Restaurant in Big Sky, United States
Accessible fine dining, serious Montana sourcing.
Cortina is Montage Big Sky's signature restaurant, serving American Contemporary cuisine with a strong Montana sourcing focus under Chef Drew Deckman. Easy to book relative to comparable hotel restaurants, with a well-designed room, alpine sunset views, and a menu anchored by wood-fired steaks and handmade pastas. A reliable choice for a special dinner in Big Sky, particularly if you are already staying at Montage.
Getting a table at Cortina is genuinely easy by Montana fine dining standards, which makes it one of the more accessible options at Montage Big Sky. Reservations are required, but booking difficulty here is low compared to the kind of planning required for destination restaurants in major cities. If you are already staying at Montage, the process is direct through the hotel. If you are visiting from elsewhere in Big Sky, book ahead rather than assuming availability, especially on weekend evenings during ski season.
The more relevant question is whether Cortina earns a spot on your itinerary. For a food-focused traveler spending time in Big Sky, the answer is yes, with some caveats around expectations. This is a hotel signature restaurant doing American Contemporary cuisine with a strong regional sourcing commitment, not a tasting-menu destination that requires months of planning. Understand that distinction and Cortina delivers well within its category.
The physical space is one of Cortina's clearest strengths. Warm-hued woods and soft gray leather set a tone that sits between alpine lodge comfort and something more considered, reinforced by dozens of contemporary chandeliers that create a layered, ambient light effect across the room. Large windows frame views of alpine sunsets in the evening, which is a genuine asset for timing your reservation. If the room conditions allow, arriving before dark to catch the transition is worth planning around. The design reference points, traditional alpine lodge meets rustic Italian country estate, come through in the material palette without feeling forced or themed.
Chef Drew Deckman leads the kitchen with a sourcing-first approach, drawing produce, meat, game, and fish from local Montana producers where possible. The menu is anchored by wood-fired steaks with sauce options that include foraged wild mushroom and star anise reduction, and handmade pastas such as mezzaluna and pappardelle. Small bites like citrus-marinated olives and whipped ricotta with locally sourced honey open the meal well. Vegetarians are not an afterthought here: blistered cherry tomato pappardelle and hearth-roasted seasonal vegetables appear as substantive options rather than concessions.
On the bar side, Cortina operates as a full-service hotel restaurant with a bar program in place, though detailed cocktail menu specifics are not publicly itemized. For a mountain resort setting at this price tier, expect a wine list and cocktail offering calibrated to the broader Montage standard rather than a specialist bar program. If cocktail depth is your primary driver for an evening out, cross-reference with our full Big Sky bars guide to identify standalone options. Cortina's bar is better positioned as a complement to dinner than as a destination in its own right.
Breakfast at Cortina runs as a buffet with steel-cut oatmeal, artisan pastries, and fresh fruit, which is a practical option if you are heading into a full day outdoors. It is not a reason to visit independently, but for hotel guests it functions well.
For food-oriented visitors to Big Sky, the comparison that matters most locally is Horn and Cantle at Lone Mountain Ranch, which offers a similarly Montana-grounded American menu in a ranch setting with its own distinct atmosphere. Cortina wins on room design and the Montage infrastructure around it; Horn and Cantle offers a more rustic, working-ranch feel that suits a different traveler profile. Neither is a wrong choice. Your preference for hotel-integrated luxury versus standalone ranch ambiance should drive the decision.
Cortina holds a 4.3 Google rating across 80 reviews, which is a useful baseline. For broader context on dining options in the area, see our full Big Sky restaurants guide.
Cortina is located at 995 Settlement Trail, Big Sky, MT 59716, within Montage Big Sky. Reservations are required. The restaurant offers both dinner service and a breakfast buffet. Amenities include a bar, valet and self-parking, gluten-free options, vegetarian options, and kid-friendly service. Business casual dress is the expectation. The venue is accessible for groups and accommodates dietary restrictions including gluten-free and vegetarian needs.
Quick reference: 995 Settlement Trail, Big Sky, MT — reservations required — business casual , breakfast buffet and dinner , 4.3/5 (80 reviews).
If you are benchmarking Cortina against broader American Contemporary dining, consider Cafe Mado in New York City and Crown Block in Dallas as reference points for the category. For farm-driven American dining with national recognition, Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Tarrytown and Single Thread Farm in Healdsburg represent the ceiling of what sourcing-led American restaurants can achieve. Cortina is not operating at that tier, but for its context, a mountain resort in Montana, the regional commitment is genuine and the execution is consistent.
