The Diamond Belle Saloon

This is on the ground floor of the Strater. The best thing about the place by far. 

The Strater Hotel

In my three previous trips to Durango in the last three years, I stayed each time at the General Palmer, a hotel built in 1898. And I liked it each time. 

But several people told me I should try the Strater - a hotel one block away built in 1887. 

And for whatever reason, the Strater was $75-per-night less expensive than the General Palmer on this trip. So I decided to try it. 

Let's just say I will never stay here again. Everything about the General Palmer is better. 

Well, everything except one thing. 

More on that tomorrow. 

Rice Monkey

 

At one of the bars at which I drank in Durango, I noticed the bartender and a customer sharing sushi from a bag the latter had brought in with her. It looked good and I inquired where they got it. It was from a place called Rice Monkey, two or three blocks down Main Street.

"It's the best sushi in the world!" the bartender said. 

Let's just say I did not expect the best sushi in the world to be served in a mountain town of 20,000 people in Southwestern Colorado. 

But I asked no questions and offered no skepticism. What purpose would that serve? 

And I decided to try it for lunch the next day. 

It was... very good, actually. 

But I'm not sure if it would even be the best place in Santa Fe - which, as I have lamented, is an awful town for Asian food. 

It would definitely not be Top-10 in Pasadena. 

And I'm guessing there are at least two or three better places in Japan.

A Rooftop Bar in a Mountain Town in Spring with Mountain Time on Tap

All good things, my friends. All good things.  

Derailed Pour House

Tripadvisor lists Derailed as the #12 Casual Dining Restaurant in America. 

That seems high to me, but this was my second time here and I definitely love the place. 

My three favorite things: 

1) The best japaleño poppers I have ever eaten - wrapped in crispy bacon. 

2) A fantastic Cuban sandwich. 

3) The May mountain sun streaming through the window, bathing the bar and my beer. 

Every Road Trip Has One

There is always one photo that stands out as the defining photo of a road trip. 

This is that. 

El Moro Tavern & Hell or High Twilight

 

 Hell or High Watermelon is delicious. Every other variation is not as good. Including this one. 

11th Street Station

There are lots of places that look good to eat here, but I was just after a beer. 

Switchback

 

Chips & salsa and brisket birria quesatacos. 

I love this place.