11 Must-Visit Colorado Food Towns

Denver: Food Hall Feasts 

One of the latest trends in the Denver dining scene is the rise of a more sophisticated version of a food court, offering variety, convenience and a convivial atmosphere. 

Breakfast 

Don’t snooze on the most important meal of the day at Stanley Marketplace (technically in the neighboring suburb of Aurora) — Denver Biscuit Company serves its namesake creations stacked with goodies like buttermilk fried chicken and sausage gravy, while Rosenberg’s Bagels & Delicatessen recreates New York-style bagels by using a system that adjusts the water’s mineral content to mimic that of the Big Apple.

Lunch

 Billed as a “collective eatery,” Avanti Food & Beverage rotates dining concepts in and out periodically. Try the pabellon arepas from Quiero Arepas or a piled-high beef patty from Knockabout Burgers.

Sips & Snacks 

Inside The Denver Central Market, belly up to the Curio Bar for a cocktail or select a glass of wine to pair with an artisan board from Culture Meat & Cheese.

Dinner

The Source was the first food hall to emerge in Denver. Its lineup includes adventurous Israeli flavors at Safta, plus Reunion Bread's delicious loaves and pastries.

Colorado Springs: Americana Meets Fine Dining

As state’s second-largest city, Colorado Springs has a culinary scene that runs the gamut between nostalgic greasy spoons and high-end sophistication.

Breakfast 

Have a meal fit for a king at the Costilla Street location of King’s Chef Diner, housed in a purple castle. Be sure to try some­thing smothered in the famous green chile.

Lunch

Known for smashing onions into its burger patties, the Green Line Grill is an old-school eatery that recalls lunch counters of yesteryear.

Sips & Snacks

It’s fitting that a haunt called The Rabbit Hole would occupy a sleek, subterranean space, where signature cocktails are an ideal match for the creative nibbles.

Dinner

From Pepper Tree Restaurant’s dining room, the breathtaking views of city lights twinkling below set the tone for steaks and specialties prepared tableside. 

Grand Junction: Downtown Delights

The heart and soul of Grand Junction in western Colorado is its inviting downtown corridor, where the eateries are plentiful.

Breakfast 

Specialty pancakes and cinnamon rolls baked fresh daily are just a few of the delicious items that await at Dream Cafe.

Lunch

Tacoparty’s offerings include tacos in rotating, seasonal flavors like mushroom confit and beer-battered wahoo and gourmet soft serve.

Sweet Stop

A fourth-generation family business, Enstrom Candies’ downtown retail shop is just the place to pick up some rich, buttery, almond-toffee goodness.

Dinner

The modern American fare at 626 on Rood is the perfect complement to the extensive wine list — and you might find some picks from the surrounding Grand Junction-area wine region. 

Pagosa Springs: Cozy Up

Petite nosheries and intimate dining rooms will leave you feeling cozier than the hot springs that give the scenic town of Pagosa Springs its name. 

Breakfast 

Homey diner The Rose may be small, but the portions certainly aren’t — get your fill of biscuits and gravy, huevos rancheros and other A.M. specialties.

Lunch

At lunchtime, The Peak Deli offers hand-crafted sandwiches and burritos with house-made spreads. Try their freshly baked oatmeal-chocolate-chip cookies while you're there.

Sweet Stop

Take a break at Pagosa Baking Company for all things flour-filled. There’s always an artisan bread of the day, not to mention tasty cookies, cakes, scones and other delights.

Dinner

Tucked into a restored 1912 cottage, Alley House Grille oozes warmth. Ask for a table by the fireplace and enjoy crispy pork belly or Colorado lamb chops.

Boulder: Culture Trip

When Bon Appétit dubs you the “Foodiest Town in America,” you know you’re in for a culinary treat. Find something divine from a multitude of cultures in Boulder.

Breakfast 

Lucile’s brings a slice of New Orleans to a yellow Victorian house. Don’t miss the Eggs Sardou, a combo of creamed spinach, shrimp, poached eggs and hollandaise.

Lunch

Seek out Cafe Aion for innovative, farm-to-fork Spanish tapas and other Mediterranean-influenced dishes.

Sips & Snacks 

Though Japango is open daily for lunch and dinner, this sushi restaurant's happy hour draw the crowds. 

Dinner

Thanks to its impressive wine program, expertly prepared northern Italian fare and attentive service, Frasca Food & Wine has earned numerous accolades.

Montrose: Fuel For Adventure

Well positioned in southwest Colorado for a bounty of outdoor pursuits, meals in Montrose will power you through any adrenaline-pumping activity.

Breakfast 

Whether it’s an egg, bacon and cheese sandwich or a bagel with schmear, grab breakfast on the run at Backstreet Bagel & Deli.

Lunch

If you want to load up on carbs, Colorado Boy Pizzeria & Brewery is the place for it, known for artisan pies (try the barbecue chick­en with Shishito peppers) and award-winning craft beer.

Sips & Snacks 

Enjoy your nibbles with a side of mystery at Phelanies speakeasy. Grab the password off their site to gain access to charcuterie, duck wontons and a divine cocktail menu.

