Chef and owner Eliza H.S. Gavin, a former Top Chef competitor, continues to elevate Telluride’s dining scene with her modern American bistro, a local favorite that should not be missed. Gavin has honed her skills in New Orleans, Napa Valley, and Paris and today displays her talents in dishes like beer-braised pork belly with corn fritters, smoked beets, green tomato jam and pecan crumble. Set in a renovated Victorian-era home, 221 South Oak has a quaint, welcoming vibe with a variety of seating including communal tables, cozy spots for two and outdoor patio seating in the summer. The extensive wine list pairs well with the vegetarian and seasonal menus.

Perched at the gondola stop 10,551 feet up, between Mountain Village and Telluride, Allred’s capitalizes on its position with enormous windows that frame the snow-capped mountains and rustic stone walls; a timbered ceiling adds to the alpine atmosphere. Creative American dishes include elk short loin and four cuts of Colorado steaks. It is also perfect for sunset cocktails on your way down to Telluride or for stargazing over coffee on your way back up. The 30-person private dining room is ideal for celebrations.

Most skiers headed to the top of Gold Hill are bound for Revelation Bowl, but my favorite reason to ride up the Gold Hill lift is the pesto grilled cheese at Alpino Vino, which, on sunny spring afternoons, can be eaten al fresco on the slopeside wine bar’s shearling-lined banquettes.

This is the oldest café in Telluride, having been serving fresh, local, mostly homemade wraps, pastries, sandwiches and pastas, as well as local beer from Smugglers Brewpub, for more than thirty years. You can eat in or order out, and many customers opt to pack up the goodies for picnics on the slopes or by the river. The café will deliver throughout Telluride and Mountain Village after 5pm.

Cosmopolitan, or Cosmo, as it is known locally, is in the recently renovated Hotel Columbia, near the gondola. The menu is Asian-influenced and meat-heavy, with starters like crispy wild salmon nori roll and boneless beef short ribs and inventive entrées such as braised Colorado lamb and crab-stuffed chicken breast. The dining room is stylish but unpretentious, with a huge copper topped wood bar; the downstairs wine cellar can be hired for private dinners of up to thirty-two guests.

You cannot visit Telluride without stopping for a drink in the 118-year-old Historic Bar, one of the oldest in the West. Located in the New Sheridan Hotel, it retains many of its original features and has a full dinner menu. Ask locals about upcoming live music performances and settle in for the evening.

La Cocina de Luz is easygoing and democratic, much like Telluride itself. After ordering at the counter, patrons avail themselves of the DIY salsa cart while waiting for authentic tamales, flautas and tostadas to appear. The colorful southwestern fare is prepared with regionally-sourced ingredients, and the restaurant is home to the only juice bar in town, making it possible to wash down one’s chilaquiles with a shot of wheatgrass. Ideal for a hearty breakfast or a low-key night, La Cocina is a crowd-pleaser and a Telluride institution.

La Marmotte, located in an old ice house just one block from the gondola, is frequented by both locals and tourists. With its wood-paneled walls, it is the sort of place to drink too much red wine, chosen from the extensive wine list, with old friends. Fine French cuisine is served a la carte or with a tasting menu. Reservations are essential, especially during the summer festivals and winter holidays.

Located in the New Sheridan Hotel, the Chop House was transformed as part of the hotel’s recent $7 million renovation and is one of the hottest restaurants in town. The colorful brocade banquettes, a low-hanging crystal chandelier and leather-backed chairs recall the history of the setting while still managing to feel modern and romantic. The highlight of the menu is, of course, the steak, which is cooked in a custom-made 1,800-degree broiler and served with a choice of four sauces. For starters, the tuna tartare and the shitake mushroom and goat cheese ravioli are highly recommended.

This beautiful Italian restaurant is a local haunt, serving family recipes from all over Italy prepared in an open kitchen. The exposed stone and brick walls, fireplace, weathered furniture and hanging planters create a casual atmosphere for savoring dishes such as carpaccio di manzo and penne umma umma, which can also be enjoyed on the patio with a bottle of wine from the award-winning cellar.

This cozy Thai spot on the west side of town is packed every night, mostly with locals and insiders who know that the tom kha soup and fragrant curries are worth venturing a few blocks beyond Main Street. Unlike most of Telluride’s eateries, Siam doesn’t take reservations, and the restaurant’s front stoop is often crowded with prospective diners huddling hopefully in the snow; however, if you remember to call ahead in the early evening with your party size and desired ETA, the maître d’ will call you when your table is ready.

Opened in 2011 by two friends with a mutual enthusiasm for Telluride and great beer, TBC was soon producing award-winning beers enriched by the Rocky Mountain snowmelt. At their tasting room, situated just off the road linking downtown Telluride and Mountain Village, visitors can sample local favorites like Bridal Veil Rye Pale Ale and Ski-in-Ski-Stout.

At this sunny eat-in bakery on the east side of town, daily specials are announced on a row of wooden cutting boards mounted above the register, and countertops are piled high with just-out-of-the-oven muffins, cookies and croissants. A perfect spot for early birds craving a hearty breakfast before the chairlifts open at 9:00, the café stays busy throughout the day fueling regulars with espresso and wholesome, made-from-scratch comfort food. Every Sunday, the standout brunch menu promises a fresh batch of difficult decisions; gluten-free banana chocolate chip pancakes or house-smoked Idaho trout over poached eggs in warm bacon vinaigrette?