Bon Vivant

Fine dining outdoors at 11,200'. This is a world class experience. Perched at the top of Lift 5 in Telluride, this is fine dining in an unexpected place. The food, service, and atmosphere are amazing, with incredible views of the surrounding mountains. To start things off, my wife had a glass of Taittinger champagne and I had a wonderful Cotes-du-Rhone. Then she had trout, cooked to perfection, and I had wonderful beef bourguignon. And to top things off, Crepes Suzette. The staff - Luke, JD, Rosemary, and Will, went above and beyond to make our experience memorable.

What a beautiful mountain retreat at the top of the polar queen express. Make sure to go at or before 11 to get a booking by putting your name down. The staff are super friendly and very attentive. Food is generous and filling. Drinks flowing all day long. With not many on mountain dining choices in Telluride, this is by far the best run and most accessible.

French eatery Bon Vivant is an absolute mainstay on the mountain. Luke runs the show with flair, creating a distinctly unique vibe that simply can’t be found anywhere else. The menu, already outstanding, offers some excellent vegetarian and vegan options this season as well as a nice selection of wines and spirits. The scene is European. Think French Alps meets the Rockies. At 11,000+ ft., the views are outstanding, especially on a clear day. If you’re in Telluride, it’s a must-go. Just remember to get there anywhere between 11:00 - noon (day of) to add your name to the list for lunch. There is seating at the bar as available, but it tends to fill up quickly. There’s a reason those in-the-know come back again and again!

definitely pricey, but the food and the views are amazing!

Bon Vivant has the benefit of being in the most amazing location. On a bluebird day, the view and atmosphere is unbeatable. But they also adhere to the Will Guidara principle of providing unreasonable hospitality...in a tiny outdoor restaurant at 11,000 feet and just off a chairlift. Not where you'd expect fine dining and top notch service. But that's what you get. Today our hostess made us feel instantly welcome and at home offering either a table, seat at the bar or a comfy seat on the couch. Then our (brand new) waiter Will came to greet us as if we were old time customers with a long standing reservation. Just kind and welcoming. Next was Josh. He made sure we felt comfortable and engaged in the perfect amount of conversation/banter (my wife was wearing an Ohio State jersey on the day of a playoff game...so there's bound to be some chatter😎). Just a wonderful experience. And yes, the drinks were great as was the french onion soup, somehow delivered with short ribs, perfectly hot with melted cheese just right at 11,000 feet from a tiny little restaurant at the top of the mountain. We'll be back again and again.

The worst experience I’ve ever had, the servers were all good but the manager was incredibly hostile and didn’t seem to respect any of the employees working. I had multiple cold and incomplete dishes and when I stated I was paying so much money for 30- 40 dollar meals I was treated with rudeness and judgment. The drinks were also pretty bad and honestly none of my party could even finish them. For fine dining I wouldn’t reccomend even on my worst enemies.

We did not have a reservation for this place on the slopes with “French dining and libations”. We learned the hard way that no reservation means no real food. Plenty of empty seats apparently all reserved in the outdoor enclosed area. When we tried to order something to eat our choice was between candies and a “prosciutto sandwich” - a sorry ham and cheese on a soggy hero wrapped in a plastic film - something one expects to find at a gas station! The view was indeed spectacular.

My wife and I think Telluride is the best ski town - for great reasons. We’re finishing up our Valentine’s Day weekend and wanted to thank Luke for his incredible service and hospitality at Bon Vivant. This place is 1000% worth a stop if you’re skiing in Telluride. Go Jags!

Beautiful winter day at this open-air restaurant. Everything lived up to the hype. Delicious food, interesting cocktails. Spendy, but worth the experience.

Omg. Heaven on earth. The views and the food were phenomenal!! Highly recommend if you can get in!! We had the French Onion soup as they are known for it. Great service and friendly atmosphere!

Food, outstanding, I got the French onion soup, best $30 soup you'll ever have, great friendly service, it was super sunny so the free sunglasses added to the magical atmosphere!

This is the spot!!! If you go here you have to get the French onion soup and add short rib, literally the perfect comfort meal in the perfect location.

What can I say that has not been said. You will either live this place at and price or not. It is wildly expensive, but it is also a truly great skiing experience. The food is good, service excellent and vibe over the top. Way over the top. My table was next to that of an "A" list celebrity, and at one point to separate tables were sabering champagne at the same time. This might. It be your vibe, and I respect that. But we had a blast.

This place is a vibe. Difficult to get a table - people line up at 10:30am to put their names in at 11. However, once you get a table it's a lot of fun. You have the option of sabering each champagne bottle you open. Makes for an entertaining time. I didn't try the food because the prices were a bit steep while dining alone, but the drinks were strong! Definitely will be coming back with a group next time.

Wow. Had lunch at Bon Vivant for the first time this season and was super impressed. We've been coming to BV for as many years as its been open and this season, they have topped themselves! Here's a shout out to Alex and the entire team for the exceptional service, the great food and wonderful ambience. Thank you and look forward to seeing you soon and often!

