Deck Dining

Summer in Jackson Hole practically insists you eat outside, and there’s no shortage of restaurants to help you oblige. 

// By Samantha Simma

The cloudveil

Set above the bustle of Town Square, The Rooftop at The Cloudveil is both chic and relaxed—it has fire pits and armchairs and sofas instead of dining tables—and has one of downtown Jackson’s most interesting vantage points. Snow King is right there, looking close enough to touch, and then, from 6 to 6:10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, there’s the Town Square Shootout directly below. But you have to make sure The Rooftop, which offers table service, is open. An understandably popular venue for private parties, The Rooftop releases the dates it’s open to the public for the next month toward the end of the prior month. 

Food and drinks are as lively and casual as the vibes: shareable mains and appetizers like tacos and pizzas, sloshies, and frosé. “An evening spent on The Rooftop celebrates the best of a summer evening in Jackson Hole,” says Kendra Alessandro, vice president of marketing and communications at Fine Dining Restaurant Group. Grab a cocktail and a quick bite before heading to a concert or dinner elsewhere. Or settle in for a longer evening. “For those interested in capturing the sun and also enjoying a full dinner, mid-evening is perfect,” Alessandro says. Later still, the kitchen closes, but the bar remains open and welcomes you to linger over a nightcap as the pink glow of sunset spreads across the valley. 

Open at 5 p.m. select evenings (check @thebistroatjacksonhole); 112 Center St., Jackson; 307/739-1100, thebistrojacksonhole.com/rooftop

the deck at JHMR

Whether you ride up the Bridger Gondola or hike the Wildflower Trail to The Deck at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, an expansive stone terrace that seems to hang over the edge of the mountainside, it’s a great spot to soak in the views and refuel. Come on any Monday or Wednesday between 5:30 and 8 p.m., and you’ll also enjoy live music. From any of the couple dozen tables here, there are clear views of almost the entire expanse of Jackson Hole—cut by the Snake River—with the Gros Ventre mountains rising on the east side of the valley; on a clear day, you can even see beyond the Gros Ventres to the Wind River mountains. South, it’s the Snake River, Wyoming, and Salt River ranges. On hot afternoons, frozen cocktails are a popular choice to order via the QR-code menu. Pair these with flatbreads, sliders, lettuce wraps, or edamame. Fair warning: if you want to do one of the several hikes that start from the deck, do it before you nosh. 

Open most days 11 a.m.–8 p.m. (check website for dates the deck closes at 4 p.m.); top of the Bridger Gondola at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Teton Village; 307/739-2675, jacksonhole.com/summer-activities/summer-the-deck

kampai

Facing both the Gros Ventre mountains and Snow King and with views up Cache Creek, Kampai’s rooftop open-air patio offers a noticeably different experience than the restaurant’s multifloor main dining room. While the inside restaurant and patio share the same cocktail menu, the food menus diverge. Inspired by the Japanese izakaya tradition, the patio, for which reservations are recommended, leans into shared small plates, sashimi, and casual rolls. (Nigiri, a staple in the main restaurant, isn’t offered.) “The key feature of izakaya is a relaxed atmosphere, where guests are invited to linger over their drinks,” says general manager Dan Janjigian. 

Open Tuesday–Saturday 5–9 p.m.; 175 Center St., Jackson; 307/201-5329, kampaijh.com

dornans

At the edge of Grand Teton National Park, Dornans Pizza & Pasta Co. has two decks—one adjacent to the main dining room and the second on the dining room’s roof—and both are super casual. The former is close enough to the Snake River for you to hear the moving river and passing rafters. The latter, limited to ages 21-plus, has what are arguably the best views of the Tetons in the valley, and you can also see the Gros Ventre mountains, Blacktail Butte, and Shadow Mountain. Both deck experiences start with ordering at the counter and have the same menu, with items the restaurant’s name alludes to: pastas and pizza. The pizzas are named after Teton peaks and include the Mount Owen (sun-dried tomato pesto and a four-cheese blend), the Static (mozzarella, BBQ sauce, chicken, smoked Gouda, red onions, cilantro), the Thor (mozzarella, marinara, Canadian bacon, pepperoni, Italian sausage, caramelized onions), and the Moran (roasted garlic cream sauce with chicken, spinach, diced tomatoes, and toasted pine nuts). Want to match pizzas with their namesake peaks? The napkins feature an outline of the Tetons with each summit named. 

Open daily 11:30 a.m.–8 p.m.; 12170 Dornans Rd., Moose; 307/733-2415, dornans.com

aurora

Perched at the very top of Snow King Mountain and reached by a 1.8-mile hike up 1,500 feet or a five-minute gondola ride, Aurora turns lunch and dinner into a summit experience, especially if you get one of the tables along the wall of windows. (While reservations are recommended, even with one, specific tables are first come-first served.) The restaurant has two main areas: a traditional inside space with four walls and also a space covered (or not) by a retractable roof. Both have views down onto the valley and out to the Tetons and Gros Ventres. “Most places when you’re talking about an outside experience with views, you’re subject to the weather, whether it’s rain or the hot July sun beating down on you,” says Aurora’s executive chef, Brandon Hicks. “At Aurora, we can roll back the roof and roll the windows up or down to keep diners comfortable without taking away the views.” An alumnus of the kitchen at New York’s Michelin-starred Picholine, Hicks says Aurora’s menu is fine dining but not alienating. “It’s approachable food,” he says. “There are refined options like yellowtail tartare and also a Wagyu burger.” There are 24 beers on tap and a seasonal cocktail and N/A program developed by food and beverage director Nicholas Berti, who hails from Florence, Italy. 

Open daily 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Top of Snow King Gondola, 100 E. Snow King Ave., Jackson; 307/284-4427, snowkingmountain.com/aurora JH