top of page

15 Colorado Restaurants Earn New Recognition in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide

10 minutes ago
3 min read

Milpero earns a new MICHELIN Star as Colorado’s first statewide Guide recognizes restaurants from Aurora to Telluride


Colorado’s culinary scene reached a new milestone on September 14, 2026, as the MICHELIN Guide unveiled its first-ever statewide Colorado selection, bringing new recognition to restaurants across the Front Range and mountain communities.


This year, 15 Colorado restaurants received new MICHELIN recognition, including one new MICHELIN Star, three new Bib Gourmands and 11 restaurants newly added to the MICHELIN Recommended selection. The complete 2026 Colorado Guide now includes 63 restaurants representing 22 cuisine types.


A New MICHELIN Star: Milpero

The biggest announcement of the 2026 selection came in Denver, where Milpero earned its first One MICHELIN Star.


Led by Chef Johnny Curiel, Milpero presents an ambitious tasting-menu interpretation of regional Mexican cuisine, blending traditional preparations with contemporary technique. Curiel is already behind two other MICHELIN-Starred Denver restaurants, Alma Fonda Fina and Mezcaleria Alma, making his growing presence within Colorado’s culinary landscape particularly notable.


Milpero joins Colorado’s now 10 MICHELIN-Starred restaurants:

Two MICHELIN Stars

  • The Wolf’s Tailor — Denver

One MICHELIN Star

  • Alma Fonda Fina — Denver

  • Beckon — Denver

  • Bosq — Aspen

  • Brutø — Denver

  • Frasca Food and Wine — Boulder

  • Kizaki — Denver

  • Margot — Denver

  • Mezcaleria Alma — Denver

  • Milpero — Denver | NEW


Three New Bib Gourmand Restaurants

Three additional restaurants were awarded the Bib Gourmand, MICHELIN’s distinction recognizing restaurants that deliver high-quality cooking at a strong value.

The newest Colorado Bib Gourmands are:

  • Annette — Aurora

  • Pig and Tiger — Denver

  • Rougarou — Denver


Their addition brings Colorado’s total to 13 Bib Gourmand restaurants.


11 Restaurants Join the MICHELIN Recommended Selection

The expansion of the Guide statewide also brought MICHELIN inspectors into new Colorado communities.


Eleven restaurants were newly added to the MICHELIN Recommended selection:

  • 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


The list is significant not only because of the restaurants themselves, but because of its geographic reach. For the first time, the Colorado MICHELIN Guide extends beyond its previous coverage of Denver, Boulder, Aspen, Snowmass Village, Vail and Beaver Creek to consider restaurants throughout the state.


Restaurants in Colorado Springs, Breckenridge, Telluride and Aurora are among those benefiting from that expanded statewide spotlight.


Colorado’s Culinary Community on an International Stage

For the French-American Chamber of Commerce – Rocky Mountain, we are proud to celebrate the chefs, restaurateurs and hospitality teams earning international recognition across Colorado.


The MICHELIN Guide began in France more than a century ago and has since become one of the world’s most influential standards in gastronomy. Its continued expansion in Colorado provides another opportunity to showcase the creativity, entrepreneurship and talent driving the state’s restaurant and hospitality industry.


Félicitations to all of the restaurants, chefs and teams recognized in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide Colorado.


From Denver and Aurora to Boulder, Colorado Springs, Breckenridge and Telluride, this year’s selection demonstrates that Colorado’s culinary reputation is no longer concentrated in only a handful of destinations — it is becoming truly statewide.


 
 
 

Comments

Post: Blog2_Post
bottom of page