Where to Go Out to Eat in Jackson, Wyoming, in November (The Off Season)
The infamous Jackson Hole Elk Antler Arch
The month of November is considered the “off-season” in Jackson, Wyoming. This is the awkward, in-between time of year when the main Yellowstone National Park entrances are closed, and the ski slopes aren’t open yet either.
Honestly, when we planned to stop in Wyoming on our road trip, we were both super stoked and totally naive to the cold, harsh winter weather this time of year affects the access to some of the area’s biggest attractions.
When we found out that Yellowstone’s park entrances were closed, we were devastated and dumbfounded that we didn’t think of this earlier (as in, before we booked our Airbnb stay and travel plans). Because it was too late to reroute, we went anyways. And let me tell you, I’m glad that we did because we found our fun… through food.
We had some of the best food of our entire escapade in Jackson. Plus, spending the week nestled in a cabin surrounded by the snow-covered mountain town was both serene and awe-inspiring.
Here are the eight restaurants that my fiance, Evan, and I visited during our stay in Jackson and my honest review of each. Ready? Let’s get started!
Thai Plate
145 Glenwood St, Jackson, WY 83001
We stumbled upon this cozy restaurant in downtown Jackson for some good, authentic Thai comfort food. I ordered the veggie spring rolls made with a mix of fresh, colorful vegetables and served with a banging peanut sauce.
Evan had the Tom Yum soup, which was the perfect combination of spice and heat to warm you up on a bitterly cold day. Our favorite, though, was the steamed dumplings, which were stuffed with chicken and shiitake mushrooms, carefully hand-pinched, and served with a salty, savory sesame soy sauce.
Vegetable spring rolls with Thai peanut dipping sauce… 🤤
Steamed dumplings stuffed with chicken and shiitake mushrooms
Coco Love
115 W Broadway, Jackson, WY 83001
This sweet little coffee shop and bakery were brimming with chocolatey treats. Evan and I both have a sweet spot for chocolate, so when we came across this local favorite, we knew we had to stop. He had the special: spiced apple cider, and I had an Indian tea (nothing super mind-blowing), and we split a dark-chocolate-dipped chocolate biscotti. There were plenty of posh desserts and delicate pastries to choose from. Highly recommend it if you’re a chocolate lover like me.
Local Restaurant & Bar
55 N Cache St, Jackson, WY 83001
Famous for its espresso martinis, Local is a slightly more upscale place that’s a tad on the pricey side. We went for happy hour and had a drink—for me, an espresso martini (of course!) and for Evan, a local sour beer—both of which were half off, not a bad deal. Evan also had the bar wings on happy hour, which weren’t oily like traditional bar wings. We didn’t stay for dinner, but as a Jackson local staple that’s known for grass-fed meats and locally sourced ingredients, I don’t doubt that their entrees are spectacular.
Bin 22
200 W Broadway, Jackson, WY 83001
We stopped at Bin22 for a quick cocktail and grabbed a seat at the bar. It was a wine and tapas place known for specialty wines, cheeses, and carry-out selection. We both had a drink (me: pinot noir, Evan: local IPA beer) and shared a cheese plate that came with sourdough, fig jam, gherkins, peperoncini, and cheese. This is a great stop for happy hour or a nice night out with friends over good food and good conversation.
The Whistling Grizzly
930 W Broadway, Jackson, WY 83001
Located inside a hotel less than five minutes from downtown Jackson, this restaurant was home to our favorite meal of the entire trip. I’m not exaggerating (and the Google reviews don’t lie!) The service was impeccable, the servers were super attentive, kind, and helpful.
For appetizers, we ordered the trout dip, which came with perfectly seasoned flatbread and split a bowl of the soup du jour—a warm, creamy potato soup. For the main course, I had the steak Frites (hanger steak) cooked medium rare (chef’s preference), and Evan got the Elk tenderloins cooked medium rare that was absolute melt-in-your-mouth perfection.
Trout dip… don’t even get me started on this. It was arguably the best dish we had the entire week.
Creamy potato soup with some sort of truffle oil
Steak Frites… (I didn’t know “Frites” meant fries…. but nonetheless, I was not disappointed. Though the steak was the star of this dish.)
