Allred's has no street address—it isn't anywhere near a street. Rather, it's inside the San Sophia gondola station at 10,550 feet. With that on-high view of town, no other restaurant comes close in the scenery department. Then again, you can get the same view just by riding the gondola, so Allred's better deliver the epicurean goods, and it does: Delectables include seasonal dishes like poached apricot–vanilla Maine lobster tail, or the free–range Canadian veal chop with potato-chanterelle hash. Alone up there on an alpine ridge, Allred's has plenty of space, so the chairs are cushier and the tables more private than in town.

Open daily 3 to 10 pm.

Telluride's oldest restaurant (opened in 1975) attracts the town's youngest clientele. For calories per dollar, the chocolate doughnuts and ham-and-cheese empanadas at this downtown bakery have no rival. And the Thursday night special—turkey, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce—doles out a little Thanksgiving hominess to the dreadlocked and often transient folks who help the establishment live up to its name.

Open daily 5:30 am to 10 pm.

Fat Alley's idea of marketing is sponsoring a softball team. Ostensibly a barbecue joint, it cuts and hickory-smokes its own meats, and serves brisket, chicken, and pork shoulder sandwiches. At heart, though, it's an affordable refuge for locals, with the best fries (regular or sweet-potato) in town.

Open daily 11 am to 10 pm.

Telluride's toughest reservation is an Asian-fusion bistro specializing in organic Thai and Japanese cuisine. Tokyo-trained sushi chef Shige Shibuya slices and dices a variety of sashimi-grade fish to create specialties like the Caterpillar roll: avocado, eel, and flying-fish roe. Hot dishes include red and green curries with shrimp or tofu. Beware of Honga's mojitos: The restaurant goes through more Bacardi rum than any other establishment in Colorado and has ruined many a powder morning.

Mexican restaurants in ski towns can get away with greasy tacos served with tasteless refried-bean mush. Indeed, there's such a place just across the street from Cocina de Luz. But here—the name translates to "kitchen of light"—organic meats and vegetables are flavored with 12 varieties of chilies and wrapped in handmade tortillas. Try the poblano chile relleno, a roasted chili pepper that's batter-fried and cheese-filled. Bask on Telluride's sunniest patio (there are only three tiny tables inside) and keep an eye out for loyal customer Daryl Hannah.

Open daily 9 am to 9 pm.

La Marmotte may be the most romantic place to dine in Telluride. Situated in a century-old wood-and-brick building, which originated as Telluride's icehouse, its atmosphere is warm and inviting. But you're likely to come for the eats, such as the duck breast with reduction sauce and prosciutto-wrapped scallops, followed by a molten chocolate cake and espresso ice cream for dessert. Or try the $40 three-course prix fixe menu, a favorite of the local gourmands. In August, chef Mark Reggiannini—a former sous-chef for Jean-Georges Vongerichten—picks wild morels in the morning and sautés them at night.

Open daily from 5:30 pm.