The National Telluride

I wanted to share my experience here, as it was the positive reviews I read about this place that brought me in. Overall, I would say the experience was just fine. We had made reservations online and were looking forward to a date night away from our daughter. However, when we were seated, my wife and I looked at each other in surprise—one seat was in a corner, and the other was right next to a waiter/waitress stand. I've included a photo because it was almost comical how many times our conversation was interrupted by staff standing directly beside me. At one point, even other guests came up to speak with their server during our meal. It was such a strange location to seat someone, especially a guest who had made a reservation. If I had seen that spot beforehand and realized that’s where we’d be seated, I probably would have changed my mind—and I don’t think I would have been too upset about it. That said, the food was excellent. However, the server had not tasted the main special and was unable to describe its flavor, which was disappointing. On the plus side, the oysters tasted fresh, and the bread was unbelievable. I mistakenly gave back my dessert menu, but luckily, since I was seated so close to the stand, I didn’t even have to get up to grab another—another moment I’ve captured in a photo haha. I hope this review helps someone else make a decision.

Our party of four had a reservation and were graciously greeted by Jenny, who led us to our booth-and-barstool combo table just across from the bar. The night kicked off with flair as Michael arrived with charisma, a couple of great stories, and took our drink order with ease. Shortly after, our server Cat stepped in—sharp, attentive, and thoroughly knowledgeable. Like Michael, she was a key part of what made the experience memorable. We ordered a variety of dishes to share, family-style, and not one disappointed. The flavors, presentation, and creativity in every plate showcased the kitchen’s real talent. The vibe? Upscale yet casual, youthful but refined—fun energy all around without compromising the quality. If you’re in Telluride and looking for a dining experience that delivers both style and substance, The National is a must.

We visited The National as our final big meal while in town in June 2025. I'm definitely a fan of Telluride having more fine dining options and places with the vibes of the National. Unfortunately, we came away not especially impressed. Service throughout was awkward and oddly timed - we were asked if we were ready to order essentially right when we were seated and service at no point seemed to be supporting the experience. The menu itself I thought was pretty standard for the type of New American restaurant The National was presenting itself as and the actual food we received was similarly pretty bland. The drink options were quite nice however and the atmosphere inside was top notch. I'm hopeful our experience was just growing pains for the National since I think it's the type of option Telluride needs more of.

My husband and I came for our anniversary. Host were super sweet: instantly congratulated us after giving our names. Kelsey was our server, she was excellent and had great knowledge about the cocktail list. She also was super attentive about the fact that we don’t eat meat and made sure our pasta didn’t include mortadella. Food and drinks were delicious! We had the yellow tail crudo, the pesto bucatini and the cod 10/10! Thank you!

I'd go 100 stars if I could! #1 Chistina / Kristina (bartender) was SPECTACULAR! Great smile, cool personality & she totally took care of me, She basically ordered everything. #2 Warm & soft & crispy focaccia bread #3 The Spanish Octopus was SUPERB! #4 I'm not a pork chop guy, certainly would not order at a restaurant. Christina/Kristina called the play for me - TOUCHDOWN! Vandouvan Spicy Pork Chop, out of this world good #5 lastly, so I tell her I had a "sweet tooth", say no more, look at desert picture The Natiional is on point! This spot excells in all aspects of a restaurant

I had a great experience here with my husband. We had delicious drinks at the bar, I wish I could remember the name of the bartender who was so sweet and professional, she made great drinks and was very welcoming. My favorite dish that we ordered (appetizer) was the Steak Tartare. One of the best I’ve had outside of France. We also ordered the filet and one of the pasta dishes. The only disappointing dish was the pasta. I love homemade pasta and I love Truffles, but this was not prepared well. The pasta was sticky and had very little flavor, no truffles…that was surprising for this restaurant, but everything else was very good! And Kyle, one of the servers, is also fantastic, highly recommend asking for him if you eat in the dining room. Thank you for a great night!

The new menu and service is phenomenal. One of the best restaurants in Telluride. The cocktails are amazing; gin martini was a personal favorite. There's lots of gluten-free options and staff are super accommodating. The half chicken is my favorite main. Will definitely be returning and wouldn't be suprised to see them win awards!

