Evan's guide to South Lake Tahoe
Essentials
Great place for groceries. One of the biggest grocery stores I've ever been in.
89 locals recommend
Raley's
1040 Emerald Bay RdGreat place for groceries. One of the biggest grocery stores I've ever been in.
Liquor store is 2 blocks away if you need wine, beer or liquor for cocktails.
King's Beverage Company
2227 Lake Tahoe BlvdLiquor store is 2 blocks away if you need wine, beer or liquor for cocktails.
Fantastic meat shop is just a block away. They have top-notch meat and fish (many grass-fed/organic options), and have daily specials.
They close at 6pm most days, and are closed Sundays.
29 locals recommend
Overland Meat & Seafood Company
2227 Lake Tahoe BlvdFantastic meat shop is just a block away. They have top-notch meat and fish (many grass-fed/organic options), and have daily specials.
They close at 6pm most days, and are closed Sundays.
Sightseeing
Emerald Bay State Park
138 Emerald Bay RdBeautiful, scenic area.
Mt Tallac Road A
Start your hike up Mt Tallac.
Chow down on an ice cream cone from the Camp Richardson Resort ice cream parlor.
73 locals recommend
Camp Richardson Resort Beach
1902-3098 Jameson Beach RdChow down on an ice cream cone from the Camp Richardson Resort ice cream parlor.
Tallac Lake
Nice little hike.
Pope Beach
California 89One of everyone's favorite beaches in all of Tahoe.
Somewhat off-the-beaten path valley that's a wonderful place for outdoor activities throughout the year. Backcountry skiing and snowmobiling hotspot in winter, fishing in spring and summer and foilage touring in fall.
18 locals recommend
Hope Valley
Somewhat off-the-beaten path valley that's a wonderful place for outdoor activities throughout the year. Backcountry skiing and snowmobiling hotspot in winter, fishing in spring and summer and foilage touring in fall.
Wonderful place to bring your whole group for a hot springs experience. It's a state park where they've built two concrete pools — one with natural hot springs water, and another with chlorinated 80º water. Bathrooms and showers are on site.
Markleeville is a funky little town too, so fun to mix with a lunch or dinner there.
35 locals recommend
Grover Hot Springs State Park
3415 Hot Springs RdWonderful place to bring your whole group for a hot springs experience. It's a state park where they've built two concrete pools — one with natural hot springs water, and another with chlorinated 80º water. Bathrooms and showers are on site.
Markleeville is a funky little town too, so fun to mix with a lunch or dinner there.
Great spot for an easy hike. Parking can be tough, so go early during peak season.
81 locals recommend
D L Bliss State Park
9881 CA-89Great spot for an easy hike. Parking can be tough, so go early during peak season.
Food Scene
My favorite restaurant in Tahoe. Low-key, with a largely vegetarian menu (but not completely, plenty of tuna/turkey available). Lots of fresh juices.
155 locals recommend
Sprouts Café
3123 Harrison AveMy favorite restaurant in Tahoe. Low-key, with a largely vegetarian menu (but not completely, plenty of tuna/turkey available). Lots of fresh juices.
Orchid's Authentic Thai Cuisine
2180 Lake Tahoe BlvdThai food that rivals the best in San Francisco.
Evan's American Gourmet Cafe
536 Emerald Bay RdGreat fine dining.
Artemis Mediterrean Grill
2229 Lake Tahoe BlvdSolid Greek restaurant.
Charming spot for coffee, tea or food, with lots of outdoor seating.
14 locals recommend
Black Cabin Coffee
3894 Pioneer TrailCharming spot for coffee, tea or food, with lots of outdoor seating.
Fantastic beer selection and really food for a pub. A new opening that replaced the Swiss Chalet.
96 locals recommend
Cold Water Brewery and Grill
2544 Lake Tahoe BlvdFantastic beer selection and really food for a pub. A new opening that replaced the Swiss Chalet.
Free Bird Coffee
2229 Lake Tahoe BlvdThe best local coffee/tea spot, just a few hundred feet from the Lodge.
Wonderful lakefront spot for drinks, with some of the best views in Tahoe.
96 locals recommend
Beacon Bar & Grill
1900 Jameson Beach RdWonderful lakefront spot for drinks, with some of the best views in Tahoe.
My Thai Cuisine
2108 Lake Tahoe BlvdAnother great Thai spot within walking distance.
High-end luxury resort that's fine to visit for a meal or a round, a spa session or round of golf. They have three different restaurants to choose from, and unquestionably the best sunset dining views in Tahoe.
Edgewood resort
High-end luxury resort that's fine to visit for a meal or a round, a spa session or round of golf. They have three different restaurants to choose from, and unquestionably the best sunset dining views in Tahoe.
Fantastic spot for cheese, wine and lunch. The restaurant is in a wonderfully restored, historic Victorian home in Genoa, which makes for a fun day trip — especially in tandem with a trip to the Genoa Bar across the street.
7 locals recommend
The Pink House
193 Genoa LaneFantastic spot for cheese, wine and lunch. The restaurant is in a wonderfully restored, historic Victorian home in Genoa, which makes for a fun day trip — especially in tandem with a trip to the Genoa Bar across the street.
Wonderful spot for "healthy mexican" cuisine — and they of course specialize in rotisserie chicken. We recommend the breakfast burritos with sweet potatoes. Great platters for big groups too.
