DENVER – The Colorado Tourism Office (CTO), a division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), is thrilled to announce that the MICHELIN Guide will officially expand its coverage to the entire state of Colorado. This milestone represents a significant step in recognizing and celebrating the depth and diversity of Colorado's culinary scene.
“I’m so excited that restaurants across our entire state now have the opportunity to gain recognition in the famed MICHELIN Guide! This is great for our culinary scene and our small businesses. Across Colorado, our diverse and delicious local restaurants strengthen local communities, encourage tasty entrepreneurship, and create important jobs. MICHELIN Guide’s expansion to cover the entire state will shine a spotlight on more communities and strengthen the entire restaurant industry,” said Governor Jared Polis.
The MICHELIN Guide initially expanded into Colorado in 2023. Currently, there are 50 MICHELIN-recognized restaurants in Aspen, Boulder, Denver and Vail, including one two-star restaurant, eight one-star restaurants and four green-star restaurants. Now, MICHELIN Guide Inspectors will be assessing and selecting restaurants across all four corners of Colorado, evaluating a wide range of dining experiences that showcase the state's unique ingredients, cultural influences, and culinary innovation.
"MICHELIN Guide’s presence in Colorado has already elevated Colorado’s reputation for culinary excellence. Today’s announcement will further boost our restaurant industry, our tourism industry and the neighborhoods and communities across the state that benefit from strong local food scenes,” said OEDIT Executive Director Eve Lieberman.
"We are incredibly proud of Colorado's culinary scene and the role the restaurant industry plays in supporting strong tourism across the state. The MICHELIN Guide’s expansion will help inspire culinary travelers to discover destinations across every corner of Colorado," said Timothy Wolfe, Colorado Tourism Office Director.
Further details about the selection process and the date of the full-state announcement will be shared in the coming months.
About the MICHELIN Guide
The MICHELIN Guide is globally recognized for its commitment to excellence and quality in the culinary world, offering a curated selection of world-class restaurants. Established in North America in 2005 with the launch of the New York Guide, the MICHELIN Guide has since expanded to cities and regions such as Chicago, Washington, D.C., California, Florida, Toronto, Vancouver, Colorado, Atlanta, Mexico, Texas and Quebec. The Guide awards its famous one, two and three MICHELIN Stars to establishments serving exceptional cuisine that showcases remarkable flavor, execution and the personality of a talented chef. It also distinguishes restaurants with the Bib Gourmand for providing good quality food at a good value, and the MICHELIN Green Star for being pioneers in sustainable gastronomy. Additionally, the MICHELIN Guide highlights recommended restaurants and recognizes outstanding professionals with special awards, reflecting the breadth and diversity of the dining experiences it celebrates.
About the Colorado Tourism Office
The Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) is a division of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade. The mission of the CTO is to empower the tourism industry by inspiring the world to explore Colorado responsibly and respectfully. The CTO seeks to advance the strength and resilience of the entire industry through collaboration, inclusivity, innovation and leadership. In 2024, Colorado travelers spent $28.5 billion, generating $1.9 billion in local and state revenues. Additionally, the tourism sector supported 188,510 jobs across the state in 2024. For more information, please visit www.colorado.com.
About the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade
The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) works to empower all to thrive in Colorado’s economy. Under the leadership of the Governor and in collaboration with economic development partners across the state, we foster a thriving business environment through funding and financial programs, training, consulting and informational resources across industries and regions. We promote economic growth and long-term job creation by recruiting, retaining, and expanding Colorado businesses and providing programs that support entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes at every stage of growth. Our goal is to protect what makes our state a great place to live, work, start a business, raise a family, visit and retire—and make it accessible to everyone. Learn more about OEDIT.
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