Gunnison, Colorado is known as the official wildflower capital of the world. Nowhere else on earth are the colors and scents of wildflowers so strong as in Gunnison and Crested Butte. For this reason, thousands of people take Colorado vacations to this region each year in the spring instead of the winter, which is often the prime time to travel to Colorado.
While the wildflowers may be what sparks much of Gunnison, Colorado travel, it is a true year-round destination, with winter sports abundant in the colder months. Other activities visitors often indulge in include boating, whitewater rafting, and hiking in the summer months, and snowshoeing, ice fishing, and cross-country skiing in the winter months.
Finding Something to Eat When You Visit Gunnison, Colorado
Because of the remoteness of Gunnison, chain restaurants are not as abundant as they might be in other areas of the state. When you are visiting Gunnison, you will need to enjoy these local favorites when looking for a place to dine.
Gunnisack Cowboy Bistro
The Gunnisack Cowboy Bistro serves lunch and dinner every day except Sunday. The food has a distinctive southwestern flair and boasts being completely trans-fat free. Diners can enjoy sandwiches, including the “Foccacia Club Samich,” voted the best “samich” in the region, burgers, seafood, and even steaks.
A vegetarian menu is available, and the Gunnisack has a full bar. It has an extensive selection of salads that are worth the visit to try. But if you are looking to indulge, check out the dessert menu where you’ll see treats like gigantic cookies, cobbler, and bananas foster.
Pappy’s Restaurant
Pappy’s Restaurant offers American style food from a location overlooking Elk Creek Marina and the Blue Mesa Reservoir. It is open for all three meals and is known for its excellent Sunday brunch. Many guests particularly enjoy dining on the patio overlooking the lake. The restaurant is only open seasonally, opening in mid May and closing in mid September.
Brick Cellar Bar and Bistro
The Brick Cellar Bar and Bistro is a full-scale wine and martini bar with a bistro that offers a more upscale atmosphere for diners in Gunnison. From May through October, the restaurant serves produce grown in its own garden when possible, but the restaurant is open year-round. It maintains a hydroponic herb garden, so all herbs used in the restaurant are fresh.
The Brick Cellar was the first non-smoking bar in the community, and now diners can enjoy the over 70 specialty drinks without the traditional “bar” atmosphere. Live music from local artists is common in the bistro and bar. With such a wide selection and great happy hour specials, this is a perfect place to go for a cocktail or a locally grown fine dining experience.
If You Go
When planning a trip, be sure to visit www.gunnisoncrestedbutte.com to learn more about all of the fun things to do in Gunnison, Colorado. While the community welcomes guests year-round and offers plenty of winter activities, much of Gunnison is open seasonally, including many of its restaurants, so check before you visit.
Pappy’s Restaurant
15 Miles West
970-641-0413
Gunnisack Cowboy Bistro
143 North Main
970-641-5445
www.thegunnisack.com
Brick Cellar Bar and Bistro
122 West Tomichi Ave.
970-641-9463
https://sites.google.com/site/brickcellarbarandbistro/
Nicole Harms has been writing professionally since 2006, specializing in travel and finance writing, with work having been published on USA Today, the New York Stock Exchange and Hotels.com in addition to here on Go Colorado!
Special thanks to the Gunnisack Cowboy Bistro for providing the photos of their restaurant featured in this article!
Special thanks to the Brick Cellar Bar and Bistro for providing photos (including the photo at top of some of their selections of wine) for this article!