The 15 Best Restaurants In Durango, Colorado

"You might think an auto repair shop is a strange place to drink a cocktail, and you would be right, unless it’s Ernie’s at the 11th Street Station. The space was a long-running fuel stop until the ‘70s and was most recently transformed into a bar that is now a popular spot for locals who can remember the days when gas cost less than a dollar per gallon.  Even though Ernie’s hasn’t serviced a car for over 50 years, the history of this location is still there: draft beers are served from below the grill of a vintage Chevy Bel Air, and there’s plenty of service station memorabilia scattered throughout, like the old Conoco fuel truck sitting in the courtyard that doubles as a countertop. Ernie’s has indoor seating in the bar as well as a large outdoor area with food trucks, an impressive list of top-shelf spirits, and a nice variety of cocktails and mocktails. Really, the only thing they don’t offer at this old service station is a full tank of gas. " - kristin smith