Getting hungry yet?

I know I am. I’m pretty much always hungry when I’m on the mountain. Great powder days can generate a serious appetite and a powerful thirst. So can the less-than-ideal rainy or icy days. And the other days as well.

Dining and drinking options on and around Mount Hood range from a tempting if greasy bag of donuts at Joe’s in Sandy to fondue and chardonnay at Timberline Lodge’s Cascade Dining Room. A good hard day of shredding at high altitude makes everything taste better, so it’s best to be open-minded about all your mountain options. I’ll organize this article into four sections: Heading up from Portland, Heading up from Hood River, On the Mountain, and Heading Back Home.

Heading Up From Portland

1. Mountain Moka is a locally owned and highly recommended cafe in Sandy with a long list of tasty specialty drinks, a cozy interior and a friendly staff. 17450 Meinig Rd., driver’s left in Sandy’s split-highway 25 MPH zone.

2. I wouldn’t recommend the heavy fare at Joe’s Donuts if you are planning on a sedentary day. But if your plan is to shred Hood, why not? You’ll need all the energy you can store. Joe’s is a classic Sandy establishment and a must-stop for plenty of people passing through on their way to the mountain. Open 4am, seven days a week, the red-and-white building on driver’s right in the Sandy 25 MPH zone, 39230 Pioneer Blvd.

3. Cafe Aria isn’t the easiest spot to find when you’re heading east on 26, but once you find your way there, you’ll want to return. Delicious specialty drinks, free Wifi, gourmet chocolates and fresh waffles make this a must-visit spot. It’s tucked on driver’s left at Milepost 40 off Highway 26 near the Rendezvous Grill and Tap Room, El Burro Loco and the Mt. Hood 26 Board Shop.

4. Coffee Brewsters has a good selection of hot drinks and sweet treats to get you going. Easy to find in the Hoodland Plaza in Welches next to the Thriftway, driver’s right, 68224 E. Hwy. 26.

Heading Up From Hood River.

5. Dog River Coffee Co. is a spacious, independently owned and super-cool hangout in Hood River that serves Stumptown Coffee and fresh baked goods. 411 Oak Street, Hood River.

6. Pine Street Bakery is well-stocked with fresh goodies to give you energy for the slopes. It’s in Hood River’s Pine Street Heights neighborhood, 1103 12th Street, Hood River.

7. Wake N Baked in Parkdale is a great spot to grab inexpensive, delicious baked goods to start your day right. 6500 Oregon 35.

On the Mountain

8. Timberline Lodge offer several strong options for snacking, feasting, imbibing and taking in unrivaled views at 6,000 feet, including the Cascade Dining Room, the Ram’s Head Bar and the Blue Ox Bar. The selection of Oregon pinots is impressive, and they serve up a variety of fresh seafood from the Pacific Northwest along with excellent fondue and famously decadent hot chocolate drinks.

9. The Ice Axe Grill, just off Hwy. 26 in Government Camp is also owned by Timberline’s RLK Corp., and it is home to the Mt. Hood Brewing Co., which has been crafting fine brews on the Mountain since 1991. A clean, laid-back family pub with pizza, burgers and sweet potato fries, as well as a steady rotation of high-quality entrees.

10. The High Mountain Cafe in the heart of Govy (owned by Skibowl management) serves up massive sandwiches such as the Goofy Foot, the Coloir Crossing and the Avalanche. It’s a popular place so service can be slow, but the ambiance and food are excellent, and the Wi-Fi connection is solid.

11. The Huckleberry Inn in the middle of Govy has a 24-hour cafe with huge portions, massive milkshakes and killer pancakes. They also run an adjacent steakhouse that caters to large group events and is open to the public during the peak of the season.

12. The Taco Shoppe is a friendly and popular, well, taco shop. Check their Facebook page for details. 88786 E Government Camp Loop Rd. Government Camp, Oregon 97028

13. Charlie’s Mountain View Restaurant & Bar is a Government Camp classic. Right in the middle of Govy, by the turn-off to Multorpor, with surprisingly tasty pub fare, live music and all sorts of characters.

14. The Ratskeller Alpine Bar and Pizzeria is a lively pizza and beer joint in the heart of Govy with live music shows and big-screen TVs for your sports-watching enjoyment.

15. One of my all-time favorites is the Warming Hut a cozy and highly recommended slopeside destination for cold Pils, hot chocolate, homemade soup and a great fireplace. Take the Lower Bowl chair up from Skibowl West and head skier’s left to find the log cabin with the roaring fireplace.

