Michelin Guide Denver

A restaurant can be recognized a few different ways. First, it can earn coveted Michelin stars — one, two or, the top honor, three. Michelin-starred restaurants represent the very best in cuisine, taking into consideration execution, flavor and creativity. These restaurants are sought after by travelers.

Next, the Bib Gourmand (below) designation recognizes restaurants serving good food for a good value. These tend to be more casual restaurants, the types of places you go back to week after week without breaking the bank.

A restaurant can also gain a mention in the Michelin Guide with a green star for sustainability, as well as other special professional awards highlighted by the inspectors.

Michelin’s anonymous inspectors have been eating their way through Colorado all year, searching out the very best dining experiences, using the same criteria that they’d use in Paris or New York. The taste testers judge restaurants based on their:

• Product quality
• Mastery of cooking techniques
• Harmony of flavors
• Voice and personality of the chef as reflected in the cuisine
• Consistency across visits (each restaurant is inspected several times a year)

It all began in France in 1889 when brothers Andre and Edouard Michelin founded their tire company. Since there were fewer than 3,000 cars in the country, the brothers started producing a helpful travel guide with maps, maintenance tips, hotels and restaurants. These trips led to more car and, in turn, tire sales. The guide kept evolving and the coveted stars were added in 1926. It eventually became an international phenomenon. 

Yes! Denver boasts four One Key Hotels:

• Populus
• Clayton Hotel and Members Club
• Four Seasons Denver
• The Crawford Hotel