By james art 
If you love stunning mountain scenery and immersive dining experiences (like an actual Breakfast at Tiffany’s in New York City), you’ll want to add Cliff House in Stowe, Vermont to your restaurant bucket list. Located 3,625 feet up Mansfield Mountain, Vermont’s highest peak, the restaurant features floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views of neighboring Spruce Peak and is only accessible by preparing a scenic cabin up the mountain.
The restaurant is part of Stowe Resort and is open to resort guests (including non-skiers) who want to take advantage of the view and good food. The on-mountain restaurant is open daily for lunch (11:00-2:30 a.m.) when the mountain cabin is open (both winter and summer seasons). While they do tours, it is recommended that you make a reservation at the Cliff House. In order to gain access to the restaurant, diners must purchase a ticket for the Cabinet Office or have a ski pass (tickets are not included in your reservation).
If the idea of enjoying a cocktail and casual lunch while perched thousands of feet above a winter wonderland sounds like something out of a James Bond movie (in the best possible way), here’s what you need to know before taking a cable car up the mountain.
What to Expect at Cliff House in Stow, Vermont
Described as “American cuisine with a rustic Vermont flair,” the menu awaits you at the top of the mountain, featuring upscale comfort food with many maple-inspired dishes such as maple bacon chicharrones and crispy fried chicken wings tossed with a sweet and smoky maple chipotle Sauce. (Doesn’t maple syrup belong in every meal?)
But is a cabin on a mountain for lunch really worth it? Well, it depends. If you do not have a ski pass, the return gondola ride costs $40 for adults (ages 13+) and $26 for children (ages 5-12). Depending on what you order, the cost of the booth is as much, if not more, than the lunch itself. But some people think it might be worth the trip to enjoy dishes like Cliff House’s decadent mac and cheese made with smoked gouda and topped with bacon, green onion and garlic bread—something I never knew I had need, but now I absolutely have to try. (Seriously, who doesn’t want to try smoked Gouda cheese sauce?) So while the cab ride will set you back, it might be worth adding to your bucket list.