16. Skibowl East’s 70-Meter Bar and Grill, upstairs at the renovated Multorpor Lodge of Skibowl East, is a fine location for a pint or two after making turns, or while the kids are out playing on the Tubing Hill.

17. The Paradise Grill at Mt. Hood Meadows. Mt Hood Meadows has plenty of dining and drinking options – nine to be exact. And one of the best spots at the end of a sunny day to get barbecue and beer on the deck is definitely the Paradise Grill.

18. The Alpenstube Restaurant – also at the base of Meadows – is a good place to warm up with a full-service sit-down meal.  As of 2020 the menu at this restaurant has shifted focus to tapas and tasty small plates, with all of the accompanying beverages you could want.

19. The Vertical Restaurant Restaurant and Bar is a good place to wait out a white-out with pizza, drinks, and an excellent view of the mountain from the base of Meadows.

20. The Mazot Eatery This place is one of a kind. It’s hard to beat the Mazot’s outdoor seating on a sunny spring day. Unless there’s two feet of fresh powder and you’re crowded into the interior of this friendly mountainside establishment with a crew of snow-drunk powderhounds. That’s the best.

Heading Back to Portland

21. The Skyway Bar and Grill is a funky Zig Zag establishment owned by a pair of artists, with creative decor, live music, drinks and delicious pulled pork. Driver’s right, 71545 Hwy 26, milepost 45.

22. Pub 26 specializes in quality food, a wide variety of beers, and fresh-squeezed cocktails. They also host fun events such as comedy nights every first and third Saturday of the month and trivia night every Sunday starting at 8. Just off 26, turn at the Hoodland Thriftway to 24371 E Welches Road.

23. Wraptitude sells healthy delicious wraps, espresso and smoothies, not to mention arguably the best loaded french fries in Oregon. Driver’s right, 67441 E. Highway 26. Welches, OR 9706, 503-622-0893, milepost 41.

24. The Rendezvous Grill and Tap Room offers scratch soups, grass-fed beef and savory chantrelle mushroom dishes, plus a sizable selection of local beers and Oregon wines. Driver’s right, milepost 40, 67149 E. Hwy. 26.

25. El Burro Loco is an affordable Mexican option that has grown quite popular with shred regularos. Same turn as the Rendezvous, Driver’s right, milepost 40, 67149 E. Hwy. 26.

26. The Ivy Bear (pictured below) is a laid-back, inexpensive skier-owned pizzeria that uses 72-hour slow-fermented dough and Willamette Valley cheeses. Plus it’s got a 40-foot bear out front and a cool old rail car in the back. Driver’s right, 54735 E. Hwy. 26.

27.  Tratoria Sapori is an independent Italian restaurant in the heart of Sandy with hearty, home-style meals. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Driver’s right, 39261 Proctor, Sandy.

28. Thai Home is the nearest Thai restaurant to Mount Hood, and tom kha gai tastes really good after a day on the mountain. In the heart of Sandy, driver’s right, 38676 Pioneer.

Heading Back to Hood River

29. Cooper Spur’s Crooked Tree Tavern features barbecue, burgers, beer and sandwiches in a comfy mountain structure, the old North Face Inn. 10755 Cooper Spur Road, off Hwy. 35.

30. Apple Valley BBQ in Parkdale has plenty of hearty options and a friendly, casual atmosphere. Take the left off 35 into Parkdale and it will be on your right.

31. Another place worth checking out in Parkdale is Solera Brewery, with an amazing view of the mountain’s North Face from the back patio and an interesting selection of brews and snacks. Right across the street from Apple Valley BBQ in Parkdale, just off 35.

32. Down in Hood River, the Full Sail Brewery Tasting Room and Pub  is one of Oregon’s original craft breweries, a significant sponsor of Mount Hood events and a classic meeting place. Fresh brews, pub fare and sweeping views of the Columbia River Gorge. 506 Columbia Street, Hood River.

33. Double Mountain Brewery and Taproom (pictured below) is just around the corner from Full Sail, and it has become quite the center for the Gorge outdoor community, with comfortable seating, excellent snacks and entrees, a huge selection of beers and live music. 8 4th Street, Hood River.

Did we miss your favorite spot?

Feel free to add a comment about your experience at any of these establishments. Or contact the editors directly with suggestions tor expanding or improving our list of dining and drinking options on and around Mount Hood.

Last modified: February 14, 2020