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A photo of a dish consisting of vegetables, including chopped vegetables, next to a bowl of black sauce from Frasca Food & Wine Ryan Dearth/Eater

Denver’s 2023 Michelin-Starred and Bib Gourmand Restaurants, Mapped

After arriving in Colorado earlier in 2023, the Michelin guide has named its first starred restaurants and bib gourmands across the state

by Annie Harrigan and Eater Staff
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by Annie Harrigan and Eater Staff
Ryan Dearth/Eater

For the first time, the Michelin Guide has recognized restaurants in the Centennial State. In partnership with the Colorado Tourism Office, Michelin announced its latest destination in June. In August, Michelin revealed Colorado’s Bib Gourmand recipients, designating those restaurants that offer multi-course meal options at a “reasonable price”; its star recipients — judged using the guide’s rigorous criteria — were announced on September 12. Colorado marks the guide’s sixth location in the United States.

While restaurants in Aspen, Boulder, Vail, Snowmass Village, and Beaver Creek Resort are also featured in the guide, a majority of the recognized restaurants can be found in Denver. Featuring everything from Texas-style barbecue to zero-waste, multi-course tasting menus, here is a map of every Michelin-starred and Bib Gourmand restaurant in Denver.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

AJ's Pit Bar-B-Q

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AJ’s Pit Bar-B-Q is a family-owned and operated barbecue joint serving up Texas style pit smoked barbecue. Diners can find both traditional smoked meats and inventive takes on barbecue classics like custard-stuffed cornbread in a homey, wood-paneled room cast in the kaleidoscopic glow of holiday string lights. If you’re interested in learning more about smoking pits, AJ’s also offers classes with their pitmasters.

2180 S Delaware St, Denver, CO 80223
(720) 815-5571
(720) 815-5571
AJ’s Pit Bar-B-Q AJ’s Pit Bar-B-Q

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Ash'Kara

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This Israeli restaurant in Denver’s Highland neighborhood gets its name from Hebrew street slang meaning “right on” or “totally.” Anchored with a mezze-leading menu, Ash’Kara serves up contemporary Israeli — or “unorthodox,” its own winking description — cuisine with influences from Mediterranean, North African, and other Middle Eastern countries. Find dishes like whipped labneh laced with sumac honey and sesame seeds and tagines that span eggplant, chicken, and lamb tenderloin varieties.

2005 W 33rd Ave, Denver, CO 80211
(303) 537-4407
(303) 537-4407
hummus Ryan Dearth/Eater

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Glo Noodle House

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Located in a Northwest strip mall, Glo Noodle House delivers an assortment of flavorful ramen and noodle dishes, and lives up to its name — its dining room is bathed in neon lantern light. Regulars come back for dishes like soy-slicked foie gras on crispy sushi rice, chili-marinated kimchi pork belly, and Colorado wagyu served with punched-up ponzu daikon and lemon.

4450 W 38th Ave #130, Denver, CO 80212
(303) 993-4180
(303) 993-4180

Hop Alley

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Opened in 2015, Hop Alley is a Chinese restaurant whose name comes from the name for Denver’s original Chinatown. The Sichuan-leaning restaurant focuses on modern interpretations of traditional dishes — think fatty bone marrow fried rice or Chinese broccoli griddled in schmaltz and finished with duck salt — and inventive cocktails. Hop Alley’s menu features plenty of plates made for sharing, so make sure to go with a group.

3500 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205
(720) 379-8340
(720) 379-8340
Chinese steamed eggplant in fermented soybean sauce Rachel Greiman/Eater

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La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal

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As Denver’s first restaurant dedicated to pozole, La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal serves up the dish in its traditional rojo form as well as less-common takes on the staple broth: diners can find blanco, negro, and vegan varieties. Aside from its namesake soup, pozole fans have access to other rich fare like a birria res taco served alongside a glistening bone marrow, best washed down with its Madre Facka cocktail, a neon green concoction spiked with poblano and citrus.

2233 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205
(720) 827-4158
(720) 827-4158
La Diabla’s pozole rojo Ruth Tobias

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Mister Oso

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Mister Oso is a Latin American restaurant specializing in tacos with a twist — everything is served family style. Diners can enjoy tacos, like the coconut-braised mojo pork and lamb cheek barbacoa, with a selection from their expansive non-alcoholic agua fresca cocktail program. 

3163 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205
(720) 677-6454
(720) 677-6454
Person holding a green tray of tacos from Mister Oso. Kayla Jones

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Tavernetta

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Fresh handmade pastas and Italian wines and spirits dominate the menu at Tavernetta, which focuses on using seasonal, local ingredients to explore regional Italian fare in non-traditional ways. For fall, find standout pasta pocked with sweet corn and taleggio cheese. Diners looking for great value can visit Tavernetta at lunchtime for a deal on a two-course meal. 

