfast 7 to 10 AM, lunch 11 AM to 2 PM, dinner 5 to 9 PM
Website: lonemountainranch.com
Set on a ranch established in 1915, Horn & Cantle delivers the most complete Montana dining experience in Big Sky. The room is a rustic-elegant log space that genuinely feels like somewhere else in time, warm and comfortable without tipping into theme-park territory. The kitchen leans hard into local wild game and farm-to-table sourcing: elk, bison short rib, pork chop and fresh trout, with a smoked trout dip and wild mushroom starter that regulars order on autopilot. Start with a cowboy cocktail and live music in the Saloon bar, finish with dessert around the campfire outside. Lone Mountain Ranch also runs Big Sky's signature sleigh ride dinner, which is a separate and equally bookable experience.
2. Michaelangelo's Big Sky
Address: 1554 Center Ln, Big Sky, MT 59716
Phone: (406) 995-7373
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 5 to 9 PM; closed Monday
Website: michaelangelosbigsky.com
Tucked into Meadow Village, Michaelangelo's is authentic Italian built on Chef Michael's training in Piedmont, and a former James Beard Awards semifinalist. The menu runs traditional antipasti and small plates, house-made pastas and risottos, meats and fish, and proper Italian desserts and digestifs. The bison ravioli and the bison steak with mushroom sauce are the two dishes people come back for. Service here is consistently the best in town, and the room handles larger groups gracefully, which is rare in Big Sky. The wine list is deep on both Italian and New World bottles. Reservations are essential.
3. Olive B's Big Sky Bistro
Address: 151 Center Ln, Big Sky, MT 59716
Phone: (406) 995-3355
Hours: Monday to Friday, lunch 11 AM to 2 PM and dinner 5 to 9 PM; closed Saturday and Sunday
Website: olivebsbigsky.com
A small-town continental bistro in Meadow Village, locally owned by Chef Ian Troxler, formerly a long-time chef at Lone Mountain Ranch. Almost everything is made from scratch, and the wild game is the reason to come: elk, Northern Plains bison, duck and beef tenderloin all appear regularly. Save room, because the desserts have a genuine local following, particularly the huckleberry key lime pie and the house-made ice creams. The room is small and the atmosphere is busy and easygoing rather than hushed. Note the weekend closure, which catches a lot of visitors out, so plan this one for a weeknight.
4. Blue Buddha Sushi Lounge
Address: 99 Town Center Ave, Unit A5, Big Sky, MT 59716
Phone: (406) 993-2583
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 5 to 9 PM; closed Sunday and Monday
Website: bigskybluebuddha.com
Big Sky's sushi option, with a lounge feel and a bar that is often the easiest seat in the house. The menu covers traditional sushi and specialty rolls alongside a Japanese spin on Montana ingredients, including bison in katsu sauce. Bartenders here will steer you toward off-menu items if you tell them what you like, so ask. It books up on weekends, so reserve rather than walking in on a Friday, and go in knowing prices run high even by Big Sky standards. Blue Buddha also offers private omakase dinners and in-home chef service if you would rather eat in your vacation rental.
5. The Cabin Bar & Grill
Address: 39 Black Eagle Rd, Big Sky, MT 59716 (Mountain Village)
Phone: (406) 995-4244
Hours: Daily 4:30 to 9:30 PM, dinner only
Website: cabinbarandgrill.com
Widely considered the best high-end room in Big Sky, and the one locals name first when pressed. Owner Matty Kirkland has built a genuinely obsessive operation around Rocky Mountain cuisine, and it shows in both the plates and the floor service. The menu spans hand-cut steaks, wild game and fresh seafood, with elk, pheasant, bison and walleye all making appearances alongside nightly specials. The petit filets, the elk ribs and the mussels are the most-recommended orders, and the cocktail program holds up against anything in the valley. It is a splurge, and it is worth it. Reserve well ahead in peak weeks.
6. Ousel & Spur Pizza Company
Address: 50 Ousel Falls Rd, Big Sky, MT 59716
Phone: (406) 995-7175
Hours: Daily 5 to 9 PM
Website: ouselandspurpizza.com
More than your average pizza place, and one of the better values in a town where dinner adds up fast. Beyond wood-fired hand-tossed pizzas there is a full menu of creative small plates and salads, Italian pastas, chicken parm, house-made desserts and a bambino menu for the kids. Ingredients are sourced from local farms and ranches, with gluten-free and vegetarian options across the menu. The room is warm and busy and works well for families and mixed groups, and the patio is the move on a long summer evening. It fills up right at 6 PM, so go early or go late.
7. Everett's 8800
Address: Andesite Mountain, Big Sky Resort, 50 Big Sky Resort Rd, Big Sky, MT 59716
Phone: (406) 995-8800
Hours: Seasonal, varies by month. Confirm current lunch and dinner service before you go.
