Telluride Style Night Life Guide

Photos Ben Edmonson

The crisp mountain summer air invites us to stay outside for nightlife in Telluride. Live music is in abundance as big name musicians can always be expected at the summer time festivals like Bluegrass, Blues and Brews, Doo Dah and Jazz Festival held in Town Park. Boogie down in front of the stage as the music echoes off the mountains, which make up the walls of the valley’s amphitheater. During the summer, there are also free concerts each week at the Sunset Concert Series in Mountain Village, where music lovers are encouraged to bring up their lounge chairs and blankets to enjoy the sunset while picnicking to the latest Salsa, Funk or New Orleans grooves. The Fly Me to the Moon Saloon is also a reliable source for late night live music, always hosting the latest up and coming bands on the circuit.

For a true winter night out, under the moon and stars, grab your snowshoes and take a hike up towards Lizard Head. Gather around a campfire at Alta Lakes. Or get together with friends and family for a dinner sleigh ride.

An evening spent on main street can also be as hopping as nightlife in any cosmopolitan area. Grab a scoop of homemade ice cream at the Sweet Life and stroll the main drag enjoying some flavors named after locals. Honga’s Lotus Petal is always a great choice for a Thai/Japanese style dinner with creative sushi rolls, vegetarian specialties, and lots of organic ingredients with a festive feel. Or get “Group Therapy” at Chair 8 which is a heaping plate of nachos and a pitcher of beer. Catch a movie at the historic Nugget Theater and watch newly released films in one of the oldest buildings in town, which also was the first structure in the world to be powered by AC electricity.

A bar crawl will have you walking no more than 20 steps between the abundance of drinking establishments down town. If you decide to shoot pool in the Sheridan Bar, watch out for Rowdy the cowboy who is known for riding his horse up to the bar for a drink of water. The West End Tavern is another local’s favorite with plenty of space to enjoy a drink with friends—truly one of the number one aprés-ski hot spots.

If you want to stay in, you can still have the delicious food and relaxation come to you. Get take out from La Cocina de Luz, which is deliciously fresh and creative Mexican food. Rent a video from Wizard or Rose Bud. Or, if you just want to lie down and rest your body, fatigued from skiing, snowboarding, or shopping all day, you can get a massage.

It is always a blast to watch true amateur broomball or hockey in the highly competitive Town Park Intramural League. Grab a fresh hotdog from the refreshment stand and join the hecklers in the bleachers. Or, take a gondola ride and see a view of town lit up like a jewel box at night. In the Village, have a glass of wine at Tracks or even enjoy authentic Italian Food at La Piazza in the moon shadow of Wilson peak that can be seen from your table in the plaza.

For a fun out-of-town excursion, head towards Ridgway and Orvis Hot springs and soak in four different temperatures of naturally fed hot spring pools. Bring your bathing suit, or don’t, clothing is optional. (See page 216 for more information.) Dinner at Bien Tiempo is just down the road in Ouray. Be sure to rehydrate before partaking in their famous margaritas. For a small town, there is too much to do.

–Joanna Kanow

While relaxing and savoring the beautiful scenery of the region during a summer vacation, you may decide to partake in adult beverages. Inform yourself of the laws to purchase and consume alcohol. We want you to enjoy your visit safely and return again soon.

Due to the high altitude of some of colorado's locations, alcohol consumption effects one's motor functions more rapidly than at sea level.  Drink lots of fluids, the best beings water, to prevent dehydration.  Eat lightly and avoid excessive caffeine and alcohol for the first few days.  In Colorado, the drinking age is 21, be sure to carry your state issued picture ID, driver's license, passport or military ID with you at all times. 

Telluride bars, restaurants and brew pubs can sell alcoholic beverages until 2 a.m. 365 days a year.  You are allowed to remove and reseal one corked 750 ml. bottle of wine, and it should be encased in a wrapper or cover. Grocery stores can only sell beer and wine coolers with 3.2 percent alcohol level. 

Starting July 1, 2008, liquor stores will be open to sell beer, wine and liquor on Sundays for the first time in 75 years.  Licensed brew pubs can also sell packaged beer on Sundays.

The state of Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act (HB1175) went into effect on July 1, 2006.  This legislation prohibits smoking in virtually all indoor public enclosed areas and extends to the outside within 15-feet of their entrances. 

Quick Guide to Local Bars and Nightlife