The Lodge at Sugar Bowl

FANTASIA is a word that comes to mind when reminiscing about this exquisite lodge. It is a dream world. I understand that Walt Disney was an early investor of The Sugar Bowl and Fantasia was one of his early films. Waking up in the morning to the sight of those magnificent slopes shimmering bluish-​white in the dawn is absolutely magnificent. And in the evening, if you are lucky and the sunset is colorful, the slopes shine with a pinkish glow… I have heard it is called alpenglow. Quite unforgettable. The in-​room coffee is so delicious that we frankly had difficulty leaving the room to go down for breakfast!
We very much enjoyed our comfortable room. The large windows embraced the view beautifully. We particularly enjoyed the door opening to the third floor deck. It was like stepping out into the action of the slopes. Also, the in-​room gift toiletries we found to be of unusually fine quality… Bulgari, made in Italy… a nice touch!
The very spacious lounge which is reserved for hotel guests is one of the best in California. The stone fire place is huge and the staff keeps it roaring in cold weather. The leather furniture is beautiful and comfortable and there is ample seating for those who want to relax and gaze out of the wall of windows into the dreamy view. There are plenty of tables for drinks, or cards or food. Hotel guests may order food and drinks from the bar but enjoy them in the lounge away from the general public if desired.
Drinks from the Belt Room Bar are expertly prepared. The bartenders cater to individual desires and specifications. That’s how I am always served an excellent Bloody Mary.
Service is spectacular. From the moment you arrive at the parking garage you are attended. Your luggage and sport equipment is all handled for you. The ride into the resort on the gondola is breathtaking. The gondola, by the way, was formerly called the Magic Carpet, again a reference to Mr. Disney.
The dining room, with its amazing view serves first class meals. There is a real chef in that kitchen! In the 45 years we have been visiting this resort we have never had a bad meal. And good to know, the same chef prepares the small plates served in the Belt Room. This room is newly remodeled and is now quite spacious. Two dining favorites of ours include the lamb shank dish and the French onion soup.
The massive deck is a fun place to sit outdoors. There you can enjoy your carried –in food or food from the coffee shop, bar, or barbecue. Last visit we noticed quite a few laptops open as skiers rested, ate and caught up on their office work. The quietness of the bowl, because of the absence of cars, lends itself to a special peacefulness.
The lodge and resort is perfect for children. Our kids, and now grand-​kids, are well cared for in the ski-​school. It is well organized for day visitors as well as for hotel guests.
There is a special air of loveliness about this old, elegant hotel. The photographic artwork on the walls throughout the building tell its history and adds to its charm. We stayed in a newly renovated room, number 306. We recommend it.

All great. Such an easy spot to stay especially with kids.
The staff was great. Other reviews post bad comments on the staff and I would have to disagree. Everyone was very nice — they tried hard.
The rooms were fine. Very basic but just fine for quick stays.
Since it’s literally right in the slopes you just go down & start skiing. Ski lockers super easy for keeping your skiis.
Would love to stay in the summer but I understand they are not open in the summer.
We had our 2 kids and it was great.

I spent a solid three hours in here while my man was out boardin’ and it’s pretty nice. It’s not as cush as Squaw, but that’s to be expected.
I ordered a Bloody Mary for $ 10 and, in my opinion, it was worth that much. Awesome mix, fresh squeezed lemon and lime, and a healthy pour of vodka. It got the job done.
Minus two stars for how horribly unfriendly the barstaff was.

I like dining at the lodge restaurant, but the nob hill restaurant sucks, the selection is very limited, and the food isn’t very high quality. Seems like they come out of the same kitchen so … who knows.
The service at the large restaurant however is very slow, but it’s a comfortable place, and the food is good.

We spent a few days at the Lodge for a very important wedding and couldn’t have had a better time. The staff was friendly and helpful, and they were there for all those little intangibles that go into making a wedding great. The food was AMAZING (tip: if you get a buffet, order extra kids’ food — we ate it by the pound!). And when I inevitably left my favorite pair of shoes under the bed, Nicki called me before I even knew what had happened and had them sent back. Thanks Sugar Bowl!

We had a big dinner here recently with 15 people and the staff went out of their way to take care of us. They were gracious, accommodating and prompt. The food was also excellent. I had a delicious lamb shank that was cooked to perfection. The escargot appetizer was also very good, and so were the scallops. In fact, our entire party commented that the food exceeded their expectations. If you are staying at the lodge, or even if you are skiing for the day at Sugar Bowl, this place is worth it for a very nice dinner.

Stayed here for a handful of nights over the past couple of years. It certainly has a rustic charm to it, by which I mean it is older and quirky. The heat in the rooms is difficult to regulate, especially if you’re in one of the family suites with a separate room with a bunk bed for the kids (the kid room gets hot and stuffy). You actually have to crack the window open in the dead of winter and then get up occasionally through the night to adjust the aperture to achieve optimal comfort. Bare minimum amenities in the room — no microwave, mini-​fridge, or coffee maker.
Dining options are extremely limited. They have a fancy restaurant, but with little kids and their little-​kid food preferences, it’s hard to justify the cost of eating here night after night. You can order food off the limited bar menu across the lounge, but after several nights you find yourself yearning for more variety.
Can’t beat the location though — right at the base of the lifts of the very fine Sugar Bowl ski resort. It’s fun to walk out the lodge and not find yourself in a street or parking lot. There’s several buildings that house the ski shop and ski school as well as vacation condos for the more well-​heeled clientele, and there’s certainly a feel of walking around a snowed-​in Alpine village.
Staff is friendly and accommodating, but if I recall correctly there is no 24-​hour front desk service. No matter, really, since there really isn’t anything that they could offer at 2:00am anyway.
My only real complaint is the price — typically around $ 300 a night or higher for a very basic hotel room. You’re paying for the convenience though, and obviously it’s a price that the market can bear, so I really don’t have any grounds to complain. I’ll probably be back again someday.

Love the lodge. When you stay here, you drive into a covered garage where porters unload your gear and schlep it to the gondola. After parking in the garage, you join your gear on the gondola which whisks you down to the snowbound lodge. Rustic and homey, this is not the place for squawliwooders or Alpinistas.
The key concepts here are service and contentment.

Meh… too bad the servers have a mediocre kitchen. The servers work hard, but the chicken Cesar was horrible… clearly pre-​made and rather sad. Who knows when that chicken was grilled… it was more cold than the lettuce. Wait til the Royal Gorge opens up… that chef has it going on!

Like the ski resort itself, lovably low-​key and right on top of the Village. One of the better ski-​in /​out locations around, with the Disney lift literally outside your door.
It’s an older building with thin walls, small motel-​style rooms, no flat-​screen TVs, nor Internet connections besides sketchy 3G reception, but it’s perfectly clean and with a really great friendly vibe. A great alternative to the megaresorts at Northstar and Squaw.