The Off-The-Beaten-Path Restaurant in Colorado That Is Worth the Day Trip

As someone who spends six months out of the year in Germany, I find it tricky to find a Bavarian spot that gets it right back home in the United States. However, there’s a small bar and restaurant in the tiny ski town of Frisco, Colorado, that I keep coming back to. I spend every February in Colorado, and there hasn’t been a year I’ve missed a trip to this traditional tavern. Ein Prosit is the perfect place to refuel on a day trip to the mountains from Denver, or an easy 15-minute drive from both the Keystone and Breckenridge ski resorts.

Every year, I take a ski trip with a gaggle of my friends. While the space at Ein Prosit is small, they always manage to squeeze a large group of us in. Like any good German beer garden, you can order a liter of Hefeweizen or Kölsch, among others. Wines and cocktails are available for those who don’t fancy beer.

However, the real standout is the out-of-the-ordinary food menu. Of course, you can order conventional favorites like a giant pretzel and a variety of sausages. What makes Ein Prosit worth the day trip is the unique meats on the menu. For example, I ordered a delicious platter of wild game that included rattlesnake, antelope jackrabbit, boar, and elk. You’ll want to end your meal with a delicious apple strudel or root beer float. 

The vibe at Ein Prosit is always energetic. You could show up in your customary lederhosen or dirndl, and no one would blink an eye. Echos of “Prost!” fill the space, and you can’t help but have a smile plastered to your face between bites. The plethora of Bavarian flags and photos of animals instantly transports me back to the actual village in Germany, where I stay every time I visit.

The restaurant itself is filled with all sorts of quirky decor because it's technically sharing a space with an antique shop. Even crazier? There’s an old mail room caboose toward the back of the antique shop that houses a small distillery. The Pullman Distillery is open Thursday through Sunday and can seat a maximum of 16 people. You can still order Pullman signature cocktails from the bar at Ein Prosit if you can’t snag a seat in the caboose. To recap, you can get your Bavarian beer and food, antique shopping, and craft cocktails all in one epic location.

You'll often hear live music on a Friday or Saturday night. Performances can vary between contemporary hits and alpine volksmusik.  As the night progresses and the beer keeps flowing, you may even find yourself joining in on a traditional German dance with your fellow diners. Go ahead and jump in, it's all part of the fun.

Whether it's a day trip from Denver or a ski resort, Ein Prosit is well worth your time. With my years of experience living between Germany and Chicago, I believe I have some street cred when it comes to German spots in the United States. My take? Ein Prosit does it right. What other off-the-beaten-path restaurants should we visit in Colorado? Let us know by filling out our nomination form.