There are plenty of reasons to visit Carbondale, not the least of which are picturesque Mount Sopris, the quaint downtown, or breakfast at the Village Smithy.

In operation since 1975, the blacksmith-shop-turned-restaurant dishes out the usual morning staples but excels with creative eats such as McGurk’s, a skillet-like dish of hash browns layered with mushrooms, green onion, tomatoes, and cheddar. Perhaps best of all are the Santa Fe Cakes, three hearty cornmeal pancakes with bacon, green chiles, and cheddar tucked inside. Doused in syrup, these hit all the right notes of salty, sweet, and savory.

Bonus: Carbondale’s main drag has been dubbed Restaurant Row for its abundance of top-notch spots. Don’t miss Russets, Ella, Six89, Phat Thai, White House Pizza, or Swiss Gourmet Market.

26 S. Third St., Carbondale, 970-963-9990

Amanda M. Faison
Amanda M. Faison
Freelance writer Amanda M. Faison spent 20 years at 5280 Magazine, 12 of those as Food Editor.