24 Best Restaurants in South Central Colorado, Colorado

Dinner at Alys' is a simple treat, where the "international eclectic" prix-fixe options feature lamb, steak, chicken, or seafood; fresh vegetables; potato, rice, or pasta; soup or salad; and soft drinks, tea, or coffee (vegetarian dinners are always available too). Wine is extra, and you'll appreciate the attentive care taken with the thoughtful wine list—you might even have the opportunity to ask chef Alys Romer what she recommends.

Pizza reigns at this Italian hot spot on Main Street, where a large, modern bar anchors the dining room and giant picture windows highlight views of the Collegiate Peaks. Choose house-made focaccia or sourdough crust and build your own pizza, or pick from a dozen specialty pies. Anything drizzled with balsamic is sure to please. This lively spot also serves up delectable pastas, salads, small bites, cocktails, and Colorado craft brews. 

Locals constantly debate where to find the city's best "slopper"—an open-face burger smothered in cheese, red or green chile, and onions—but there is no question you will find an authentic Pueblo experience at this dive bar, where the dish was first served. Bikers and families converge on the large outdoor patio during the summer to devour the messy burger. Add a pile of fries to the top for the true slopper taste, and make sure to pair it all with an ice-cold Coors in honor of the building that was once a distribution center for the state’s largest brewery.

This local favorite draws visitors to mismatched tables with drawings by regional artists hovering on the walls above. The food has an organic bent, with many vegetarian options. Vegan Mexican green chile smothers the famous huevos rancheros, and seasonal French toast specialties attract breakfast enthusiasts until late afternoon, while spicy Asian bowls and rustic Italian lasagna bring in the dinner crowd.

Pizza wars endure in Salida, where the battle for the best pie becomes more difficult with each addition to town. But the wood-fired pizzas and craft brews at this downtown grub hub come highly recommended by locals. Families stop in for a giant pie that can easily feed a family of four, while white-water rafters, hikers, and bikers unwind at the next table with one of the brewery’s well-known chili beers. Artful pizzas in a variety of veggie-heavy, meat-lover, gluten-free, and build-your-own options all grace the menu. Peer into the working brewery with glass walls that is centrally located and visible from most tables in this lively space.

Pies are also available to go.

This popular restaurant has a heavy Italian focus, but the chefs here aren't afraid to mix things up, whipping out such creative concoctions as crawfish and blue cheese pizza. The owner also hosts food and wine pairings.

For a quick bite, try this Western-themed watering hole and barbecue-steak joint with a quirky personality. Boss Hogg's is a local institution.

A large patio overlooking the Riverwalk beckons visitors to this brewery with unexpected, elevated pub food. Burgers, especially the slopper, are popular favorites, but the charcuterie board, green chile made with Pueblo's famous peppers, and carne asada tacos with tomato chimichurri exceed expectations. Shareable flights include 10-ounce pours of beer brewed in tanks visible in the main dining room, which doubles as an occasional concert venue. Keep an eye out for remnants of the building's former life as a police station and jail. The gun range is now the women's restroom, and the drunk tank was turned into the restaurant's dishwashing station. 

Centrally located on Main Street, Cañon City Brews and Bikes offers an extensive craft beer menu and pub food that attracts hikers, bikers, and locals alike. The massive outdoor space, with tables and a beer garden, offers a perfect place to wind down from outdoor activities.

This casual brewpub is located by South Main River Park, so after tackling the nearby miles of hiking and biking trails, dine on burgers, sandwiches, pasta, or steak, and wash it down with ales brewed on-site. Or visit its taproom location just off Route 24 where the brewing facility is housed for a wood-fired pizza, nachos, and other pub food.

With a focus on the historical cuisine of the Four Corners region where Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado touch borders, chef Brother Luck's restaurant serves up creative tasting-style menus sure to impress his Top Chef fan base. Along with the Four Corners significance, the number four represents Luck's four key sources of ingredients—hunters, gatherers, farmers, and fishermen; the four seasonal menus; and the fact that Luck is the fourth generation in his family to have the name Brother Luck. The four-course suggestions are perfectly paired modern American dishes often featuring beef, wild game, or seafood, served up in a clean, modern dining room with a casual atmosphere for passing plates and allowing seasonal dishes to shine in flavor and presentation.

Tunes, brews, and barbecue attract visitors and locals to the outdoor patio at this causal smokehouse in Old Colorado City. Guests can be overheard arguing about which homemade sauce is best and singing along to the music of live acts from across the country that can be heard throughout the block. Smells of piled-high pork sandwiches, family recipes, and slow-smoked specialties also waft through the nearby streets.

