A gleaming wooden structure with windows extending from the floor to the massive vaulted ceilings, the Glacier Creek Lodge is the favored lunch destination on Blackcomb Mountain. Yes, it is a cafeteria, but a selection of hearty soups, Asian specialties and the usual assortment of grilled burgers, fries and pizzas offer something for everyone in your group. The coffee kiosk inside the spacious modern lodge serves up an excellent espresso.

Located inside the Rendezvous Lodge, Christine’s on Blackcomb is the only place on Blackcomb Mountain where you can get sit-down table service. The service can be slow, so only go when you’re finished skiing for the day. In the summer, Christine's is best for lunch during the daytime, thanks to its incredible views.

The Crystal Hut is a good place to have a late breakfast of homemade waffles topped with fresh fruit and hot maple syrup. Come before 11:00 am, as the tiny space fills up quickly.

Creekbread was born as a progressive idea in the hills of Vermont before making its way to Whistler’s hippie enclave of Creekside. From the spacious wooden structure with a two-story tall ceiling resembling a converted farmhouse, decorated with New Age-y tapestries, to the proudly announced commitment to sustainable farming and equitable working conditions, Creekside’s bohemian leanings and admirable social conscience come through loud and clear.

Also visible from almost everywhere in the restaurant is the massive stone pizza oven and open kitchen manned by several young men in colorful knit tuques (as opposed to chef hats) stretching and tossing the magnificent Creekbread pizza dough. The combination of only the highest quality local ingredients and the cooperative work environment is a winning one. The pizza is superb and, as a result, the large dining room is always packed.

Local, organic ingredients like house-made maple-fennel sausage and farm fresh eggs, pair with imported items like Danish fontina and Italian asiago to create truly memorable pizzas.

At first glance, Crepe Montagne is just a small storefront in a nondescript two-story mall. Inside, the wee wood-paneled space holds a handful of small booths, shelves packed with Asterix & Obelix and Tintin comic books, a cramped kitchen and, in winter, dozens of silver tree ornaments hanging from the ceiling. The heat of the kitchen, the glow of the wood and the small quarters make it especially inviting when it’s snowing outside.

The menu of this self-anointed “authentic French crêperie” is indeed very French. The crepes are delicious, but most, like the chorizo with béchamel sauce, are plenty rich. The cheese fondue and the raclette are hearty and toothsome. In a nod to its customers, Crepe Montagne does offer a vegetarian raclette with brocolli and cauliflower in place of the usual meats. Come early; they don’t take reservations.

Even if you don’t normally frequent Irish pubs, you’ll get a kick out of the Dubh Linn Gate. At the base of Whistler Mountain, tucked into the northern end of the plaza where skiers and boarders arrive at day’s end, the Gate is an après ski hot spot. The last rays of sun shine upon a handful of outside tables, crammed with skiers and warmed by heat lamps. If you can’t get a seat there, head into the restaurant, decorated in traditional pub style, but more spacious than you might find back in Dublin. You can opt for a seat at the bar, closest to the live band, or in the calmer room at the back.

You’ll always find duos or trios playing live Irish music here, and the quality of their soulful singing and fiddle strumming never fails to impress. Choose from over a dozen locally brewed ales, lagers and IPAs on tap, or a selection of Irish brews, from Guinness to Kilkenny Cream Ale. There’s a big selection of après appetizers, as well as a full lunch and dinner menu with pub classics like fish and chips and more creative selections like the free range buffalo burger or veggie lentil burger.

Caminetto hits the right balance: it’s a friendly place you could enjoy equally for a family dinner or, in the later hours, with your grown-up friends. The décor is much brighter than at Trattoria, with blond wood and tones of golden yellow throughout. The open, sunken dining room provides a vibrant counterpoint to some more sedate mountain restaurants, but can get loud late in the evening. The Tuscan kitchen sticks to the classics – think penne arrabiata or herb crusted rack of lamb – but turns out a few true gems like roasted duck with orange, nutmeg and dried cherries.

Locals vote Merlin’s their favorite après destination. That’s probably because locals get to ski and ride not just over the winter holidays, but well into the spring, when the terrace at Merlin’s, at the base of Blackcomb Mountain, is simply the best place to enjoy the late afternoon sun. It’s not as polished as the Mallard Terrace, nor as hip as the GLC, but Merlin’s does serve up possibly the largest platter of nachos you’ll ever witness, and the pitchers of beer – and hot chocolate for the kids – are always served with a smile.

Kids can’t resist the opportunity to hold a big metal bowl themselves, and choose which meats, fish, veggies, noodles and sauces they want to put together. Then you watch as young ski bums dressed as cooks prepare your dinner on an extremely hot round grill, twirling spatulas in the air for dramatic effect. The result is tasty enough. You have to arrive very early to get a table.

Chic Pea is one the best spots on Whistler Mountain. You have to stand in line to order your food, but the petite space has more charm than the larger lodges. In spring, tables and music spill outside the little log cabin. The Moroccan chickpea soup and grilled panini sandwiches are favorites.

You’ll build up an appetite on your way to Dusty’s Backside Barbeque, seeing as it’s located at the base of the 2010 Winter Olympics alpine racecourse. You can avoid some of the steeper stretches of the course on your way here, but you still have to ski or ride all the way to Creekside, nearly a mile down from the peak of Whistler Mountain. Once here, you can grab a seat at one of the large picnic-style tables and order a pulled pork sandwich or other BBQ specialty from the server. Don’t forget the side of yam fries.

Like its Christine’s counterpart on Blackcomb Mountain, Steep’s Grill inside the Roundhouse Lodge offers table service at the top of the gondola. When non-skiing visitors want to have lunch with you on the mountain, this is the place to go. Just note that the service can be lethargic.