Southwest Colorado Restaurants

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.

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  • 1. 636 Main Ave

    $$$

    Locals go wild for the creative American cuisine with an Asian flair here, served in the building's intimate dining space. Top options include the black-sesame seared rare tuna with baby bok choy or the garlic rib eye with sweet potato gnocchi.

    636 Main Ave., Durango, Colorado, 81301, USA
    970-385–1810

    Known For

    • Large, pretty patio out back
    • Worth-it desserts
    • Pistachio-crusted grouper with vanilla-rum butter

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch
  • 2. Chimayo Stone Fired Kitchen

    $$$

    The former chef for Michael Andretti's racing team runs this trendy bistro, in which every dish is cooked in one of two stone-fired ovens. The house specialty is artisanal pizza (try the four-mushroom variety and add the house fennel sausage), although pizza is only a small part of the menu. Most dishes have a Southwestern touch. Housed in a century-old building, Chimayo Stone Fired Kitchen blends historic elements like restored tin ceilings and the original hardwood floor with classy, contemporary decor.

    862 Main Ave., Durango, Colorado, 81301, USA
    970-259–2749

    Known For

    • Delectable cornbread and focaccia bread
    • Specialty cocktails
    • Classy decor

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch
  • 3. East by Southwest

    $$$

    Asian food gets a bit of a Latin treatment in this inviting space. The menu has a strong Japanese bent, with sushi and sashimi, tempura, beef, and other traditional dishes elegantly presented and layered with complementary, often Southwest-inspired flavors.

    160 E. College Dr., Durango, Colorado, 81301, USA
    970-247–5533

    Known For

    • Vegan and vegetarian options
    • Bento boxes and poke bowls for lunch
    • Sake, beer, wine, and tea lists

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch Sun.
  • 4. Garlic Mike's

    $$$

    The menu at this unpretentious Italian spot is surprisingly rich and complex, featuring traditional favorites, as well as surprises like the scrumptious garlic-roasted prime rib. The atmosphere is especially delightful in summer, when you can dine on the outdoor patio overlooking the Gunnison River and enjoy an after-dinner libation at the River Bar. Don't miss the popular Float & Dine package ($95 per person), which includes a mellow but scenic predinner raft trip from Three Rivers.

    2674 Rte. 135, Gunnison, Colorado, 81230, USA
    970-641–2493

    Known For

    • Live music on Friday nights in summer
    • Float & Dine predinner raft trip
    • Riverside patio

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch
  • 5. The Outlaw Restaurant

    $$$

    Live ragtime piano music welcomes you most nights to this saloon-style eatery, specializing in steak, seafood, and pasta. Portions are generous and loaded with extras (each entrée comes with rice or potato, vegetables, and bread).

    610 Main St., Ouray, Colorado, 81427, USA
    970-325–4366

    Known For

    • Great prime rib
    • Homemade salad dressings
    • John Wayne's hat, which he left here in 1968

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch Mon. and Tues.
  • Recommended Fodor’s Video

  • 6. The Slogar

    $$$

    In a lovingly renovated Victorian tavern awash in handmade lace and stained glass, this restaurant is just plain cozy. A menu with a comfort-food bent spotlights family-style options, such as skillet-fried chicken, rib-eye steak, and ribs, paired with sides like fresh biscuits, creamy mashed potatoes, gumbo, and mac and cheese. Southern-style offerings (po'boys, chicken and waffles) abound, while the occasional international entrée (banh mi, anyone?) dots the menu. A Creole-style weekend brunch often includes live music.

    517 2nd St., Crested Butte, Colorado, 81224, USA
    970-349–5765

    Known For

    • Family-style comfort food
    • Creole Sunday brunch
    • Historic building

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed mid-Oct.–Nov., mid-Apr.–mid-May, Sun., and Mon. No lunch

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