When it comes to the oldest restaurants in Colorado Springs, I often think about how important food traditions are to the culture of a city. When you listen to people talk about favorite restaurants or a city’s dining scene, you will often hear about not just the food, but what an important role restaurants play in providing gathering places for friends and family. That can be especially true of a city’s longest-standing establishments.
Take the oldest running restaurant in the United States, for example: the White Horse Tavern in Newport, Rhode Island, founded in 1673. It’s also the 10th oldest restaurant in the world. During that long history, the White Horse has been more than just a tavern or restaurant; it has been a center of community life.
Colorado Springs doesn’t have any restaurants that old, but it is home to a significant list of long-time favorite restaurants that are 50, 60 or 70 years old. That longevity is a strong statement, especially with 54% of Colorado restaurants in 2022 expecting permanent closure within one year, according to the Colorado Restaurant Association. Those locally owned small businesses aren’t the trendiest spots in the Springs’ constantly growing restaurant scene, but they have lasted by finding their own unique formulas of comfort foods, unique styles and consistent experiences. And they have woven themselves into the lives and communities of the people who frequent them — and to the people who have yet to discover them.
Whether you’re a regular or curious about the local legacy eateries and food traditions, here’s what to expect at 12 of the oldest restaurants in Colorado Springs. We’ll list them by opening date, “youngest” to oldest, and you can do the math about the very oldest restaurant in Colorado Springs. But we don’t claim this as a definitive list. There are some other long-time and historic eateries around town. We’ve stuck with continuously open, locally owned restaurants. Know of one you think is older? Let us know. And vote for your favorite in the poll below.
12 of the Oldest Restaurants in Colorado Springs
P74, The Downtown Panino’s
Originally opened as Pizza Plus in 1974 this restaurant is now run by third generation members of the Frasca family. With four cousin restaurants in Colorado Springs and beyond, this downtown Tejon Street is the original. The Panino’s menu is a mix of pasta, pizza and the restaurants signature rolled paninis, their version of the classic grilled and pressed Italian sandwich. P74 has become a CC hockey tradition where you can find fans and alumni gathered for food and drinks before a game. Panino’s hockey roots run deep. One of its founders was Mark “Pa” Sertich, who is the namesake for the city’s Sertich Ice Rink in Memorial Park — and who held the Guinness World Record as the world’s oldest living hockey player.
The Margarita at Pine Creek
Before The Margarita at Pine Creek was a restaurant, it was a Mexican import shop and art gallery started in 1969. But in 1974 the owners decided to turn the concept into a restaurant and never looked back. The eclectic property near Woodmen Road has excellent, unique outdoor dining options and intimate nooks and tables inside its adobe building as well. The lunch menu changes weekly. The dinner menu offers affordable five-course or three-course meals with wine pairing options. Matching its commitment to using local ingredients, the Margarita hosts a weekly farmer’s market. And its unique and innovative dishes have made it a regular on our 30 Best Restaurants in Colorado Springs.
Jose Muldoon’s
A staple of the downtown restaurant scene, Jose Muldoon’s has been around since 1974. Jose’s is known for serving generous portions of classic Mexican fare, and their margaritas are a local favorite. The back patio is a little hidden gem offering a great outdoor dining experience. One of the 50-year restaurant’s claims to fame came in 1999 when they made the world’s largest margarita at that time. The crowd-pleasing marg was certified by Guinness World’s Records at 4,756.5 gallons.
Fargo’s Pizza
If you ever played sports as a kid or teen in Colorado Springs, chances are you have been to Fargo’s Pizza. They have been serving pizza and pasta to kids, families and many others since 1973. Fargo’s provides a unique experience with their Victorian style decor, Old West lore, life-sized characters, arcade and magic mirrors that tell you when your meal is ready (if you know you know). This is a place where families have gathered for generations, and hopefully they will serve many more to come.
Señor Manuel Mexican Cuisine
Señor Manuel opened in 1970 and is currently run by the fourth generation of the Hernandez family. Their dedication to homemade Mexican fare can be seen throughout the menu and is evident in the tortillas made in house. Sadly, the iconic restaurant is currently closed after a fire in July. The Hernandez family has posted on Facebook that they intend to reopen. And the community has rallied around the restaurant through a GoFundMe campaign and other local fundraisers for the restaurant and its staff. As of February 2025, Señor Manuel was in the process of permits as they moved toward reopening.
