The Verdict
Winona's sits at 617 Lincoln Avenue in the centre of downtown Steamboat Springs, a small breakfast-and-lunch room with a bakery counter and a handful of outside tables. Owners Scott and Kristy Fox have run it for years — Fox marked a decade at the helm in 2017 — and went on to open the nearby Freshies (Steamboat Pilot).
The signature is the cinnamon roll, baked the size of a salad plate and finished with cream-cheese frosting and sunflower seeds; the rolls earned national write-ups in Bon Appétit and Gourmet. The rest of the menu is honest breakfast and brunch — the Californian eggs Benedict, with avocado, tomato and sprouts, runs about $16.80, and the cinnamon roll itself is around $7.80 (online menu).
This is a casual mountain-town institution, not a white-tablecloth dining room. Expect a wait on weekends and ski mornings, counter service energy and generous plates — the kind of place locals send visitors before a day on the hill.
Why It Works for a Casual Brunch
Winona's is the default Steamboat breakfast: central, friendly and famous for one thing it does very well. Arrive early on a powder day, split a cinnamon roll for the table, and you have the local rite of passage before the slopes.
Who It's Not For
Not for a quiet, reservations-only dinner or a fine-dining occasion — Winona's is a daytime breakfast-and-lunch spot, it does not take bookings, and weekend waits are real. Skip it if you want table service with wine pairings; for that, Steamboat's evening rooms are the better call.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Winona's known for?
Winona's is known for its cinnamon rolls — baked the size of a salad plate and finished with cream-cheese frosting and sunflower seeds. The rolls earned national write-ups in Bon Appétit and Gourmet, and they remain the reason most first-time visitors come through the door on Lincoln Avenue.
How much does breakfast cost at Winona's?
Winona's is a casual breakfast-and-bakery spot in the $$ range. A cinnamon roll runs about $7.80, and a plated breakfast such as the Californian eggs Benedict — poached eggs, avocado, tomato and sprouts with home fries — is around $16.80, with most breakfast and brunch plates landing in the mid-teens.
Who owns Winona's in Steamboat Springs?
Winona's is owned and run by Scott and Kristy Fox, who have operated the downtown breakfast-and-bakery institution for years and marked a decade at the helm in 2017. The Foxes later opened the nearby Freshies, another Steamboat breakfast-and-lunch spot.
Where is Winona's and does it take reservations?
Winona's is at 617 Lincoln Avenue in downtown Steamboat Springs. It is a walk-in breakfast and lunch spot that does not take reservations, so expect a wait on weekends and ski mornings — arriving early is the surest way to beat the line.
Also in Steamboat Springs
See the full Steamboat Springs guide, the Foxes' sister spot Freshies, and evening rooms such as Aurum Food & Wine and Cafe Diva. For more, browse our Solo Dining guide.