In the 1870s, gold and silver were discovered in Southwest Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. Ouray became a small mining town like nearby Silverton, Lake City and Telluride. After the mining boom collapsed, it became a popular tourist destination known as “The Switzerland of America.”
One of the highlights is the charming downtown Main Street with historic Victorian buildings that are home to local businesses, hotels, shops, restaurants, galleries and museums. It was named a National Historic District with several properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition there is gorgeous scenery and views of the stunning peaks from downtown.
My top recommendations of where to eat, what to do and where to stay include:
Where to Eat
The Western Saloon & Grill: This is an attractive restaurant located in an historic downtown hotel, The Western Hotel from 1891. The grill has an attractive dining room. The tavern is a casual spot where I opted to sit. There is also an outside patio and a chef’s table where you can sit near the kitchen. I enjoyed the goat cheese ravioli with a dill pistachio pesto along with the warm plum almond cake for dessert. 210 7th Ave.
Mouse’s Chocolates & Coffee: This is a small locally owned shop featuring coffee drinks, fudge, ice cream, milkshakes, truffles, and other treats. It has great hot chocolate with dark chocolate, coffee drinks as well as chocolates. 520 Main St.
Ouray Brewery: At 607 Main St., Ouray Brewery is a casual brewery featuring award-winning craft beers and hearty pub food with a menu of burgers, wings, sandwiches and salads. The produce a number of porters, stouts, blondes, ales, IPAs, ryes and saisons. They have rooftop dining with great views.
Ouray Ice House: This is a fun, casual ice cream shop with donuts and homemade ice cream. I stopped in and loved the blackberry cheesecake flavor! They also offer coffee drinks and baked goods. 225 7th Ave.
Maggie’s Kitchen is a burger restaurant known for its elk burger an d fresh-cut fries. It is open for lunch and dinner at 703 Main St. in the Ourayle House Brewery.
Artisan Bakery & Café: Located at 441 Main St., this is a breakfast and lunch spot with a menu of croissants and bagels along with coffee, tea and sweets. I went for lunch and had an excellent cranberry scone and a great sandwich of ham, goat cheese, arugula and strawberry jam served hot on a croissant. I recommend the experience.
Brickhouse 737 Kitchen & Bar is an attractive two level spot featuring American Cuisine and cocktails. I recommend the upstairs dining room which has a bar and outside seating with great mountain views. I stopped in for a cocktail before my dinner down the street and enjoyed the staff. The Peaches in the Rye was great and was made with New Riff Rye Whiskey, Palisade peach shrub, maple, lemon and toasted pecans. 737 Main St.
The Outlaw Restaurant is the oldest operating dining establishment in Ouray. It is a fun casual bar and restaurant in a historic building that was built between 1908 and 1910. It is open for dinner and brunch on Saturday and Sunday. The dinner menu includes prime rib, steaks, burgers, pastas and more. 610 Main St.
Taste Ouray: After reading great reviews, I went for dinner at Taste restaurant at 636 Main St. This is a restaurant at night/sandwich shop by day. Their goal is to create a memorable dining experience using natural, seasonal ingredients. I had a very good swordfish entrée with a mango salsa. The owner was very nice.
What to Do:
Today you can enjoy nearby hot springs, seeing wild flowers and fall colors, rock and ice climbing, the Box Cañon Falls Park & Nature Center, arts, entertainment, breweries, jeep tours, ATV tours, camping, hiking, mine tours of the Bachelor Syracuse Mine, horseback riding, backcountry and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, sledding, skiing and snowboarding and visiting nearby ghost towns
Annual events include the Ouray Winter Wine Fest, Ouray International Film Festival in June, Mountain Air Music Series in June, Jeep Jamboree in September and Oktoberfest.
The Shaggy Coo is a local shop for Ouray curiosities and gifts that is located in the Beaumont Hotel & Spa at 505 Main St. Here you can find 3-D metal art, jewelry by local artisans, handmade candles, unusual gifts, chandeliers and home décor, handbags and more.
Wright Opera House: Located at 472 Main St., this is an historic opera house from 1888 that holds events throughout the year including movies, theater, music, lectures and classes. It is a cultural hub for the community.
Also in the building is Cassidy’s Café & Antiques, a relaxed café, that is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They also sell antiques, local art, and a curated selection of mercantile goods and provisions. 480 Main St.
Ouray County Historical Museum: This is a museum housed in the original St. Joseph’s Miners’ Hospital that was built in 1886 and finished in 1887. Here you can learn the history of the Ute people and the mining history including that of brothels and the mining families. You can also attend history lectures and take walking tours of downtown through the Historical Society. 420 6th Ave.
Ouray Books: At.229 6th Ave., this is a local bookstore that was opened in 2001. In 2004 it moved from the Beaumont Hotel to a space below Mouse’s Chocolates.
Where to Stay
There are a number of lodging options from camping, glamping and RV parks to inns, B&Bs and historic hotels.
I was pleased with my choice of The Clipper Inn. This is a lovely boutique B&B a block off Main St. It has 13 attractive rooms and common areas that includes a homemade breakfast. My room, the #7 Thermopylae, was located on the second floor with a king-sized bed and outside deck. It is a great location from which to explore downtown Ouray. 525 2nd St.
Other places to try include the historic Beaumont Hotel & Spa. At 505 Main St., it was built in 1886 and restored in 2003. It has a beautiful interior. Onsite it has the 1886 Coffee and Roosevelt’s Tavern with a Teddy Roosevelt theme.
St. Elmo Hotel & Tavern is an historic hotel that opened in 1898. Today it is a charming boutique hotel with vintage charm and modern comfort. It is also home to the Tavern Bar & Restaurant. 426 Main St.
