Dining out in Denver is better than ever, and we’ve got the proof: this list of our current 100 favorite restaurants. Tried-and-true spots are still going strong, providing a nostalgic taste of the Mile High’s culinary foundation. But there has also been a slew of impressive additions in recent years, upping the ante for anyone in search of a memorable meal.

While a lot of well-deserved hype hit when the Michelin Guide released its first Colorado edition, we opted to leave the metro area’s first one-star eateries off this list — but not because we’d ever want to live without them. Quite the opposite: Frasca, Beckon, the Wolf’s Tailor and Brutø are powerhouses, and their contributions have helped Colorado’s culinary scene gain national recognition. Instead, we chose to highlight sister concepts of each, all destinations in their own right where you might have a shot at getting a seat.

Anything within the Westword circulation area — which stretches from Boulder to Castle Rock, Aurora to Evergreen — was eligible for consideration, as long as the restaurant was open by Labor Day 2023. We pushed the envelope for two delicious exceptions: concepts that moved into brick-and-mortar locations after dishing up delicious eats for years in other formats.

Ready to dig in? From hole-in-the-wall eateries, diners and bakeries to steakhouses and splurge-worthy escapes, these picks celebrate everything we love about the city’s diverse dining options.
- By Molly Martin