Atop Mt. Lemmon, eating and drinking options are conveniently located at Ski Valley and Summerhaven. It’s no city of gastronomy but it hits the spot after a long hike through any of the nearby trails or if you’re simply looking for a cooler place to spend the day (sans hike).
It’s generally 20 to 30 degrees cooler than Tucson and less than an hour to the top. The cool mountain breeze and fresh forest air make patio dining sublime. While beer and wine are available at a couple of places, make sure you also try a crisp glass of water. Sourced from springs in Carter Canyon and Upper Sabino Canyon, it’s easy to taste the difference even if you’re not a water snob.
HEADS UP: If there’s snow in the forecast, call (520)351-3351 to make sure the roads haven’t been closed.
Locally owned and operated cafe since 1998, Beyond Bread offers a variety of hand-crafted bread, delicious sandwiches, house-made soups, fresh salads, and decadent pastries. Plus, gettin’ a room at the lodge isn’t required to eat at the cafe so pop your head in there any time they’re open.
Homemade soups, chili, and sandwiches are served in a rustic mountain restaurant. Near the mountain peak at Ski Valley (one server rides a shuttle for three hours each day to work here), Iron Door restaurant is surrounded by flowers and hummingbird feeders on the patio.
Mt. Lemmon Cookie Cabin is sadly not a cabin made out of cookies. However, it is a cozy two-story cabin that regularly cranks out Giant Massive Cookies big enough to feed four people. There are standard options like chocolate chip and peanut butter, but try the Rachel, which includes oats, coconut, and butterscotch chips.
The other popular option is pizza, available by the half-slice, full-slice, or 16-inch pie.
For toppings, choose from pepperoni, sausage, chicken, olives, green peppers, mushrooms, and onions.
Until recently, Mount Lemmon was lacking in the coffee arena. That is until Debbie Weatherly solved that problem and opened up a coffee shop, Mt. Lemmon Coffee and Tea Co., in the quaint town that we all know and love at the top, Summerhaven.
With the help of others who live on Mount Lemmon, she’s offering locally made pastries to snack on, alongside your coffee or hot cocoa. The menu is always fresh and changing up the rotation of baked goods but it’s likely you’ll find slices of banana bread and muffins in the mix.
While you’ll mostly find food and drink at the restaurants, you’ll find the miscellaneous at Mt. Lemmon General Store & Gift Shop.
If you need a pocket knife with your name on it or you forgot to bring a bottle of wine for your camping trip, this is the place to stock up. Or, if you simply decide you’d rather picnic on the mountain instead of dining at a restaurant, this is where to pick up the goods.
In regards to edible items, they’re most famous for their homemade fudge.
Sawmill Run offers a rotating menu, reflecting the seasons on Mt Lemmon.
While sandwiches and burgers are still on the menu, you can call in to keep up-to-date with the menu weekly. Past creations include the Louisiana Alligator Burger and Stuffed Monkfish Tail.