The Michelin Guide has unveiled its 2026 selection for Colorado, expanding its coverage to the entire state for the first time.
The fourth Colorado guide recognizes 63 total restaurants across 22 cuisine types. This year’s selections include 15 new Colorado restaurants—one new Michelin Star restaurant, three new Bib Gourmand restaurants, 11 new Recommended restaurants and four special awards.
“Congratulations to this year’s amazing restaurants honored by the Michelin Guide,” said Governor Jared Polis. “Colorado’s incredible restaurants are the heart of our communities, creating delicious food and strengthening our local economies. I am proud to celebrate our talented professionals and the role local restaurants play in keeping Colorado creative and the best place to live, work, play and eat!”
Recognized restaurants are located throughout the state, including Aspen, Aurora, Avon, Beaver Creek, Boulder, Breckenridge, Colorado Springs, Denver, Telluride and Vail.
The Colorado Tourism Office announced the statewide expansion in February as part of an effort to highlight the breadth of Colorado’s culinary scene and give restaurants across the state the opportunity to receive Michelin recognition.
The Michelin Guide first expanded into Colorado in 2023, initially covering Aspen, Boulder, Denver and Vail. Before this year’s statewide expansion, 50 restaurants across those four destinations had received Michelin recognition, including one Two Star restaurant, eight One Star restaurants and four Green Star restaurants.
For the 2026 selection, Michelin inspectors assessed restaurants across Colorado, evaluating dining experiences based on the quality of ingredients, culinary technique, flavors, the personality of the chef and consistency. The statewide expansion is expected to support culinary tourism by encouraging travelers to explore restaurants and communities beyond the destinations initially covered by the guide.
“We are incredibly proud of Colorado’s culinary scene and the role the restaurant industry plays in supporting strong tourism across the state,” says Timothy Wolfe, director of the Colorado Tourism Office. “The Michelin Guide’s expansion will help inspire culinary travelers to discover destinations across every corner of Colorado.”
MICHELIN Stars are awarded based on five criteria: quality of products, mastery of cooking technique, harmony and balance of flavors, the personality of the chef as expressed through the cuisine, and consistency between visits and throughout the menu. The Bib Gourmand designation recognizes restaurants offering good-quality food at good prices, while Recommended restaurants are those that inspectors consider above average and that prepare high-quality meals with fresh ingredients.
New for this year, Milpero in Denver received one Michelin Star. The restaurant, which opened in May, is owned by chef Johnny Curiel under his Fonda Fina Hospitality brand. He also owns Alma Fonda Fina (One Star), Mezcaleria Alma (One Star), Cozobi Fonda Fina (Bib Gourmand), Alteño (Recommended) and Tequileria Alteño.
“This recognition belongs to all of our team members and the passion they pour into our restaurants every day,” says Curiel. “We’re celebrating their hard work and dedication that pushes us forward.”
READ MORE: Cozobi Fonda Fina Is Chef Johnny Curiel’s Love Letter to Corn
The new Bib Gourmand restaurants are Annette in Aurora, Pig and Tiger in Denver and Rougarou in Denver. Pig and Tiger co-chef and co-owner Darren Chang called the designation a “meaningful” milestone for the restaurant.
“Today marks a massive milestone in our careers,” says Chang. ”This achievement wouldn’t be possible without our team and the passion they bring to Pig and Tiger day in and day out. We can’t wait for what’s next.”
The 11 new Recommended restaurants are Casa Juani in Boulder; Dân Dã in Aurora; Dear Emilia, Florence Supper Club, Heretík and Madeline in Denver; Four by Brother Luck and The Penrose Room in Colorado Springs; Radicato and Rootstalk in Breckenridge; and The National in Telluride.
Heretík’s Theo Adley and Jenessa Reiman also received the Michelin Sommelier Award, which recognizes wine professionals whose expertise, curation and service contribute to the dining experience.
“Since the start, Heretík has always been about sharing my love for the Pays Basque and Côte d’Argent regions, and it’s pretty special to have that vision recognized by the Michelin Guide,” says Adley. “To find ourselves among the incredibly talented teams shaping Colorado’s culinary landscape is something we feel incredibly fortunate to be a part of.”
The other special awards went to Kyle McNerney of Four by Brother Luck, who received the Michelin Exceptional Cocktails Award; Joseph Freyre of The Penrose Room, who received the Michelin Outstanding Service Award; and Cameron Baker of Radicato, who received the Michelin Young Chef/Culinary Professional Award.
“We are delighted to see the Michelin Guide continue to celebrate Colorado’s culinary excellence and skill,” says Eve Lieberman, executive director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. “This prestigious recognition lifts up our restaurant industry, drives tourism, and supports our small businesses across the state. Congratulations to this year’s honorees.”
Here’s a quick look at all the new selections for 2026:
One MICHELIN Star
- Milpero — Denver
Bib Gourmand
- Annette — Aurora
- Pig and Tiger — Denver
- Rougarou — Denver
Recommended
- Casa Juani — Boulder
- Dân Dã — Aurora
- Dear Emilia — Denver
- Florence Supper Club — Denver
- Four by Brother Luck — Colorado Springs
- Heretík — Denver
- Madeline — Denver
- Radicato — Breckenridge
- Rootstalk — Breckenridge
- The National — Telluride
- The Penrose Room — Colorado Springs
Special Awards
- MICHELIN Exceptional Cocktails Award — Kyle McNerney, Four by Brother Luck
- MICHELIN Sommelier Award — Theo Adley and Jenessa Reiman, Heretík
- MICHELIN Outstanding Service Award — Joseph Freyre, The Penrose Room
- MICHELIN Young Chef/Culinary Professional Award — Cameron Baker, Radicato
