Colorado Restaurants | Best Dining, Foods and Famers Markets

Coloradoans love good food, so it’s easy to find delicious dining and nightlife options through the state, such as restaurants, bars, food trucks, street fare, and farmers markets. The dining scene in Denver is vibrant, which carries over to the rest of the state.

Dining halls and food markets
Farms and farmers markets
Fast casual food chains
Iconic and historic restaurants
Vegetarian and vegan restaurants
Western stage show dinners

Dining Halls and Food Markets

A seemingly old concept of a food court has seen new life throughout the state, most notably in the Mile High City. There are a myriad food markets and dining halls in Denver, which house a range of restaurants and bars under one roof.

Avanti Food & Beverage – Denver

Broadway Market – Denver

Denver Central Market – Denver

Denver Milk Market – Denver

Source Hotel + Market Hall – Denver

Stanley Marketplace – Aurora

Farms and Farmers Markets

Getting your food straight from the farmers markets and various farms around Colorado ensures you fresh, nutritious fare. Find everything from meats and produce to dairy and farm fresh eggs.

Image of rows of vines in a vineyard in the Fruit & Wine Scenic Byway in Palisade, Colorado

Fruit & Wine Byway – Palisade

Fast Casual Food Chains from Colorado

Fast casual is like gourmet fast food. Colorado is a place known for its health conscious eaters, so it’s no wonder it grew so many nationally recognized brands. The following fast casual restaurant chains all started in Colorado, most are still based here, though some like Qdoba and Chipotle have since moved their headquarters out of state.

Iconic and Historic Restaurants

Sometimes you want a little bit of history while you dine. These restaurants are among the oldest in the state, or at least located within some of the oldest buildings. Those that aren’t the oldest around, still have grown into iconic local establishments. Soak in the ambiance and enjoy the delicious fare.

Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants

Whether you simply want to avoid meat or all animal products, such as cheese and eggs, Colorado has numerous restaurants to serve you. From Colorado Springs to Denver and beyond to the western slope, there are a growing number of vegetarian and 100% vegan menus to choose from.

City, O’ City Vegetarian Restaurant Denver

City, O’ City – Denver

Lulu’s Downstairs – Manitou Springs

Western Stage Show Dinners

Get the ultimate in Old West ambiance at a local stage show dinner. It combines live theater entertainment with a western style barbeque. Both Durango and Colorado Springs has historic shows, or if the winter, consider a sleigh ride dinner for exceptional evening under the stars or blanket full of snow.

BAR D Chuckwagon Suppers – Durango

Flying W Ranch – Colorado Springs

Guide to Restaurants, Foods and Dining in Colorado

Denver Civic Center Eats Colorado — Denver’s Civic Center Eats happens Tuesday to Thursday, May to September.

Colorado’s terrific food scene is quite diverse with something for every palatte. Like most of the U.S., a beautiful blend of cultures exist, which brings with it a range of flavorful food. You can find a myriad of ethnicities covered as far as food goes in a big city like Denver, Colorado or Aurora.

Because the landlocked nature of Colorado it’s not know for its seafood, though you can certainly find plenty of opportunities for fish flown in that day. It’s more a turf state, known for its red meats, bison and cattle. Enjoy a delicious cut of meat at one the many steakhouses around.

Historic Mint Steakhouse Silverthorne Rib Eye Steak — Fresh cut rib eye.

After a long hard day enjoying the Rockies, one of the best things to do in Colorado is eat. Because the quality of food here is held in such high regards. Coloradoans take great pride in sourcing healthy, organic, natural and ethically raised meats. Many locals even grow their own garden produce.

You can find everything here from five star fusion fare to a campfire roasted cowboy dinner. There are many iconic restaurants in the state, including Denver’s oldest the Buckhorn Exchange. Treat your tastebuds right, with one of Colorado’s favorite restaurants.

It’s always nice to stretch your dollar a little further when it comes to dining out. Denver happy hours are a good place to start. Always be on the lookout for local promotions, on store windows, in local magazines and online.