If you’re looking for a restaurant with a view, this Colorado establishment is it. Situated at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area in the Rocky Mountains, Il Rifugio is the highest restaurant in North America.
The European-style bistro translates from Italian as “the shelter”, but only the brave will be able to access it. That’s because the eatery sits at 12,456 feet above sea level and is only reachable via skis. Diners are required to take chairlifts to the top, before skiing down to the restaurant which sits inside the Snow Plume Refuge.
“Il Rifugio and its European fare were very much inspired by its high-alpine location and the feeling of being in the Alps,” stated Katherine Fuller who serves as the senior communications manager for Arapahoe Basin.
Despite the breathtaking 360-degree view, the restaurant does not consider itself fine dining. Expect a menu filled with meat and cheese charcuteries boards, soups, salads, flatbreads, and beer and wine to drink.
That said, the building itself is rather unique. Due to its location on top of a mountain, it has no running water, relies solely on a solar array (the highest in North America), and possesses composting toilets making it fairly self-sustainable.