The Michelin Guide is expanding to cover all of Colorado in the upcoming guide.
Michelin landed in Colorado in 2023 to consider restaurants in Denver, Boulder, Aspen and Snowmass Village, and Vail and Beaver Creek. The four areas agreed to contribute between $70,000 and $100,000 annually, along with about $135,000 from the Colorado Tourism Office, for three years for the guide’s consideration.
The exclusive, three-year contracts expired this year, replaced by a single statewide contract with the Colorado Tourism Office.
After its launch, some wondered about the exclusion of Colorado Springs and Aurora. At the time, Bruce Dalton, CEO of Visit Aurora, told The Colorado Sun that Aurora is home to more than 300 diverse, international eateries, “from small, family-run businesses to larger restaurant groups each with its own distinctive atmosphere and menu,” Dalton said. “Making that kind of investment for what would likely be a smaller subset of our restaurant community didn’t make a lot of sense for us.”
There are currently eight one-star restaurants in Denver, Boulder and Aspen, with The Wolf’s Tailor in Denver becoming the first two-star restaurant in the state last year.
Though the process for evaluating and obtaining stars is complex, understanding them is simple, and nods back to Michelin’s original road trip themed guides: one star is worth a stop, two is worth a detour, three is worth a journey.
Michelin stars are awarded based on five universal criteria: quality of products, harmony of flavors, mastery of cooking techniques, voice and personality of the chef reflected in the cuisine, and the consistency between each visit and throughout the menu, according to the Michelin Guide. Michelin’s anonymous inspectors are already in the field, scouting new gems to promote “across the state, going beyond the main urban areas,” according to a news release.
Michelin has introduced a slate of other awards alongside its coveted star system over the years, including the Bib Gourmand category, created in 1997 to highlight restaurants that serve “recognizable” meals for a reasonable price, according to the Michelin Guide. In 2024, Michelin added the Michelin Key category to recognize unique accommodations, and last year added the Michelin Grape award to spotlight wine estates and producers.