214 Best Restaurants in Colorado, USA

Drawing inspiration from Pablo Picasso's artwork, the pizzas at this funky joint make for a diverse palette of flavors and fun. Specialties include creations such as Popeye's Passion (featuring spinach and "olive oyl") or Dracula's Nemesis (studded with roasted garlic). For kids, they even serve a mac-and-cheese pizza. With brick walls covered only by eclectic local paintings, Pablo's can get loud when busy. They pour local wines by the glass and Palisade Brewery beer and root beer by the bottle.

This dining room in Hotel Monaco is filled with fresh flowers and windows that let in natural light, making the space cheerful and bright. The focus is on true, multilayered Italian cuisine, such as grilled flatbread topped with cheese, prosciutto, truffle oil, and balsamic vinegar; or risotto made with an ever-changing and ever-pleasing variety of cheeses and fresh produce. The breads are baked in-house. The superior service and accommodating staff make for a pleasant dining experience. The large, roomy bar is available for dining, too.

A low-key farmhouse atmosphere, friendly and gracious service, and a frequently changing menu of creative Mediterranean dishes make Pêche a destination restaurant, particularly in this part of the state where fine dining is harder to come by. Menu staples include Moroccan lamb, which comes prepared as meatballs alongside dishes of accoutrements such as chutney, chopped nuts, and grilled lemon halves, as well as burrata with charred figs and a sourdough boule baked fresh for each table. The small, rotating selection of wines has been thoughtfully chosen to work with the meals. In warm months, the little patio is an inviting place to people-watch.

The restaurant is hip and artsy, with exposed brick and blown-glass lighting, arched doorways, and textured draperies. Chef Jennifer Jasinski's intense attention to detail is evident in her tribute to Mediterranean food with contemporary flair. The 2013 James Beard winner for Best Chef Southwest, she also partners with Beth Gruitch to run Stoic & Genuine, Bistro Vendôme, and Ultreia; Gruitch is in charge of the front of the house here too, and together the duo has maintained a remarkably loyal following. The wine list presents Riojas galore, and is well priced for Larimer Square. The tiny bar is a nice stop for dessert, and weekend brunch features freshly fried doughnuts and a pork-belly-based "hangover cure."

Falling-off-the-bone, melt-in-your-mouth barbecue pork, chicken, and beef draw local and out-of-town attention to this homey café. Munch on peanuts (and toss the shells on the floor) while dining at tables with cowhide-patterned tablecloths set against a backdrop of license plates from across the country.

Aromatic goodies are baked with whole grains and fresh local fruits at this down-home-style bakery known around the region for its melt-in-your-mouth pastries, "jamocha" brownies, and fresh-fruit cobblers. Owners Tim and Mary Lincoln have made their fruitcakes craveable commodities, studding them with fresh Palisade peaches and mailing them around the country (in fact, they do lots of great things with peaches, including pie). Cold sandwiches and fresh-baked bread are also available.

"Soup's on" (get it?) occupies two intimate rooms in a historic cabin tucked away in an alley and dishes up five courses of nouveau American cuisine with a strong French accent. Organic herbs grown on the premises accent local produce, and everything, including soups, stocks, and sauces, is made from scratch.

Reached via chairlift during the day and gondola at night, this massive log-and-stone structure set at 10,700 feet above sea level is a real stunner, with views of the surrounding mountains, including the peaks marching along the Continental Divide. A prix-fixe menu includes game and fish, while Douglas-fir beams, Southwestern rugs on the walls, and a huge stone fireplace in the bar add to the rustic charm. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, the après-ski menu runs from 4 to 7 pm, and in the summer, dinner is served on Friday. Game meats, steak, and fish dominate the menu, and there's a pricey but well-rounded wine list.

With a sister restaurant in Japan (and another, Izakaya Den, next door) and owners who import sushi-grade seafood to the United States, it's easy to see why this chic sushi bar is the one Denverites count on to provide the best quality available. The sushi chefs here can meet your every request, and the cooked dishes are just as well prepared—don't miss the steamed fish baskets. Check out the tony crowd and feast your eyes on the luxurious fabrics and well-designed furniture. There's almost always a wait to get in, and parking can be a hassle, but for serious sushi-heads this is the place to be. Plan far in advance to sit at the Chef's Table for an even more elevated experience and special fresh-fish selections that are unavailable on the regular menu.

The modern and elegant Tavernetta features inventive takes on classic Italian dishes (specifically, from the Friuli region) such as homemade pastas, house-cured meats and cheeses, rabbit, quail, and lamb. The appealing, well-varied (and not surprisingly, Italian-heavy) wine list is curated by the multiple sommeliers on staff. The restaurant comes from the same folks who made Frasca and Pizzeria Locale such big hits in Boulder, along with the nearby Sunday Vinyl. If the dining room is full, the lounge area is just as inviting and offers cozy seating for walk-ins only.