My girl and I had Cacio Pepe - very small portion for price + order of poached shrimp on the side. Shrimp were huge & fantastic with cocktail sauce & lemon mmm. Great though. Noodles were perfect al dente. Beef tartare with aioli made with tuna belly & capers- topped with quail egg = Incredible!!! Hamachi yellowtail crudo was so fresh, buttery, & 10 of 10. Drank Jamaican rum cocktail- very interesting. Sat at the bar. Good experience & will be back! Made dinner reservations. Needed!

One of the best in telluride. It's very nice and elegant space and the service is great. The waitress is very friendly. Recommend to make a reservation it gets very busy, especially if you have a big group. Their brussel sprouts are crispy and full of flavor. The sourdough came out still warm. I had the special which is a white fish wish lobster sauce, there are actually real lobster bits inside not just sauce. Super flavorful. Their dessert is amazing as well, the chocolate cake is very rich but not overly sweet. Texture is perfect and moist.

Fabulous upscale restaurant for a big night out with friends or family. Ambiance is super cool - love the high ceilings of this old building, and exposed brick walls. The wall-length wine cellar was awesome. On a Friday night even with a 530pm seating the place was packed. Service was excellent - our group of nine people never had issues waiting for our server or the sommelier. Dishes came out hot, water and wine was always replenished, and best of all, they could read the room to tell when we were actually ready to place orders. Food was excellent. The group ordered a ton of different appetizers to pass around the table. Brussel sprouts, bread with a deliciously smooth butter, crab + artichoke cake, flat bread. All amazing. For the main I ordered the Lamb Shank which was very good - I wouldn't say it was excellent / best I've ever had, but loved how tender it was and the tomato confit that accompanied it. Overall this place deserved 5 stars. Highly recommend.

Food: 5/5 Michelin Level Ambiance: 5/5 modern lodge style Noise Level: 5/5 relaxing yet lively Service: 5/5 (Michaela) was outstanding It's not hard to find a great place to eat in a posh resort style town. That being said it's rare to find a Michelin level restaurant without the snooty rapport. Our drinks were outstanding (Pear and Purdy). The carrot, crab and artichoke cake, and shrimp tempura each had their own umami flare and were amazing. The filet and purée was second to none, it was prepared as to mimic the taste of a Wagyu. Will be trying their sister restaurant tomorrow at the recommendation of our server. Can't wait!

Probably the best dinner we had while in Telluride! Very good service from start to finish of the meal. We started with cocktails...one of us got the goggle tan and another got the 1st ascent. The rest of us got the mocktails and added alcohol to them and they were delicious! For apps, we got the tempura shrimp and Brussels, in addition to the bread. All were delicious! For entrees, we got the salmon, elk loin, Chilean seabass, and a salad with a chicken breast. Everything was out of this world! We topped it all off with the brioche bread pudding and the chocolate peanut butter tart! From start to finish, it was delicious meal. I would 100% recommend this restaurant to anyone who is visiting! Next time I want a bottle of wine out of their beautiful wine case that surrounds the restaurant.

Our family's new favorite dinner in Telluride. Our family has been coming here every year for the holiday week, and this place has slowly crept up to replace our old favorites. The menu feels special, and every dish stands out. It feels like a place that's trendy and in a big city but in this little ski town. Just amazing. Not incredibly expensive, but then again everything here is $$ Beef carpaccio is 5/5. One of the best I've had. Same thing with the shrimp tempura. Tuna tataki is 4/5 great. Linguini and clams also 5/5. Go!

I take this statement very, very seriously. But this place has the best espresso martini I've ever had. Made with 43 licor and shaved hazelnuts- oh my goodness. The tempura shrimp was also divine and my only regret was only coming here for drinks and apps and not full dinner.

Such a cute restaurant and very good food. Great wine selection as well! I had the pistachio crusted trout and it was so good!

I heard a lot of people talking about the National on the gondola. Lot of hype and people showing off that they had reservations. I booked a few weeks in advance and could only get a 9 pm. WOW I'm glad we went. Pros: - Ambiance. Tiny place but beautiful. Wine showcased on the wall. Dark and modern without being stuffy. - Service. Our waitress was so genuine. Tall blonde woman, can't remember her name. Seemed genuinely interest in our experience, which is rare for post-covid customer service. - Food- Short ribs were incredible. Gnocchi was interesting. Brussel sprouts were an interesting take on a classic. Cons: - Require deposit on OpenTable. Come on. Are you having that serious of a no show problem? I suspect you could fill seats with walk ins. - The two two-tops by the stairs are not good seats. People wait on the stairs and it's like having loud, angsty guests temporarily join you. Y'all giving them lower stars need to do an expectation check. It's a small restaurant in a ski town. They're crushing it. Parking: Its telluride. God speed.

