This page explains how Best Restaurant Denver decides which restaurants appear, how we order them, where our facts come from, and how we fix mistakes.
Who gets listed
The directory lists every restaurant in the city of Denver that appears in the current MICHELIN Guide Colorado, at any level: Two Stars, One Star, Bib Gourmand or Recommended. We currently use the 2026 selection, announced on September 14, 2026. We note other awards, such as Michelin special awards and James Beard Foundation recognition, with the year and category.
Our brunch guide is the one exception to the Michelin rule: it draws on published recommendations from established local outlets, which it cites entry by entry.
How we order picks
Our neighborhood and cuisine guides are editorial picks. Each one states its criteria, usually Michelin distinction first and then the purpose of the page, such as walking distance or occasion. The order is our judgement, never a rating, and we do not assign scores or stars of our own.
Where facts come from
- Awards: MICHELIN's own announcements and guide listings, and the James Beard Foundation's published lists, cross-checked with established outlets such as Westword, 5280, Colorado Public Radio, the Denver Gazette, KDVR and Visit Denver.
- Addresses and websites: Michelin listings, restaurants' own sites and established local publications. Where we could not verify a restaurant's own website, we link to its Michelin Guide listing instead and label it.
- Neighborhoods: our placement by street address, using Denver's commonly used neighborhood names. Some sources place a few restaurants differently; where that happens we say so.
- History and context: museums, libraries and public broadcasters, cited on each page.
We do not publish hours, prices, phone numbers, invented dishes or quotes we cannot attribute.
Independence
No restaurant can pay to be listed or to change its position. We do not accept free meals or gifts. Advertising on the site is served by Google and is separate from editorial decisions.
Corrections and updates
We update the directory when MICHELIN publishes a new Colorado selection and review guides regularly; pages were last reviewed on 10 October 2026. If a restaurant has closed or moved, or we got something wrong, please tell us through the contact page and include a source if you can. We fix verified errors promptly.