Business casual is the stated dress code. In practice, this means smart mountain wear is appropriate: no ski boots or base layers at the table, but the dress expectations are relaxed enough that you do not need to pack formal attire for a trip to Big Sky primarily. Think neat trousers or chinos, a collared shirt, or a smart dress. The room's design signals a level of care that rewards dressing accordingly.
Cortina works for solo diners without much friction. As a hotel restaurant in Big Sky with a bar area and full dinner service, solo visitors are a normal part of the customer mix, particularly for travelers staying at Montage. Sitting at the bar is a reasonable option if you want conversation or a shorter commitment. For solo diners who prioritize counter dining and a chef-driven experience, the format here is a full-service dining room rather than an interactive counter, so set expectations accordingly.
Yes. Cortina is described as kid-friendly and has the infrastructure of a full hotel restaurant, which means it can handle groups of varying sizes. For larger private groups or celebrations, contact Montage Big Sky directly to discuss options, as hotel restaurants at this level typically have private dining arrangements available even if not publicly advertised. The address is 995 Settlement Trail, Big Sky, MT 59716.
Horn and Cantle at Lone Mountain Ranch is the most direct local comparison: American, Montana-sourced, and dinner-focused with a distinct ranch atmosphere. Choose Cortina if the Montage hotel environment and the room's design register matter to you. Choose Horn and Cantle if you want a more rustic, less hotel-integrated setting. For the broader category at a national level, Lazy Bear in San Francisco and Addison in San Diego show what progressive American dining looks like at a higher tier of ambition, though neither is a direct comparison given the context.
Yes, with the right framing. The room is designed to feel considered, the alpine sunset views through large windows are a genuine asset for an evening celebration, and the service level at a Montage property sets a reliable floor. This is not a tasting-menu experience like Alinea in Chicago or The French Laundry in Napa, where the format is built around the occasion. Cortina is better suited to anniversaries, birthday dinners, or celebratory evenings where ambiance and quality food matter more than a multi-course theatrical format.
Yes. Gluten-free and vegetarian options are explicitly part of the menu offering. The vegetarian selection is substantive rather than token, with dishes like blistered cherry tomato pappardelle and hearth-roasted seasonal vegetables available as main options. For specific allergen needs beyond gluten-free, contact Montage Big Sky directly before your visit to confirm current menu accommodations, as kitchen capabilities can vary by service and season.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cortina | American Contemporary | Easy | |
| Le Bernardin | French, Seafood | $$$$ | Unknown |
| Atomix | Modern Korean, Korean | $$$$ | Unknown |
| Lazy Bear | Progressive American, Contemporary | $$$$ | Unknown |
| Alinea | Progressive American, Creative | $$$$ | Unknown |
| Atelier Crenn | Modern French, Contemporary | $$$$ | Unknown |
Comparing your options in Big Sky for this tier.
Business casual is the stated dress expectation at Cortina. Given the setting inside Montage Big Sky, that means neat mountain wear is fine — clean boots and a collared shirt will read appropriately. Avoid ski gear or overly casual attire at dinner, though breakfast runs more relaxed.
Solo diners are accommodated, and the bar seating option makes a single cover feel less awkward than at many resort restaurants. Chef Drew Deckman's sourcing-focused menu is structured around small bites and shared-format starters, which works well when ordering across two or three courses alone.
Cortina handles groups reasonably well for a resort signature restaurant — reservations are required, so coordinate ahead. The menu includes enough range across meat, pasta, and vegetarian options that mixed groups should find it workable. For a private-room experience, contact Montage Big Sky directly, as the venue data does not confirm dedicated private dining space.
Horn and Cantle at Lone Mountain Ranch is the most direct local comparison: similar Montana sourcing focus, slightly more rustic setting. For something less formal within the Big Sky area, options narrow considerably, which is part of what makes Cortina easy to justify if you are already staying at Montage.
Yes, with caveats. The room — warm wood, soft leather, chandelier lighting, and alpine sunset views through large windows — does most of the heavy lifting for a celebratory dinner. Chef Drew Deckman's wood-fired steaks and handmade pastas give the meal genuine substance. Reservations are required, so book ahead rather than assuming walk-in availability.
Cortina explicitly offers gluten-free and vegetarian options, confirmed by the venue's own amenity list. Vegetarians have a dedicated set of choices including blistered cherry tomato pappardelle and hearth-roasted seasonal vegetables. If you have specific allergen needs beyond gluten, contact Montage Big Sky directly before booking.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