Cool upscale place in town of Telluride. We had party of 8 and mixed reviews from all on selections. I had a wonderful braised short rib, and split shrimp tempura app. Service always good but a bit slow toward end

The National we say is now the best restaurant in Telluride. The vibe is festive and the food is amazing. It really delivers on everything including service. Our last couple of times I don't think there was anything we didn't love. This time crab artichoke cake was light and had nice crunch. Beef carpaccio has a delicious truffle Aioli and fried porcinis which complement nicely. Entrees. I never never order chicken but this chicken is amazing. The short rib and duck were also fantastic. Desserts...coconut cream pie yum. This is a must visit if you are in Telluride!

This is specifically related to the vegan menu: it's neither pleasing in the mouth nor manageable in the system. Four items on the menu are vegan, and three of them are pretty bad. But all in different ways: oddly-flavored (too charred, strangely bitter broccolini with pasty romesco), unappealing texture (the vegan lasagna which is an undifferentiated lump of goo with an attempted camouflage of untreated arugula), and confoundingly bland (the Brussels sprouts which weren't crispy but still forced a diner to work around the oily fried batter). There is a soup which I recall was pretty good. The vibe inside is pretty stylish and the staff are nice. But if you're seeking a vegan dinner, visit the National to get a cocktail and then go eat your meal elsewhere in Telluride.

My wife and I were in town for a few days of skiing and had a wonderful dinner at The National. The location is right in the center of Telluride in a small, intimate space. It was warm and inviting and certainly what you would expect for a restaurant at this price point. Every employee we interacted with was friendly and professional. Our waiter knew the menu and wine selection very well. We each had two drinks (wine and tequila), shared a kale Caesar salad, duck breast and Kobe steak entrees. We finished our meal off with a lava cake/ice cream dessert. Everything was very well prepared and presented. All tasted excellent. Our bill without tip was $261, which is in line with food of this quality in a ski town. If you ever find yourself in Telluride and searching for an upscale American restaurant, you could do no better than The National. Highly recommend.

The National is a very good example of Good not Great. It is nice, kinda pricy for what you get, but not overwhelmingly tasty. (Always possible we ordered wrong!). You can tell this is a local place- lots of familiar faces and friends meeting up. It was a little distracting that the host was busy saying hi to everyone rather than seating us and the server seemed much more interested in other tables than ours. But I do understand the desire of knowing your regulars and having it be a really friendly place for locals!

Very pour treatment by the manager. Staff was friendly. Food was great. Manager was passive aggressive and uncommunicative with his staff and us as diners regarding timing of our meal.

A+ service, delicious food, can't ask for more. We started with some tuna ceviche and bread, both of which were perfect. We split the halibut and elk for our entrees. Both were extremely buttery and well cooked, I can't even choose which one I like better. We also had the bread pudding and caramel pot de creme for dessert, but I couldn't get a picture because we couldn't wait to dig in. If you're in Telluride, make sure to make a stop here for a nice dining experience.

Short rib with gnocchi probably deserves a spot on this year's top 10, and if you can't tell, I've been eating out a lot. Great bar seating and excellent elevated ski resort food. The National should not be skipped.

Best restaurant in Telluride! Hands down! The grade of food is too notch, server was alert and attentive, and overall experience was impressive. We'll be back.

This place was one of the best I had while in Telluride! We went here on our last night in town wanting a great meal and got one for sure. It wasn't at all difficult to get a reservation for 2 at the bar and was a great atmosphere with a lot of locals who seemed to know the servers/bartenders. I always love seeing this in restaurants, it shows a great sense of community! In terms of food there were a ton of options. My dad is vegan and he had a lot to choose from, but I decided on the short rib, which was out of this world good. It was super tender, juicy, and was plated exceptionally too (pic below). Though a little on the pricier side in terms of Telluride this was totally reasonable and worth it 100%. Next time I'm in town I will definitely be going back.

