Coloradans looking to wine and dine — with an emphasis on the wine — know about proven stalwart restaurants they can hit for a night on the town.
That’s according to Wine Spectator magazine, which honored more than 3,500 establishments globally on its annual Restaurant Awards list, including 91 in Colorado. The publication ranks restaurants in three categories based on how robust their wine selections are.
The top accolade is the Grand Award, which showcases places that feature more than 1,000 different selections and display “immense depth and breadth of regions, producers, vintages and bottle formats, excellent harmony with the menu, and superior presentation,” according to judging criteria.
Three restaurants — Barolo Grill in Denver, Element 47 in Aspen and Flagstaff House in Boulder — made the cut for the Grand Award in 2023. For those who follow these awards, these spots won’t come as a surprise since they earned the accolade in 2021, as well.
While the Restaurant Awards often feature the same eateries time after time, the number of Colorado establishments to get a shout-out has increased over the years. In 2019, just 30 restaurants made the Restaurant Awards list. By 2021, that number was up to 68.
Perhaps that’s a testament to the quality of Colorado’s dining scene or locals’ thirst for vino. Either way, it’s a good time to be a wine drinker in the Centennial State.
“Even while dealing with the challenges that linger from the pandemic, restaurants around the world have found ways not only to excel and distinguish themselves with wine, but to (also) exceed their previous accomplishments,” Wine Spectator said.
Here are the 91 restaurants to seek out for their offerings.
Grand Award (1,000 or more bottles)
Barolo Grill
Element 47
Flagstaff House
Best of Award of Excellence (350 or more)
801 Chophouse
Adventures Decanted
Allred’s Restaurant
Barcelona Wine Bar
Betula Aspen
Black Iron Kitchen and Bar
C Lazy U Ranch
Casa D’Angelo Ristorante
Catch Steak Aspen
Chimney Park
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse
Duemani
Elway’s Cherry Creek
Elway’s Downtown (Denver)
Frasca Food & Wine
Grouse Mountain Grill
La Piazza Del Villaggio Ristorante
La Tour Restaurant
New Sheridan Chop House
PARC Aspen
Panzano
Prospect
Ranch House Restaurant & Saloon
Rustico Ristorante
Shanahan’s Steakhouse
Ski Tip Lodge
Steakhouse No. 316 (Aspen)
Steakhouse No. 316 (Boulder)
Summit
Sunday Vinyl
Swiss Chalet
Tavernetta
The Capital Grille
The Greenbriar Inn
The Monarch
The Steakhouse at Flying Horse
Timber Room
Venice Ristorante & Wine Bar (Denver)
Vinca
Vista Verde Ranch
Award of Excellence (90 or more)
Alpin Room
Altezza
Azafran
Bird & Jim
Brasserie Ten Ten
Briar Rose Chophouse & Saloon
Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro
Del Frisco’s Grille
Eddie Merlot’s
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood
Eolus Bar & Dining
Fattoria
Fire
Fogo de Chão (Denver)
Fogo de Chão (Lone Tree)
Grand View Restaurant
Hearthstone Restaurant
Hooked
Hunter’s Chophouse
Jack’s on Pearl
Juniper Restaurant
Le Bilboquet
Leonora
Lynn Britt Cabin
Mizuna
Monarch Chophouse
Narrative
Noble Riot
Nocturne
Osteria Marco
The Peppertree
Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille
Range
Ristorante Del Lago
STK Denver
Sam’s
Seasons 52
Season of Durango
Sonny Lubick Steakhouse
TORO Kitchen & Lounge
The Cache
The Emporium
The Fort Restaurant
The Kitchen American Bistro (Denver)
The Melting Pot (Littleton)
Timberline Grill
Urban Farmer
Venice Ristorante & Wine Bar (Greenwood Village)
