Colorado, a state known more for being a playground for outdoor lovers, has officially been anointed a culinary hotpot. That’s because, on September 12, 2023, the Rocky Mountain state received its first-ever stars in the venerable Michelin Guide at a gala event in Denver. By becoming the sixth region in the United States to receive its own guide, the state joined the ranks of dining powerhouses New York City, California, Washington D.C., Chicago, and Florida.
The bestowing of a Michelin star is a momentous occasion for any establishment. It has elevated many chefs to spectacular heights. Gordon Ramsey, Alain Ducasse, Thomas Keller, and Joël Robuchon are just a few luminaries the guide singled out that have become household names.
The inclusion of Colorado is part of a significant expansion of the guide that saw it recently enter Toronto (its first in Canada), Florida, as mentioned above, with Atlanta, GA, planned for 2024. As one of the fastest-growing states in population, Colorado is quickly becoming a dining hotspot that regularly takes home James Beard Awards and attracts fresh young chef talent.
First launched in 1900 by Michelin Tire, the guide’s rating system has remained virtually unchanged since 1931. Restaurants can receive one, two, or three stars. To put things into perspective, of the 16,600 restaurants in the guide worldwide, only 3,400 have any stars, and only 142 have three stars, 13 of which are in the United States.
The rest of the restaurants in the guide have been recognized in one of three categories. They are the Recommended designation, the level just below a star, a Bib Gourmand designation for establishments that offer diners a chance to eat well without breaking the bank, or a Green Star designation for environmental sustainability.
The first Colorado guide focused on Denver, Boulder, Aspen/Snowmass, Vail, and Beaver Creek restaurants. Noticeably absent were the second largest city in the state, Colorado Springs, plus the cities of Aurora, Ft. Collins, and the Western Slope region. That was due to the decision of those regions not to contribute funds like those listed to belay the costs of bringing in the anonymous inspectors that ultimately decide who goes into the guide.
Five restaurants were awarded one star (none were awarded two or three stars), nine received the Bib Gourmand, four received the Green Star, and thirty were listed as Recommended. Here are the restaurants that were singled out.
One Star Awards
- Beckon, Denver (Duncan Holmes)
- Bosq, Aspen (Barclay Dodge)
- Brutø, Denver (Michael Diaz de Leon and Kelly Whitaker)
- Frasca Food and Wine, Boulder (Ian Palazzola)
- The Wolf’s Tailor, Denver (Taylor Stark and Kelly Whitaker)
Bib Gourmand
- AJ’s Pit Bar-B-Q, Denver
- Ash’Kara, Denver
- Glo Noodle House, Denver
- Hop Alley, Denver
- La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal, Denver
- Mister Oso, Denver
- Tavernetta, Denver
- The Ginger Pig, Denver
- Basta, Boulder
Green Star
- Blackbelly Market, Boulder
- Bramble & Hare, Boulder
- Brutø, Denver
- The Wolf’s Tailor, Denver
Recommended
A5 Steakhouse, Denver
Barolo Grill, Denver
Blackbelly Market, Boulder
Dio Mio, Denver
Bramble & Hare, Boulder
Dushanbe Tea House, Boulder
Element 47, Aspen
Fruition, Denver
Guard and Grace, Denver
Hey Kiddo, Denver
Marco’s Coal Fired, Denver
Mawa’s Kitchen, Aspen
Mercantile Dining and Provision, Denver
Mirabelle, Avon
Noisette, Denver
Oak at Fourteenth, Boulder
Olivia, Denver
Osaki’s, Vail
Potager, Denver
Prospect, Aspen
Q House, Denver
Safta, Denver
Santo, Denver
Smok, Denver
Splendido at The Chateau, Avon
Stella’s Cucina, Boulder
Sweet Basil, Vail
Temaki Den, Denver
Wyld, Avon
Zoe Ma Ma, Denver