Wow! This is the place the locals tell you to go, this is the place that the locals go! It might be the best kept secret in Telluride. A wall of nothing but wine? Yes! They have that. Amazing bartenders, that are fun, and incredibly attentive? Yes! We shared the curry cauliflower with carrot purée, and a salad with grilled salmon. Yum! We left full, it was plenty of food for two people. The wine list is to-die-for. I can't say enough good things about this place. We will be back.

The atmosphere, Service and Food are all exceptional here. I been here two nights in a row while visiting and each night I sat at the bar and Dave make some amazing cocktails.

So this rating is solely based on how we were treated by the hostess/manager. Upon arrival at our reservation time we were ignored for 10 minutes. The restaurant is small and was packed so standing at the top of the stairs waiting to be welcomed was uncomfortable and a bit nerve wracking. We noticed what appeared to be the hostess walking around, filling water glasses and chatting with many of the patrons. Additionally, there were 4 or 5 masked wait staff attending to their tables... Non of whom greeted us or even made eye contact with us. (Honestly, they all looked unsmilingly miserable) Finally, the hostess came over and, without apologizing, said she would have to get back to us with an "ETA". She seemed to be searching her reservation system for our name. After a few minutes she came back to tell us that we'd have to wait for a table of 8 to open - maybe 10 minutes. We could wait at the bar. Again, no apologies. We ordered a round and watched as two tables opened and others were seated. During this 15-20 minutes I saw the hostess/manager having fun with customers including gulping down a few glasses of their wine. Weird. After finishing our drinks and receiving no updates or apologies, we decided to close our bill and head out... figuring that the wait would continue. The bartender, who was professionally gracious, mentioned that we were leaving to the hostess/manager. At that point she came over to tell us that the drinks were on the house but these things happen. Not sure if she ever really apologized. We appreciated the gesture and left. Ended up finding a great pizza place with the nicest hostess and wait staff ever... For a third of what we would have paid at the National.

The National continues to stay at the BEST restaurant in Telluride. Although, because of its tasty menu you have to make reservations well in advance. I've been coming to Telluride for many years now, and will continue to come here each vacation. Last time I got the Salmon special and it was impeccable! The wine list is incredible too. The atmosphere is perfect as you're surrounded by mountains & a lovely wine collection. The National is amazing!

come on......... overpriced and underserved. I ordered the special scallop dish and had a Glass of sparkling water. I received four tiny scallops on a plate with some tiny diced up vegetables in a little bit of sauce. It was the portion of an appetizer. I left the restaurant so hungry I came home and had a large bowl of cereal. 80 bucks. There's no reason for this. You're charging a lot of money you should at least give people a decent portion size.

When we visit Telliride The National is a must. We always have a great experience and exceptional food. I ordered to espresso dusted elk with celery root mash. If you want a quality meal, excellent service, and an experience you won't soon forget try The National.

Omg. What a meal! We stopped in on a Saturday night after hearing good things from a bartender at There. We had just done a +9 mile hike so we were pretty hungry and luckily got to try a number of dishes. We had the most delicious ciabatta (w/ volcanic salt), tempura rock shrimp, crab cake and an amazing tenderloin dish with bone marrow. We finished our meal with the chocolate torte. Everything exceeded our expectations and we can't wait to come back during ski season!

Fantastic food. Great service. We're new to Telluride, but this was one of our favorite meals in any location. First night, first time in Telluride. 30 minute wait at the restaurant we chose, and we set out to look for a place to have a drink. We wandered into The National just as a couple of people were getting up from the bar. Within 10 minutes we had cancelled the wait list at the other place, and settled in for one of the finest meals we've ever had. The National is seriously great. We had the Harissa Olives, Focaccia and Lava Salt, Pastrami Short Ribs, Burger, Hazelnut Nougat and Baked Alaska. Everything was the best ever. We weren't the only ones who thought so--down the bar, complete strangers were pushing their food down to us, saying, "You have to taste this, it's amazing." From the bartender, we learned Ross Martin, winner of the local Top Chef Telluride competition, partnered with Eric Owen, formerly of a well known local chop house to start the restaurant. "We're all friends," he said, "we've all worked together. They just called and we all said, 'We're in.'" The close-knit team, familiarity, work ethic, humility and enthusiasm come across for a warm, welcoming, happy dining experience. Congrats to the chefs--good luck getting into the National a year from now!

