Tahoe City is a town on the California side of the Lake Tahoe region. The city was once the site of logging and hunting activity for the northern Tahoe Basin, now it is little more than a year round vacation town catering to visitors and locals daily needs.
The town has a couple of dozen restaurants, multiple bars, sports shops, banks, boat marinas, the Tahoe Yacht Club, and a couple large chain grocery stores.
Understand
Get in
The easiest way is by car, from US Interstate 80, follow State Route 89 south to the Lake.
Get around
Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transit (TART) runs buses. There are also several taxi companies. You can rent bikes from Olympic Bike shop in Tahoe City. Hitchhiking is also popular - locals are kind and give rides.
See
- Tahoe City Marina.
- Dave's Taxi Tahoe, Tahoe Vista, +1 831-521-5144. 24 hrs. Airport and local service to Northshore, Truckee, Tahoe Vista, Carnelian Bay, Incline Village and more. Flat rate airport runs to and from Reno, airport, Truckee airport and Sacramento airport.
Do
Many of the Ski areas become mountain bike trails in the summer. Float down the Truckee river for a leisurely activity. Bicycle, in-line skate or walk the many miles of paved path along the North Shore of Lake Tahoe or Truckee River.
Buy
Eat
- The Bridgetender. Traditional American cuisine and bar food: burgers, fries, sandwiches, salads, soups, steak, etc., with a full bar and dozens of beers on tap.
- Lake House Pizza. Pizza, pasta and other bar food, on the water behind Christy's.
- Garwoods. Named after the wooden boats occasionally seen on the lake this is a year round favorite that has its own pier and adjacent marina. It houses a full bar, gourmet restaurant and its famous "wet woodies" a frozen house cocktail known for its potency.
- Rosie's Cafe. A year-round local favorite for breakfast and casual meals.
- Christy Hill. High end (for Tahoe) restaurant on the lake. Good food, nice ambiance, great views if you go before it gets dark.
- Big Water Grille:. American contemporary cuisine with Mediterranean and Pacific Rim influences. Mountain top lake view. Entrees: $19 - 26.
- Conrads. An upscale barbeque featuring steak and chicken with an array of salads, located at the Biltmore in Crystal Bay. Entrees: $12-25.
- Soule Domain. Cozy, elegant log cabin, featuring creative regional cuisine. Voted by locals "Best place to take a date." Entrees: $17-25.
- Za's Lakefront, 120 Grove St, +1 530 583-9292. Great food, with beautiful views of the lake from the patio. 2021-07-17
Drink
- Pierce Street Annex. Features a busy and crowded dance floor on Saturday nights, depending on the season.
- Pete and Peter's. More of a local bar feel with shuffle board and weekly drink specials.
- Rosie's Cafe. A local restaurant and breakfast spot with a separate bar that is open every night.
- The Bridgetender, 65 W Lake Blvd, +1 530 583-3342. Just south of Fanny Bridge this is an longstanding Tahoe favorite with a full bar and restaurant serving great burgers and other bar food.
- Garwoods. East of Tahoe City on state route 22 in Carnelian Bay.
- Sunny Side. South of Tahoe City on State Route 89. More relaxed and upscale atmosphere than the bars in Tahoe City.
- TC's, +1 530 562-2250. The place in Northstar to be for an après ski, starting around 2PM appetizers can turn into late lunch or early dinner. Dinner in the adjacent restaurant begins at 5:30PM.
- Sol y Lago, 760 North Lake Blvd (upstairs in Tahoe City’s Boatwork’s Mall), +1 530 583-0358. The large bar area is a great place to meet après ski for terrific tapas and south-of-the-border drinks.
Sleep
- Americas Best Value Inn Tahoe City. Member of a large budget chain. Large parking lot, TV, seasonal pool, year-round lake view hot tub, sandy public beach in front of the motel, public golf course behind motel.
- BW Station House Inn, 901 Park Ave, South Lake Tahoe, +1 530 542-1101. Best Western Station House Inn features a complimentary full breakfast, a variety of specials and packages, and meeting facility. The hotel offers packages with ski resorts, golfing, and wedding.
- Pepper Tree Inn, 645 N. Lake Blvd.
- Inn at Boatworks, 790 North Lake Blvd, 39.17327°, -120.13798°, +1 530-238-5544, reservations@innatboatworks.com. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. 2020-12-12
- Tahoe Moon Properties, 3045 Martin Drive, +1 530 581 2771, info@tahoemoonproperties.com. 2018-08-28
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