Best of Breckenridge

UPDATED: Oct. 19, 2016

Sometimes you just want to go out for dessert. If you are like me, that urge could hit at any time of day or night. So when someone asks, “What’s the best place to go for dessert?” I have to reply, “When were you thinking of going?”

THE DAYTIME DESSERT: THAT LITTLE SOMETHING SWEET

It might be sometime after breakfast, or later in the day after lunch. You begin to get that feeling: “I could really go for a little something sweet right about now.”

Clint’s Bakery
A local favorite serving coffee, bagels and breakfast pastries, as well as ice cream and delicious old-fashioned desserts, Clint’s is known as a top spot for sweets. Kids will love the double- and triple-scoop cones. My favorite dessert is the Blueberry Buckle.

131 South Main Street/970-453-2990
www.clintsbakery.com

Amazing Grace
This charming out-of-the-way restaurant serving breakfast and lunch proves that healthy dessert is a real thing. The delicious (vegan!) Chocolate Chip Cookies are so enormous that some might think it’s too much to eat in one sitting. I always do.

213 Lincoln Ave/970-453-1445
www.amazinggracebreck.com

Park and Main
This is one of my favorite menus in town for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks in between. It’s the home of the Nutella Pressed Panino (spend $1 to add the carmelized banana). Or, how about a classic biscotti to go with a La Vazza espresso?

La Cima Mall, 500 South Main Street/970-453-9493
www.parkandmainfood.com

EVENING: LE DESSERT MAGNIFIQUE

So you’ve decided to splurge on one of Breck’s nicest restaurants. It goes without saying you saved room for dessert.

Briar Rose
Specializing in the finest aged beef and fresh wild game, Briar Rose is a local favorite that’s hard to miss with its standout pink façade. After eating dinner at the old fashioned saloon, my first choice for dessert would have to be the Four-Layer Chocolate Cake.

109 Lincoln Ave/970-453-9948
www.briarrosechophouse.com

The Lodge – Traverse Restaurant
Start with cocktails on the deck followed by an array of tapas; make the selection easy with the Traverse Sampler. Here, I always save room for two desserts. I couldn’t decide which was better — the Black Cherry Ricotta Cheesecake or the Chocolate Trifle. You’ll have to decide.

112 Overlook Drive/970-453-9300
www.thelodgeatbreckenridge.com

Relish
When even the staff at competing restaurants are whispering about this particular dessert, you know it must be good. And that, my friends, is the Baked Alaska. Confirming the rumors, the Relish team has this to say, “Yes. It is to die for.”

137 South Main Street on Riverwalk/970-453-0989
www.relishbreckenridge.com

Twist
Our server Andrew surprised us with this dessert — Palisade apple hand pie with Breckenridge bourbon whipped cream and fresh berries. If there’s a Dessert Hall of Fame, this is a definite contender.

200 South Ridge Street/970-547-7100
www.twistbeck.com

LATE NIGHT: THE LIQUID DESSERT

Perhaps you’ve decided to forgo the traditional dessert in favor of a nightcap. Never fear, Breckenridge has no shortage of good options when it comes to winding down the evening with an after-dinner drink that doubles as dessert. Here are three that I like:

Burke and Riley’s Irish Pub
For a classic way to end your evening on a sweet note, stop by Burke & Riley’s Irish Pub for a Traditional Irish Coffee or hot chocolate with a little something extra like the Chocolate Covered Cherry with Bailey’s Irish Crème and raspberry liqueur.

520 South Main Street/970-547-2782
www.burkeandrileyspub.com

Hearthstone
Is it a beverage? Or a meal? The over-the-top Cake & Shake–a bourbon vanilla milkshake accompanied by a four-layer carrot cake–qualifies Hearthstone as a winner in the “Liquid Dessert” category.

130 South Ridge Street/970-453-1148
www.hearthstonerestaurant.biz

Ember
It’s not a surprise that a restaurant with such a sultry vibe would be serving cocktails with names like Sexy Woman and The Devil’s Good Intentions. When someone mentions “great cocktails, amazing bar!” in Breckenridge, the name Ember is usually not far behind. Stop by for an after dinner drink and see where the night leads.

106 East Adams Avenue/970-547-9595
www.emberbreck.com

Keep in mind that many of our local restaurants change their menus seasonally. While some of these favorites are classics, you may uncover a whole different set of dessert options on your next visit.