Pilar Yacht Club is a quaint family owned restaraunt and tourist shop located right by the Rio Grande outfitter meeting sites. The PYC (as it is affectionately known) provides ample parking, a lunch counter, and a retail area stocked with those last minute essentials for clients embarking on Rio Grande Raft trips.  Equally, the PYC serves fisherman and picnicing families who are desiring to spend a day by the river.  Pick up drinks and snacks, a meal, bait, sunscreen, inner tubes, whatever you need to complete your day!

     Location: The Pilar Yacht Club is easily spotted right on  highway 68 between Espanola and Taos, mile marker 28(14 miles south of Taos).  It is within walking proximity of the Taos rafting outfitter meeting sites at the Bureau of Land Managements Visitor Center and is a meeting site itself for Taos' own Far Flung Adventures. Enjoy a memorable raft ride down the rapids of the Rio Grande or float and along the river in the peaceful Orilla Verde recreation area!!

     Visitors can walk or drive to viewing sites of the Bureau of Land Management Visitor Center the Rio Grande River, and the Orilla Verde Recreation Area.  Nearby are a network of hiking trails of varying difficulty.  The road along the river is an opportune route for scenic biking. A river trail, Sendo del Medio, has also been put in for safe walking with views of the Rio Grande.  For those enjoying seeing the scenery on horseback, a riding stables is located within one mile.

     Space: Inside, the PYC features a retail area, equipment rental, espresso coffee station, breakfast and lunch counter, and raft trip check in and reservations.  The friendly staff will help you select the items you need or help you make a reservation to have a memorable day by the legendary Rio Grande. Our reservation services include rafting and horseback riding trips. Outside, we have a front porch dining area and a quieter backyard dining patio.  Both areas are shaded and a variety of seating is available. Southern Exposure, the river photographer, also maintains an office at our site.

     Menu:  We feature a blend of traditional New Mexican and American foods for breakfast and lunch.  Select from classics such as burgers with up to seven toppings, grilled chicken breast sandwiches, or Bar BQ pulled pork to spicier southwestern fare, such as burritos or tamales with our homemade red or green chile. A variety of sides and children's entrees are available.  Finish your meal with a delicous smoothee, baked goods  or an ice cream novelty.  

     Our facility is able to accomodate groups up to thirty for breakast or lunch.  To ensure the most efficient service, it is best for group leaders to call ahead for menu information and timing.  We provide sit-down dinners in the evenings by reservation only.  These can be planned with a more elaborate menu based on the needs of the group involved.  Meals can be cooked on the outdoor grill or prepared for quick service in our kitchen. Again, please call ahead to make arrangements so we can serve you best..

     For those on the go, we stock a large variety of grab 'n go snacks from healthful fruit and nut mixes or organic dark chocolate to your conventional chips and candy.  A large freezer of ice cream and frozen fruit novelties will satisfy any palette.  In the afternoons we feature self serve ice cream sundaes with six toppings. As a prepared quick snack, we offer smoothies with a  coffee, mocha or fruit theme to energize you.

Hours Open: 8:00AM- 6:00PM

Seasons Open: Spring-Fall

Price Style for this Establishment: Family friendly: lunch items range from $5-10.

     Pilar Yacht Club has been owned and operated by Rico Salazar, Eva Behrens and their three children for the past fourteen years.  We happily welcome tourists, locals, adventurers and vacationing families to visit, shop and share a meal at our store.  This site has been a business in the hands of local families since the 1960's.  It has a history of food service from early on. At one time it was a bar/dance hall, and at another, a vegetarian eatery.  The business on this corner has welcomed locals, travelers, and visitors to the river for many years and continues to operate in the spirit of service to those who have arrived in Pilar to enjoy the natural beauty..Pilar Yacht Club is also a sponsor of the annual Pilar Studio Tour, which features local artists displaying their work in their homes or studios (September).

     The Pilar Yacht club recycles paper, plastic, glass and cans.  Easily accessible containers are available near both dining areas for customers to recycle their beverage containers.  We also use fluorescent lighting wherever possible.  To keep our native flowers and shrubs watered, we have large water collection barrels and cylinders under our gutters.  Furthermore, all water used in the facility irrigates an orchard of apple trees.  

     We ask that pets be leashed for the safety and comfort of all of our customers.  Pets that do not interact well with other animals or humans need to be confined to their owners vehicles.  Many sites for walking pets are available nearby in the Orilla Verde Recreation Area.