The Michelin Awards are coming to Colorado Springs. In fact, the famously anonymous reviewers from the prestigious Michelin Guide are probably already dining among us, according to Michelin’s press release today announcing its expansion to cover all of Colorado. The Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) and Visit Colorado Springs released the news as well, lauding the milestone as a significant step in recognizing and celebrating the depth and diversity of Colorado’s — and Colorado Springs’ — culinary scene.
“We are thrilled that the Michelin Guide will now consider all four corners of the state for its program,” said Doug Price, president and CEO of Visit Colorado Springs in a press release. “As the Michelin Guide Colorado continues to expand, we are confident the inspectors will recognize that the incredible chefs and restaurants in Colorado Springs deserve a seat at the table.”
“I’m so excited that restaurants across our entire state now have the opportunity to gain recognition in the famed Michelin Guide!” said Governor Jared Polis in the CTO release. “This is great for our culinary scene and our small businesses. Across Colorado, our diverse and delicious local restaurants strengthen local communities, encourage tasty entrepreneurship and create important jobs. Michelin Guide’s expansion to cover the entire state will shine a spotlight on more communities and strengthen the entire restaurant industry.”
The First Colorado Michelin Restaurants
The Michelin Guide initially expanded into Colorado in 2023. Currently, there are 50 Michelin-recognized restaurants in Aspen, Boulder, Denver and Vail, including one two-star restaurant, eight one-star restaurants and four green-star restaurants. The honors seem to have raised the profile of those Colorado city’s food scenes, with new recognition coming in the likes of OpenTable’s Top 100 Restaurants, the New York Times’ America’s 50 Best Restaurants, and arguably more James Beard Foundation nominations.
“The value behind potential Michelin Guide inclusion and consideration goes beyond earning Stars,” says Chef Brother Luck, owner of Four by Brother Luck, in the Visit COS release. “It inspires a desire to achieve, encourages more investment in local culinary programs and attracts restaurant investors.”
Luck has been a vocal advocate for bringing Michelin to Colorado Springs since the awards debuted in Colorado. Executive Chef Ricky Biswas was clear about his call for Michelin to come to the Springs when we interviewed him at the opening of Roth’s Sea & Steak last fall. “In the world of chefs, we say that if you are an actor, you win the Oscars. If you are a chef, you win the Michelin,” Biswas told us then.
Colorado Springs did not participate in the initial 2023 rollout of Michelin, citing financial responsibility as its reason to not pay the $70,000 required at the time.
“In 2023, the Michelin Guide was just getting started with Colorado,” Doug Price tells us now. “There was a lot to learn and consider. Now in 2026, we’ve seen the program’s success and are excited to support its expansion across the state. We’ve always believed in our restaurant industry, and we recognize how important of a motivator food is for visitors.”
Both Visit COS and the Colorado Tourism Office point out the economic benefits and increased tourism potential related to Michelin recognition. And Visit COS cites food and cuisine as the highest travel passion category — 60.5% — for recent or likely visitors to Colorado, according to a 2025 study by Miles Partnership’s State of the American Traveler.
When asked about the current fees for the Michelin expansion, Price says, “Contracts are confidential. There is a shared approach to financial and marketing responsibilities that allow various destinations across the state to work together to ensure it’s a success.”
Bringing New Benefits to the Springs Dining Scene?
Aside from its boost to tourism, benefits of Michelin recognition can also help restaurants help attract and retain top culinary talent in their destinations. It also raises the bar for local restaurants, potentially improving their quality, service and overall experience for local diners.
“The Michelin Guide expanding opens up so many more doors for culinary growth and achievement in our city,” says Matthew Schniper, long-time local food writer and owner of Side Dish with Schniper, in the Visit COS release.
At the very least, the Colorado Springs dining scene will at last have an international measuring standard for its growth, which has seen continued improvement over the last decade. Exactly what the results will be remains to be seen.
The Michelin Guide traditionally releases its annual awards and recognitions in the fall. We will be curious to see how the honors align with our own 30 Best Restaurants and People’s Choice Awards.