I heard a buzz about this place on my way in to Telluride and knew I had to give it a shot. We generally do a nice meal at the New Sheridan, and pizza at Brown Dog, as they are traditions on our family trip, but we might have found a new favorite restaurant in town! Definitely make reservations as the restaurant is an intimate space. There was ample room to have a cocktail at the bar while we waited for our table, and the libations didn't disappoint. I highly recommend the Geisha, a Japanese whiskey creation, and a gin drink garnished with rosemary that a lovely fellow patron let me sample! Though we also had their version of an old fashioned and a light ginger cinnamon beverage that were both equally delightful. If the drinks aren't your thing, don't worry, the food is divine. We opted to go with the duck liver pate, which surprisingly also included a cheese and meat selection on the plate that made a very indulgent shareable appetizer, and the sriracha shrimp. The shrimp was battered and fried, and topped with fire roasted shishito peppers. Then we had the scallops and the lamb shank for entrees. I wish I had words to describe the spinach gnocchi, but you'll just have to try it for yourself. The scallops were tender and cooked to absolute perfection. The lamb melted in your mouth, unfortunately I was so excited to put these meals in my belly that I never stopped to photograph them. Onto dessert. Let me just say that I am NEVER one to order dessert, but the meal here was so incredible that I couldn't resist. We chose the bread pudding and the chocolate mousse cake. Both I would go back for right now. For not being a sweets kinda person, I was literally blown away by the richness of flavors and delicate textures. Now let's discuss service! From the moment I called to make a reservation, I felt like I was going to dinner at a friends house. The bartenders immediately made us feel welcome, and our server was warm and friendly. Sure, it didn't hurt that I met one of the bartenders on the gondola earlier that day, but hey, that's how it goes in town, right? We will definitely add this to our list of Telluride traditions.

This place is so underrated. We happened to stop by for a drink one night and after seeing the food around us made a reservation! Best place we have been to in telluride. The Brussel sprouts were incredible. So was the carpaccio. The short rib was one of the best dishes I have ever had. Literally every bite was mouth watering. Waiter was fantastic too. I would recommend this place to anyone visiting telluride

Manager looked at us like we were stupid when requesting a high chair for a 1 year old. We had reservations and ended up leaving. No idea why a restaurant like this wouldn't have a high chair. Ended up going to Rustico and had an absolutely incredible dinner!

Everything is amazing here! Have been many times and haven't been disappointed by a cocktail or dish since. Highly recommend sharing a bunch of the small plates and maybe one of the main entrees as they are amazing!

One of our last meals in Telluride,CO . This was a perfect ending to our food ventures in Telluride. The restaurant was beautiful and it had a great vibe going on. The menu had great selections for everybody's palate. We ordered the cauliflower soup with fried capers, it was really tasty just a bit thick, the sweet corn appetizer was delicious with the queso and heirloom tomatoes. Our friend got the pistachio crusted trout and it was amazing. Great wine list too

I am not sure what the hype is about this restaurant. It was seriously underwhelming. The decor is pretty but is the best thing about it. The food was mediocre and way overpriced. The $52 elk dish had five small pieces of meat that tasted like ordinary meat. The steak dish arrived smothered in butter. The kale and arugula salad could have been from the salad bar at Whole Foods. This restaurant reminds me of a Hawaiian resort. I bet that the locals laugh at Telluride tourists paying resort prices for mediocre food.

Food is phenomenal IF you can get a reservation. I've made reservations through Open Table and through the phone over the last year, a month in advance and have had issues actually getting the table. They never call to confirm a reservation, which you should do 24 hours before, especially having to make it a month before. When we didn't show up, even after 'trying' to get ahold of them to confirm our reservation with no answer, they charged my credit card $300. So, good luck trying to get a successful reservation that's confirmed!

