Colorado restaurants are hurting right now. Between inflation, rising labor costs, budget-conscious diners and other factors, the state’s food industry is really struggling. Last year, more than 200 restaurants closed around the state—with 82 percent of those losses coming in Denver.
We don’t want to lose any more of the eateries that make the Mile High City such a vibrant, delicious place to live and visit. So, if you’d like to support the city’s diverse restaurant scene, consider attending Denver Restaurant Week, the annual 10-day event that elevates and celebrates Denver’s award-winning food industry.
This year, Denver Restaurant Week is March 7-16—so you’ve still got plenty of time to peruse the menus, text your friends, make a plan and book some reservations. Denver Restaurant Week is one of the best things to do in Denver, whether you’re looking for a casual night out or a fancy date night.
Here’s how it works: Participating eateries select either a $25, $35, $45 or $55 price for their menu, and come up with a multi-course dining experience for the 10-day event. Chefs get to be creative and bring some new faces through the door, while diners have a reason to try a restaurant that’s been on their “must-visit” list for a while.
Denver Restaurant Week has been going strong since 2005, when it was created to help boost business during a traditionally slow period of the year for restaurants. Last year, during the 20th event, the 263 participating venues served a whopping 144,650 meals—which equates to about $10.5 billion in sales. Talk about making an impact.
“We are so grateful to our culinary community for their ongoing participation in Denver Restaurant Week,” said Flavia Light, vice president and chief tourism development officer at Visit Denver. “[The] success further demonstrates how restaurants help grow our local economy while supporting jobs and providing an enjoyable visitor experience. The growth of restaurant week would not be possible without community support.”
Denver’s restaurant scene has been getting more and more recognition lately, including several eateries that have earned prestigious Michelin stars. The James Beard Foundation is also celebrating many Mile High City restaurateurs, chefs, mixologists and other culinary pros.
READ MORE: Michelin Unveils 2024 Guide for Colorado Restaurants
If you’re interested in Denver Restaurant Week, take a look at the various menus that eateries have come up with so far. (And more are being added every day.)
You can filter the options by price, the type of cuisine, the neighborhood, any dietary restrictions you might have, amenities and notable attributes. For example, you can filter for eateries that are woman-owned or minority-owned—like Super Mega Bien or Daughter Thai.
Or, if you’ve been wanting to check out one of Denver’s Michelin-rated spots, you can filter for that, too. So far this year, Mister Oso RiNo, Noisette, Mercantile Dining & Provisions, Ash’Kara, Dio Mio and Kawa Ni are participating.
You’ll want to make a reservation, because tables book up quickly. If possible, try to go for an earlier or later seating or make your reservation for a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday—to help spread the love a bit during periods when restaurants aren’t typically as busy.
Also, if you can’t make it for some reason, remember to cancel your reservation so other diners have a chance to visit the restaurant. And be sure to tip generously, since you’re getting such a good deal on the multi-course meal itself.
