214 Best Restaurants in Colorado, USA

The no-frills restaurant in the Great Sand Dunes Oasis (which includes a grocery store and gas station as well as motel rooms and campsites), just outside the park entrance, is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Navajo taco (served on fry bread) and beef or chicken burritos are among the most popular items, although the menu ranges from grilled-cheese sandwiches to steaks.

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. 

The first American craft brewery to can its beer, Oskar Blues is a Lyons hot spot for beer, pub grub, and music. Try Dale's Pale Ale or any of the other robust beers brewed nearby in small (20-barrel) batches. In the basement, a "juke joint" hosts live music and an arcade has old-time games; there's a bluegrass jam Tuesday night.

The Bonannos, whose restaurants number more than a dozen now and are all among the best in town, continue to have success with this reasonably priced, casual eatery. High-backed wooden booths, dish towels as napkins, and exposed-brick walls provide a hip, urban setting below street level for wood-fired pizzas topped with Frank Bonanno's homemade or imported cheeses and house-cured meats. Or try one of the sampler trays from the formaggi and salumi (fresh cheese and meats) bar, the Italian version of an artisan deli that greets you at the entrance. Salads are large enough to eat as entrées. The mostly locally sourced meat dishes shine—especially the lamb meatballs with housemade goat-milk ricotta. Happy hour runs from 2 to 5 on weekdays and features snacks for $8 and under.

This three-level brewpub boasts an amazing rooftop patio, with great views of the surrounding canyon as well as the goings-on below on Main Street. The beers include four standards plus a few seasonal offerings while the food is typical pub fare, with a sprinkling of more interesting entrées like smoked-beet Reuben sandwiches.

Live ragtime piano music welcomes you most nights to this saloon-style eatery, specializing in steak, seafood, and pasta. Portions are generous and loaded with extras (each entrée comes with rice or potato, vegetables, and bread).

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.

This old-fashioned greasy-spoon diner specializes in Greek food, huge pancakes, and spicy huevos rancheros. It's a short drive from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and it's often packed, particularly on Sunday mornings.

The journey to and from this elegant log cabin restaurant in an idyllic setting is even more memorable than the delicious local fish and hearty wild game plates served. In the winter, take in breathtaking views of the Elk Mountains as you snowshoe, cross-country ski, or ride in a horse-drawn sleigh to the cabin where large windows preserve the scenery. In summer, plan to hike or bike to take in the stunning surroundings for the reward of a filling lunch or dinner. Wintertime dinners are quite pricey, but they include transportation—by sleigh or a cross-country ski trek (gear provided).

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.

This casual riverside eatery serves creative signature pizzas. Try the spinach, artichoke, and feta pie made with sun-dried-tomato pesto. You can also create your own pie from five sauces and nearly 40 toppings. Other options include sandwiches, wraps, salads, and burgers. Poppy's has patio seating at the river and an extensive selection of beer.

The menu changes monthly at this industrial-designed restaurant, whose name, French for "kitchen garden," refers to the herb-rimmed back patio. The menu always includes a selection of salads along with fish and a thin-crust pizza from the wood-fired oven. Exposed ducts and a high ceiling make for a trendy dining room, and the floor-to-ceiling front windows allow the hip to be seen and the twinkling lights outside and in to be reflected for a warm glow. The wine list is all over the map but it's well priced and changes monthly to go with the menu; the servers are among the most savvy in town.

With its exposed redbrick walls, pendant lighting, loftlike high ceilings, and zinc-topped bar, the Pullman exudes a sophisticated, urban vibe at a location across the street from the Amtrak train station (thus the name) in Glenwood's historic downtown area. This laid-back restaurant welcomes all types of casual diners with a contemporary American menu that specializes in steak and pork, though the salads and pasta dishes are excellent.

The colorful decor of this American Southwest joint is something you'll remember. High-backed chairs ring the tables, stone buttresses arch toward vaulted ceilings, and mobiles of round- and star-shaped metal lights dangle above. The menu, where burgers, fajitas, and Korean fried chicken all find a home, is packed with surprises, like Fat Tire Ale–battered fish tacos or a green-chile cheeseburger made with local beef.

This pub-style restaurant offers 60 taps of craft beer from around the country, along with a short wine and cocktail roster and plenty of pub grub, including burgers (the PB&J is a marvel), fish-and-chips, and poutine. Most of the space is taken up by the 4,000-square-foot patio, with its huge TVs, open-air fire pits, and covered seating for large and small groups, although there is limited seating inside. The popular weekday happy hour from 3 to 7 fills up fast and features $1 off drinks and $2 off snacks.

