Top 6 restaurants in Colorado for business dining: A data-driven guide

Ramp processes billions of dollars in business expenses across thousands of companies every month. Our unique position in the payments ecosystem provides visibility into actual spending patterns, including restaurant and dining expenditures across diverse industries and business sizes.

Understanding Colorado's restaurant landscape requires more than anecdotal reviews or popularity contests. By analyzing corporate spending patterns across 14,400+ eating and drinking establishments, we can identify the venues that consistently deliver value for business meetings, client entertainment, and corporate events. This data-driven approach reveals insights into pricing trends, seasonal patterns, and the evolving preferences of Colorado's business community.

Understanding Colorado restaurant industry

Colorado's restaurant industry generates $23.4 billion in annual sales while employing 313,000 workers, representing 11% of the state's workforce. The industry serves a population of 6,013,650 residents and benefits from robust tourism, with 93.3 million visitors spending $28.2 billion in 2023. Current food trends shaping the landscape include bold briny flavors like olives and kimchi, protein-focused dishes, and international comfort food fusions. Colorado's unique high-altitude agriculture, tourism-driven mountain resorts, and Denver's emergence as a culinary destination with four Michelin-starred restaurants create a distinctive dining environment that caters to both local businesses and visiting executives.

Top 6 restaurants for business meals and client dining

Based on Ramp's analysis of corporate spending data, these six Colorado restaurants consistently rank highest for business dining experiences. The Broadmoor, La Taverne, and Ristorante del Lago lead the pack, offering sophisticated settings and service standards that meet executive expectations. This ranking reflects actual business expense patterns, not individual consumer reviews, providing unique insights into where Colorado companies invest their entertainment and meeting budgets.

The Broadmoor

The Broadmoor stands as Colorado's premier luxury resort, featuring 18 distinct dining venues since its 1918 opening. This Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five-Diamond property in Colorado Springs cultivates ingredients in its own gardens and sources Wagyu beef from its private Eagles Nest Ranch. The resort has maintained Mobil Five-Star status for over 60 consecutive years, offering everything from contemporary American cuisine at Summit to the legendary Sunday Brunch in the Lake Terrace Dining Room.

Notable facts:

The Broadmoor operates its own chocolate kitchen producing artisanal confections and maintains partnerships with regional purveyors for specialty ingredients. The resort's dining program includes wood-fired cooking techniques, house-made pasta production, and a wine collection spanning thousands of selections. Its culinary team regularly travels internationally for inspiration, bringing global influences to Colorado's high-altitude dining scene.

Signature dishes:

• Summit Ceviche Trio
• El Pomar Wagyu Beef
• Sunday Brunch Seafood Tower
• House-made pasta selections
• Wood-fired specialties

Best for:

The Broadmoor excels at high-stakes business meetings, corporate retreats, and executive entertainment. Its multiple venues allow companies to match the dining experience to the occasion, from casual breakfast meetings at Ristorante del Lago to formal client dinners at Summit. The resort's reputation and service standards make it ideal for impressing out-of-state clients or celebrating major business milestones.

La Taverne

La Taverne serves as The Broadmoor's signature steakhouse, specializing in premium cuts since 2015. The restaurant exclusively features Wagyu beef from the resort's private Eagles Nest Ranch, showcasing 98% full-blooded heritage breeding. This French-influenced venue combines a sophisticated raw bar with an extensive wine list featuring over 1,200 selections, all while offering panoramic views of Cheyenne Lake and the Rocky Mountains.

Notable facts:

La Taverne has become renowned for its warm sourdough bread baked fresh throughout service and elegant tableside preparations. The restaurant occupies the lobby level of Broadmoor Main, creating an atmosphere that balances accessibility with exclusivity. Its dedication to sourcing includes partnerships with specific ranches and purveyors, ensuring consistency in quality that business diners value.

Signature dishes:

• El Pomar Wagyu Ribeye
• Seafood Tower with Maine lobster
• Dry-Aged Colorado Lamb Chops
• Hand-cut prime steaks
• Fresh sourdough bread service

Best for:

La Taverne specializes in power lunches and celebration dinners where the quality of the meal reflects the importance of the business relationship. The steakhouse format provides familiar territory for traditional business dining, while the Wagyu beef program and wine selection elevate the experience beyond typical corporate fare. Its location within The Broadmoor complex makes it convenient for guests staying at the resort for conferences or extended business trips.

Ristorante del Lago

Ristorante del Lago has served authentic Italian cuisine at The Broadmoor since 2015, featuring stunning lake views and house-made pasta. The restaurant operates a dedicated "pasta headquarters" with three master pasta chefs who travel annually to Italy for inspiration. This commitment to authenticity extends to sourcing ingredients directly from Italy, including Prosciutto di Parma from Pio Tosini and Parmigiano-Reggiano from the Serra family.

Notable facts:

The restaurant offers aperitivo service from 3-5 PM daily, creating an ideal setting for informal business meetings over Italian cocktails and antipasti. Its breakfast, lunch, and dinner service provides flexibility for various business dining needs. The venue's dedication to Italian culinary traditions includes importing specific olive oils from Castello di Ama and maintaining relationships with artisanal producers across Italy.

