Must-see restaurants in The Rocky Mountains

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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 –…

  • Lake Yellowstone Hotel.

    Lake Yellowstone Hotel Dining Room

    Yellowstone National Park

    Save your one unwrinkled outfit to feast in style in Lake Yellowstone Hotel's dining room. Lunch options include trout, poached-pear salad and sandwiches…

  • Mammoth Hot Springs Dining Room

    Yellowstone National Park

    There are a few surprises in this elegant place, including a delicious dinner starter of Thai-curry mussels. Dinner is a serious affair, with Montana…

  • 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…

  • Belton Chalet Grill & Taproom

    Glacier National Park

    West Glacier's finest dining option, housed in one of its most historic buildings, has evolved with the times, the faux Swiss milkmaid waitress uniforms…

  • 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…

  • Follow Yer' Nose BBQ

    Montana

    OMGoodness, this place is good. What started as a portable smoker in a gravel parking lot is now Montana's liveliest barbecue joint. Locals flock to this…

  • Nova Cafe

    Bozeman & Gallatin Valley

    A helpful map at the entrance shows you where the food you'll be eating comes from at this retro-contemporary locals' favorite. The hollandaise is a bit…

  • 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…

  • Goldy's Breakfast Bistro

    Boise

    Assuming an egg is just an egg, Goldy's offers 866,320 'Create Your Own Breakfast Combos.' Check our math – we were already drunk on hollandaise sauce…

  • Chugwater Soda Fountain

    Wyoming

    Small-town America was once filled with places like this. Now they're national treasures. No-frills Chugwater Soda Fountain has Wyoming's oldest-operating…

  • 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…

  • Cowfish

    Wyoming

    Spring for a candlelit dinner of brussels-sprout carbonara or coffee-rubbed rib eye at Lander's upscale restaurant suitable for date nights. The attached…

  • Bunkhouse Bar & Grill

    Wyoming

    West of Cheyenne on the W-210, this storied steakhouse is worth the trip. Around since 1898, they've learned a thing or two about local tastes – burgers,…

  • 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…

  • 2nd St Bistro

    Montana

    Our personal favorite, located in the historic Murray Hotel, with a superb range of appetizers, cocktails and draft beers, this is a classy but relaxed…

  • Sweet Melissa's

    Wyoming

    Sweet Melissa's makes delicious vegetarian and gluten-free dishes, no doubt the healthiest food for miles, such as gorgonzola-leek mac 'n' cheese. The…

  • 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…

  • Jenny Lake Lodge Dining Room

    Grand Teton National Park

    A real splurge, this may be the only five-course wilderness meal of your life, and it's well worth it. For breakfast, crab-cake eggs Benedict is prepared…

  • 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…

  • Market on Front

    Montana

    Order a fresh-made sandwich or overflowing breakfast bowl, or take advantage of the gourmet grab-and-go picnic items such as local teas, organic chocolate…

  • 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…

  • Stanley Baking Company

    Idaho

    Something of a legend, this middle-of-nowhere bakery and brunch spot is a must stop. Operating for five months of the year out of a small log cabin,…

  • 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…

  • Follow Yer' Nose BBQ

    Bozeman & Gallatin Valley

    Lovers of some of Montana's best grills have for years been forced out into the backblocks of Paradise Valley for their fix. No longer. This city outpost…

  • Pearl Cafe

    Montana

    Our pick as Missoula's culinary superstar, Pearl Cafe does French country cooking with a western-US twist – try the walnut and herb prawns, the grilled…

  • Forage Bistro

    Idaho

    An airy little cafe with a fresh atmosphere serving wine, small plates and locally farmed meat and vegetables. Happy hour is 3pm to 5pm and often has…

  • 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…

  • Enoteca

    Idaho

    By the people who once presided over Ketchum Grill, Enoteca combines a classy, softly lit space with an enticing selection of large and small tapas-style…

  • Beartooth Café

    Montana

    A bright place for lunch sandwiches (such as a buffalo burger, a ‘funk burger’ or lighter portobello sandwich) served on the pleasant front deck, washed…