Everyone’s food tastes are as different as the city they live in, and the Colorado food scene is no exception. Full of deliciously eclectic eats, including plenty of top-rated restaurants that are sure to stand out from the crowd, diners are in for a treat when it comes to Michelin star restaurants in Denver.
A restaurant earns a Michelin star when anonymous Michelin inspectors visit a restaurant and deem the ingredients high quality, the chef’s style unique, and the taste and flavors of the food phenomenal. Restaurants are even awarded a green star for their sustainability efforts.
So what are Denver’s top restaurants? And how do they stand out from family-friendly places or your usual haunts? Whether you’re celebrating an important milestone or have always wondered if there are any Michelin-starred restaurants in Denver, this comprehensive guide will have your mouth watering in no time and is sure to include something that everyone will love.
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Contemporary Michelin Restaurants
Contemporary cuisine offers a modern approach to cooking that’s innovative and fresh, and these restaurants easily answer the call. There are numerous award-winning restaurants to choose from, each with its own unique flavor.
Beckon
2843 Larimer St.
- Hours:
- Sunday-Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday-Saturday: 5-10 p.m.
- Pricing: $215 per person
- Book a reservation
Dining at Beckon is a unique experience, as their menu follows the changing of the seasons, reflecting the natural rhythm of the calendar year. Diners sit around a gorgeous 18-seat table that faces the kitchen so you can watch the dining staff work tirelessly over an 11-course meal. There are vegetarian and pescatarian options available for those with any dietary restrictions, though the in-season vegetable dishes are considered the star of the show.
Brutø
1801 Blake St.
- Hours:
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday: 5-8 p.m.
- Friday-Saturday: 5-8:30 p.m.
- Pricing: $175 per person
- Book a reservation
Located in downtown, Brutø takes its inspiration from brutalist ideas and themes, many of which are evident throughout the dining room. Diners face the open kitchen, where a burning hearth cooks your meal in an effort to practice sustainability (which earned the restaurant a Michelin green star). The menu incorporates Japanese and Nordic elements and includes a fermentation program that highlights their grains and produce.
The Wolf’s Tailor
4058 Tejon St.
- Hours:
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday-Sunday: 5-9 p.m.
- Pricing: $105-200 per person
- Book a dining experience
Boasting not one, but two Michelin stars, The Wolf’s Tailor is passionate about locally-sourced ingredients and making iconic cocktails (both alcoholic and non) that pair perfectly with their main courses. Their philosophy is to take inspiration from travel and memory and transform it into something beautiful while maintaining a zero-waste kitchen (which also earned this spot its own green star). Everything that’s served to you has been repurposed into something with a creative and delicious twist.
Margot
1551 S. Pearl St.
- Hours:
- Tuesday-Thursday: 5-9 p.m.
- Friday-Saturday: 5-10 p.m.
- Sunday-Monday: Closed
- Pricing: $165 for the 12-course meal, prices vary for walk-in dining
- Book a reservation
Margot is the self-described “life of the party.” Colorado native Justin Fulton took his weekly pop-up and transformed it into a contemporary dining experience that’s bursting with flavor. Diners can choose to either dine as a walk-in guest or do the chef’s counter experience, which is a 12-course meal that changes nightly for a more intimate dining experience. (However, it’s only open to 8 guests each night, so be sure to book in advance.)
Italian Michelin Restaurants
You can never go wrong with a good pasta and wine pairing. Elevate it with a Michelin-starred Italian restaurant, and you’ve got one of the best meals you could ask for.
Frasca Food and Wine
1738 Pearl St.
- Hours:
- Monday-Thursday and Sunday: 5-8:30 p.m.
- Friday-Saturday: 5-9 p.m.
- Pricing: Prices vary by dining experience; dining room and bar reservations require a $25 deposit per person, and the chef’s dining experience is $305 per person.
- Book a reservation
Located in Boulder, this Italian Michelin-starred restaurant is sure to be a dining experience for the ages. The James Beard Foundation recently recognized it as an outstanding restaurant, and its masterful selection of wines is truly something to behold. Diners can choose to dine in the restaurant or bar, or choose from the exclusive Chef’s Table Experience, which only hosts one reservation per evening, and treats diners to a 10-course meal with the restaurant’s chefs as they walk you through the inspiration for each course.
Japanese Michelin Restaurants
Japanese cuisine is already so unique. Pair that with a Michelin-starred experience, and you’re in for a dining experience that’s both delicious and distinctive.
Kizaki
1551 S. Pearl St.
- Hours: N/A
- Reservations are held from 5-8 p.m.
- Pricing: $225 before tax
- Book a reservation*
- At the moment, it looks like there aren’t any reservations available. If desired, patrons can put an alert on OpenTable to let them know when they resume.
Chef Toshi Kizaki has been a staple in the Denver restaurant scene with his exceptional cooking for over four decades, and Kizaki is the ultimate culmination of his years of service. Restaurant space is limited, so you’ll have to be on your A-game to secure a table. Kizaki serves up Japanese cuisine through the traditional omakase menu, which has a whopping 20 courses.
Mexican Michelin Restaurants
With a significant emphasis on family meals and gatherings, Mexican Michelin-starred cuisine is nothing short of amazing. Bold flavors and endless cocktails are paired with a cozy hospitality that leaves patrons feeling cared for and comfortable.
Mezcaleria Alma
2550 15th St.
- Hours: 4 p.m.-12 a.m. daily
- Pricing: $16-32 per menu item; prices may vary
- Book a reservation
With a menu that’s a “love letter to Mexico City,” Mezcaleria Alma is a great, accessible option for anyone looking for the best restaurants in Denver. There may not be a multi-course meal here, but the dining offerings and expertly crafted cocktails make the menu shine with an array of unique flavors of iconic CDMX comfort foods. Whatever menu item you pick, it’s sure to become the next crowd favorite.
Alma Fonda Fina
2556 15th St.
- Hours:
- Monday-Thursday: 2-10 p.m.
- Friday: 2-11 p.m.
- Saturday: 4-11 p.m.
- Sunday: 4-10 p.m.
- Pricing: $8-49 per menu item; prices may vary
- Book a reservation
Located right next door to Mezcaleria Alma, Alma Fonda Fina draws inspiration from chef Johnny Curiel’s childhood. Curiel’s goal as a chef is to uncover the treasures of Mexican cuisine, and he draws out those gems and serves them to happy diners each night. With mouthwatering items like sourdough tortillas and agave-roasted sweet potatoes, patrons won’t be able to stop raving about this spot.
Aspen Michelin Restaurants
Colorado’s Michelin star restaurants aren’t just relegated to Denver. Aspen also has a recently award-winning dining experience that’s sure to leave everyone speechless.
Bosq
312 S. Mill St.
- Hours: Daily from 5:30-10:30 p.m.
- Pricing: Chef’s Tastings are $275 per guest, and the 5 Course A La Carte Meal is $195 per guest
- Book a reservation
Each dish at Bosq is inspired by the beautiful Colorado landscape that surrounds the restaurant. With a dim and moody environment, patrons can enjoy the local flavors of the mountains through locally-sourced ingredients, and will feel the homey hospitality of Chef Barclay Dodge. The menu is also thoughtfully paired with a delicious beverage menu that also holds unique flavors and notes from the surrounding wilderness.