If you’re looking for a foodie’s guide to Whistler, this isn’t it. I’m a beer-and-nachos kind of ski town eater, and if it’s cheaper during Happy Hour, I’m there. Especially in Whistler Village, where my first dinner out for four—at an average-tasting, buffet-style family restaurant with no desserts and only two beers—cost $480 before the suggested 25 percent tip. Wow.
After that first foolish foray into dining that’s more extreme than skiing Spanky’s in a 40km wind, I did my research—asked around. If I’m going to ski, live, and eat well here for the winter season, I’d better hunt down good food at fun spots that won’t blow up yet another mortgage payment.
Here’s what I found:
Cheap Lunch on Whistler Blackcomb
As a skier clocking as many days on the mountain in a single season as she can, I’m not eating lunches in the Village or the Creek. I’m in one of the busy, on-mountain lodges on Whistler or Blackcomb—you’ll find me at a table near a window with a view of a peak. Often I stuff a sandwich in a pocket to save dough, but inevitably the scent of cinnamon buns and waffles lures me to a lunch counter, where—from my experience—Vail Resorts’ frenzied cooks, cashiers and bussers work their tails off, and—no, I’m not paid to say this—deliver super good service and food. Sometimes stupidly expensive food, but tasty all the same.
I was told at the start of the season by a local to hit Chic Pea for cinnamon buns, Crystal Hut for waffles, and the Glacier Creek Lodge for ramen and tacos. All recommendations delivered good eats, but prices are $20-plus per item, so beware. My best advice: share. Chili and a roll in Glacier Creek Lodge is zestful and more than enough for two. The warm chocolate pastries in Raven’s Nest are delicious, as are the savoury, lunch-friendly pastries at most on-mountain coffee counters, all around $6 each. Tip: they’re often discounted after 2 p.m.
But the best deal on Whistler Mountain by far is Hot Dog Happy Hour every day in the Roundhouse at 2 p.m. A foot-long hot dog and a huge drink costs $9—only $7 if you have an Epic or Season Pass, which saves you 20% on all meals. The hot dog is big enough to share, leaving me thinking I’ve hit the jackpot with a hearty $3.50 lunch. Look and listen for the servers wandering through the Roundhouse in hot dog costumes shouting “HOT DOG HAPPY HOUR” and ringing a bell. When I hear that bell, I’m sold.
Cheap Après Snacks & Beer
Most vacationing Whistler skiers beeline-it to one of three rowdy places after skiing for snacks and beer: The Longhorn, Merlin’s, or the Garibaldi Lift Co.. All three are fun, sometimes kinda’ wild, and always worth it once or twice a year. But nachos at The Longhorn cost $35, and a smash burger is $35, too. So…not so easy on the credit card if you’re spending the season here.
Better prices are off-the-beaten track in Whistler, especially in Whistler Village North. There’s a nest of small take-outs and restos around the Marketplace grocery store that don’t get a ton of action but still deliver fun and, I guess, affordable food.
My favourites include Splitz Grill, where creative burgers still cost around $25 but are huge. The vibe is burgers, shakes and juke boxes, if you’re old enough to go back that far. Bottom line: expect big portions and a friendly staff. There’s a reason Splitz is voted Whistler’s Favourite Burger spot every year.
My other favourite is Peaked Pies, an Australian meat-pie bakery where you can get a Traditional Aussie or a Steak, Bacon & Cheese pie with flaky pastry for about $15. If you’re really hungry, top it with mashed peas, potatoes and gravy but you may regret it, the pies are big enough on their own.
For a sweet bakery, everything in Purebread in Whistler Village is yummy and worthy of Instagram. Downside: there aren’t enough tables—you may end up taking treats to go. But there are covered picnic tables nearby, close to Whistler’s Olympic rings. Also primo for snacks and light lunches: Portobello in the Blackcomb Village. Not-so-primo $16 ice cream cones at Whistler’s new Chocolats Favoris. You be the judge.
The best snacks in Whistler may well be at the Green Lake Station Cafe. Yes, it’s a bakery in a gas station, but whoever the baker is…hey man, you’re on.
Best for Last: Happy Hour
One final eat-cheap-in-Whistler tip: look for Happy Hour specials online or in Pique newsmagazine. Beer and snacks in many off-piste places are discounted from 3 to 5 p.m. My two favourites so far: Milestones in Blackcomb Village, where the $5 Club sells drinks and snacks for $5. And the ultimate local hangout: Alpine Cafe, where you can get a beer and a lager for about $16, plus live music and friendly owners who drop by your table to say hi and check on your meal.
How To Treat Yourself in Whistler
If budget isn’t an issue or if you’re down for a nice treat, I had an especially tasty and chatty experience at the Winemaker Lunch Series at Steeps Grill in Whistler’s Roundhouse at the top of the mountain. I was a guest of the Series on a crazy windy January afternoon when the gondola was closed to skiers. We sat among diners from all over the world, making friends and trading ski stories as we sipped BC wine and tasted a stupendous six-course, wine-paired meal ($150). “Each lunch features a visiting winemaker who guides guests through each pour and shares stories, history, and personal insights behind their craft,” says Whistler Blackcomb’s Chloe Hajjar. “Steeps’ chefs design each course around the featured wines and explain how the flavours interact throughout the experience.” The ticketed monthly series returns February 25 and March 18, 2026.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good ski town meal, and there are loads of special places in Whistler you can load up on excellent, not-so-cheap food. Guest favourites include trendy 21 Steps, Pizzeria Antico, Balam and Bar Oso, plus old favourites Il Caminetto and Araxi.
Just remember, in Whistler, delicious food doesn’t need a platinum card.
