Top Steamboat Rooftop Bars
Elevator, goooing up! Yep, that’s the trend across town, as
restaurants and bars are looking skyward to expand their
footprint. Following is a Swillin’ snapshot of where to get high
for your happy hour and more.
Schmiggity’s
While the jury’s out on whether it will be ready this summer,
Schmiggity’s is planning to go up, up and away—hitting the high
notes, so to speak—by adding a rooftop deck and bar with light
vittles atop its location downtown. You’ll see Howelsen Hill
across the way, and if you stay there long enough, hear the
late-night band jamming below. “It’s going to be an awesome
spot, with incredible views and the Schmiggity’s vibe,” says
owner Kim Haggarty.
Storm Peak Brewing Co.
A westside local hotspot, Storm Peak Brewery is going up, just
like the bubbles in its handcrafted beer. The brewery just
opened a new rooftop seating area at its west end location,
affording views of everything form Sleeping Giant to the west
and its namesake Storm Peak to the east. Co-owner Wyatt
Patterson says the new rooftop digs will offer great sunsets
while increasing sitting space, and that they hope to open it on
warmer days this ski season. “It’ll be a great spot to hang out in
the summertime,” he says.
Salt & Lime
Arriba! Yep, that’s where you’ll be on the rooftop of Salt &
Lime: up high, where you can see the slopes of Mt. Werner,
whose glimpses of snow glisten like the salt rimming your glass.
Margaritas are often the libation of choice; and you might find
yourself inviting up friends who you see walking or driving
along Lincoln Avenue with the lesser mortals down below. Hint:
bring a jacket; your margarita merriment will likely keep you
there until well after the sun— and your third margarita—goes
down.
Vaqueros
Steamboat’s newest rooftop revelry belongs to Vaqueros on
Lincoln Avenue, giving the Mexican joint a whopping three
floors of tequila-toting service. Appreciate the buffed arms of
your servers who carry it up if you order a trayful of the Large
marg, whose “Millionaire,” made from 1942 Don Julio Anejo
and 100th anniversary Grand Marnier, will set you back 75
bucks but is worth every rooftop peso.
The Icehouse
Opening this summer by Sunpies co-owners John and Jarrey
Duty, the new Yampa River Icehouse is a restaurant
and bar next door to Sunpies that’s planning to, yes,
have a rooftop bar that overlooks Howelsen Hill
(during happy hour and all other times). “It’s going
to be great,” says John, whose patrons will able to see floaters from their sister businesses the Tube
Shack and rafting company Bucking Rainbow
Outfitters floating on the river below. “It’ll be one of
the best views you can get from downtown.”
