Evergreen is a one-of-a-kind place along the Front Range. Located 30 minutes west from Downtown Denver, Evergreen just turned 150 years-old this July. So if you haven’t been, or it’s been a while, now is the time to celebrate the mountain town.
Once there, the area offers a litany of exciting adventures for families, outdoor enthusiasts, live music lovers, and those seeking great cuisine. From visiting the original tenants’ humble log cabin to stunning natural wonders to culinary leaders taking big strides, this town has a story to tell and plenty to enjoy.
Meet the Chef Changing the Town
The current culinary energy of Evergreen could easily be traced to chef Rand Packer, who runs The Muddy Buck Cafe, Murphy’s Mountain Grill, Kiki’s Fresh Bowls, and Evoke1923. Packer moved his family to Colorado in 2016 and, with his wife Tiffani, has worked to preserve the historical roots of the buildings and landscape while bringing a collection of restaurants into the town. Soon, The Packers will add on to their list with a steakhouse, La Rocca Rossa, coming soon to the nearby town of Morrison.
Before Evergreen and becoming a well-regarded chef, Packer found joy making dinners and baking for his family in California at the tender age of 8. Later in life he moved on to the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. Packer’s gusto led him to Roy’s in Maui and the world-renowned chef Roy Yamaguchi, who ended up guiding the young chef along his culinary path. From there he went on to open Mekenita Cantina in Tampa.
Packer’s travels and love for snowboarding led him to Colorado, where he decided to settle into with his family. Through that move he connected to the former owners of The Muddy Buck Cafe, Murphy’s Mountain Grill, and the former Bistro at Mashdale, each seeking someone who could keep these beloved establishments going.
Evergreen is now where Packer spends his time, and where he shares his cooking skills. We spent some time exploring what his restaurants have to offer, all while celebrating the 150 year anniversary of Evergreen being the kind of place to fall in love with and never leave.
Start the Day at 10 a.m. With Healthy Snacks at Kiki’s Bowls
Grab a snack at Kiki’s Bowls, a charming, Hawaiian-inspired shop named after Packer’s second daughter. It’s also a playful nod to Packer’s roots in Maui, where he spent his days cramming in surfing whenever he wasn’t busy in the kitchen. Start the day right and fuel up with a healthy smoothie before you go explore Evergreen.27975 Highway 74, Evergreen, kikisfreshbowls.com
Get Out Of Denver and On To the Lake
There’s no quicker way to escape the heat of Denver than with a quick drive to the mountains where it’s often 10-degrees cooler. Evergreen also offers respite from the constant low air quality warnings in the city, which come due to smog and wildfire particulates.
Head straight to Evergreen Lake for paddleboarding. You can bring your own or rent one from the Evergreen Lake House, first come, first served. 29612 Upper Bear Creek Rd., Evergreen, evergreenrecreation.com
Mid-Morning Brunch at The Muddy Buck Cafe
Located in the historic Evergreen Hotel building, the interior of The Muddy Buck Cafe still showcases sections of the original wood and signage from its founding in 1896. Here folks fill up on an array of drinks and food from lattes, redeyes, Bloody Marys, the Big Buck Breakfast Burrito with bacon, massive cinnamon rolls, and the Avocado Toast with arugula, feta, and a poached egg. The cafe roasts its own coffee beans on a hand controlled roaster, and will gladly walk any newcomer through the process. 28065 Highway 74 Ste. 101, Evergreen, muddybuckcoffeehouse.com
Get Into Nature With a Hike
Hiking one of the 70-plus trails surrounding the town is a great way to get a breath of fresh air. The views at Maxwell Falls loop are top-notch. If you’re there early or overnight, Alderfer Park East is great for morning runs. And, for a bit of mountain and lake time, Bruin Bluff offers a softer adventure that still includes a dip in mountain water. Find more information about the trails, weather, and when things are open via the Evergreen Recreation Center.
Afternoon Nibbles and Drinks Creekside at Murphy’s Mountain Grill
Locals know the best patio seating in town is along the creek at Murphy’s Mountain Grill. Start with a craft cocktail such as the Juniper Rose or a bacon-laden take on a Bloody Mary dubbed the Porky Pig. All ingredients used in the drinks are top notch, and syrups get made fresh right there.