57 locals recommend
Verde Mexican Rotisserie
2016 Lake Tahoe BlvdWonderful spot for "healthy mexican" cuisine — and they of course specialize in rotisserie chicken. We recommend the breakfast burritos with sweet potatoes. Great platters for big groups too.
Drinks & Nightlife
Steamers Bar & Grill
2236 Lake Tahoe BlvdGreat sports bar, within walking distance.
Riva Grill On the Lake
900 Ski Run BlvdGreat Friday happy hour, $3 tacos and discount drinks.
A local favorite (4.5 Yelp stars!) MacDuff's a South Lake classic. The food is top-notch, the atmosphere is great, and you could easily think you're in England.
65 locals recommend
MacDuff's Pub
1041 Fremont AveA local favorite (4.5 Yelp stars!) MacDuff's a South Lake classic. The food is top-notch, the atmosphere is great, and you could easily think you're in England.
We call this "The Peanut Bar." It's a great dive nearby, just a 2-min walk from the house. Great drink specials, two billiards tables and a lot of locals.
15 locals recommend
Turn 3
2227 Lake Tahoe BlvdWe call this "The Peanut Bar." It's a great dive nearby, just a 2-min walk from the house. Great drink specials, two billiards tables and a lot of locals.
Wonderful new brewery that opened in spring 2017. Great beers, but small, minimalist space (in a mini mall). It'll be loud if it's crowded.
43 locals recommend
South Lake Brewing Company
1920 Lake Tahoe BlvdWonderful new brewery that opened in spring 2017. Great beers, but small, minimalist space (in a mini mall). It'll be loud if it's crowded.
Awesome new pour-your-own-beer place! You grab a wristband and then fill your own beers, paying by ounce. Wonderful outdoor space.
73 locals recommend
Lake Tahoe AleWorX
2050 Lake Tahoe BlvdAwesome new pour-your-own-beer place! You grab a wristband and then fill your own beers, paying by ounce. Wonderful outdoor space.
A wonderful gem! The local newspaper, the Tahoe Mountain News, has opened a microbrewery just a couple blocks from the Lodge. It's charming, small and has great beer. Strongly encourage you to visit, though it's only open Fri + Sat nights.
Tahoe Mountain News
963 3rd StA wonderful gem! The local newspaper, the Tahoe Mountain News, has opened a microbrewery just a couple blocks from the Lodge. It's charming, small and has great beer. Strongly encourage you to visit, though it's only open Fri + Sat nights.
Himmel Haus
3819 Saddle RdTop notch spot for german beer and food.
Nevada's oldest third parlor (don't call it a bar!). This place has been home to many movies, and many drinkers, for more than a century. Step instead and be transported to the old west.
Wonderful place to visit as part of a day trip to Genoa, NV in tandem with Pink House across the street, and David Wally Hot Springs.
28 locals recommend
Genoa Bar
2282 Main StNevada's oldest third parlor (don't call it a bar!). This place has been home to many movies, and many drinkers, for more than a century. Step instead and be transported to the old west.
Wonderful place to visit as part of a day trip to Genoa, NV in tandem with Pink House across the street, and David Wally Hot Springs.
Part bookstore, part coffee shop and part coworking space! Cuppa Tahoe has quickly become one of my wife and I's favorite spots nearby, and it's just a short (7-8 min) walk from the Lodge.
Perfect if you need a good desk to work from away from your family/friends, or if your group is just looking for a caffeine fix.
10 locals recommend
Cuppa Tahoe
2054 Lake Tahoe BlvdPart bookstore, part coffee shop and part coworking space! Cuppa Tahoe has quickly become one of my wife and I's favorite spots nearby, and it's just a short (7-8 min) walk from the Lodge.
Perfect if you need a good desk to work from away from your family/friends, or if your group is just looking for a caffeine fix.
Entertainment & Activities
Even in the summer, a great place to visit. Mountain biking, hiking, wonderful views, etc
299 locals recommend
Heavenly Mountain Resort
4080 Lake Tahoe BlvdEven in the summer, a great place to visit. Mountain biking, hiking, wonderful views, etc
Kirkwood Mountain Resort
1501 Kirkwood Meadows DrHiking, ziplining and mountain biking in the summer.
Great place to rent standup paddles and then walk them to the lake.
21 locals recommend
South Tahoe Standup Paddle
1004 Harrison AveGreat place to rent standup paddles and then walk them to the lake.
Fun family-friendly bowling alley. Right across from MacDuff's! Call ahead, it gets busy.
40 locals recommend
Tahoe Bowl
1030 Fremont AveFun family-friendly bowling alley. Right across from MacDuff's! Call ahead, it gets busy.
The Bar - Barre, Pilates & Kickboxing Studio
2264 Lake Tahoe BlvdBarre classes and more!
Arts & Culture
Harrah's Lake Tahoe
15 US-50Visit the Casino!
Parks & Nature
Secret Cove
Nude beach, if you're into that…
Wonderful beach to visit in spring, summer and fall. There's a very safe bike path just on the other side of US50 that runs from about 1mi from the Lodge all the way to the beach. If you want to avoid traffic and paying for parking, rent bikes and ride over!
82 locals recommend
Pope Beach
California 89Wonderful beach to visit in spring, summer and fall. There's a very safe bike path just on the other side of US50 that runs from about 1mi from the Lodge all the way to the beach. If you want to avoid traffic and paying for parking, rent bikes and ride over!