Colorado Food Guide: Denver, Boulder and Mountain Towns

Colorado food draws on ranching, Mexican American cooking and a strong craft beer tradition, and a Colorado food guide covers four parts: Denver, Boulder, the mountain towns and the state's own dishes, above all green chile, a thick pork stew served over burritos and eggs. Denver is the easiest base.

Choose a base, rent a car if you plan to leave the city, and check winter road conditions before you head for the mountains.

Colorado food guide: what makes Colorado food different?

Colorado sits between the Great Plains and the Rockies, and its food draws on ranching, Mexican American cooking and a strong craft beer tradition. Beef and lamb are local staples, trout comes from mountain streams and green chile is a regional obsession. The state also has a growing farm-to-table movement along the Front Range, which feeds restaurants in the cities.

Altitude is part of the story. Denver is a mile above sea level, so cooking and baking at home need adjustments, and drinks hit harder. Drink water, eat a proper meal before you head up into the mountains and go slowly on the first day.

Denver: food halls and neighborhood restaurants

Denver has a large number of food halls. The Source, in the RiNo district, houses independent vendors in a former brick foundry. Avanti Food and Beverage, in the Lower Highland neighborhood, has several stalls, bars and a rooftop patio, and has opened outposts in Boulder and Vail. A RiNo restaurant is known for Latin American flavors.

For more detail, see the RiNo restaurants guide and the Denver food halls guide.

Colorado green chile: the dish to try

Green chile in Colorado is a thick pork stew with roasted chiles, served over burritos, eggs and more. It is a staple at breakfast counters and Mexican restaurants across Denver. The Denver green chile guide explains the style and how to order it.

If you only try one local dish, make it a smothered breakfast burrito. It is large, filling and the best introduction to the state's cooking.

Boulder restaurants: a college town with strong food

Boulder is a college town at the foot of the Flatirons with a lively restaurant scene. Pearl Street, the pedestrian mall, is the center of it, with cafes, bakeries and restaurants. Boulder also has a long tradition of natural foods, farmers markets and craft breweries.

Parking downtown is limited, and the free bus routes help. Weekend evenings in summer are busy.

Colorado mountain town dining

Mountain towns such as Breckenridge, Aspen, Vail and Steamboat Springs have their own food culture, shaped by ski seasons and visitors. Expect a mix of hearty comfort food (burgers, steaks, trout, soups) and polished restaurants, and expect higher prices than on the Front Range. Many restaurants close for a few weeks in the shoulder seasons, in spring and in late fall.

Plan ahead for popular dinners in winter and summer, and look for lunch specials, which are better value. Bring a layer: evenings are cool even in July.

What are Rocky Mountain oysters?

Rocky Mountain oysters are not seafood. They are bull or lamb testicles, peeled, sliced, breaded and fried, and usually served with cocktail sauce. They are a ranching tradition, and some bars and restaurants in Colorado and neighboring states list them as a novelty.

If you want to try them, order a small plate to share and ask how they are prepared. The texture is mild and the breading does most of the work.

What breweries and drinks go with Colorado food?

Colorado is known for craft beer, and brewery taprooms are social centers in Denver, Boulder and many mountain towns. Most serve food or welcome food trucks, and a flight of small beers is an easy way to taste several styles. The state also has distilleries, cideries and wineries on the Western Slope.

If you do not drink alcohol, many taprooms and cafes serve craft soda, coffee and non-alcoholic beer. Remember the altitude: one drink can feel like two, so eat as you go.

What about dietary needs in Colorado?

Colorado cooking is friendly to vegetarians and people who avoid gluten, especially in Boulder and Denver. Menus often mark dishes, and kitchens are used to requests. Green chile usually contains pork, so ask if you do not eat it, and check whether a thickener contains wheat.

How should you plan a Colorado food trip?

Choose a base. Denver is the easiest, with Boulder an easy day trip and the mountains a longer one. Rent a car if you plan to leave the city. Winter roads can close, so check conditions before driving through a mountain pass, and keep food and water in the car.

Book dinners in advance on weekends, and check whether a restaurant is still serving food at the hour you plan to arrive, since smaller mountain kitchens often close early. For another state's regional cooking, read the green chile cheeseburger guide for New Mexico. Every city is on the US guides page.

From Front Range food halls to a mountain town burrito, Colorado gives you plenty to rate. Download the Mosey app, score what you eat, and keep a Colorado list.