The author, Laura Falin with Travel Lemming's Founder Nate Hake, and Editor Abigail Bliss at Mercantile Dining & Provision, one of the Denver Michelin Restaurants

Denver’s Michelin Restaurants (Ultimate Local Guide for 2023)

Laura Falin Hours Updated Categories Colorado, Denver, USA

🍽️ Jump to: Michelin Star Restaurants | Green Star | Bib Gourmand | Michelin-Recommended | Special Awards | FAQ

I’m a Denver local and in this guide, I’ll explain all of the Denver Michelin restaurants recently awarded in 2023. With all the different aware levels, it can get confusing fast!

The high level summary is that three Denver restaurants earned one Michelin star, two of which also received Green Stars. But the Michelin guide also includes several additional categories I’ll explain, like Bib Gourmand winners, Michelin-recommended restaurants, and a couple of special awards given to local culinary experts.

In total, 27 Denver restaurants earned some kind of honor in the 2023 Michelin guide, with several earning multiple awards. By the end of this article, you’ll understand everything you need to know about Denver’s Michelin restaurant ratings. Bon appétit!

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3 Denver Restaurants with One Michelin Star

Denver has three restaurants that earned one Michelin star: The Wolf’s Tailor, Brutø, and Beckon.

One star, out of a total possible three, indicates that a restaurant’s dishes feature distinct flavors and are of consistent quality. Two stars mean that the food reflects the chef’s talent and personality. Three stars are awarded when “cooking is elevated to an art form” and to-be classics appear on the menu.  

Judges are anonymous and of different nationalities. They visit restaurants around the world and consider five criteria before deciding on awards. They judge restaurants on the quality of ingredients and mastery of techniques. Judges also consider the personality of the chef in the food, value for the money, and consistency over time. 

Currently, Denver has the most Michelin star restaurants in Colorado. One restaurant in Aspen and one in Boulder also earned a star in 2023.

Note that Michelin awards are “pay to play.” Colorado tourism boards and resorts paid around $600,000 total, which means many cities with smaller budgets simply weren’t considered for the guide at all [source].  

Here’s a summary of the three Denver restaurants awarded one Michelin star in 2023: 

Beckon

🍽️ Contemporary | $$$$ | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (303) 749-0020

View of the gate going to Beckon in RiNo
This RiNo restaurant has a set tasting menu that changes with the seasons

Beckon is a prepaid experience in which chefs present a multi-course meal with wine pairings or a small cocktail menu. Guests can dine on the covered patio in ideal weather or at the chef’s counter year-round. The menu follows the four seasons and features ripe, local ingredients. Reservations are required and staff advises you to allow 2½ hours for the experience. 

Brutø

🍽️ Mexican & Contemporary | $$$$ | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (720) 325-2195

The Brutø restaurant from the outside in Dairy Block
The exterior of the restaurant in the Dairy Block microdistrict

You’re in the good hands of Chef Michael Diaz de Leon at Brutø, a stellar restaurant in Lower Downtown. Take a seat at the chef’s counter where you can watch the prix fixe tasting menu be prepared. Dishes are inspired by seasonal flavors from Colorado, Mexico, and more of Latin America. There are optional wine, cocktail, and other beverage pairings as well. 

The Wolf’s Tailor

🍽️ Contemporary | $$$$ | Website | 📍 Google Maps | 📞 (720) 456-6705

Plants displayed outside The Wolf’s Tailor in Denver
Edible plants decorate the front of The Wolf’s Tailor in the Sunnyside neighborhood

Few Denver date night ideas can compete with The Wolf’s Tailor. The restaurant focuses on two seasons, highlighting fresh produce in the warm season and local grains in the colder months. It also has wine, cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages to pair with the tasting menu. The restaurant has a zero-waste philosophy as well.

2 Denver Restaurants with Michelin Green Stars

A Michelin Green Star indicates that a restaurant is at the top of its game when it comes to sustainable practices. There are two restaurants in Colorado that were awarded a Michelin Green Star, both of which also happen to be Michelin Star winners. 

8 Michelin Bib Gourmand Restaurants in Denver

View of the Tavernetta restaurant in Denver
Tavernetta, next to Union Station, is an Italian restaurant that made the Bib Gourmand list

Not all Michelin award-winners are expensive, fine dining restaurants! The Bib Gourmand designation is given to restaurants that deliver on value and highlight a simpler style of cooking. The city’s eight Bib Gourmand winners serve up delicious Denver food at budget-friendly prices. 

16 Michelin-Recommended Restaurants in Denver

A salmon dish on a plate served in Mercantile Dining & Provision
A delicious sesame salmon bowl at Mercantile Dining & Provision

There are 16 Michelin-recommended restaurants in Denver. These are judged by the same guidelines as starred and Bib Gourmand restaurants. A Michelin-recommended restaurant has food that is “above average, but not quite at star or Bib level.” The director of Michelin Guides says that every year, restaurants jump from being Michelin-recommended to earning a star.

Michelin Special Awards

The Barolo Grill from the outside in Denver
Barolo Grill was noted for its excellent sommeliers

Michelin also announced two Special Awards at restaurants in Denver. Many mixologists at Denver bars serve up excellent cocktails, but Caroline Clark of The Wolf’s Tailor earned the Exceptional Cocktails Award. Ryan Fletter and Erin Lindstone of Barolo Grill won the Sommelier Award for the restaurant’s excellent wine service. 

FAQs About Michelin Star Restaurants in Denver

View from the inside of Zoe Ma Ma in Denver
Zoe Ma Ma is a Michelin-recommended restaurant in Denver 

How many Michelin star restaurants are in Denver? 

There are three Michelin star restaurants in Denver. The Wolf’s Tailor, Beckon, and Brutø each earned one star in the 2023 Michelin Guide. This is the first year Colorado restaurants have been considered for the guide. 

How many Michelin star restaurants are in Colorado? 

There are five Michelin star restaurants in Colorado. Beckon, Brutø, and The Wolf’s Tailor are in Denver. Bosq is in Aspen and Frasca Food and Wine is in Boulder. Each of these restaurants earned one Michelin star. 

What is the difference between Michelin stars, green stars, and Bib Gourmand restaurants? 

The key difference between Michelin stars, Green Stars, and Bib Gourmand restaurants is judging criteria. Michelin stars indicate that a restaurant uses quality ingredients, dishes are consistent, and chefs have a mastery of flavors, techniques, and personification. Green stars indicate sustainable practices, and Bib Gourmand restaurants deliver on value. 

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Hopefully, this guide has helped you to better understand Denver Michelin restaurants. Trying local eateries’ delicious food is definitely one of the best things to do in Denver!

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Laura is a freelance writer in Colorado. She has written for publications and websites including BabyCenter, Colorado Parent Magazine, and Denver Parent. She loves hiking, paddle boarding, camping, and snowboarding, and she has run exactly one marathon. She now lives in Littleton, Colorado with her husband and four children. They love exploring the state and the rest of the U.S., usually by car, and they are pros at 20-hour road trips.

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