Website: Big Sky Resort dining
Big Sky Resort's signature on-mountain dining room, perched at 8,800 feet atop Andesite with straight-on views of Lone Peak. Architectural Digest named it the most beautifully designed bar in Montana, and the room lives up to it. The kitchen turns out elevated Montana fare with a serious wine list, and the chicken schnitzel, arancini and bison pasta come up again and again. Getting there is part of the experience, riding the heated Ramcharger 8 bubble chairlift up, and there is gear storage at the entrance for ski days. Reservations are required for dinner, and note there is a DJ and outdoor bar scene, so this is lively rather than intimate.
8. Montana Dinner Yurt
Address: Check in at 50 Big Sky Resort Rd, Big Sky, MT 59716
Phone: (406) 995-3880
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, seatings from 6:30 PM; closed Monday and Tuesday
Website: bigskyyurt.com
Big Sky's most memorable dining experience, full stop. The evening starts with check-in at the Snowcrest Building and a scenic ride up the mountain to a secluded candlelit yurt with 360 degrees of Montana wilderness around it. Live acoustic guitar sets the tone while dinner runs salad and warm bread, a filet mignon with peppercorn sauce and garlic mashed potatoes (salmon and dietary alternatives available), and warm Toblerone fondue for dessert. Between courses there are two fire pits on a big deck, torchlit sledding for the kids, and some of the best stargazing you will get anywhere. Plan on about three and a half hours door to door, bring your own wine or beer, and dress far warmer than you think you need to. Popular dates sell out by Thanksgiving.
Local's tip: already booked for your dates? 320 Guest Ranch down the canyon runs a sleigh ride adventure too. (406) 995-4283.
9. Alberto's Mexican Cuisine
Address: 118 Ousel Falls Rd, Big Sky, MT 59716
Phone: (406) 995-2326
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 12 to 3 PM and 5 to 9 PM; open late until 2 AM Friday; closed Sunday and Monday
Website: albertosbigsky.com
A long-running Town Center fixture with traditional Mexican cooking, a kids' menu and a full bar. The margarita program is solid and the bartenders are attentive, and the Friday 2 AM close makes this the default late-night option in a town that mostly shuts down early. The midday service from noon to 3 PM is genuinely useful, since much of Big Sky closes between lunch and dinner. Two things worth knowing before you go: chips and salsa are not complimentary here, and on busy nights they may decline to seat parties smaller than four, so call ahead if you are a couple. Go for the guacamole en molcajete and the taco plate.
10. Riverhouse BBQ & Events
Address: 45130 Gallatin Rd, Gallatin Gateway, MT 59730
Phone: (406) 995-7427
Hours: 3 to 10 PM; closed Thursday
Website: riverhousebbq.com
Cruise a few miles south through the Gallatin Canyon toward Yellowstone and you hit the best barbecue under the Big Sky. It sits right on the bank of the Gallatin River with Spanish Peaks views from the dining room and deck, and the setting alone justifies the drive. The cooking is authentic Texas Hill Country style, with brisket and burnt ends leading the way, plus a big bar, year-round live music and a genuinely family-friendly room. Portions are generous and prices are reasonable by local standards. Ask about off-menu items, because there are usually a few. Note the Thursday closure before you make the drive down the canyon.
Local's Pick: Mi Pueblito Taco Bus
Address: 1567 Lone Mountain Trail, Big Sky, MT 59716
Phone: (406) 223-6421
Hours: Monday to Saturday 10 AM to 7 PM; closed Sunday
Order online: ordermipueblitotacobus.com
A converted bus near the Ace Hardware turning out what may be the best value meal in Big Sky. Six tacos runs around $13, which in this town is close to a miracle. The carnitas and al pastor are the standouts, and the wider menu covers the famous super burrito, Colorado burrito, enchiladas, shrimp quesadillas, sopitos and tortas. There is shaded covered outdoor seating, which is lovely in summer and character-building in February. They take cards, and ordering ahead for pickup is the smart play at lunch.
New to the Big Sky Dining Scene
Two high-end rooms have opened since this guide was first written, both worth knowing about if you are planning a special occasion:
- Akira Back at One&Only Moonlight Basin, 26 Statesman Rd, (406) 993-3401. Modern Japanese from the acclaimed chef, with a beautiful room, a strong sake list and mountain views. Tuesday to Saturday, 5 to 8:30 PM.
- Cortina Italian Chophouse at Montage Big Sky, 995 Settlement Trail, (406) 640-7879. Italian chophouse serving breakfast and dinner daily, with an award-winning wine program.
For everything in walking distance of Town Center, see our updated guide to the best restaurants in Big Sky Town Center, or the full Big Sky dining and grocery guide.
Stay with Big Sky Vacation Rentals
For the foodies in your group, our collection of Big Sky vacation rentals includes ski condos, chalets and modern mountain lodges with gourmet kitchens, well-placed hot tubs for sunset cocktails, decks built for a backyard grill, fire pits for s'mores, and some of the best dinner views in Big Sky.
Local's tip: the Skyline Bus runs zero-fare between Mountain Village, Meadow Village and Town Center, so nobody has to skip the wine list to drive.
Book direct for the best Big Sky prices, check current specials, or call our vacation experts at (888) 915-2787.
Restaurant hours in Big Sky are seasonal and change frequently. Addresses, phone numbers and hours were verified as of publication. Please confirm directly with each restaurant before you go.