The first restaurant of chef Josh Niernberg’s Grand Junction empire (see also a food truck, Taco Party, and Dinner Party), Bin 707 is our farthest west destination for all-day seasonal fare from beet and chicory salads to butter and radishes and striped bass with caviar and potato waffles. Road trip passengers can order a house cocktail or whiskey flight before heading on to Utah.

The last stop before Telluride, Ridgway is a surprising little food destination all its own. Among the many options in this walkable town is Provisions Cafe, located in an 1894 barbershop. Amie Minnick, a longtime Telluride private chef to the stars, now runs this unassuming restaurant. She serves brunch Wednesdays to Sundays and dinner Thursdays to Saturdays. Start with local coffee and breakfast hash.

For lunch or dinner, diners heading toward Aspen should stop in this relaxed Glenwood Springs restaurant that serves some of the very best Mexican food in Colorado. Don't miss the carne asada tacos, pozole, and pupusas.

Located between Carbondale and Aspen, and just down the road from its own potato farm, Woody Creek makes some of the best spirits in the state. Drinkers pulling off in this industrial enclave can taste distiller Dave Matthews’ now-famous potato vodka, his floral and citrus-forward gin, and a taproom-only High Rye whiskey.

Just beyond Vail, the former mining town of Minturn maintains its historic Saloon, where clandestine drinking and gambling date back to 1901. Flair and margaritas are the main reasons to visit, but a mixed grill for dinner is a more filling option. And après ski hour is popular for those skiing the Minturn Mile.

On down to Leadville, Treeline is a newer addition to the country’s highest elevation food scene. It opens daily for happy hour and dinner and serves a comforting new American food menu alongside an extensive wine list and winter cocktails. Come warmer weather, the rooftop patio is a nice perch overlooking this historic city.

Colorado’s best craft beer bar is lantern-lit and hiding inside this 1880s-era Buena Vista town jailhouse. There’s only room for 10 well-selected taps featuring beers from Colorado and beyond (see currently breweries such as Aspen, Weldwerks, Melvin, and Logsdon). Seating is equally cozy, and the bathrooms are their own adventure off the back patio.

A summers-only spot, the drive here is worth it just for a cheeseburger. This side-of-the-road pit stop offers a classic American creation at a cheap price and best washed down with a milkshake. Pro tip: If you need to use the bathroom, be sure to bring some quarters.

Down the road from the coffee shop is this old-timey cocktail bar that started Silver Plume’s ongoing hipsterization and garnered a cult following for its drinks served in a vintage-chic setting (the word “bread” on the back of the former bakery building worked wonders). It’s only open Fridays to Sundays, and visitors should plan ahead to arrive on live music nights — they can be magical — as well as for food and craft goods pop-ups.

Open Thursday through Sunday in the winter and through Monday come summer, this “casual mountain cookhouse” is a pleasant surprise along Highway 285. A previously Denver-based couple (he, a chef, she, a produce purveyor) run the cabin restaurant, serving pan-seared fish, spinach and kale salad, and short rib sandwiches. A lounge area offers beer, wine, and cocktails.

Winter or summer, this modern brewery and restaurant is a breath of fresh air just 40 minutes up I-70. Brewed on the premises, the beers are a great compliment to Southern-influenced dishes. Highlights include the fried chicken and biscuits.

Lafayette’s newest eatery is cupboard sized and serving handheld pies that make for perfect portable road trip snacking. The New Zealand-inspired treats come in all savory varieties — mincemeat, steak and cheese, mushrooms and beer, cauliflower tikka masala. They’re selling for now on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays only.