1889 16th St Mall, Denver, CO 80202
(720) 605-1889
(720) 605-1889
Tavernetta’s milk-braised veal with porcini, leeks, and potatoes Tavernetta

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The Ginger Pig

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The Ginger Pig, originally a food truck specializing in Asian street food, opened the doors to its full dine-in restaurant in 2020. The restaurant serves up pan-Asian cuisine inspired by chef and co-owner Natascha Hess’s time living in Beijing and backpacking across Asia in college. Diners can expect to see dishes like tangy Thai stir-fry cabbage, Korean corndogs, and crispy chicken kara-age.

4262 Lowell Blvd, Denver, CO 80211
(720) 324-8416
(720) 324-8416
Karaage at The Ginger Pig The Ginger Pig/Facebook

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Beckon

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Chef Duncan Holmes’ 18 seat restaurant Beckon serves guests a contemporary, multi-course tasting menu that changes with the seasons. Known for its vivacious energy, Beckon’s menu is hardly predictable: courses run the gamut from seared pork belly served with rutabaga and apple, snapper with turnip and shiso, and chocolate honeycomb with pomegranate pate de fruit and brown butter shortbread. (1 star)

2843 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205
(303) 749-0020
(303) 749-0020
Seasonal dish at Beckon in Denver, CO Jonnie Sirotek | Hello Paper Laundry

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BRUTO

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Brutø is a contemporary Mexican restaurant nestled in the Dairy Block’s Free Market. Pulling influences from across Latin America, Mexico, Texas, and Colorado, Brutø serves an omakase-style tasting menu at its intimate 15-seat chef’s counter. Employing seasonal core ingredients in order to encourage little to no waste also earned Brutø a green Star. (1 star)

1801 Blake St, Denver, CO 80202
(720) 325-2195
(720) 325-2195
Tamal de setas at BRUTØ StarChefs

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The Wolf's Tailor

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The Wolf’s Tailor’s rotating tasting menu revolves around two seasons: the warmer months, when it spotlights fresh produce, and the cooler months when breads and fermentation reign supreme. Diners can enjoy each course paired with specially curated wines, mixed drinks, or zero-proof beverages. With a creative zero-waste ethos (such as recycling bread waste into sourdough gochujang), the Wolf’s Tailor has been given both a Michelin star and a green star. (1 star)

4058 Tejon St, Denver, CO 80211
(720) 456-6705
(720) 456-6705
The Wolf’s Tailor restaurant Lucy Beaugard/Eater Denver

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Frasca Food and Wine

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This foundational Boulder restaurant is known for its regional specificity (concentrating on somewhat lesser-known Friulian cuisine from northeastern Italy) and distinctly Coloradan approach. Four-plate prix fixe and fuller tasting menu options range from $140 to $195, with options for wine pairings, beer, classic aperitivi spirits, and irreverent drinks from its cocktail menu. While the dining menus rotate, visitors and regulars can expect hyper-creative, seasonal pasta dishes, grilled fish, and generous cuts of meat. (1 star)

1738 Pearl St, Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 442-6966
(303) 442-6966
Frasca

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AJ's Pit Bar-B-Q

2180 S Delaware St, Denver, CO 80223

AJ’s Pit Bar-B-Q is a family-owned and operated barbecue joint serving up Texas style pit smoked barbecue. Diners can find both traditional smoked meats and inventive takes on barbecue classics like custard-stuffed cornbread in a homey, wood-paneled room cast in the kaleidoscopic glow of holiday string lights. If you’re interested in learning more about smoking pits, AJ’s also offers classes with their pitmasters.

2180 S Delaware St, Denver, CO 80223
(720) 815-5571
(720) 815-5571
AJ’s Pit Bar-B-Q AJ’s Pit Bar-B-Q

Ash'Kara

2005 W 33rd Ave, Denver, CO 80211

This Israeli restaurant in Denver’s Highland neighborhood gets its name from Hebrew street slang meaning “right on” or “totally.” Anchored with a mezze-leading menu, Ash’Kara serves up contemporary Israeli — or “unorthodox,” its own winking description — cuisine with influences from Mediterranean, North African, and other Middle Eastern countries. Find dishes like whipped labneh laced with sumac honey and sesame seeds and tagines that span eggplant, chicken, and lamb tenderloin varieties.

2005 W 33rd Ave, Denver, CO 80211
(303) 537-4407
(303) 537-4407
hummus Ryan Dearth/Eater

Glo Noodle House

4450 W 38th Ave #130, Denver, CO 80212

Located in a Northwest strip mall, Glo Noodle House delivers an assortment of flavorful ramen and noodle dishes, and lives up to its name — its dining room is bathed in neon lantern light. Regulars come back for dishes like soy-slicked foie gras on crispy sushi rice, chili-marinated kimchi pork belly, and Colorado wagyu served with punched-up ponzu daikon and lemon.

4450 W 38th Ave #130, Denver, CO 80212
(303) 993-4180
(303) 993-4180

Hop Alley

3500 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205

Opened in 2015, Hop Alley is a Chinese restaurant whose name comes from the name for Denver’s original Chinatown. The Sichuan-leaning restaurant focuses on modern interpretations of traditional dishes — think fatty bone marrow fried rice or Chinese broccoli griddled in schmaltz and finished with duck salt — and inventive cocktails. Hop Alley’s menu features plenty of plates made for sharing, so make sure to go with a group.