Edelweiss
Established in 1967, Edelweiss provides a dining experience that will make you feel like you are in an even older restaurant in an even older city somewhere in Germany. The menu is a mix of traditional and modern dishes from Germany and other European countries. The multiple-generation Schnakenberg family also provides the largest German beer selection in town, which you can enjoy in their Biergarten or Ratskeller. Speaking of the Ratskeller, did you know that it was the foundation of the building and built with stone from Cheyenne Canyon? Make sure to visit Thursday through Sunday evenings to hear the traditional Bavarian music played by musicians throughout the restaurant.
Roman Villa
Opened in 1959, this unassuming little restaurant on North Nevada Avenue has been run by the Biondi family for four generations — with the women taking the lead. It seems they have been serving some regulars for just as many generations as well. But everyone is made to feel like a regular once you step in the door, whether it’s your first time or you are there once a week. Roman Villa’s homemade pasta and pizza are an absolute delight. Make sure to try the housemade lasagna and always, always get a side of meatballs!
King’s Chef Diner
Since 1956, hungry Springs eaters have been storming that funky little purple castle downtown. OK, with two downtown locations, there were a few years when the actual castle was closed. But at both spots, King’s Chef remains a classic greasy-spoon diner. It has been featured on the Food Network and NBC’s Today. Locals flock to it for the famous green chile and heaping breakfast dishes like The Thing. Picture mounds of hand-shredded hash brown potatoes, eggs, cheese, onions, green chile or gravy. Owner Gary Geiser banters with regulars, many who grew up going to King’s Chef with their parents or even grandparents. It all gives the diner a strong sense of community. Finish your plate, and you get a Clean Plate Club sticker.
Drive-In Tasty Freeze
This local spot has been serving the Old North End neighborhood since the mid 1950s. Tucked away behind the Bon Shopping Center, pulling up to the Tasty Freeze makes it feel like you have discovered a locals-only secret. And you can tell from all the bikes pulling in from the Middle Shooks Run Trail that this is a local favorite. Tasty Freeze offers everything you would expect of a classic ice cream drive in: dipped soft serve cones, sundaes, milkshakes, banana splits, as well as hamburgers and hotdogs. If you are lucky enough a classic car may just pull up and complete the feeling of classic Americana. It’s all part of what keeps Tasty Freeze and BJ’s Velvet Freez below on our list of Best Ice Cream in Colorado Springs.
BJ’s Velvet Freez
There’s nothing quite like driving down Union Boulevard and seeing the vintage sign and giant ice cream cone that adorns BJ’s Velvet Freez. BJ’s has been serving their neighborhood since 1954 as a classic drive-in. The business has done a great job of expanding its patio and making its drive-thru more accessible. The menu stays true to its original American classics: soft serve ice cream, shakes, hamburgers and a pork tenderloin sandwich. This place can get pretty busy, but the line moves quickly and the wait is always worth it.
Juniper Valley Ranch
Juniper Valley Ranch has been operating and serving the same menu since 1951, the only change being they now also serve Nashville Hot Chicken. Everything is served family style, with choices of baked ham or fried chicken (raised on their ranch) along with mashed potatoes, okra and homemade biscuits for sides. Of course, there are seasonal homemade pies also offered for desert. You’ll find Juniper Valley Ranch about 20 miles south of downtown Colorado Springs, which just adds to the authentic farm-to-table experience. The adobe style farmhouse is so cozy, it reminds you that you are indeed taking part in a family tradition. Reservations are recommended as their dining hours are limited, and they are open seasonally from March to December.
Farewell to These Old Favorites
Luigi’s
After nearly 67 years in business, Luigi’s is now closed as of March 2025. The family posted a farewell letter on its social media on March 17, announcing that they had sold their building and taken the opportunity to retire.
The Italian restaurant was originally opened in 1958 by Leo Cervetti, a bricklayer from Chicago who worked on the Air Force Academy Chapel as well as several building on the Colorado College campus. For decades, Luigi’s maintained the feel of a classic Italian restaurant with red and white checkered tablecloths and Chianti bottles hanging from the ceiling. The ethos did not changed since the beginning; everything was always made by hand in house. The menu was classic Italian pasta dishes and pizza, as well as bulk carryout options.
Your Favorite Oldest Restaurant in Colorado Springs Poll
Vote for your favorite oldest restaurant in Colorado Springs in our poll. After you've voted, refresh your screen to see which restaurant is in the lead. Think we missed one? Write it in.
What About the Oldest Bars in Colorado Springs?
If this list makes you thirsty, check out our 5 Best Dive Bars in Colorado Springs. Some of these unpretentious watering holes date back for decades.
This article was originally published in August 2024 and updated in March 2025.
