Must-see restaurants in Colorado

  • Root Down

    Denver

    In a converted gas station, this is one of the city’s most ambitious culinary concepts, marrying sustainable ‘field-to-fork’ practices, high-concept…

  • Acorn

    Denver

    The oak-fired oven and grill are the shining stars of this superb restaurant, where small plates of innovative and shareable eats make up meals. The menu…

  • Denver Central Market

    Denver

    Set in a repurposed warehouse, this gourmet marketplace wows with its style and breadth of options. Eat a bowl of handmade pasta or an artisanal sandwich;…

  • Rioja

    Denver

    This is one of Denver’s most innovative restaurants. Smart, busy and upscale, yet relaxed and casual – just like Colorado – Rioja features modern cuisine…

  • Crosscut Pizzeria & Taphouse

    Colorado

    Crosscut serves up some of the best Italian-style pizza in the Rockies – wood-fired, thin crust, topped with gourmet treats like pancetta and crimini…

  • Frasca

    Boulder

    Deemed Boulder’s finest by many (the wine service earned a James Beard award), Frasca has an impeccable kitchen and only the freshest farm-to-table…

  • Civic Center Eats

    Denver

    When the weather gets warm, head to Civic Center Park for lunch. There, a huge number of food trucks – everything from BBQ and pizza to sushi and Indian –…

  • SAME Café

    Denver

    This nonprofit cafe was founded by two former food-bank workers who wanted to provide organic and locally sourced meals for people struggling to make ends…

  • Meat & Cheese

    Aspen

    By all means stop by to browse the artisan offerings in the gourmet deli, but don't leave without nibbling on a plate of cheese and charcuterie, beet-and…

  • Oak at Fourteenth

    Boulder

    Zesty and innovative, locally owned Oak manufactures top-notch cocktails and tasty small plates for stylish diners. Standouts include the grilled bacon…

  • Hop Alley

    Denver

    Hop Alley was a slur used for Denver’s hardscrabble Chinatown in the 1880s, until a race riot and anti-Chinese legislation scattered the community. The…

  • Rincón Argentino

    Boulder

    Don't be turned off by the shopping plaza setting: Rincón packs a wallop of authentic Argentinean flavors. It bakes fresh empanadas – savory, small…

  • City O’ City

    Denver

    This popular vegan/vegetarian restaurant mixes retro decor with an innovative spin on greens, grains and seitan. The menu has a wide offering of items…

  • Brasserie Ten Ten

    Boulder

    A go-to place for both students and professors, this sunny French bistro has a refined menu and an elegant atmosphere – think fresh flowers, marble high…

  • Little Man Ice Cream

    Denver

    It's impossible to miss the 28ft-high dairy jug. From its window, cones of handcrafted ice cream – including several vegan options – are doled out from…

  • Abejas

    Colorado

    Abejas is a bustling bistro with a rustic-chic setting – reclaimed barn wood, corrugated metal, even bungee cords set the tone. The menu is farm to table…

  • Rayback Collective

    Boulder

    A plumbing-supplies warehouse turned urban oasis, Rayback is a snapshot of Boulder. A place to feel community. A huge outdoor space with firepit and lawn…

  • Pyramid Bistro

    Aspen

    Set on the top floor of Explore Booksellers, this gourmet veggie cafe serves up some delightful creations, including sweet-potato gnocchi with goat's…

  • T/ACO

    Boulder

    Super-fresh ingredients and inventive recipes mean T/ACO’s tacos are little gems on a corn tortilla: braised pork belly, mango Caesar chicken, even a…

  • Ranger Station

    Aspen

    This place is much more a bar than a restaurant, but given the dearth of dining choices in Snowmass, you may as well eat here too. The stars of the show…

  • Tamales by La Casita

    Denver

    La Casita serves up the best tamales in Denver, hands down. Two types are on deck: red chile and pork, and green chile and cheese (the latter is…

  • Matsuhisa

    Aspen

    The original Colorado link in Matsuhisa Nobu’s iconic global chain that now wraps around the world, this converted house is more intimate than its Vail…

  • Marigold

    Colorado Springs

    Way out by the Garden of the Gods is this buzzy French bistro and bakery that's easy on both the palate and the wallet. Feast on delicacies such as…

  • Pizzeria Rustica

    Colorado Springs

    Wood-fired pizzas, locally sourced ingredients and a historic Old Colorado City locale make this bustling pizza joint the place to make a beeline for when…

  • Uchenna

    Colorado Springs

    Chef Maya learned her recipes from her mother before she moved to America, and you'll love the homey cooking and family-friendly vibe at this authentic…

  • Fruition Restaurant

    Denver

    Alex Seidel and Blake Edmunds are heavy hitters in Denver’s fine-dining scene, pulling off their contemporary American plates (potato-wrapped oysters…

  • Pizzeria Locale

    Boulder

    The obvious choice for a slice with style. Beloved stepchild of upscale Frasca (they share a kitchen), this southern Italian–style pizzeria fills with…

  • El Five

    Denver

    The best views of the Denver skyline can be had on this glassed-in tapas joint in the swinging Lower Highlands area. The small plate offerings blend…

  • Salt

    Boulder

    While farm-to-table is ubiquitous in Boulder, this is one spot that delivers and surpasses expectations. The handmade fettuccine with snap peas, radicchio…

  • Domo Restaurant

    Denver

    'Japanese country food' doesn’t really capture the refinement of dishes at Domo, which sports the best garden dining in all of Colorado – kind of like…

  • Snooze

    Denver

    This retro-styled cheery spot is one of the hottest post-party breakfast-and-brunch joints in town. It dishes up spectacularly crafted breakfast burritos…

  • Gurkhas

    Boulder

    Gurkhas serves up authentic home-style Indian fare, some of the best in town. Think buttered and honeyed naan, creamy tikka masala, tender, fresh coconut…

  • Kitchen

    Boulder

    The pioneer of farm-to-table cuisine in Boulder, Kitchen features clean lines, stacks of crusty bread and a daily menu. Super-fresh ingredients are…

  • Salto Coffee Works

    Colorado

    This welcoming cafe, with roaring fires in winter and a stone patio in summer, adds some ambience to Ned. Skiers can start their day with egg sandwiches…

  • Beatrice & Woodsley

    Denver

    Beatrice & Woodsley is the most artfully designed dining room in Denver. Chainsaws are buried into the wall to support shelves, there’s an aspen growing…

  • Mateo

    Boulder

    A casual dining hall with minimalist panache, an upscale but not fancy-pants crowd, and a damn fine kitchen specializing in French comfort cuisine – think…

  • Bistro Vendôme

    Denver

    When you discover Vendôme, tucked behind the storefronts of historic Larimer Sq, it feels like your own little secret. Brunch is more casual than dinner,…

  • Tangerine

    Boulder

    It's worth leaving the downtown bubble for this true treat of a breakfast spot in a nondescript shopping plaza. Think polenta with poached eggs, spinach…

  • Boulder County Farmers Market

    Boulder

    A massive spring and summer sprawl of colorful, mostly organic local food. Find flowers and herbs, as well as brain-sized mushrooms, delicate squash…

  • River & Woods

    Boulder

    Upscale comfort food is probably the best way to describe the menu at River & Woods, with forays into classical and avant garde. The ever-changing menu…