You know that feeling when you hike a mountain and the next time you look at that mountain from afar you feel as if you know it, like an old friend? That's how it felt when we experienced Sunflower in Crested Butte. Finding the great restaurants in every town, and getting to know the Chefs, the owners, and their stories, helps to think back on those towns with fondness, pulling you to go back.

We were going to eat at the restaurant we often go to, but while hiking we realized that although we have been biking and hiking over to Crested Butte for over 35 years we still didn't have a favorite restaurant, and so we sat down and began researching best restaurants in Crested Butte and landed on Sunflower.

It was late on a Saturday afternoon so chances of getting in were close to lousy, but the planner in the group went beyond just calling and peeped her head into the kitchen window to ask if we could get a reservation. As luck would have it a big party had just canceled and so we got a table for three, which we expanded to five after running into friends while walking through the Crested Butte Arts Festival.

Sunflower Crested Butte

The interior of Sunflower in Crested Butte dates back to the early 1900s and exudes rustic charm, with its creaky wood floors and rich, paneled walls that whisper stories from days where miners worked cold, hard days and gathered together to kick back a whiskey or three. There’s a comforting authenticity here that modern restaurants often lack. We were seated out back on the patio and given blankets to help keep the crisp Colorado chill at bay. Though it was only August 3rd, the rain-soaked air already carried hints of the coming fall ... please nooooo, not yet!!

We really had no idea that we were about to embark on an immersive experience, but it became apparent when Nick, our waiter, plopped himself next to us on the bench to explain the concept of the restaurant and the best way to experience the food, which was to allow him to order for us and have us share everything. It's funny, after Covid one would think that the sharing concept would be dead forever but on the contrary, it seems that in defiance of living scared, we all want to share even more - or at least that applies to the circles I hang out in.

The friends we ran into while perusing the vendor booths at the festival were Sean Guerrero, also known as Chrome Sean, and Crested Butte local, Jeff Scott, of Woodpile. Sean had a booth showcasing his striking chrome and metal sculptures and his commissioned Ravens that seemed to pulse with intelligence and personality. Sean lives in Paonia but he certainly has a presence in Crested Butte and his sculptures can be found all over town, including his whimsical chrome horse that stands proudly in front of the Center For The Arts. As for Jeff Scott, he is a Crested Butte local with an engineering mind and a knack for designing light fixtures where the lighting mechanism is hidden behind salvaged materials like tent poles. Jeff transformed my desert birthday party into a miniature Burning Man with his innovative mind and design talent.

As we finished dinner, the Co-Owner of Sunflower, Chris Phillips, also made himself comfortable at our table, exuding passion for farms, food, life in general, and creating good vibes. Always searching for a good love story, I asked he and his partner Natalie Moselle how they met, being that their energy seemed so magnetic. As the story is told, the friendship began when they worked together at a different restaurant. Natalie told us how she loved Chris's energy and truly missed him on the days when he couldn't show up at work. Then one night the relationship turned with an unexpected kiss and on another night soon after, a toss over a shoulder at a party to a bedroom where one by one friends piled in with the party continuing in the room ... the rest is history.

Our evening at Sunflower was the culmination of serendipitous moments, all beginning with the idea that we were determined to find the heart of Crested Butte through a locally loved restaurant. Crested Butte always feels special, but sharing a meal like this made it unforgettable. Next time, I’ll be booking a table for ten, because experiences this good are meant to be shared.

Cocktails at the Dogwood in Crested Butte

Before dinner, we stopped for a drink at The Dogwood, a cozy and atmospheric bar tucked into a restored miner’s cabin dating back to 1891. Known for its imaginative, handcrafted cocktails (most starting around $16), The Dogwood offers an intimate setting perfect for a pre-dinner drink, or a late night aperitif, but be forewarned, you may have to wait in line for a table as they don't take reservations and it's a popular gathering spot.

As I passed a server balancing martini glasses filled with a strikingly deep pink cocktail, I couldn’t resist ordering one myself — The Beetnik: vodka, ginger, beet, served up. It won’t be for everyone, but for me, it was the perfect earthy, energizing aperitif before our unforgettable meal at Sunflower.

PS - There is a “lite bites” menu that features standouts like their tangy house-pickled vegetables, and an impressive cheese selection.

As each plate was served we divided them between us with Nick describing the fresh ingredients from local farms and walking us through the preparation of the food. Now get ready for your saliva glands to be activated: We began with the Tuscan Melon Gazpacho with compressed cucumber and goat cheese and the to-die-for Sweet Corn soup with spring onion pesto, toasted pipitas. Next came the House Made Burrata with heirloom tomatoes, peach and heirloom peppers, basil pesto, peach emulsion and peach-pepper relish and the Tuna Tartare with seared tuna, cucumber-radish slaw, asian vinaigrette topped with the most delicious candied sesame crisp. Then the Roasted Mushrooms with caramelized onion, corn and bok choy, creamy polenta, goat cheese vinaigrette and arugula pesto. We also had the Calder Farm petite pork chop, braised collards, corn, white beans, roasted onion & thyme cream sauce, caramelized spring onions, house-made mustard, mustard greens and for dessert a lemon cream custard with fresh cream and cherries.

Crested Butte is a magical town and we are so grateful to have the opportunity to support our community and its wonderful farmers by highlighting their ingredients in the delicious food our talented chefs create.  Everything is made from scratch and developed in house.  The Supper menu revolves around what is in season and available from the farms.  The wine list is an exciting blend of Old world and New world wines, with a simple yet satisfying selection of beer.  The experience Sunflower hopes to always provide is one of genuine joy.  An escape from the stresses of life and complete emergence into a world of clean, healthy indulgence that will leave you energized and inspired.

We also love Bonez

The art and interior design at BONEZ take many of its cues from the art of Jose Posada, and colorful, friendly Mexican folk art, both instrumental in defining the international recognition of Dia De Los Muertos. From wood block prints to the colorful calaveras that decorate our walls to our ever changing skeleton mascot you will find a visually exciting environment to enjoy a simple, yet eclectic menu. ~ Bonez

And Secret Stash Pizza

There’s a reason Secret Stash has a cult following—it’s the kind of place you don’t plan around, you just show up and trust the process. No reservations, no fuss—just bold, creative pizzas, a little edge, and a whole lot of personality packed into a laid-back Crested Butte vibe. Open daily from 11:30am to 8pm, it’s the kind of spot where the wait becomes part of the experience, and once you’re in, you’ll understand why locals and those in-the-know keep coming back. Call 970.349.6245 or email secretstashpizza@gmail.com if you must, but really, just go.

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