The story
Sitting at over 7,000 feet in the Eastern Sierra, Side Door Wine Bar and Cafe has earned recognition that extends well beyond its mountain setting. The restaurant holds Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence — a distinction that signals a wine list of genuine depth and a kitchen that takes its American food seriously enough to match it.
Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence is not handed out casually. It requires a list that goes beyond the expected, with breadth across regions and enough vertical selection to reward the curious diner. That Side Door has achieved this in Mammoth Lakes speaks to a real commitment to the craft of pairing food and wine, bringing a level of care to the table that visitors might not anticipate from a mountain resort town.
Side Door serves both lunch and dinner, making it a natural anchor for a full day on the mountain or a deliberate evening out. The American menu provides the kind of grounded, satisfying cooking that pairs well with a serious wine list — familiar in spirit, thoughtful in execution.
For anyone in Mammoth Lakes who wants a meal worth sitting down for, Side Door Wine Bar and Cafe is a clear choice.
Recognition
Location