2025 Dining Guide

Celebrated chefs, culinary excellence, extensive wine lists, creative cocktails, extraordinary service and our favorite local spots that support the LGBTQ+ community

Our dining partners are an instrumental component of our event experience and we carefully select each partner for good reasons – we believe in them and their alignment with our fans. They believe in us. These are the restaurants that make Telluride great. Such a special place is destined to draw special people. That list includes some of the country’s most celebrated chefs, many who now call Telluride home. Truth is, you work up an appetite here, and whether you’re looking for a fresh pizza, foie gras, or free-range steak, our collection of restaurants get our mouths watering just thinking about them.

Book your reservations in advance. Tables in Telluride fill up fast! We recommend these restaurants any day of the week but you might find more TGSW attendees on the days below.

Saturday, February 22 - La Piazza Del Villagio
Sunday, February 23 - The Cosmopolitan
Monday, February 24 - The Grand
Tuesday, February 25 - The Gay Sleigh
Wednesday, February 26 - Esperanza’s
Thursday, February 27 - The National
Friday, February 28 - Kazahana
Saturday, March 1 - 221 South Oak

Saturday, February 22

117 Lost Creek Ln, Mountain Village, CO 81435
(970) 728-8283

La Piazza Del Villaggio and La Pizzeria menu is a marriage between old family recipes, contemporary world influences and the best products the region has to offer. The result is the simple and inviting union of authentic Italian cuisine with crisp, refined flavors.

Start your Italian journey with any one of the deliciously authentic appetizers. Share a plate of bruschetta Toscana – toasted filone bread with fresh chopped tomato, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, and fresh basil, or savor the flavors of tomato, fresh Rustico homemade mozzarella, basil, and extra virgin olive oil when you try the insalata caprese. For something a little lighter, choose a delicious and refreshing salad.

Let the chef be your guide and order a bowl of Zuppa Del Giorno, or the soup of the day. If you’d rather go with an Italian favorite everyone knows, a hot and hearty bowl of minestrone might be just what you need.

Anyone can cook pasta at home, but the infusion of fresh and authentic Italian flavor found at Rustico Ristorante can’t be beaten. Spaghetti Rustico is a delectable mixture of spaghetti, sauteed with grilled seasonal vegetables, roasted bell peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh chopped tomatoes, white wine, basil, and extra virgin olive oil. Enjoy rigatoni, fettuccine, or their homemade ravioli filled with ricotta cheese and served in a delicate pink sauce.

Risotto is more than a side dish at Rustico Ristorante. Try it “al porcini” – sauteed with wild and selected mushrooms and truffle oil – or “alle verdure e gamberi” – grilled with seasonal vegetables and shrimps that have been simmer in white wine.

Choose from main dishes like veal, free-range chicken, steak, or fish selections, including vitello al carciofi – a thinly sliced veal sauteed with artichokes, capers, and white wine. For a taste of the sea, try pesce del giorno – fresh fish grilled and garnished with chopped tomato, cucumber, and slivered Mediterranean olives. The Prime strip loin or center cut steaks come from the local Double RL Ranch.

Try a slice made in the only authentic Italian pizza oven in Telluride. A limited selection makes offering the best authentic Italian pizza in town easy. Try the margherita pizza topped with mozzarella, marinara sauce, and oregano. Boscaiola pizza presents the flavors of mozzarella, roasted Rustico homemade sausage, select mushrooms, and roasted bell peppers, while the bianca del rosticcere is covered in four cheeses, rotisserie chicken, roasted garlic, and extra virgin olive oil, or try the selection proudly stamped with the Rustico name, a pizza topped with marinara, mozzarella, prosciutto, ricotta, mushrooms, and green Tuscan peperoncino.

Sunday, February 23

Across from the Oak Street Gondola
(970) 728-1292

Featured Menu Item: Seared House Smoked Culver Farms Duck Breast, seared sea scallops, apple gastrique, parsnip puree, quinoa, black garlic molasses, brussels sprouts

Located in the Hotel Columbia at the base of the Oak Street ski lift and gondola, "Cosmo" is nationally recognized for its original approach to food preparation.

Chef/Owner Chad Scothorn is on a continual quest to create the ultimate dining experience. Serving dinner nightly, the elegantly simple 50-seat restaurant is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy impeccable service and food.

