Restaurants in Colorado Springs

So we’re only going to tell you about the ones we really enjoy. Hopefully you will too.

Now, we're not against visiting a chain restaurant if it really delivers, but we tend to like locally-owned spots with their own unique feel, the ones that say “we’re in Colorado.”

That means we favor dining experiences with mountain views, that might sit creek side, or even have a Western feel.

This could also mean that the staff just have a heaping helping of that friendly, laid-back Colorado vibe.

Whatever it is, we think you'll like it, no matter what fare you're hungry for.

So here is our list of favorite restaurants in Colorado Springs…

CAFE

Poor Richard’s – Our perfect gem for casual downtown dining. A deli/coffee-chocolate-winebar/toystore/bookstore all in one building. Choose your own ingredients for a hand-made organic pizza, order a glass of Merlot, and browse through the book stacks while you wait for dinner. Often there is live instrumental music. An excellent way to spend an afternoon or evening. One of our favorite restaurants in Colorado Springs.

324 1/2 N. Tejon St.
Colorado Springs, CO
(719) 632-7721

Adam’s Mountain Cafe – This is the restaurant everybody talks about. Our first month here we heard about Adam’s Mountain Café no less than five times. Located just up the road in Manitou Springs, they are famous for their delicious organic meals, especially breakfast. A nice place to fuel up before a day of shopping in Manitou, or visiting the Cog Railway to Pikes Peak. Check the hours below, as there are breaks in service.

934 Manitou Avenue, Manitou Springs, Colorado, 80829
Reservations: (719) 685-1430
Direct line: (719) 685-4370

Breakfast Tuesday thru Sunday 8am - 3pm
Lunch Tuesday thru Sunday 11am - 3pm
Dinner Tuesday thru Saturday 5pm - 9pm
Open Mondays for Breakfast & Lunch - May thru September only

CREEKSIDE

Wines of Colorado – One of the first restaurants in Colorado Springs we visited, Wines of Colorado is a great “vacation restaurant” because of its back-patio seating next to a flowing mountain creek. They make a mean buffalo wine burger with green chiles too. Maybe from the name you could tell they also have a substantial wine selection. Taste all you want, buy a couple bottles to take home, maybe even grab a custom winestopper from their attached gift store. Ten minutes up the Ute Pass (Hwy 24) in Cascade, it’s worth the drive. A great place to eat before or after your visit to Pikes Peak.

8045 W. U.S. Highway 24
Cascade, CO
(719) 684-0900

Green Mountain Falls Social Club - We found this gem almost by accident. Located up in Green Mountain Falls right behind The Pantry, this little hideaway isn't immediately visible unless you walk right into the leaf-covered arbor entryway. Walk down the path along the creek and under several cottonwood trees you'll find an almost magical outdoor dining room. Views of the foothills, lights in the trees, the creek flowing right beside you, and the main attraction is a cowboy singing cowboy songs. He takes requests and has a great voice. (This guy actually played bass for John Denver, so he's really good.) Not really a social club at all, but a down-home restaurant with a fantastic setting. Great quiet place for casual family dining or a unique place to take a date. Stroll by the town lake and gazebo afterwards, it's right across the street. Call ahead for the schedule on live entertainment.

6980 Lake St
Green Mountain Falls, CO
(719) 684-9018

SALOON & SALAD

Keg Lounge – This little bar off the main road in Manitou Springs doesn’t let you know from its exterior that it makes an incredible blackberry-raspberry salad. Our friends took us here just to try “The Berry Salad.” It is unbelievable. If you’re visiting the shops in Manitou, or coming down from a Barr Trail hike, stop in The Keg Lounge and try a salad, sub sandwich, or veggie burger.

730 Manitou Ave
Manitou Springs, CO 80829
(719) 685-9531

DELI

Wooglin’s Deli – A funky little deli near downtown--just across the street from Colorado College--this is another one of our favorite restaurants in Colorado Springs. Menus are written on huge chalkboards. Local artists’ paintings and sketches decorate the walls. The staff is eclectic and friendly, the food is fantastic: big sandwiches, soups, and bakery. We vote for the Ruben sandwich, and chicken salad-salad.

823 N Tejon St
Colorado Springs, CO 80903-4707
(719) 578-9443

MEXICAN

Amanda’s Fonda – We love it here because of the creekside dining. Grab a chair by the river, order chips & salsa, a margarita or two, and enjoy some tasty Mexican food outdoors in beautiful Colorado. You might even see a raccoon by the creek’s edge. Very popular and parking can be tricky, so give yourself some time to lounge (re:wait) before dining.

