How we research
The rule behind the register, where our facts come from, and how we correct mistakes.
Here is the method behind Best Restaurant Colorado: the inclusion test, the sources, the way picks are ordered, and the correction process.
The inclusion rule
A restaurant appears in our register only if it holds one of the following:
- Any level of the latest MICHELIN Guide Colorado, from Recommended up to two stars, with Green Stars and special awards noted alongside.
- Recent recognition from the James Beard Foundation: a win, a nomination (finalist) or a semifinalist listing, for the restaurant or for someone who works there. We state the year and the category each time.
We do not add restaurants on our own judgement. That rule has a cost, which we name on the register: some towns with good restaurants have no entry. We think the cost is worth it, because a list anyone could talk their way onto would be worth nothing.
Editorial picks and ordering
Regional guides draw their picks from the register and set out their own ordering rule at the top, typically the MICHELIN tier followed by how well a restaurant suits that guide's traveller. The sequence is an editorial call and is never dressed up as a score.
Where facts come from
- Awards: MICHELIN announcements and guide pages, plus the James Beard Foundation's semifinalist, nominee and winner announcements, checked against reporting by Colorado Public Radio, Westword, 5280 and the Denver Gazette.
- Addresses and links: MICHELIN pages, restaurants' own sites and reputable local outlets. When a restaurant's own site could not be confirmed, the entry links to MICHELIN (or the James Beard Foundation) and is labelled that way.
- Practical information: official sources, such as the Colorado Department of Transportation for roads and Colorado State University Extension for altitude cooking figures.
Each guide closes with its source list. Opening times, prices, phone numbers, current-menu claims and unattributed quotes are deliberately absent.
What we do not do
We do not accept payment, free meals or gifts in exchange for coverage. We do not write reviews or publish ratings. We do not claim visits we did not make.
Updates and corrections
We update the register when the MICHELIN Guide or the James Beard Foundation publishes new results, and we date every guide. The current register reflects the MICHELIN Guide Colorado selection announced on 14 September 2026 and the James Beard Awards announced on 15 June 2026. Pages were last reviewed on 10 October 2026.
Closures, moves and mistakes can be reported on our contact form; verified errors are fixed quickly.