Outdoor adventurers both local and visiting gather to kick back and refuel on the fresh and healthy dishes at this lively spot on downtown's Main Street. Seasonal ingredients fill the bowls, salads, and sandwiches and are best enjoyed on the patio with a cold beer.

The coffee is full-bodied at this coffeehouse and café where all profits go to local charities. Amish baked goods reign on the menu with plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free options.

Comic books, murals, film posters, and board games embellish the simple pleasure of smooth coffee at this eclectic coffeehouse downtown. The coffee is roasted in-house and a pop-up bakery is usually stationed at the front but runs out of goodies fast. Not to worry; a cereal bar offers a snack to pair with your brew. Game nights are hosted in corners of the shop where black lights create a fun mood.  

The aroma of garlic and tomato sauce saturates this tiny, unpretentious eatery. Pastas, including standards like ravioli with homemade sauce and penne rigate with luscious meatballs, are consistently excellent. If you don't have time for a sit-down lunch, stop at the deli counter for sandwiches or take-outs of imported cheeses and olives.

Small plates are the focus at this popular restaurant. People often share the more than 25 "noshers," ranging from the char sui Ramen bowl to rainbow trout. The koi murals represent the restaurant's flow of energy and good service. Happy hour specials are offered on weekdays.

Upside-down lamps hang from the ceiling and local art for purchase decks the brick walls of this downtown gastropub, where you can find a menu filled with southern comfort dishes with a dash of Asian flare. Sweet chili tartar sauce and a bed of Asian slaw level up the crispy fish-and-chips. Pulled pork covers the banh mi nachos—the star of the appetizers. And the sriracha buttermilk fried chicken adds some kick to the popular sandwich. Bartenders at a bar spanning nearly the entire length of the room mix up craft cocktails and pour a variety of craft beer. 

Steaks served with three Japanese sauces sizzle on cast-iron platters in this centrally located sushi and steak house. Traditional tempura appetizers and sushi rolls join noodle bowls, fried rice, and curry on the varied menu. The dining options are just as eclectic, with a few casual tables and a sushi bar up front, a large table with pillow seating in the next room, and a formal dining room open for dinner only in the back. For lunch, try a filling bento box with soup, salad, appetizer, sushi, and entrée. 

Named for the proprietor's grandmother, Paravicini lives up to its Italian name, which translates to "for the neighborhood." Locals of all ages gather in the colorful and well-lit space that provides a balance of fun and romance to sip glasses of wine and share the family-style salad, fresh bread, and heaping piles of noodles. Pasta reigns on this traditional Italian menu highlighting classic and surf-and-turf options.

There is no shortage of fun or food at family-friendly Pizza Madness. Arcade games keep kids and adults entertained while you wait for your hand-tossed pie. This is where you’ll find the Cañon City locals on a Saturday afternoon---sitting against mural-covered walls munching on slices, salads, and sandwiches. Pick your own ingredients, or try one of the specialties like the Colorado, with chicken, green chilies, black olives, and bacon.

With stunning views of Cheyenne Lake and the main hotel, this "restaurant of the lake" features an open kitchen and cozy lounge. Smaller portions allow guests to try a variety of authentic Italian dishes from antipasti and wood-fired pizzas to lasagna and house-made sausage. Ask your server or the house sommelier which of the restaurant's 150 selections of wine to pair with each course.

Piles of sweet and savory baked goods, from salted caramel cronuts to homemade strawberry pop-tarts, some still warm from the oven, cover the coffee bar at this quaint brunch spot downtown. Colorful and vintage-inspired wallpaper and decor create a cozy second-floor dining room that's packed on weekends, but rooftop tables with views of the Collegiate Peaks offer the best spot in the house. Open-face sandwiches, breakfast nachos, and eggs Benedict with dill hollandaise are crowd-pleasers. Dinner is served Thursday through Saturday, and lunch can be found downstairs, where Sweetie's (same owners) offers more than 60 sandwiches made with the same breads and fresh ingredients.

As its name suggests, it's all about the views of Pikes Peak, which can be appreciated from the floor-to-ceiling windows in the second-story dining room, the rooftop, or the courtyard, where you can play volleyball, bocce, horseshoes, and cornhole. Several bars offer excellent craft beer options that complement the menu's varied offerings. Sushi, sandwiches, tacos, bowls, burgers, and pizza cater to all interests with seasonal changes inspired by the kitchen. Try the Thai peanut chicken bowl or blue-crab enchiladas, and don't forget a Nutella pizza for dessert.