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Colorado Dining and Restaurants

Colorado Food & Dining

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Coloradoans love good food, so it’s easy to find delicious dining and nightlife options throughout 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. Below, we cover:

  • Dining halls and food markets
  • Farms and farmers’ markets
  • Fast casual food chains
  • Iconic and historic bars and 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 number of food markets and dining halls in Denver, which house a range of restaurants and bars under one roof.

Avanti Food and Beverage in Denver, CO

Avanti Food & Beverage – Denver

Broadway Market Denver, CO

Broadway Market – Denver

Denver Central Market, CO

Denver Central Market – Denver

Denver Milk Market, CO

Denver Milk Market – Denver

The Source Hotel + Market Hall, CO

Source Hotel + Market Hall – Denver

Stanley Marketplace, CO

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.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Original DU Denver Location

Chipotle Mexican Grill – Front Range

Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh Restaurant

Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh – Front Range

Illegal Burger Glendale CO

Illegal Burger – Denver Metro

Illegal Pete's Breakfast Burrito

Illegal Pete’s – Front Range

Larkburger Colorado

Larkburger – Front Range

Mad Greens Castle Rock Colorado Exterior

MAD Greens – Front Range

Noodles and Company Denver CO

Noodles & Company – Front Range

Qdoba Mexican Eats Denver CO

Qdoba Mexican Eats – Front Range

Quiznos Denver Capitol Hill

Quiznos – Denver Metro

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews, CO

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers & Brews – Greenwood Village

Colorado Restaurant Smash Burger Denver

Smashburger – Denver Metro

Teriyaki Madness Downtown Denver

Teriyaki Madness – Denver Metro

Tokyo Joe's Asian Fusion Denver Colorado

Tokyo Joe’s – Front Range

Iconic and Historic Bars & 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.

740 Front Louisville Colorado

740 Front – Louisville

The Airplane Restaurant in Colorado Springs, CO

Airplane Restaurant – Colorado Springs

Beau Jo's Colorado Pizza Idaho Springs

Beau Jo’s Colorado Style Pizza – Idaho Springs

Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs Denver

Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs – Denver

Buckhorn Exchange Denver

Buckhorn Exchange – Denver

Bucksnort Saloon and Family Restaurant Pine Colorado

Bucksnort Saloon & Family Restaurant – Pine

Buffalo Rose, Golden, Colorado

Buffalo Rose – Golden

Casa Bonita Mexican Restaurant Lakewood CO

Casa Bonita – Lakewood

Cherry Cricket Denver CO

Cherry Cricket – Denver

Chop House Restaurant at New Sheridan Telluride CO

Chop House Restaurant – Telluride

City, O’ City Vegetarian Restaurant Denver

City, O’ City – Denver

Coney Island Boardwalk Hot Dog Stand Bailey Colorado

Coney Island Boardwalk – Bailey

Dazzle Presents, Colorado

Dazzle Presents – Denver

The Fort Restaurant Morrison CO

Fort Restaurant – Morrison

Gold Pan Saloon in Breckenridge, CO

Gold Pan Saloon – Breckenridge

Gray's Coors Tavern, Pueblo, Colorado

Gray’s Coors Tavern – Pueblo

Historic Mint Steakhouse Silverthorne Colorado

Historic Mint Steakhouse – Silverthorne

Hotel Jerome Aspen Colorado

J-Bar – Aspen

Kochevars Saloon and Gaming Hall Crested Butte CO

Kochevars Saloon & Gaming Hall – Crested Butte

Downtown Meeker Hotel Cafe Colorado

Meeker Hotel & Cafe

Minturn Saloon Colorado Exterior

Minturn Saloon – Minturn

Mishawaka Amphitheatre, CO

Mishawaka Amphitheatre – Bellvue

My Brother's Bar Denver CO Exterior

My Brother’s Bar – Denver

New Sheridan Historic Bar and Chop House Restaurant

New Sheridan Historic Bar – Telluride

Ore House at the Pine Grove Steamboat Springs CO

Ore House at the Pine Grove – Steamboat Springs

Ore House Restaurant Durango Colorado

Ore House Durango – Durango

Red Onion Restaurant Aspen CO

Red Onion Restaurant – Aspen

Silver Grill Cafe Fort Collins CO

Silver Grill Cafe – Fort Collins

The Sink Restaurant and Bar Boulder Colorado Diners, Drive-ins and Dives Filming

Sink Restaurant & Bar – Boulder

Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs Denver CO

Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs – Denver

Sushi Den Denver Colorado Restaurant

Sushi Den – Denver

The Cruise Room, Denver, Colorado

The Cruise Room – Denver

Image of the menu and a roulette table at The Legendary Silver Dollar Saloon in Leadville, Colorado

The Legendary Silver Dollar Saloon – Leadville

Image of the Town Pump in Fort Collins, Colorado

Town Pump – Fort Collins

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, CO

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 an exceptional evening under the stars or blanket full of snow.

BAR D Chuckwagon Suppers, CO

BAR D Chuckwagon Suppers – Durango

Flying W Ranch Chuck Wagon, CO

Flying W Ranch – Colorado Springs

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Colorado’s Oldest Bars and Saloons

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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 palate. Like most of the U.S., a beautiful blend of cultures exists, 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 of the landlocked nature of Colorado, it’s not known 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 of the many steakhouses around.

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

Mile High Happy HourAfter a long hard day enjoying the Rockies, one of the best things to do in Colorado is eating delicious food. Because the quality of food here is held in such high regard. 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.

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