Rating overall
7/10
Town
A long-overdue multimillion-dollar redevelopment has improved the look of Keystone Village, but it's still the same cluster of t-shirt shops, overpriced restaurants and cheesy bars that it has been since the 1970s. There are lots of decent places to eat and drink but nothing much outstanding, and the village is pretty quiet after dark, save for the nightskiers. There's tubing and ice skating and even nighttime snowshoe tours for those with energy after a day on the slopes, discounts are available to those who stay in Keystone-owned properties.
Main village
Photo: Steve, WSG
Happy hour can be lucrative at Dos Locos, which offers decent margaritas and piles of tortilla chips and salsa, or the Kickapoo for hearty soups and burgers as well as some Colorado-brewed beer.
Locals head to Silverthorne, Dillon and Frisco for cheaper eats and tasty beer brewed onsite at places like the Dillon Dam Brewery (in Dillon) and the Backcountry Brewery (in Frisco). Another good spot is the Great Northern Tavern, or try one of the outposts of Fiesta Jalisco for decent and not-expensive Tex-Mex.
Food options
If you're after some good pub grub head to the Great Northern Tavern for a good steak and a handcrafted microbrew. Check out Piasano's for some great Italian and Summit Seafood for 'guess what' (recommending the Lobster and Steak combo for those with an appetite). Nothing really on the fast food end until you get closer to the town of Dillon.
Accommodation
A range of accommodation is available to suit all sized wallets, although not too much on the budget end. Head to the local towns of Silverthorne and Frisco for some cheap backpacker options.
Nightlife
Party people will have a good variety of choice including some local haunts like Dos Locos, The Goat, Great Northern Tavern and Greenlight. For you early starters Dos Locos is great during happy hour with good margaritas and some free munchies too. Across the road The Goat is a bit of an underground bar often with some good live bands. Greenlight is Keystone's only nightclub, open usually till 2am 7 days a week; if you want some cheezy tunes this is for you.