3500 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205
(720) 379-8340
(720) 379-8340
Chinese steamed eggplant in fermented soybean sauce Rachel Greiman/Eater

La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal

2233 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205

As Denver’s first restaurant dedicated to pozole, La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal serves up the dish in its traditional rojo form as well as less-common takes on the staple broth: diners can find blanco, negro, and vegan varieties. Aside from its namesake soup, pozole fans have access to other rich fare like a birria res taco served alongside a glistening bone marrow, best washed down with its Madre Facka cocktail, a neon green concoction spiked with poblano and citrus.

2233 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205
(720) 827-4158
(720) 827-4158
La Diabla’s pozole rojo Ruth Tobias

Mister Oso

3163 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205

Mister Oso is a Latin American restaurant specializing in tacos with a twist — everything is served family style. Diners can enjoy tacos, like the coconut-braised mojo pork and lamb cheek barbacoa, with a selection from their expansive non-alcoholic agua fresca cocktail program. 

3163 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205
(720) 677-6454
(720) 677-6454
Person holding a green tray of tacos from Mister Oso. Kayla Jones

Tavernetta

1889 16th St Mall, Denver, CO 80202

Fresh handmade pastas and Italian wines and spirits dominate the menu at Tavernetta, which focuses on using seasonal, local ingredients to explore regional Italian fare in non-traditional ways. For fall, find standout pasta pocked with sweet corn and taleggio cheese. Diners looking for great value can visit Tavernetta at lunchtime for a deal on a two-course meal. 

1889 16th St Mall, Denver, CO 80202
(720) 605-1889
(720) 605-1889
Tavernetta’s milk-braised veal with porcini, leeks, and potatoes Tavernetta

The Ginger Pig

4262 Lowell Blvd, Denver, CO 80211

The Ginger Pig, originally a food truck specializing in Asian street food, opened the doors to its full dine-in restaurant in 2020. The restaurant serves up pan-Asian cuisine inspired by chef and co-owner Natascha Hess’s time living in Beijing and backpacking across Asia in college. Diners can expect to see dishes like tangy Thai stir-fry cabbage, Korean corndogs, and crispy chicken kara-age.

4262 Lowell Blvd, Denver, CO 80211
(720) 324-8416
(720) 324-8416
Karaage at The Ginger Pig The Ginger Pig/Facebook

Beckon

2843 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205

Chef Duncan Holmes’ 18 seat restaurant Beckon serves guests a contemporary, multi-course tasting menu that changes with the seasons. Known for its vivacious energy, Beckon’s menu is hardly predictable: courses run the gamut from seared pork belly served with rutabaga and apple, snapper with turnip and shiso, and chocolate honeycomb with pomegranate pate de fruit and brown butter shortbread. (1 star)

2843 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205
(303) 749-0020
(303) 749-0020
Seasonal dish at Beckon in Denver, CO Jonnie Sirotek | Hello Paper Laundry

BRUTO

1801 Blake St, Denver, CO 80202

Brutø is a contemporary Mexican restaurant nestled in the Dairy Block’s Free Market. Pulling influences from across Latin America, Mexico, Texas, and Colorado, Brutø serves an omakase-style tasting menu at its intimate 15-seat chef’s counter. Employing seasonal core ingredients in order to encourage little to no waste also earned Brutø a green Star. (1 star)

1801 Blake St, Denver, CO 80202
(720) 325-2195
(720) 325-2195
Tamal de setas at BRUTØ StarChefs

The Wolf's Tailor

4058 Tejon St, Denver, CO 80211

The Wolf’s Tailor’s rotating tasting menu revolves around two seasons: the warmer months, when it spotlights fresh produce, and the cooler months when breads and fermentation reign supreme. Diners can enjoy each course paired with specially curated wines, mixed drinks, or zero-proof beverages. With a creative zero-waste ethos (such as recycling bread waste into sourdough gochujang), the Wolf’s Tailor has been given both a Michelin star and a green star. (1 star)

4058 Tejon St, Denver, CO 80211
(720) 456-6705
(720) 456-6705
The Wolf’s Tailor restaurant Lucy Beaugard/Eater Denver

Frasca Food and Wine

1738 Pearl St, Boulder, CO 80302

This foundational Boulder restaurant is known for its regional specificity (concentrating on somewhat lesser-known Friulian cuisine from northeastern Italy) and distinctly Coloradan approach. Four-plate prix fixe and fuller tasting menu options range from $140 to $195, with options for wine pairings, beer, classic aperitivi spirits, and irreverent drinks from its cocktail menu. While the dining menus rotate, visitors and regulars can expect hyper-creative, seasonal pasta dishes, grilled fish, and generous cuts of meat. (1 star)

1738 Pearl St, Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 442-6966
(303) 442-6966
Frasca

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