Menu & Pricing
🥚 Benedicts
• Dragon's Egg Benedict - ~$16 (on green chile pancakes)
• Irish Benedict - ~$16 (corned beef)
• Smoked Salmon Benedict - ~$18
• Country Benedict - ~$15
• Twin Sisters Benedict - ~$16
🍳 Breakfast Combos (w/ hash browns or fruit)
• American Breakfast - ~$13 (eggs, bacon/sausage, toast)
• Colorado Breakfast - ~$14 (eggs, green chile, hash browns)
• Rocky Mountain Trout & Eggs - ~$18
• Jackson Biscuits & Gravy - ~$14
• Cowboy Breakfast - ~$20 (steak, eggs, potatoes)
• Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs - ~$17
🥞 Pancakes, Waffles & French Toast
• Cinnamon Roll French Toast - ~$14
• Banana Bread French Toast - ~$14
• Storm Peak Waffle - ~$12
• Gluten-Free Pancakes - ~$13
What Makes Notchtop Special
Notchtop is the locals' breakfast spot in Estes Park. The on-site bakery makes all the difference - fresh bread without preservatives, scratch-made biscuits, warm cinnamon rolls that people dream about between visits. Local and organic ingredients where possible. Non-GMO. This isn't a chain - it's a proper scratch bakery that happens to serve a full breakfast menu.
The location in Stanley Village means free parking and mountain views. The patio overlooks Longs Peak and The Stanley Hotel. Inside, exposed wood creates a cozy mountain cabin atmosphere. It fills up fast on weekends - arrive before 8am or expect a 20-30 minute wait.
Unlike downtown breakfast spots like The Egg of Estes, Notchtop offers packed sandwiches you can take into Rocky Mountain National Park. Fuel up, grab lunch to go, and you're set for a full day of hiking.
What to Order (Signature Dishes)
Dragon's Egg Benedict (~$16) - The signature dish. Poached eggs on green chile pancakes instead of English muffins, topped with hollandaise. The green chile adds kick. This is what regulars order.
Rocky Mountain Trout & Eggs (~$18) - Local trout with eggs and hash browns. Cooked properly without the muddy flavor that plagues poorly-handled fish. A Colorado classic done right.
Cinnamon Roll (~$5) - Baked fresh daily, soft, warm, and generously sized. Worth the trip alone. Pair with coffee for a quick pre-hike breakfast.
Smoked Salmon Benedict (~$18) - Premium option with house-smoked salmon. The hollandaise is the real deal. Consistently excellent.
Caveman Hash (~$16) - Hearty mountain breakfast with meat, potatoes, eggs. Fills you up for a full day of hiking. The potatoes are perfectly seasoned with rosemary.
💡 Pro Tip: Arrive right at 7am opening to avoid waits. By 9:30am on weekends, there's a line and parking fills up. Order a packed sandwich for your RMNP hike before you leave.
The Honest Take
At 4.6 stars from 2,529+ reviews, Notchtop delivers consistent quality breakfast with fresh-baked everything. The food is excellent, the service is friendly and fast, and the atmosphere is cozy without being cramped.
The wait is real. On weekends after 9am, expect 20-30 minutes. The entry area is tight - no comfortable waiting space. Some seasonal specials can miss (the crab cakes and ricotta crepes have gotten mixed reviews). Stick to the classics: benedicts, hash, trout, and anything from the bakery. The bacon is excellent; the house sausage can be too fatty for some tastes.
Who It's For (And Who It's Not For)
Best for: Early risers wanting pre-hike fuel (opens 7am), families needing gluten-free options, vegans/vegetarians with dietary needs, boozy brunch seekers, and anyone who appreciates scratch-baked goods.
Skip if: You can't arrive early on weekends (the wait gets long) or need quick counter service without sitting down.
Practical Information
- 📍Location: Stanley Village shopping center, 459 E Wonderview Ave (near Safeway)
- ⏰Hours: Daily 7am-3pm (breakfast served all day)
- 🚗Parking: Free lot at Stanley Village - plenty of spaces
- 👶Families: Kid-friendly with crayons, high chairs available
- 🌿Dietary: Extensive GF menu (pancakes, waffles, toast); vegan options; dairy alternatives (oat, almond, soy)
- 🥪To-Go: Packed sandwiches available for RMNP hikes
- 🍹Booze: Full brunch cocktail menu (mimosas, bloody marys, boozy lattes)
💡 Money Hack: The cinnamon roll + coffee combo is under $10 and fills you up for a morning hike. Real maple syrup is a $2.49 upcharge - the regular syrup works fine. GF options have a small upcharge (~$1).