Photo Credit: Flickr/Rob Lee
One of Colorado’s chicest mountain towns is a year-round destination

Lunch: In warmer months, opt to sit on the patio at Rustico Ristorante, which sits right on Colorado Avenue, offering delicious Italian cuisine with a side of people-watching. Beef carpaccio, the bright and spicy penne all’arrabbiata, and the daily fresh fish are among the restaurant’s best dishes and the wine cellar is stocked full of Italian wines, of which you should heartily partake. And even in snowy months, when the patio would be less than ideal, the inside is warm, familiar, and goes well with the homemade Bolognese and a bold red wine.

Dinner: There are two ways to do dinner in Telluride. Spring for the classic Telluride institution, La Marmotte, or hunt down one of the town’s smaller eateries, Pescado, on a small side street, for seafood and a raw bar.
La Marmotte sits in a 125-year-old building that was once an icehouse. Serving authentic bistro food for more than 20 years, the restaurant is warm and intimate with dishes like coq au vin, Colorado rack of lamb, and lemon cheesecake with pistachio crème anglaise. The rustic interior is the perfect complement to the cuisine and the wine list is a mix of French and American. Then, Pescado is a raw bar accessible only through it’s “parent” restaurant, The Llama, or via a side door on the breezeway. A mix of creative and classic sushi rolls, fresh Japanese salads, and a full raw bar are on offer with a personable and casual feel.

Sleep: To suggest that you’d only want to sleep at Hotel Madeline, high up in Mountain Village, is entirely unfair. You’ll have to steel yourself away for meals at other Telluride destinations. The accommodations are plush, the spa is serene, and the vistas are unparalleled. Stop into M’s and M Bar during your stay for acclaimed farm-to-table cuisine. Whether it's breakfast or après-ski, Hotel Madeline will more than satiate. (Photo courtesy of Hotel Madeline)
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