Wow! Come for the views, stay for the delicious food. Not what I expected you could get on top of a mountain at 11k feet, but we got there right as they opened 11AM and the views were spectacular at that time. They give you complementary sunglasses, as it is bright bright up there! Then you wait impatiently for your food because the delicious French cuisine smell floating through the air is incredible. We got the Salmon Lox Crêpes, and a Wild Boar and Duck dish. The crêpe was very yummy, but the boar and duck was fabulous, blew everything else out of the water. Very gamey, with potatoes and carrots in a gravy sauce, fantastic! More on the expensive side for lunch, expect to pay ~$100 for 2 people, but it's a great experience, the food and views are worth it!

My favorite place to eat on the mountain. Nothing better than having Prosecco and French onion soup (4.5/5) outside on the slopes. You must ski here during the day, and at night they have a snowcat bring you up and down the mountain. So much fun!

I just wanted some beers before taking the long ride down the mountain. $$$ isn't a joke-- I ordered 2 Chimay's and the total was over $30... There was a slow line to wait in for tables or lounge chairs so I just grabbed my beers and went to drink in the snow. Gorgeous views, but a one time luxury for sure!

Skied in for lunch and saw that they had game meat on the menu. Probably farm raised, not wild, but I still enjoy it. It was hard to choose between Rabbit or the Boar with Duck. ($27 each) I chose the Boar & Duck over white beans and gravy. Delicious! That combined with a "Lost Time" cocktail (Vodka, Lavender & Champagne - $15) and it was a great lunch.

The view and the food were amazing! I wish I could have this mushroom soup everyday. I highly recommend this restaurant for apres ski.

I have a family friend who jokes about hiking and climbing mountains "for fun", she says "Sure, I'll hike to the summit, if there's a SPA at the top!" Bon Vivant is the Spa at the top. Metaphorically. This outside circle bar/restaurant is too cute for words. It was a blue bird, Sunday morning at Telluride Ski Resort. We sat at the bar, with the sun on our backs, sipping mimosas, and admiring the most expensive bowl of mushroom soup ever purchased. It WAS a decadent bowl of soup. Great ambience with 360 degree views.

Fantastic ski detour to France on the slopes of Telluride! -very fun to get to--either take ski lift up and go straight there, or even more fun you can ski down to it from further up the mountain -you sit outside with stunning 360 degree views of the surrounding mountains -has a sophisticated French feel--especially for a mountaintop restaurant! -very friendly staff--they were out of a dish we wanted, so they gave us a free dessert -the man making the crepes in front of us was from Chicago also and we ended up having a nice conversation with him about the Cubs! -food was great--including delicious handmade crepes and an awesome and hearty croque monsieur--perfect to fuel our ski trip back down the mountain! -also a great place to have a glass of champagne or a spiked hot cocoa!!

This place is fabulous. Be prepared to wait, but for good reason. We waited about 45 minutes for a table for five at 1:30 on a holiday weekend. But we were able to get drinks and complimentary pear cider while waiting. All of the food that my table had was phenomenal. The croque Madame took the cake with high quality ham, perfectly melted cheese, and a delicious spinach and lightly sun-dried tomatoes on the side. Both the French onion soup and wild mushroom soup, which comes with a perfectly crispy flaky crust on top, were spectacular. The bloody Mary with duck bacon, goat cheese stuffed pepper, pickled onion, and a cornichon was also delicious. The service is a little slow, and it is a little pricey, but it's well worth it for a treat.

Spectacular views and pretty good service (but like everywhere in Telluride there is 50% of the staff needed). Only complaint is that the menu is quite limited (and the same every year) and hot food is served luke warm.

A spectacular mid mountain outdoor dining experience reminiscent of being on ski holiday in the French Alps. Food was delicious as were the hand crafted warm cocktails. We had the pate, mushroom soup, and French onion soup- all were delicious. The puff pastry on the mushroom soup was an unique, tasty, fun twist. You can add short rib to the French onion soup. Unfortunately, they were out of it, but guessing it would've been mind blowing. Our only ding on this joint was the service was a bit spotty, but guessing it was because it St Patricks Day (and a beautiful day where everyone wanted to be outside), but our server made it up to us with a round of Jameson shots.

Wow! This place is busy and it is truly warranted! We arrived on New Year's Day right before they opened at 11 and got right in at a table of our choice near a heater. Nestled snugly with a heavy blanket we enjoyed a fabulous mushroom soup with a puff crust top and a duck cassoulet. Not only was the food terrific but the waiter was engaging, efficient and accommodating. This is a must do at Telluride. Note: if it's a sunny day and the line is too long, grab a drink at the bar, sit under the umbrellas in beach chairs right outside Bon Vivant and enjoy the views!

This is an excellent on-mountain dining restaurant in Telluride. The food is very good, the service is top notch, super views, lots of heaters, good drinks, and it even motivated my wife to ski the slightly more difficult blue runs to get to it. (big plus+++) One tip though, if you are a beginner, take 6 and see forever. It's the easiest way down from the top of 5. While most restaurants on the mountain are ok, they don't even compare to this place.