3625 W Colorado Ave
Colorado Springs, CO 80904-1913
(719) 227-1975

Alice’s Mexican Cuisine – Restaurants in Colorado Springs are sometimes "known" for a specific dish. In the case of Alice's Mexican Cuisine, it's their sweet “tres leches” dessert, Located right downtown, Alice's is adjacent the Twin Peaks movie theater and Josh & John’s ice cream shop. A great opportunity for “dinner and a movie” here. I personally love their enchiladas verde. Reasonably priced, too. Don’t forget to try the tres leches.

109 E Pikes Peak Ave
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
(719) 578-8882

PUB GRILL

Phantom Canyon Brewing Company – Located downtown in the historic Cheyenne Building across the street from the Antlers Hilton. This is an extremely popular pub/restaurant serving American, English, and Italian food. The décor is hardwood floors and massive windows. Upstairs has billiards, a full bar, and juke box. A very lively pub, and can be loud as it’s usually busy. We enjoyed the spicy chicken tenders with cucumber dipping sauce, and our drink votes go to the Zebulon’s Peated Porter and the Bloody Mary. They brew their own beer, so if you're a beer-lover, order a "flight" and taste them all.

2 East Pikes Peak Ave.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
(719) 635-2800

GREEK

Jake & Telly’s – Friendly atmosphere, great service, colorful Greek murals. Fun location in the middle of Old Colorado City. Lots of dishes to choose from, as well as wine and martinis. The stuffed grape leaves are delicious. Also one of the restaurants in Colorado Springs that has views of Pikes Peak and the Front Range off the deck.

2616 West Colorado Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80904
(719) 633-0406

CHINESE

Coal Mine Dragon – We have visited a lot of Chinese restaurants in town, but the Coal Mine Dragon is hands-down our go-to in the Springs. The staff is extremely friendly and attentive, the portions are huge, and it’s always hot and tasty. Our favorite dish is their garlic chicken dinner, which surpasses more expensive dining. And their crab rangoon is probably the best we've ever had. Fantastic! It's not a fancy dining environment--the dining room is small but cozy--but great for an inexpensive dinner out if you're looking for Asian food. We like them for delivery too! They have three locations--we've only been to the one on the west side--but there is also one at 1779 S 8th Street, as well as a Fountain location.

1720 W Uintah St
Colorado Springs, CO 80904
(719) 578-5430

BBQ

Front Range BBQ – Located right next to Bancroft Park in historic Old Colorado City, the Front Range BBQ has become our new summer hang-out. Excellent, friendly service plus actual views of the front range off their outdoor patio make this a fantastic casual dining experience. Add to that delicious BBQ sandwiches, salads, and micro-brews (any place that serves Laughing Lab always gets extra points from us) and you've got yourself a winner. The location is an extra bonus--after dinner, you can walk 2 blocks up Colorado Ave to get ice cream at the Colorado City Creamery.

2330 West Colorado Ave
Colorado Springs, CO 80904
(719) 632-2596

Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q - This new joint really caught our attention when we made a wrong turn and had to turn around in their parking lot. And we realized how packed the place was! Literally every space was taken and people were circling the lot to get inside. They even have their own gas station. Turns out this is the new favorite family-style restaurant in Colorado Springs. The long lines and massive dining area might not be your thing, but the brisket, jalapeno sausage, and ever-present bottles of BBQ sauce might change your mind. If you enjoy the novelty of eating off sheets of butcher paper and a picnic atmostphere, Rudy's could be your BBQ favorite.

315 S. 31st St
Colorado Springs, CO 80904
(719) 471-4120

ICE CREAM PARLOR

Colorado City Creamery - An Old Colorado City favorite. We love the "make your own" option at their sundae bar. They also serve healthy non-dairy options for the more health-conscious, which is a nice choice. But there is a lot to be said about a couple scoops of vanilla ice cream, marshmallow, cherries, sprinkles, hot fudge, gummi bears, chocolate chips, and almonds on top. If you eat on their outdoor patio, you can people-watch and some nights live enterainment in the form of a keyboard player may be outside as well. Or you can always take your cone and walk & shop.

2602 W Colorado Ave
Colorado Springs CO 80904
(719) 634-1411

Josh and John’s – This downtown ice cream parlor makes natural homemade ice cream from ingredients they get locally. People rave about the flavors. Oatmeal Cookie, Strawberry, Chocolate Peanut Butter and Thin Mint top the list. You can sample an unlimited amount, so this is a great place if you are an ice cream aficianado. Or know one. The setting is kind of fun and old-fashioned, with its high ceilings and chalkboard menus. And, it's located right next to the Twin Peaks movie theatre. Very popular place. And it smells great.

111 E Pikes Peak Rd
Colorado Springs CO 80903
(719) 632-0299

If you're a beer lover looking for food and drink together, visit our Colorado Springs Brew Pubs page!

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