Chef Chad Scothorn brought his culinary vision to Telluride, Colorado, in 1996 after 22 years in restaurants from Oklahoma to Argentina. His many accomplishments include being recognized in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Nation’s Restaurant News as one of the best alpine restaurants in the country after opening Chadwick’s in Beaver Creek, CO. He was the opening chef at Beano’s Cabin on Beaver Creek Mountain, which under his guidance was named by Esquire magazine as one of the top new 100 restaurants in the United States.

The Cosmopolitan offers fine dining with generous portions and whenever possible, locally sourced ingredients. Scothorn has received national attention for his innovative cuisine and creative approach and in 2002 was invited to appear at the prestigious James Beard House in New York. He has also continued his culinary education, attending the Culinary Institute of America in Sicily, Italy, and at the internationally recognized École Lenôtre in France.

The Cosmopolitan presents a perfect balance of Scothorn’s culinary influences—a delightful blend of old-world cooking with fresh and delicious new-world food.

Monday, February 24

100 W Colorado Ave, Telluride, CO 81435
(970) 728-1063

Nestled in the heart of Telluride, The Grand is more than a restaurant - it’s an elevated gathering place and alpine social club designed to bring people together.

With a refined take on New American cuisine, The Grand offers a menu of classic entrees, crafted with modern techniques and unexpected yet appreciable ingredients, alongside innovative cocktails that put a fresh twist on timeless favorites.

Whether you’re seeking a cozy spot to unwind or a vibrant space to connect, The Grand delivers a sophisticated mountain escape where great food, drinks and conversation converge.

Join us! Lunch is served Monday through Friday 11-2 pm. Après-ski with us 3-5 pm daily when we offer $10 martinis and hot toddies. Dinner is served daily from 5 pm to close.

See you at The Grand!

Tuesday, February 25

Historic Aldasoro Family Ranch, Telluride, CO 81435

Telluride Gay Ski Week is excited to present an experience unlike anything else! Join us for an evening horse-drawn sleigh ride to an authentic sheep-herders tent followed by a ranch-to-table Spanish Basque-style dinner prepared by Chef Graeme Charles. The historic Aldasoro family ranch is the ideal setting to take in the sweeping, panoramic views of the San Juan Mountains.

Dress warmly for the ride! While dinner is served in a heated tent, the sleigh ride will be outside in an uncovered sleigh or wagon. Warm wool blankets will be provided for the sleigh ride. Coats, hats, layers and gloves are recommended, ladies are advised against skirts, and winter-ready footwear is a must!

Chef Graeme Charles is an award-winning Telluride chef. Using sustainable ingredients, locally sourced food, and customized meal plans suited for each customer, Graeme Charles is a well-known and recognized private chef in Telluride. Born in Cape Town, South Africa, he came to Colorado as a child, where he began working in kitchens at the age of 14. For the next decade, he worked at Denver’s hottest restaurants in lead kitchen roles. Chef Graeme went on to study at Johnson and Wales University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. After a brief stint in Miami and Rhode Island, he landed in Telluride and became the Head Chef at Peaks Resort and Spa. Now, he cooks at 9500 feet in his kitchen, crafting unique meals. He believes healthy food tastes better when using locally sourced and fresh, in-season Colorado produce.

Wednesday, February 26

226 West Colorado Avenue, Telluride, CO 81435
(970) 728-8399

Mexican food at its finest! Served by friendly, attentive staff in a warm, cozy environment, Esperanza’s is a local eatery owned by chef Esperanza Reyes. Esperanza runs her restaurant from the heart transforming traditional dishes with fresh ingredients.

Take a culinary trip south of the border with an authentic Chicken Mole made from scratch or order up some classic Tex-Mex style comfort options. Enjoy the house-made tortilla chips with the freshest guacamole dip and mouth-watering fajitas. Don’t miss the sizzling chorizo con queso!

Try one of the legendary margaritas from an impressive selection of tequilas and mezcals along with other delicious libations to satisfy your thirsty cravings and have you feeling festive all night long.

¡Salud!

Thursday, February 27

100 E Colorado Ave Suite B, Telluride, CO 81435
(970) 728-1063

We’re partnering with Chef Arnold Myint (aka Suzy Wong) to host our most glamorous collaboration dinner yet! Celebrate Telluride Gay Ski Week at The National on Thursday, February 27th, and indulge in the culinary creations of both Chef Arnold and Chef Chris. Chef Arnold Myint, chef/owner of International Market in Nashville, TN, James Beard Best Chef: Southeast semifinalist, and former competitor on Top Chef and Food Network Star, will bring his renowned flavors to the table. Chef Chris Thompson, acclaimed for launching three groundbreaking concepts with Meadowlark Hospitality and earning two MICHELIN Bib Gourmands, will showcase his Mediterranean influences and culinary mastery within the 5-course prix-fixe menu.