Like its other Front Range brethren, the Fort Collins branch of this six-location restaurant always satisfies with favorites such as tacos, quesadillas, burritos, and fajitas. The spacious location in the heart of Old Town has exposed brick walls, hand-painted tables, and old storefront windows. When the weather is warm, wait for a table on the enclosed patio with a giant Mexican fountain.

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.

Gracious service and exceptional Vietnamese food have made Saigon Landing an Evergreen favorite. The dining room, decorated with imported knickknacks, serves as a relaxing and romantic backdrop for live piano music on the weekends. This is the place to try exotic dishes such as frogs' legs, grilled quail, and stuffed squid; more traditional offerings like lemongrass beef and sesame chicken are exemplary as well.

Greek immigrant Sam Armatas opened his first eatery in Denver in 1927, and his three sons use the same recipes their father did in their updated version of his all-American diner, from the famous red and green chilis to the Coney Island–style hot dogs and creamy rice pudding. The retro diner resembles a fancy Denny's, and the bar is crowded with theatergoers and hipsters after dark. Good luck choosing: the menu is 12 pages long, with Greek and Mexican favorites as well as diner classics. The chunky mashed potatoes rule, as do the pie-based milkshakes, and breakfast, which is served all day, comes fast.

The tacos, house salsa and guac, frozen margaritas, and tequila are everything you hope for when you spot the Day of the Dead skull on the sign of this lively dining room in central Breck. Locals rave about happy hour, and visitors dig the funky toppings and unique taco fillings like fried chicken, duck confit, and sweet potato.

Sit inside beneath sweeping tapestries in a Japanese-style booth (seating on the floor) or opt for a table on the deck to enjoy amazing pizza in a mind-bending array of formulations—from the "Notorious F.I.G." (prosciutto, dried figs, and truffle oil) to the "Mac Daddy" (with Thousand Island, shaved rib eye, pickles, and a sesame seed crust).

A favorite of Boulder's many health-conscious athletes and world travelers, this homey restaurant in a historical house is owned and run by genuine Sherpas, and offers a voluminous menu with Himalayan favorites like curry and tandoori chicken. It oozes mountain culture and has a bar and library, and a chef who has summited Everest 10 times. Owner Pemba Sherpa also offers guiding services in Nepal.

The small but well-prepared menu brings everyone to this small diner just far enough off the main road that it could be easily missed—but do stop for a breakfast burrito stuffed with seasonal veggies or French toast with berry compote. White walls; wooden, metal-ringed tables; and blue chairs create a casual dining area where the wood bartop and high stools are a favorite. The tiny outside eating area fills up fast.

For comfort food in a historic atmosphere, stop by this charming, bustling café with diner counters, some boxy booths, dozens of tables, and an inviting, year-round patio. Operating in its current location since 1933, it serves a wide selection of breakfast food all day, such as omelets, Benedicts, biscuits and gravy, hotcakes, steak and eggs, and burritos, while lunch features delicious sandwiches, soups, salads, and burgers.

In this ski lodge dating from the 1880s, the four-course, prix-fixe dinner is a favorite for its Colorado-spun American cuisine. Main courses have included whiskey sage–glazed Muscovy duck, peppered bacon-wrapped buffalo tenderloin, and thyme-seared wild Alaskan halibut. The delicious homemade bread and soup make for a memorable beginning. Adjourn to the cozy lounge for the decadent desserts and specialty coffees by the fire. Swing by for après-ski in winter and cocktails on the patio in summer.

In a lovingly renovated Victorian tavern awash in handmade lace and stained glass, this restaurant is just plain cozy. A menu with a comfort-food bent spotlights family-style options, such as skillet-fried chicken, rib-eye steak, and ribs, paired with sides like fresh biscuits, creamy mashed potatoes, gumbo, and mac and cheese. Southern-style offerings (po'boys, chicken and waffles) abound, while the occasional international entrée (banh mi, anyone?) dots the menu. A Creole-style weekend brunch often includes live music.

Mix and match tacos and hot dogs at this small, chill spot near the Roaring Fork River that attracts families and outdoor enthusiasts looking to refuel after their adventures. Tacos range from fried fish with pico de gallo to unexpected Asian flavors, and the local, natural-casing dogs are equally enticing, including the Glenwood Completo with avocado and ancho remoulade. Colorado beers and margaritas offer the perfect pairing.