Alley House Grille combines fine dining with a casual atmosphere in an elegantly restored cottage from 1912. Inside, you’ll find modern architecture with a small-town twist, from the impressive skylights lit in hues of green and blue to the charming dining areas with rustic wood tables and chairs. Dine on artfully plated dishes such as pan-seared chicken with garlic chive whipped potatoes or glazed lamb chops. The restaurant also offers an extensive wine list and cocktail menu.

Craving something sweet? The muffins, cinnamon rolls and scones at Pagosa Baking Company hit the spot. What began as a small business selling bread out of the truck of owner Kathy Keyes’ car has now flourished into a local Pagosa favorite in a historic, two-room cabin from 1906 that still features the original fireplace. Open Wednesday through Monday, you can indulge in homemade pies, quiche and even breakfast burritos loaded with green chile, eggs, potatoes and chorizo.

Riff Raff Brewing Company brews its beers at two locations – downtown inside a Victorian-style home built in 1898 and On the Rio, a relaxing riverside brewpub just up the street. Opened in 2013, Riff Raff Brewing's original downtown location is known for harnessing Pagosa's hot springs' geothermal energy to create craft beers, from flagships like the Hopgoblin, an American IPA dry-hopped with Cascade to Man's Best Friend, a Kolsch-style beer.

Pour your beer on tap and dine on pizza and Italian favorites at Mountain Pizza and Tap Room. The iPourIt tap system lets you pour beer or wine with a few presses of a screen. Rotating brews like Three Barrel Brewing’s Freeze Cat, a full-bodied Winter lager, and the hoppy Euphoria Pale Ale from Ska Brewing are among the many choices to pair with a classic pepperoni pie or rich, creamy fettuccini alfredo.

For Tex-Mex-inspired dishes and house-made margaritas, Kips Grill & Cantina is the place to dine. Kip’s specializes in seriously fresh and flavorful handmade tacos, such as their spicy Esteban Special (tacos stuffed with marinated steak) and craft beers from Colorado’s notable breweries, such as Ska, New Belgium, and Breckenridge.

Considered a must-eat by Pagosa Springs locals, Rosie’s Pizzeria has been serving up made-from-scratch pizza paired with friendly service for more than 15 years. Bite into buttery stuffed garlic knots, nibble on a hearty selection of salads, and try one of their signature pizza, from the veggie with sundried tomato to the deluxe piled high with savory meats.

Located on Eagle Drive, The Break Room Brewing Company is a microbrewery on the outskirts of downtown Pagosa Springs known for its live music and weekly cornhole and pool tournaments. Its ten taps aim to please with simple yet delicious brews of varying styles – Big Fat Irish Red is perfectly sweet with caramel malt notes.

At the East Side Market and Food Court, a hub for locally owned food trucks and vendors selling homemade crafts, you’ll find a wide range of cuisine from Latin flavors to All-American. While food vendors can change depending on the time of year, you can count on delicious Mexican cuisine such as tacos and tortas from Lonchera Don Jose and, during the summer season, homemade tamales from Lucy’s Tamales.