Elk Tenderloin… (it tasted as good as it looks)
And you know we couldn’t skimp on dessert. The waiter recommended their carrot cake and claimed it was the best he ever had, but since we’re not huge carrot cake fans, we ordered the chocolate tarte instead. We also had the gelato special, a trio of chocolate hazelnut, pistachio, and vanilla bean. The tarte was just okay (probably should have gone with the carrot cake!) and I thought the gelato was incredible. Decaf coffee was a good nightcap too!
Chocolate tarte
Gelato: chocolate hazelnut (left), vanilla bean. (center), pistachio (right)
Million Dollar Cowboy Bar
25 N Cache St, Jackson, WY 83001
We didn’t eat at The Cowboy Bar, but I had to include it because it was such a good time! Even during the off-season, the energy oozing from this place, even during the off-season, was palpable. A local band was playing on stage, the dance floor was alive with people of all ages who were line dancing the night away. The bar aesthetic is super unique, almost like a museum with taxidermy enclosed in glass cases (surprisingly more charming than creepy). There was one exhibit by the bathrooms of a big stuffed grizzly bear that was one of two occasions where a human had attacked and killed a bear with his own bear hands….pretty crazy!
The Bistro
112 Center St, Jackson, WY 83001
The Bistro is another restaurant located inside a hotel off of the main street in downtown Jackson. We got there early to try our luck at the bar since this place books up quick! To my surprise, we lucked out and got a bar seat right away.
We had the bacon balsamic patisserie as an appetizer. The combination of balsamic flavor was intense…. in a good way, and paired perfectly with the light, fluffiness of the puff pastry and the crunch of the bacon.
Bacon balsamic pastry
For dinner, I had their vegetarian trumpet mushroom entree, which came with those rich, creamy, silky-smooth risotto. Evan got the meatloaf and thoroughly enjoyed it! I had an espresso martini (equally as good as the Local Bar and Restaurant). All around, great place (but a tad expensive!)
Trumpet mushroom entree with wild rice risotto
Homemade meatloaf
Noodle Kitchen
945 W Broadway, Jackson, WY 83001
For our last night, we ordered takeout from the Noodle House. Now, I’m not a pork person, but for some reason, I was craving pork, so I got the pork ramen. The dish came with big, fat chunks of pork that melts in your mouth. Evan had the Mongolian Beef. From my understanding, it was the best he’s ever had, but he still enjoyed it (so much so that he ate the entire thing!). We also had a White Dragon roll which was slightly overpriced but delivered on flavor and texture. The side of steamed veggies, on the other hand, was just a mic of broccoli and carrots that tasted like it was frozen and then boiled. That did disappoint. All in all, a satisfactory last meal.
Pork ramen (I ordered the veggies as a side and added them in for some color and more nutrients)
White Dragon Roll
The Bunnery
130 N Cache St, Jackson, WY 83001
This bakery and breakfast shop is a town favorite. Our Airbnb guide listed it as a recommendation, and we knew we had to go! They were closed the first half of the week (Nov. 7th-11th) for cleaning and maintenance, but luckily they opened up for the weekend, so we stopped on our way out.
We shared the guacamole omelet to go, which came with a side of toast, and we each got our own pastry. Evan had a cinnamon bun, and I had a chocolate croissant (my weakness). Honestly, the hype was well-deserved, this place is awesome. They have an awesome selection of baked goods, bread, and buns. A must-stop!
Guacamole omelet (we ordered the guac on the side)
Chocolate croissant (I asked them to heat it up, and OMG the chocolate ooey gooey goodness was super rich, and surprisingly dark! Totally satisfied my chocolate craving)
Even in the “in-between season,” Jackson, Wyoming, is still a gem of a town!
I honestly think that we visited it at one of the best and most underrated times of the year.
Yes, Yellowstone National Park was closed, it never went above 20 degrees the entire week we were there, and it snowed every single day.
If you are a sunny-side vacation goer, you might want to wait until the summer to visit when there’s more open. But if you’re a fan of snowy weather and charming towns, it was absolutely worth the trip.
Other benefits are that lodging is far less expensive, most of the shops downtown were still open, and you have no problems getting a reservation place. Plus, you can truly have time to decompress, cozy up, and relax.
Happy eating!
xoxo Taylor