Dinner

Southwest flavors are the main focus at Camp Robber, a contemporary-casual restaurant that aims to please palates with mainstays like green chile chicken and pota­to soup and blackboard specials.

Pueblo: Spice Up Your Life

If there’s one thing to know about southeastern Colorado, it’s that the Pueblo chile reigns supreme — but it’s not the only way kitchens in town bring the heat.

Breakfast 

Beef enchiladas before noon? You won’t object to B Street Cafe’s version topped with two eggs and smothered in flavorful green chile.

Lunch

Robust Pueblo chiles are mixed right into the beef at Bingo Burger. Luckily, hand-spun shakes and malts are available to cool tingling tongues.

Sips & Snacks 

Plan a late-afternoon nosh around Bistoro's roasted Pueblo-green-chile bruschetta, which is served on olive-oil-brushed crostinis.

Dinner

The modern interpretations of classic Indian dishes at Mr. Tandoori Urban Bar & Grill put a different spin on sweat-inducing eats.

Buena Vista: Classic Comforts 

Staples are just that for a reason — they’re dependable and comforting, and you’ll find plenty of spots for them in the central Colorado town of Buena Vista.

Breakfast 

Buena Vista Roastery’s high-altitude coffee-roasting process lends itself to the perfect cup of joe, which you can savor at its cafe location along with breakfast burritos, quiche and pastries.

Lunch

A menu of healthy, from-scratch sandwiches, soups, burgers, bowls and burritos is the draw at House Rock Kitchen — the bocce-ball court and giant Jenga are a bonus!

Sweet Stop 

Located in a Shell station, Stedman’s Sodas, Sweets & Treats is the place to go for vintage candy, homemade fudge, an ice-cream counter and more than 200 kinds of glass-bottled sodas.

Dinner

Wood-fired pizzas and entrees like barbecue ribs go hand-in-hand with Crank Yanker IPA and other brewed-on-site beers at Eddyline Restaurant at South Main.

Vail: Treat Yourself 

Home to some truly world-class destinations, ritzy Vail is the right mountain town to splurge on a fantastic meal — or four.

Breakfast 

Westside Cafe isn’t a spendy option, but you will likely go for broke on your calorie count indulging in chicken-fried steak or bananas Foster pancakes.

Lunch

Nab a spot on The Blü Cow's cozy patio and chow down on Swiss-style hot dogs while enjoying a refreshing cocktail. 

Sips & Snacks 

Root & Flower’s extensive wine list, including more than 50 by-the-glass pours, pairs nicely with charcuterie and cheese selections in this sleek Vail Village wine bar.

Dinner

While slightly more casual than sister restaurant Sweet Basil, Mountain Standard is still an upmarket establishment with rustic yet refined food prepared over an open flame. 

Steamboat Springs: Down By the River

With the Yampa River flowing through town, there are plenty of opportunities for captivating — and in some cases, waterside — dining in Steamboat Springs. 

Breakfast 

Come hungry to Winona’s so you’ll be ready to take on the legendary, big-as-your-face cinnamon rolls.

Lunch

Watch Yampa Rivertubers float by from the patio at Sunpie’s Bistro, while devouring po’boys, gumbo and other Cajun favorites.

Sips & Snacks 

Wash down Jamaican jerk-spiced chicken wings with a cold pint that’s brewed right on-site at Mahogany Ridge Brewery & Grill.

Dinner

High elevations call for elevated meals, and Aurum won’t disappoint with its New American cuisine right on the riverfront.

Sterling: High Plains Hospitality

As a community with deep roots in the Colorado prairie, there’s a sense of welcoming in Sterling that extends to its eateries. 

Breakfast 

J&L Cafe is a friendly diner that turns out breakfast hits such as steak and eggs, piping-hot griddlecakes and chicken and waffles.

Lunch

As the first brewery on Colorado’s eastern plains, Parts and Labor Brewing Company found a home in a former car dealership to build its ales, along with iron-pressed paninis and loaded nachos.

Sweet Stop

After you’ve ordered an ice-cream sundae or a steaming cappuccino, settle into Simkins Parlour’s oversized chairs and challenge someone to an old-fashioned board game.

Dinner

Hootenannies offers a little bit of everything, from tasty sand­wiches, pastas and grilled entrees to a robust craft beer list. 

Surprising Small-Town Eats

Sometimes it’s the unexpected meals that turn out best. Here are dining highlights in places you might not have thought to look.

• Kennebec Cafe is a haven of casual-elegant vibes and Mediterranean-inspired dishes. Stop for weekend brunch or sample Old World wines at this European-themed Hesperus spot. 
• Carbondale may be on the other side of the world from southeast Asia, but that doesn’t stop Phat Thai from delivering satisfying, albeit untradi­tional, takes on Thai cuisine.
• On your way to or from the moun­tains on I-70, detour to the mining hamlet of Idaho Springs, where you can get your hands on melt-in-your-mouth brisket at Smokin Yard’s BBQ.
• Stop in Burlington as you cross into Colorado from Kansas; and visit The Dish Room to fill up on modern ap­proaches to Italian, New American and Southwest fare. 
• Gourmands will be impressed with the stylish comfort food at The Farm Bistro in Cortez. 

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