CB Dining

Crested Butte’s Dining Scene

Check out the restaurants on Elk Avenue

The Crested Butte dining scene is impressively diverse. Eating out in Crested Butte won’t break the bank. Plus, it’s casual—you can go straight from the slopes or trails to eat. Try award-winning pizza, treat yourself to exquisite French fare or get a taste of the West at a farm-to-table spot. Whether you’re looking for a fancy night out or just want to grab a beer and slice, Crested Butte has it.

Breakfast in Crested Butte

The Gas Café, conveniently located on the road up to Crested Butte Mountain Resort, prepares hefty to-go breakfast sandwiches. Butte Bagels serves up daily fresh-baked bagels. Their menu features sandwiches with ingredients like latkes, house made pesto, grilled onions and other surprising choices.

Not itching to get out early? Enjoy a full sit-down breakfast at Paradise Café or McGill’s. Paradise Café’s menu offers a variety of egg dishes, pancakes, French toast and lighter options such as yogurt with granola. McGill’s serves omelets, biscuits and gravy, pancakes and other American breakfast staples.

Really looking to have a chill morning? Order a cocktail and jumpstart your day with a Bloody Mary, mimosa or another delicious drink. Paradise Café and McGill’s both offer traditional brunch cocktails as well as house specials.

Coffee shops in Crested Butte

Rumors Coffee has quick bites like pastries and croissants along with coffee and tea. The T-Bar specializes in herbal tea, matcha, milk tea and yerba mate. A Daily Dose dishes out organic air-roasted coffee. You can also order smoothies, juices, salads and sandwiches. Camp 4 Coffee is roasted in the Gunnison Valley and a local favorite. Crested Butte’s iconic license plate house, a unique building shingled in old license plates, is located next to Camp 4 Coffee.

Best places to eat lunch in Crested Butte

Fuel your afternoon adventures with a delicious lunch. Try authentic Thai food at Thai Chili. Make your own burrito at Teocalli Tamale, or pair a gyro with curly fries at Pita’s in Paradise. Get a pint and a burger or sandwich at Bruhaus, Crested Butte’s beer hall. Other lunch options include the Hideout, Momo’s, Bonez, Sherpa and the Public House.

Happy hours in Crested Butte

Many bars and restaurants in Crested Butte have happy hour from late afternoon to early evening, such as 3:00-6:00 P.M. Happy hour deals vary by establishment. You can generally expect deals on drinks and appetizers.

Are there food trucks in Crested Butte?

You might see food trucks in Crested Butte in the summer and fall. The farmer’s market, which is every Sunday from the end of May through the beginning of October, often features food truck vendors.

Dinner options in Crested Butte

The Breadery makes all their bread, pizza dough and pasta in-house. The menu is a mishmash of different types of breads and spreads, soups, pasta, salads, and flatbreads. The Hideout serves Asian fusion such as kimchi pasta salad, bulgogi steak tacos, wings with K-hot sauce and more. Izakaya Cabin and Yukihana serve up sushi rolls and sake. Many lunch restaurants are also open for dinner, giving you a bevy of options.

Bars in Crested Butte

Try out local beer, rum and gin in Crested Butte. Irwin beer is brewed right in Crested Butte. Visit the brewery to buy canned beer or get a growler filled. Try it on tap at the Public House.

Anthracite Spirits produces gin, vodka, red bitter liqueur and other specialty items. Stop by the tasting room on Elk Avenue for yummy cocktails made with these spirits.

Montanya Distillers ferments, distills and ages their rum in Crested Butte. Their tasting room pours rum cocktails and prepares small bites.

Kochevar’s is Crested Butte’s oldest bar. It was established in 1886 and went from a gaming hall to a brothel to a bowling alley and now a bar. Grab a drink and shoot pool or play darts.

The Talk of the Town, mostly known as “the Talk,” is a Crested Butte establishment and local favorite. The Talk is equipped with big screen TVs, pool tables, foosball and a juke box on each floor.

The Dogwood is a cozy cocktail bar that was once a miner’s cabin. Sip fine spirits and snack on eats such as pickled veggies, cheese and desserts. Play a round of virtual golf and other simulation games over drinks at Birdie’s Golf Bar.

Are restaurants open late in Crested Butte?

Most restaurants in Crested Butte close between 8-10 p.m. Bars tend to be open later. It is always wise to check hours ahead of time for the specific place you want to eat.

