Photo Credit: Kent Kanouse

In the Cowboy State, you’re going to find menus chock-full of top-grade steaks made from beef, buffalo, and elk, along with fresh salmon and local game. This is meat and potatoes country, but in the large towns of Jackson, Casper, Cody, and Cheyenne, there are ethnic restaurants to choose from. In general, dining out in Wyoming is good value, with the top restaurants located predominantly in Jackson. Nightlife here revolves around a cold beer with a whisky shot at the local bar.

Don’t plan to do any clubbing in Wyoming.

Bars and Pubbing in Wyoming

Most bars in Wyoming have a distinctive Western cowboy theme. In Jackson, these watering holes are dressed up a bit more to cater to the well-heeled cowboy wannabes that like to visit. Popular venues like the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar (25 N. Cache St, Jackson) speak for themselves, with taxidermy on the walls and two-step dancing to live country western bands. The Silver Dollar Bar (50 N. Glenwood St, Jackson) has a more subdued western atmosphere which is preferred by locals who want to drink more than dance. Bars like 43° North (645 S. Cache St, Jackson) cater to the youthful ski crowd with DJs, live bands, and craft beers on tap.

Wyoming’s capital, Cheyenne, has a handful of good bars, including craft breweries like Shadows Brewing Company (115 W. 15th St, Cheyenne) with its slick sports bar vibe and tasty pub grub. Cody definitely leans toward the cowboy, evident in its most popular watering holes like Cassie’s (214 Yellowstone Ave, Cody) and the endearing historic Silver Dollar Bar (1313 Sheridan Ave, Cody). In Sheridan, be sure and stop by The Mint Bar (151 N. Main St, Sheridan), which opened in 1907 as a speakeasy until the end of Prohibition. All bars in Wyoming are required to close at 2:00 a.m.

Dining and Cuisine in Wyoming

The most creative and most upscale restaurants tend to be found in the resort town of Jackson. Most eateries have menus with the typical steak, seafood, and pasta selections but in Jackson, you can also find Thai, Mexican, and German cuisine. The Snake River Grill (84 E. Broadway, Jackson) is widely regarded as the best place to dine in Wyoming. Its New American menu attracts celebrities as well as locals, and its Town Square ringside location can’t be beat for the views. For Italian, the swankiest spot in Jackson is Il Villaggio Osteria (3335 W. Village Dr, Teton Village, Jackson), though Nani’s Genuine Pasta House (242 N. Glenwood St, Jackson) is just as good and slightly cheaper.

You’ll typically find the most reliably good meals in Wyoming’s myriad steakhouses. In the capital, Poor Richard’s (2231 E. Lincolnway, Cheyenne) has been the local favorite since 1977. Cassie’s Supper Club (214 Yellowstone Ave, Cody) is a classic road house with superb steaks and a separate bar that jumps every night in summer. Also in Cody, the chain Wyoming’s Rib & Chop House (1367 Sheridan Ave, Cody) is a reliable choice for any form of meat product. In Sheridan, an easy winner for the most alluring restaurant is Oliver’s (55 N. Main St, Sheridan) with its creative, contemporary American menu and west coast chic-meets-cowboy ambiance.

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