When you’re already 7,522 feet above sea level, why ride the elevator another 30 feet up to Antlers Rooftop Tavern at 145 E. Elkhorn Drive in the Park Place Mall?
The view, the food, the service, and a possible sighting of Sasquatch make this a standout restaurant, according to diners I interviewed on my trip there this month.
And it’s very different from last summer, with many more options on its new menu, which premiered this month.
The restaurant’s website promises “world cuisine and panoramic views,” and it delivered some of both.
Co-owner Bijay Bhetuwal, with his brother Dave Bhetuwal, pointed out the rooftop upgrades, including new glass panels that offer clear, unobstructed views.
I took in the gorgeous views of the Continental Divide and of Estes Park on this clear, sunny day. That blue Colorado sky was as impressive as the snow-capped mountains standing prominently to the west.
“It’s all about the view,” said a visitor from Montana. “We’ve already decided we might have to eat here all week because of this view. Hope it doesn’t rain.”
Bhetuwal summarizes the restaurant’s fare as “quick bar food with a lot of variety,” like the southern-style fried pork chop ($26), vegetarian penne alfredo ($17), and fish and chips ($24).
As for world cuisine, I tried the falafel with hummus, yellow rice, and a terrific salad ($24), wondering what this mountain-town restaurant could do with these Middle Eastern dishes.
The hummus delivered a satisfying tang, the falafel was perfectly crisp without being greasy, and the rice was infused with warm, vibrant spices. Even the salad impressed, offering a bright, fresh burst of flavor that rounded out the meal.
A couple from the Chicago suburbs said they had enjoyed a “delicious elk smashburger burger ($19) with an outstanding house sauce,” an “excellent crispy chicken sandwich” with fries ($17), and cheese curds ($14) that “really stack up well against our Midwest curds.”
A family of four from the Lake of the Ozarks gave the meal high marks, calling it “fantastic” and “excellent.” Their order included a Philly cheesesteak with fries ($21), a stir-fried chicken sandwich with fries ($18), and guacamole and queso ($13), which their two children, both under 5, quickly devoured.
“They (the kids) ate,” the mother exclaimed enthusiastically.
Fish tacos, steak tacos, a variety of smashburgers, and several flatbreads are also on the menu. The Harvest Harmony Flatbread with ricotta honey, grilled peach, red onion, cherry tomatoes, arugula, goat cheese, and a balsamic glaze ($19) is on my radar for my next visit.
Sasquatch dining at Antlers? No, but a California resident said he was dining here to fuel himself for his week-long search for the “bipedal hominid,” and if he is successful, he can bring the cryptid to this pet-friendly patio.
His dining partner, a Longmont native, rolled her eyes and instead praised “the knowledgeable waiter and his recommendations on the six wing sauces,” which resulted in “two perfect selections – extremely spicy and sweet.”
“We tried both ends of the spectrum, and that was perfect,” she said ($25 for 12 wings).
“Definitely coming back, for sure,” said her friend, the Sasquatch hunter.
Bhetuwal touted the restaurant’s catering services and the new glass-walled room by the elevator, featuring attractive new furniture, which gives guests more options when the open rooftop is impractical.
Promoting itself online as “the best beer bar in Estes Park,” the tavern has a variety to offer, featuring several selections from the Estes Park Brewery – IPAs, lagers, stingers, and pilsners.
Products from Hogback Distillery and Flatirons Distillery are also available. Manager Brad Jensen says the bar is a great place to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup through July 19, 2026.
One patron told me how much he enjoyed the Estes Park Blueberry Wheat, and another was impressed with the “refreshing” blackberry rum sour ($16).
There is also a list of five “Agave Favorites,” which include margaritas and other cocktails featuring tequila, paloma, and agave ($15-$17); plus “Tavern Classic” cocktails ($14-$17) like old fashioneds; and seven wines ($9-$10 per glass).
Bhetuwal is originally from Nepal but lived in Minnesota for seven years before coming to Estes Park. Once he discovered Estes, he said, “I’ve got to live here.”
The remodeled venue features artwork by local artists, such as photography and taxidermy.
The restaurant is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
At publication time, the restaurant’s online menu was still under construction and did not reflect the current menu, which has 17 entree dishes, including tacos, flatbreads, handhelds, and more.
You must be logged in to post a comment.