This place is packed but not surprisingly so as this is thee place to be for mountain views, people watching and some of the best French onion soup or wild mushroom soup anywhere bar none! Isabella the hostess was super friendly and accommodating even though she was rushed by so my skiers wanting to be seated. Kudos to Isabella for keeping her cool while still doing her job so well with a friendly smile! Matthew was our server and he did great job as well getting us drinks right away and checking in on us often without feeling rushed whatsoever. French onion soup is what they're famous for so that's what I ordered and it DID NOT DiSAPPOINT whatsoever. In fact it was probably the best French onion soup I've had in a long time. Full of complex flavor in the broth and delicious sour dough bread with enough cheesy goodness all around. My partner got the wild mushroom soup which too was incredible. We split the croque moussier which was an it decadent but great nevertheless. Definitely a must do!

Get here early during peak times! The wait's worth it. Great place to grab something to eat and drink on the mountain. Never had a bad meal, drink, or experience here!

Excellent restaurant on top of polar queen. We were truly surprised. Great selection of mixed drinks. Both soups : mushroom and French onion ( you can add meat ) were yummy and filling. We shared chocolate crape filled with berries for a desert.

During the course of our one and a half hour wait, there were many moments where I wondered if it would be worth it. And I'm glad I stuck it out! Whether you sit and grab a drink on the lounge chairs or go for a few more runs during your wait, this place is a must-try! The atmosphere is splendid, servers very friendly and the food is flavorful and delicious! I'd definitely return- even to drink the $10 bottle of Aqua Panna, just to enjoy the amazing view on a sunny day!

We had a delightful lunch. The setting and food were as stunning as the view. If you're in Telluride on a sunny day this is the place to be.

Be warned: it's expensive. But if you're looking to splurge on a 5 star meal at a gorgeous location with beautiful views, this is the place for you. We went for a mid-ski break on a warm, sunny day. We had drinks and appetizers and really enjoyed everything. The food is fantastic - particularly the wild mushroom soup. It's all outside...they do have heaters out there, but I wouldn't recommend going on a very cold day.

This is one of my very favorite restaurants! I look forward to dining at Bon Vivant every time I ski Telluride. It's the perfect lunch break for a day on the slopes. The French onion soup with a short rib is my go to entree, along with the legendary hot chocolate & a cinnamon sugar crepe.

Do you want to lay on a day bed, enjoy beautiful weather, and eat creme brûlée on a mountain at 10,000 feet? Great spot to spend an afternoon after a long day skiing. We had the croque Monsieur and creme brûlée. Both were very good and I would order them again. The staff was wonderful. Desserts and bottles of wine are half off from 2:30-4.

Fabulous food and ambiance worth every dollar. Yes it is expensive but it is at the top of a mountain with amazing views and seating. We have dined here 3 years in a row and been delighted every time. Highly recommend the soup followed by Nutella crepe. It can get busy so don't expect to be fawned over. Enjoy the setting, food and ambiance. Don't go here if you want to pay regular bar food prices.

BEST on mountain restaurant experience anywhere. Love the food and the ambiance. Fabulous servers and bartenders are so welcoming and helpful. I ate lunch there 5 out of my 6 day ski vacation.

Love this place. Best view in town. We had the cheese appetizer and it was delicious. They also had coconut water. I was super happy about that. The prices are good and fair. They also make crepes that look and smell amazing. But I dont eat that type of thing. Definitely go in and have a drink or meal. It's worth it! Great service too.

Amazing food and views. 5 star experience while on the slopes. I have to find a way to get my wife who doesn't ski up here!

This is the perfect place to sit outside on a beautiful ski day on the mountain! We had our favorite lunch here, and Matthew's service was awesome. I highly recommend stopping here for lunch while skiing this beautiful mountain!

Great place for a break either drinks or lunch or just something sweet! Their crepes are delicious, we tried the Nutella and berry compot! The cheese is amazing and perfect for sharing! Their mushroom soup was as good as everyone says! The service is excellent! Try it out and make a reservation it is popular!

Beautiful setting but cold- the wind blows right through and the heaters don't take the edge off. Food is ok, the mushroom soup is excellent, however the lamb stew was greasy and contained chunks of charcoal.

Lunch at 11,000 ft. Million dollar views. French cuisine and great wines. What more can I say. It a must when you ski telluride. Down sides include price and wait, but as for the experience, it's tough to match.

What an experience! We celebrated our wedding with a beautiful lunch at this mountain top restaurant (accessible only on skis or snow boards). Thank you especially to the gracious manager and host, Carlin. He made our day with his warmth and graciousness. I won't delve into the details of the many ways he surprised and delighted us. Rather, I will say, that his personal touches and natural warmth made us feel so special and we will be eternally appreciative to him for making our experience truly magical. Now, back to the restaurant itself, it is sublime in every way. 360 degree jaw dropping mountain views, charming tables, heaters, blankets for coziness, and a delicious French bistro inspired menu and fabulous wine list.

What a wonderful space! They thought of everything. There were powerful heaters, and blankets on the outside benches. The food was excellent, the drinks wonderful. I felt like Princess Diana dining outdoors in St. Moritz! A truly delicious and glamorous experience.