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With dining options ranging from creative international cuisine in the resort towns of Telluride, Crested Butte, and Durango to no-frills American fare in down-home communities like Montrose and Creede, no one has any excuse to visit a chain restaurant here. The leading chefs are tapping into the region’s local bounty, so you can find innovative recipes for ranch-raised game, lamb, and trout. Many serve only locally raised, grass-fed meats. Olathe sweet corn is a delicacy enjoyed across the state (and found in grocery stores and roadside stands as well as restaurants). Seasonal produce is highlighted on the best menus.
Unless you're planning some serious hiking, the town-to-mountain gondola is the only way to reach this high-end, sky-high eatery with a stone-walled dining room and panoramic windows. Locally inspired fare such as elk, bison, and lamb feature prominently on the menu. Even if your wallet isn't ready for a full-dinner splurge, you owe it to your eyes to soak in the views over a drink and truffle fries in the bar.
It may be housed in one of Telluride's oldest buildings, but La Marmotte provides one of the city's most modern dining experiences, with menu offerings that expertly intertwine French and local influences. The candlelight-and-white-tablecloth atmosphere and simple, contemporary decor is, like the cuisine, sophisticated without being snooty.
Durango is a meat-and-potatoes kind of town, and the rustic Ore House is a splurge-worthy place to indulge (just ask the locals). The steaks are fantastic, and there are plenty of expertly prepared seafood and vegetarian selections as well.
"Soup's on" (get it?) occupies two intimate rooms in a historic cabin tucked away in an alley and dishes up five courses of nouveau American cuisine with a strong French accent. Organic herbs grown on the premises accent local produce, and everything, including soups, stocks, and sauces, is made from scratch.
Housed in a beautifully restored Victorian, this classy bistro entices you to linger with its colorful artwork, two lovely garden patios, and scrumptious meals. The dinner menu changes frequently but always includes dishes made with locally sourced fish (like Rocky Mountain trout or Colorado striped bass) and meat (elk, lamb, or bison). The restaurant also offers fun cooking classes every week.
The trendy Cosmopolitan lures guests with starters like sushi rolls and lobster corn dogs and keeps them here for some of Telluride's finest dining. Both surf and turf are expertly prepared and presented, and the wine selection is widely acclaimed. Fresh sustainable seafood is flown in regularly, which is obvious in dishes such as the seafood-loaded fish stew and the barbecued salmon. "Turf" options include ultratender Colorado braised lamb, Wagyu beef, and Colorado Angus center-cut filet. Locals rave about the bread, and an exhaustive wine list means there's a proper pairing no matter which dish you choose. Finish with the New Orleans–style beignets with a cappuccino for dessert, cheekily listed as "coffee and donuts" on the menu.
This upscale steak house is arguably Telluride's best. Here you can choose your meat (sirloin, filet mignon, and succulent bison rib eye are among the choices), then your topping (think caramelized onions, blue cheese, or glazed wild mushrooms), and then your sauce (anything from béarnaise to chimichurri).
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