Do you need a reservation to eat in Crested Butte?

Reservations are not always necessary, but they can ensure you don’t have to wait to eat. Crested Butte’s dining scene ramps up during certain times of year. Reservations are recommended for the busy seasons. July is the highest visitation month of the year. Ski season is also a high visitation time, particularly during Christmas and New Year’s.

Does Crested Butte have fine dining?

There are a few fine dining options in Crested Butte. Reservations are recommended for fine dining in Crested Butte. Two Twelve offers a seasonal menu of ingredients from small producers throughout the west. Soupçon provides an elegant and intimate atmosphere for dining on French-inspired fare. Elk Avenue Prime steak house serves high-quality steaks, lamb chops, elk, pork chops, pasta and salad. Enjoy a delicious dinner and drink on the patio or cozied up next to the fireplace.

Farm-to-table dining in Crested Butte

The Sunflower menu is developed in house, and everything is made from scratch. The menu changes frequently. Expect dishes such as duck confit with ginger sauce, house-made burrata, passion fruit sorbet and togarashi seared tuna. Two Twelve also has farm-to-table offerings. The menu specifies where some of the ingredients are sourced.

Are restaurants affordable in Crested Butte?

Dining prices in Crested Butte vary. Crested Butte’s dining scene tends to be more affordable than other ski towns like Aspen or Vail. A meal at a mid-range restaurant in Crested Butte averages $15-$25 per person. Crested Butte’s overall vibe is more casual and laid back than luxury-driven ski destinations. Many restaurants embody this sentiment by providing large portions at reasonable prices.

What is Crested Butte’s après scene like?

There are après spots on the mountain at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, at the base area and on Elk Avenue in Crested Butte. Toast to a day on the slopes with craft beer, an artisanal cocktail or a shot of locally brewed liquor.

umbrella bar crested butte mountain resort

Is there allergen-friendly food in Crested Butte?

Many restaurants have vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes labeled on their menus. If you are unsure, ask your server for more details. You can also call the restaurant ahead of time to confirm available options.

Is there ice cream in Crested Butte?

Third Bowl ice cream is served at two locations in Crested Butte. Tin Cup Ice Cream and Desserts has a shop at the base area of Crested Butte Mountain Resort and a shop on Elk Avenue. Along with cones and cups, Tin Cup serves decadent milkshakes, ice cream-topped waffles and ice cream pies. Treat yourself to flavors such as honey lavender, coffee pound cake, pineapple habanero and other innovative flavors.

What is eating out like in Crested Butte?

Crested Butte’s dining scene is generally casual. Most of the restaurants on Elk Avenue are housed in historic buildings. These unique settings offer a cozy ambiance and a relaxed place to connect with friends and family.

Can you eat outside in Crested Butte?

Crested Butte rests in a mountain valley surrounded by many acres of public lands. No matter where you look, you’re in for a great view. Enjoy the view and your food from one of the restaurants that offers outdoor seating in the summer months.

Restaurants with outdoor seating:

Bruhaus
Secret Stash
The Hideout
Pitas in Paradise
Thai Chili
Bonez
The Eldo
Paradise Café
Elk Avenue Prime

Places to eat in Crested Butte South

Crested Butte South (CB South) is about eight miles south of Crested Butte. CB South is a small community with places to stay, recreation opportunities and a few dining options.

Restaurants in CB South:

Zuni West Brewing
Tully’s
Wooden Spoon Restaurant and Country Store
Camp 4 Coffee

Restaurants in Mt. Crested Butte

Most of the places to eat in Crested Butte are on the mountain at Crested Butte Mountain Resort or at the base area. Many on-mountain locations are only open in the winter. Check seasonal openings and hours for restaurants at Crested Butte Mountain Resort on their website.

Base area:

Butte 66
Crested Butte Burger Co.
Jose at Elevation
A Bar Above
Coffee Lab
Tin Cup Ice Cream and Desserts
Coal Breaker Coffee Co.
Rooster Run
Highlife Crust and Crafts
billy barr

On-mountain:

Uley’s Cabin
The Umbrella Bar at Ten Peaks
Paradise Warming House

Visit Crested Butte

Crested Butte’s restaurants are a great setting for planning the day’s activities or unwinding after being on the trails. Some of your meals might be as memorable as the adventures you have on your trip! Start planning your trip with our trip planning guide.