One of the most incredible dinners we have ever had. First off, our waitress Jaclin was on top of her game!!! She was awesome. Our drinks were never empty + always made sure we had everything we wanted. We started off with the 1st Ascent as a cocktail. Of course, I ended up ordering two because it was just so tasty! For appetizers, we ordered the bread, the tempura shrimp, the fingerling potato's and the brussels sprouts. Every single item was out of this world GOOD. For dinner, we ordered the short rib, New York strip and the linguini. I will say, the short rib was our favorite. Its not like anything else I have ever had. So rich and Devine. For our dessert, we ordered the Brioche Bread pudding and the Chocolate Delice. The brioche bread pudding... don't even get me started. I have had dreams about this dessert since eating it. We can not wait to come back to Telluride + visit The National.

This is one of my two favorite places for dinner in Telluride. My husband had the Elk it was cooked to perfection but the flavor was crave worthy. I had the linguine with clams and it was dreamy. Pasta cooked Al dente nice amount t of clams.. the interior ambiance makes it such a treat to dine here.

Food was incredible. The best black cod I have ever had in my life. Excellent service. Wonderful ambience.

Terrible Attitude! Mainly from a cold and rude greeting from the hostess who does not love what she's doing (and really should consider doing something else, somewhere else). I do not recommend this place. Too many other good restaurants that have a kind, warm service approach. Unfortunately, the first impressions leave much to be desired. Food was average and in my opinion over priced for the quality delivered. I'm going to spend my $300 elsewhere.

The appetizers were phenomenal, but my linguine wasn't very tasteful. The bread pudding/creme brûlée as amazing and tasted so different. Service was amazing and wine was magnificent.

Excellent food and drinks. We sat at the bar. What I did not appreciate was the bartender telling me I needed to leave (because of incoming ressy that wasn't there) and then when I asked if I could finish my drink he said "I'm sure your gf can help you". Like wtf? I'm happily paying $20 for a cocktail but when I'm sitting at the bar and you talk to your customers like that - completely unacceptable

Top to bottom one of the best meals I've ever had. All of the food from appetizers to dessert really showed the level of effort the chef put in. The wait staff and the managers were awesome and very helpful throughout the entire meal. I can not stress this enough, some of the best food I've ever had.

Super thankful for the national accommodating me without a reservation on a busy night! Their waiters are handsome and funny and my husband and I had a great time! The noodles for the clam linguini were HOMEMADE for sure. The appetizers were super creative and fun. I'd definitely go back. The entrees and items are a bit on the smaller side so be prepared to order a lot!

I had a super meal here earlier this week! Firstly, the host was very accommodating to us. We had made a reservation for 7:30pm and he pushed it back to 8pm for us without any problem when we asked. I loved the brussels sprouts and the vegan lasagna! The endive salad was also delicious and could easily be made into a full meal. And the drinks were great as well! Portions are fairly large too so a meal could easily turn into a leftover meal at home! Look forward to coming back the next time I'm in Telluride!

* hostess was rude upon arrival, visibly frustrated that we were early even though we were happy to wait at the bar * bar drinks (24/7 and manhattan) were sugary and overpriced for the quality * our hot appetizer came out 20 minutes before one persons salad... * 95 dollar steak was aggressively average and oddly seasoned. Came with no sides... which isn't a big deal but... * potato puff side was a small order, not great for sharing among steak eaters * desert was partially frozen * due to odd design, many tables by the door are cold

This place does not have high chairs or booster seats. Not kid friendly. It was quite embarrassing to leave because we have a toddler and no seat.

I have travelled all over the world. This place is without a doubt one of the finest restaurants I have have had the pleasure of experiencing. The cocktails are amazing. The appetizers are divine. The food is perfect. The service is amazing and the ambiance is perfect. This is a must experience. Whomever is cooking and creating this fare is AMAZING.

Not family friendly. No kids seating. Manager could care less. For the price of a $50 high chair, they missed out on an $800-1000 meal for 6 and the hostess indicated it happens all the time. We ended up leaving.

Cannot go wrong with this restaurant! Everything on the menu is delicious. From starters to dessert, every dish is delightful. The service is impeccable. Must go while visiting Telluride!

Best food and best restaurant in Telluride. I would recommend this new place to anyone! I wish I would have tried dessert there.

We had a farms greens salad, duck confit, the Alaskan halibut and the lemon confit & herb chicken. The ingredients were fresh and the dishes were excellently prepared and flavorful. Probably one of the best chicken dishes I've had. They also have a well-selected premium choice of beers and wines.