10 Fantastic Places to Eat and Drink in Telluride, Plus Its Signature Drink!
I had not heard of Telluride, Colorado, until 2015, when I had two friends who moved to this enchanted town. At first, I visited once a year if I was lucky, and once the pandemic hit, that changed to 2- 3 times a year.
You can either fly into Telluride or Montrose. I typically land in Montrose, and my friend picks me up. I highly recommend driving through the San Juan Mountains from Montrose to Telluride.
I am still in awe of how rugged and majestic these mountains are. Because I’ve visited Telluride so much and fallen in love with Colorado, I have traveled, hiked, and camped throughout the state. There are some fantastic views, and people think Aspen is stunning, but Aspen has nothing on Telluride.
The San Juans span the Continental divide and stretch 12,000 miles. These mountains were formed by two continental plates pressing against each other, creating jagged volcanic summits. If you love to climb 14ers, there are thirteen 14ers in these regions. If you are wondering what 14ers are, 14ers are mountains at least 14 thousand feet above sea level. There are 58 mountains in Colorado, and many people love the challenge of climbing each mountain.
In this post, I will discuss places to eat and drink. This post will only cover the places I have been to and loved in Telluride.
One thing to note: they have a free public bus called The Galloping Goose that loops around every 20 minutes if you want to avoid walking the town. But the town is only two miles long, and all the places I will break down are less than a 20-minute walk.
Must-Try Telluride Restaurants
Telluride has several different places to eat worth looking into at a wide range of prices, ensuring there’s something for everyone.
1. Siam
Hands down, this is the best Thai place! They have panang, massaman, mango, red banana, and yellow and green curries, which can be gluten-free. Meals come with the options of vegetables, organic tofu, chicken or pork, beef, scallops or shrimp, or duck.
If curry isn't your jam, they also have stir fry and noodles. I can only speak about the curry, though. I usually get either red or yellow curry with scallops.
You can dine in or take out. If you are in Telluride in the summer, one of my favorite things is to do take-out and sit on the river trail.
Prices range from $10 to $41
2. Rustico
If you are looking for Italian food, this is for you! They have the best fireplace pizza and, in my opinion, the best flatliners because they make fresh expresso shots for each drink. I will go into more about flatliners below.
Price Range: $18.50 to $110
3. New Sheridan Chop House
If you are a steak lover, you’ll want to eat here. They have the best steaks in Telluride, and I love their French onion soup and the crispy ahi. If you are looking for cocktails, their flatliners and the Hugo are the best, and you can read more about those drinks below.
They serve breakfast, lunch/brunch, dinner, and late-night drinks. They are also vegetarian-friendly and have vegan and gluten-free options.
Price Range: $50 - $100
4. Baked in Telluride
My favorite place to get some yummy breakfast at a reasonable price! This restaurant is a bakery, casual dining experience, and pizzeria. You really can't go wrong with this place. I love their spinach and feta or their ham and cheese croissant. If you are looking for a sweet treat, their walnut banana bread and their chocolate chip banana bread are to die for!
Price Range $2.50-$35
Bars, Breweries, and a Distillery You Won’t Want to Miss
This next portion of our list centers on places to drink in Telluride that I’ve enjoyed. These are great places to unwind after an exciting day in the mountains.
5. Telluride Brewery
If you are like me and love to try local beers everywhere you go, I recommend this place. They have two locations, one in Lawson Hill and one in Mountain Village. If you don't have a car, you can take the free bus, snowshoe, or walk to Lawson Hill, which we did, and take the bus back. Or you can take the free Gondola to Mountain Village.
Personally, I love their Ski In Ski Stout, Winter Ale, and Tempter IPA.
If you are like me and love the really cool architecture of exposed stone walls with beautiful wood and metal work while seated on a leather couch, drinking and eating food, this place is for you. Built in 1892 from stone and metal, the Stronghouse remains the last surviving intact building in Telluride’s historic Four Corners corridor. After an. extensive restoration and renovation, reopening as a brew pub in 2020. The authentic 1880s Brunswick bar is 20 ft. of solid mahogany. The brass cash register dates from 1909. On either side of the bar, a large manual lift and oversize scale remain in place, as they did a century ago.
Their motto is "Let's Beer." It’s the perfect place to grab lunch or dinner, especially after a day of skiing or having another adventure! Their roasted beet hummus and hot, salted bavarian pretzels with beer cheese sauce are perfect! I also recommend their Wrong Way IPA!
7. Smugglers Brew Pub
If you don't want to get all dressed up but still want a nice meal, not only do they have an array of different beer selections and a full bar, but they also serve delicious hot meals. I love their mushroom toast and elk rigatoni Bolognese!
8. Old Bar
This place is next to the New Sheridan Chop House, and it still looks like it did when it opened in 1895. The bar carved with matching mahogany wall paneling, spectacular lead glass divider panels, and ornate light fixtures are among the original adornments. This is the perfect bar to hang out and meet locals over a pool game and some drinks after a day in the mountains!
9. Last Dollar Saloon (AKA The Buck)
If you are looking for more of a chill bar where you can hang out with friends by a fireplace, play darts, and drink a couple of beers from their 50+ different beers, you’ve found it! Come and enjoy and feel like a local! And if you aren't a beer drinker, they have you covered with cocktails. I love this place because of its relaxing vibe!
10. Telluride Distillery
Stronghouse and the Telluride Distillery are, by far, my two favorite places to sit, read, do work, and hang out, and that's because of their comfy couches and the vibe they have. Here at the distillery, you can try their vodka, gin, whiskey, agave, and peppermint schnapps called a Chairlift. You can also get Telluride's signature drink, the Flatliner. This place is in Mountain Village, where you can stop after hanging out at Telluride Brewery.
The vibe is like an airy mountain lodge with its big oversized couches, some tables, a pool table, and a tv with a mounted deer head. I just love how this place makes me feel at home.
At Long Last, Telluride’s Signature Drink!
Be sure not to leave Telluride without first trying its signature drink, the Flatliner!
The Flatliner
Okay…I have mentioned this drink many times in the post, but finally, I will tell you about my favorite drink of all time, the one and only the Flatliner. It's a twist on the espresso martini—Telluride Vodka, Baileys, Kahlua, and cold espresso (or cold brew). You can enjoy this drink almost anywhere since it's the town's signature drink, but the top three places I recommended are Rustico, New Sheridan, and the Telluride Distillery.
If you are feeling even more experimental, you can order this at New Sheridan with my other favorite drink, the Hugo! It contains gin, St Germain, lemon juice, and sparkling wine. Just imagine it: you can start your meal with a Hugo and end with a Flatliner for your dessert!
When you visit this enchanted town, you should check out the local places I’ve recommended here. You can't go wrong with any of them, and they’ll make an already great mountain experience even better!