For this truly special experience, 8 exclusive seats are available at the Queen’s Table at 6 pm, where you’ll dine with RuPaul’s Drag Race stars Raja and Willam. This VIP experience includes 5 courses with beverage pairings from Chef Arnold and Chef Chris. Tickets for the Queen’s Table are priced at $500 and will sell out quickly, so grab your spot  here! Proceeds from the event will benefit Big Gay Food Festival.

For general dining room reservations from 4:30-10:30 pm, we’ll have special collaborative features on the menu, available a la carte.

About the National

Our menu is all about embracing the seasonal ingredients from local purveyors and vibrant flavors inspired by the Mediterranean region. Dive into shared plates, fresh seafood, house-made pasta, and premium cuts, and pair your dinner with a bottle from our carefully curated wine list or sip from the craft cocktail menu.

The intimate dining room, located in the historic Telluride National Club building in Telluride, Colorado, pays homage to the decades of restaurants housed within the 120-year-old space and has been reimagined into a warm and inviting atmosphere for your next meal or celebration. Our space features banquette seating and a lively 10-seat bar to experience the full dinner menu in addition to your favorite beverages.

Cozy up to the bar while sharing plates and conversations with friends, experience a paced culinary journey with accompanying wine pairings for date night or stop by after dinner to enjoy a nightcap and something sweet from our pastry team.

About Chef Arnold Myint

Arnold Myint, a 2024 James Beard Best Chef Southeast semifinalist, is the chef/owner of International Market in Nashville, TN which his family originally opened in 1975.  He actively works with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Thai Trade USA and his restaurant is the first and only to currently be recognized by the Royal Thai Consul as Thai Select in Nashville.  A former culinary instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education, he competed on “Top Chef” and “Food Network Star” and works with numerous media platforms including Tastemade and Buzzfeed where he celebrates Thai food and his family heritage.  Arnold is also a contributor for Epicurious, Eater, and Saveur and is the subject of Family Thais which documents his journey to cooking at the James Beard House in New York City.  His current projects include a cookbook with Abrams Publishing; slated for 2025

Friday, February 28

126 E Colorado Ave, Telluride, CO 81435
970-239-6222

The inspiration for the restaurant is to bring an elevated Japanese dining option to town in a beautiful and historic space with multiple expressions. Street level is lively and social, the dining room is beautiful and a bit more relaxed, the Omakase Bar will offer an unforgettable 17-course chef’s choice tasting menu with two seatings each night for up to 10 guests.

Local chef and restaurant owner Josh Klein is part of the team behind Kazahana.

“Kazahana is a Japanese term for the feeling of seeing a windblown snowflake in the sunlight, when the winter wind scatters snowflakes in the air, where they are sparkling in the sunshine, and you get a feeling of joy and connection,” Klein explained. “I think we’ve all had that kazahana moment here in Telluride, that moment of pure joy.”

Saturday, March 1

221 S Oak St, Telluride, CO 81435
(970) 708-1437

221 is set in a tastefully refurbished historic home nestled in the trees on South Oak Street, just steps from the Gondola. For years, 221 South Oak has been renowned for its intimate atmosphere, incredible food, extensive wine list, friendly service and uncompromising quality.

Fresh ingredients and an abundance of hard work, make our meals great. 221 South Oak prepares fresh, quality ingredients together skillfully. We offer Beef, Game, Poultry, Seafood and have a full Vegetarian Menu. We prepare each dish at the time of your order and are happy to accommodate any allergies and dietary preferences. Homemade is 221’s Specialty. Sausages, Soups, Sauces and Salad Dressings, Pastas, Pastries and Pickles, Beignets, Brown Rouxs and Breads, Ravioli, Reductions, even Ice Creams, Candied Treats and Cheese are made on the premises. Each dish is prepared with thought and care. There is a blending of styles and flavors on our menu. There is something for everyone!

Our staff is both professional and personal, they are here to help you along your culinary journey. They have an in-depth knowledge of the dishes and are here to assist in any way. Please do not hesitate to ask, we are here to make your dining experience perfect.