Signature dishes:

• Pecorino Romano Cacio e Pepe
• Seafood Risotto with Bangs Island mussels
• Berry Mascarpone French Toast
• House-made pasta selections
• Authentic Italian antipasti

Best for:

Ristorante del Lago works perfectly for business breakfasts, working lunches, and client dinners where a more relaxed atmosphere helps facilitate conversation. The Italian menu offers something for every dietary preference, while the lake views provide a memorable backdrop for important discussions. The aperitivo hour presents an excellent opportunity for informal networking or preliminary meetings before transitioning to dinner.

Restaurant 1858

Restaurant 1858 opened in 2015 at the base of Seven Falls in Colorado Springs, accessible via shuttle from The Broadmoor. The restaurant celebrates Colorado's frontier heritage with a wood-burning grill centerpiece and views of the 181-foot waterfall. Located 6,500 feet above sea level, it combines dramatic natural scenery with sophisticated cuisine featuring regional ingredients and game meats.

Notable facts:

The venue sources ingredients from regional purveyors including Pio Tosini prosciutto and Castello di Ama olive oil, while highlighting Colorado-specific items like wild boar and bison. The bar program features Colorado craft beers and prohibition-era cocktails, including the Moonshine Mule made with award-winning 291 Fresh Moonshine Whiskey. Its location requires shuttle transport, making it a destination dining experience rather than a quick business lunch spot.

Signature dishes:

• Bison Bistro Steak with locally foraged mushrooms
• Wild Boar Green Chili
• Moonshine Mule cocktail
• Wood-grilled specialties
• Colorado game meat preparations

Best for:

Restaurant 1858 serves as an impressive venue for entertaining out-of-town clients who want to experience authentic Colorado cuisine and scenery. The journey to Seven Falls adds an element of adventure to business dining, making it ideal for relationship-building rather than quick negotiations. Companies often choose this location for small group celebrations, team-building dinners, or when seeking to create a memorable impression on important visitors.

Empower Field at Mile High

Empower Field at Mile High represents Denver's premier sports venue dining experience, featuring diverse food concessions throughout the 76,125-seat stadium since its 2001 opening. The venue offers 12 local restaurant concepts across its concourses, emphasizing Colorado ingredients and innovative game-day favorites. Following a 2023 $100 million renovation, the stadium introduced new culinary options including craft ice cream and alcoholic desserts.

Notable facts:

The stadium's culinary program goes beyond typical venue fare, partnering with local restaurants to bring Denver's food scene inside the venue. New additions include Little Man Ice Cream Sandwiches and Tipsy Scoop alcoholic ice cream, reflecting evolving consumer preferences. The venue hosts NFL games, concerts, and special events, with food service integrated into premium suites and club levels for corporate entertaining.

Signature dishes:

• Souvenir Football Monster Chicken Nachos
• Colorado Tater Kegs
• Double Bacon Burger
• Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
• Brunch Banh Mi sandwich

Best for:

Empower Field at Mile High specializes in corporate entertainment during Broncos games and major events. Companies frequently use suite rentals and club-level access for client entertainment, team rewards, and networking opportunities. The venue's diverse food options accommodate large groups with varying preferences, while the excitement of game day creates natural conversation starters and shared experiences that strengthen business relationships.

Downtown Aquarium Restaurant

Downtown Aquarium Restaurant offers underwater dining alongside a 150,000-gallon aquarium in Denver since 2005. The restaurant provides panoramic views of sharks, stingrays, and tropical fish while serving seafood-focused cuisine. As part of Landry's restaurant group, it combines entertainment with dining through attached aquarium exhibits spanning 100,000 square feet.

Notable facts:

The venue hosts daily dive shows and special events that add theatrical elements to the dining experience. Private dining options overlooking the main tank accommodate large corporate groups and special celebrations. The restaurant's integration with the aquarium creates natural conversation pieces and provides built-in entertainment, reducing the pressure often associated with business dining conversations.

Signature dishes:

• Cedar-Plank Salmon
• Diver Scallops
• Shark Bite Margarita
• Fresh seafood selections
• Coastal-inspired appetizers

Best for:

Downtown Aquarium Restaurant works well for team-building events, company celebrations, and entertaining clients with families. The unique atmosphere helps break down formal barriers, making it easier to build relationships in a relaxed setting. Companies often choose this venue for holiday parties, achievement celebrations, or when hosting clients who are bringing family members to Denver.

Tips for business dining in Colorado's restaurant scene

Colorado's high altitude affects both appetite and alcohol tolerance, so advise visiting clients to pace themselves during business dinners. Make reservations at least two weeks in advance for premium venues like The Broadmoor restaurants, especially during ski season (December through March) when tourism peaks. Summer months bring conference season to mountain resorts, requiring even earlier planning for group dining.

Consider Colorado's casual business culture when selecting venues. While The Broadmoor properties offer formal dining options, many successful business meetings happen in more relaxed settings. Local executives often prefer restaurants that showcase Colorado's farm-to-table movement and craft beverage scene. When dining at altitude-specific venues like Restaurant 1858, allow extra travel time and inform guests about elevation considerations.

Take advantage of Colorado's unique outdoor dining season, which extends from May through October in most areas. Many restaurants offer patio seating with mountain views that create memorable experiences for out-of-state clients. For stadium dining at Empower Field, corporate suites must be reserved months in advance, but club-level memberships offer more flexibility for spontaneous client entertainment during football season.