On the food side, the restaurant has become known for crispy chicken wings tossed in agua de fuego honey sauce. Pair an order with Citrus Grilled Chicken Plantain Nachos, which comes with pineapple mango salsa, plenty of cheese, and a sour cream drizzle spiced with passion fruit and serrano peppers, and other fun and innovative pub fare. Murphy’s also serves sandwiches, salads, and full entrees. 27906 Highway 74, Evergreen, murphysmountaingrill.com
The Lazy Butcher BBQ & Cowboy Lounge
Evergreen began with ranching from its founding, and that storyline is front and center at The Lazy Butcher Cowboy Lounge, located only a few minutes from downtown. Co-owners Nick Scaffidi, Scott McKenzie, and Evan Jeffries turned the small butchershop into a live music venue, wild game processing center, and a booming restaurant and bar.
Around the property you’ll find the stunning work of local rodeo photographer Michael Pintar and western-themed decorations showcased along the walls. Sit back and join the locals as they fill up on frozés, classic cocktails, or a dram of whiskey from the 50-plus list of bottles.
Take a look at the food menu too. Chef Tim Braden’s barbecue platters feature goodies such as Elote Corn Ribs, pork spare ribs, and Armadillo Eggs, a fun way of saying pepperjack-stuffed jalapeños encased in a housemade blend of beef and wrapped in bacon. Customers can also swing left at the entrance to buy choice cuts from the butcher shop. All the Angus beef is pasture-raised and grain-finished, and completely handled from birth to steak right at Lazy Acre Ranch in Otis, Colorado.30790 Stagecoach Blvd. Ste. 101, Evergreen, lazybutcher.com
Add In Some Live Music and Events
No matter the day or the genre, live music and the arts are a huge part of the culture of Evergreen all year long. Artists and creatives can be found at outside makers’ markets and independently-owned music venues like Cactus Jack’s (4651 Highway 73), which overlooks Evergreen Lake. Old school venues such as Little Bear (28705 Co-74) stack local lineups throughout the week with bands playing blues and rock. The Cowboy Lounge also hosts touring artists every weekend and maintains a country vibe. For those looking for jazz and big bands, make sure to get tickets to the Evergreen Jazz Festival.
Another whimsical event in Evergreen comes in the form of Downtown’s Dam Ducky Derby, the first weekend of August. During this celebration expect live music to pump up the crowds before thousands of numbered rubber ducks swim into Bear Creek Lake. For those wishing to enter, it’s $6 a duck ,or get your whole group competing with a $30 (and up) Quack Pack.
Take a Break in Nature at Big E Game Ranch
For those who need a break from crowds or loud music, cruise along Highway 72 up to Evergreen Memorial Park’s Big E Game Ranch, an animal sanctuary with baby deer, elk, yaks, and bison. It’s the only photo-ready space where you should try and get a picture near a wild animal. Enhance the trip with a guided educational tour, available for groups. Bonus, the ranch is free, all ages, and open to the public.26624 N. Turkey Creek Rd., Evergreen, evergreenmemorialpark.com
Elevate Dinner at Evoke1923
Chef Packer opened Evoke 1923 in October 2024, but the building housing it has a long history. Set in the 100-year old tea room from where the restaurant gets its name, Packer added his own signature to the place with a globally-inspired fine dining experience. It’s elegant and rustic, and the plates coming out of the kitchen don’t have an equal in the mountain town.
For example, the housemade gnocchi comes with matcha and dashi tonjiru broth. You may also find Maine oysters with pomegranate, Thai basil seeds and tobiko caviar, and housemade bread served with fresh butter and a seasonal spread. Likewise, the proteins during dinner incorporated eclectic flavors one shouldn’t pigeonhole into any one cuisine, which you can see and taste in the elk loin grilled with peppermint and surrounded by celery root pureé.
Equally the drinks menu showcases Packer’s dedication to quality and seasonality. Craft cocktails may run the gamut from the Black Thorn Sour with gin, elderflower, hibiscus, pineapple, and lemon; to something darker such as the Nutty Old Fashioned with local bourbon mixed with nuances of coffee, orange, spiced rum, and cracked pepper. There’s a solid zero-proof list too, and drinks change regularly. Don’t miss the wine list either, the descriptions alone will have any non-vino lover craving a glass.
Enjoy these modern drinks and dishes in a space with a lot of history and cabin-in-the-woods charm. In a way, Packer’s restaurants, especially Evoke 1923, showcase the best of Evergreen, from old to new and back again.27376 Spruce Ln, Evergreen, evoke1923.com