With a name that means "house" in Japanese, this Denver version of a famous Austin sushi spot is one stylish space. The nontraditional menu is creative and takes liberties with classic sushi and cooked Japanese delicacies by adding decadent details such as browned butter and candied quinoa to coax even more flavor out of the super-fresh seafood. Omakase tasting menus feature six or 10 courses (there's a vegetarian version, too) and are the best ways to sample as much of the chef's vision as possible. Uchi also boasts one of the best service staffs in the city, with real attention to detail and dedication to the craft. 

Woody's has a full menu, with pastas, chicken, calzones, and burgers, but it's the pizza, with its smoky, wood-charred crust, that's the big draw. Woody's is so popular that the pies are always just out of the oven. Don't be surprised if you have to join the throng of families and college students waiting outside for a table on a busy night.

Find respite from the usual mountain fare at this high-end, high-up restaurant at the base of Look Ma run. A favorite lunch spot for skiers, there are spectacular views of the Gore Range, a cozy bar and lounge with fireplace, a south-facing outdoor deck with heated tables, and hearty pasta and popular meat dishes.

Seven locally owned food trucks, serving global cuisine that includes everything from breakfast burritos to pizza to sushi, surround an outdoor courtyard with picnic-table seating. Ernie's Bar anchors the eating collective and offers craft beers, tap cocktails, and a wide tequila and mezcal selection. Don't miss the Chicago-style popcorn and Thai-rolled ice cream.

Housed in a beautifully restored Victorian, this classy bistro entices you to linger with its colorful artwork, two lovely garden patios, and scrumptious meals. The dinner menu changes frequently but always includes dishes made with locally sourced fish (like Rocky Mountain trout or Colorado striped bass) and meat (elk, lamb, or bison). The restaurant also offers fun cooking classes every week.

Locals go wild for the creative American cuisine with an Asian flair here, served in the building's intimate dining space. Top options include the black-sesame seared rare tuna with baby bok choy or the garlic rib eye with sweet potato gnocchi.

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.

So close to the gondola you can keep your boots on while dining, this upbeat restaurant in the Little Nell hotel has big glass windows and a spacious patio with slope-side views. Large wooden beams, red booths, and sleek furnishings define this spot, which is popular both for its location and its hearty surf-and-turf dishes. The menu changes seasonally and focuses on Colorado ingredients.

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 Telluride institution turns out heavenly bagels, sandwiches made with baked-in-house bread, pizzas, hearty soups, and house-made pastas (try the Alfredo), as well as huge salads. Order your meal to go or grab a seat at one of the communal-style tables, where you can enjoy displays from a local art school.

This restaurant looks like a chic Italian farmhouse, with dried flowers in brass urns, hand-painted porcelain, and straw baskets everywhere. The food isn't pretentious in the least, however; it's more like Santa Monica meets San Stefano—bold yet classic, healthy yet flavorful. Duck braised with red wine; fresh pastas, including veal-stuffed agnolotti; and risotto with mixed wild mushrooms are all well made and fairly priced. The reasonably priced four-course tasting menu is the only option on Friday and Saturday, but it is a smart way to sample more of the kitchen's talents; adding the wine pairings ups the cost, but it improves the value. On weekdays, the à la carte menu is available on request, in addition to the prix-fixe menu.

Grilled portobello-mushroom sandwiches, spicy southwestern green chile, and Mulrooney's Irish stew are among the choices at this laid-back, rustic restaurant. If you want a full meal, try the most popular entrée, barbecued baby back ribs. The deck is a gathering spot in warm weather. The place is in Lionshead, just north of the Eagle Bahn Gondola.

This always-hopping pizzeria is the area's original après-ski destination: be prepared for a wait on winter weekends, because Denverites often stop in Idaho Springs for dinner until the traffic thins. Topping choices for the famous olive-oil-and-honey pizza crust range from traditional to exotic—think andouille sausage, Hatch green chilies, and tofu—and they've added a decent version of a gluten-free crust, as well.

New batches of homemade ice cream show up almost every day at this roadside shop, where the walls are a gallery for the owners' photography and artwork. The shop sells fresh sandwiches—including a terrific roast beef on house-baked rolls—and specialty coffees, bottled root beer, cream soda, and ginger ale. The Depot's immaculate restroom makes for one of the most pleasant pit stops on the long drive ahead.

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.

An Estes Park staple since 1972, this family-run outfit is where the locals go for breakfast. Try a double-cheese omelet, huevos rancheros, or grits before heading into the park in the morning. The owners are happy to pack a lunch for you—just place your order along with breakfast, and it will be ready when you leave. This homey spot also serves lunch and dinner, with specialties such as house-smoked pulled pork, house-made meatballs, and rib eye cut on-site. Expect a wait in summer.

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.