People might flock to Colorado Springs for its stunning natural landscapes and desirable weather—the city enjoys an average of 300 days of sunshine, low humidity and has famed Pikes Peak summit as its backdrop—but chances are, they might keep coming back for the expanding food scene.
“If you are a foodie, Colorado Springs is the place to come,” said Holly Taylor, group servicing manager at Visit Colorado Springs. “We have brews and good food, plus rooftop offerings and that view of the Peak, especially when the sun sets.”
Bringing your group to Colorado Springs for the first time? We’ve rounded up some of the best places to host private dining experiences or networking activities.
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Four by Brother Luck and Studio by Brother Luck
Appearing on shows like Food Network’s Chopped and Bravo’s Top Chef, Brother Luck brings celebrity and top-notch global flavors to Colorado Springs in restaurants Four by Brother Luck and Lucky Dumpling.
“He’s a really nice guy, and his food is tremendous,” Taylor added.
At Four by Brother Luck in downtown Colorado Springs, visitors will enjoy twists on Southwestern fare like blue cornbread and spiced pork chop with sauteed tostones, jasmine mojo pilaf, tamarind gastrique and pickled onion. Groups of up to 10 can reserve the Wine Room for a chef’s table experience, where they will have a chance to interact with the chef and in-house sommelier over the menu and wine pairings.
At nearby Lucky Dumpling, attendees can sample creative takes on dumplings and other Asian dishes. The best option for small groups looking for a more interactive dining experience, however, is at the Studio, located above the restaurant. This private event space has a full kitchen, AV and seating for up to 25 people. Chef Brother Luck is available for cooking demonstrations and classes.
Pikes Peak Brewing Company
With its Lager House location in downtown Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Brewing Company is a beer lover’s dream, offering 16 hand-crafted brews daily with a rooftop patio and Star Bar with views of Pikes Peak to top things off. The brewery also serves food, including beer cheese soup, gourmet sandwiches, charcuterie boards and more.
Planners can book the scenic rooftop patio and Star Bar for up to 145 seated, or for smaller groups, the Barrel Room is available for private events as well.
Pikes Peak Brewing Company’s Lager House anchors the CO.A.T.I food hall, which offers more outdoor seating and good eats post-meeting. Try Anju Korean Eats for bibim bowls, Lunchals for soulful seafood, or cocktails at Rival Bar, among other options.
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Paravicini’s Italian Bistro and Ristoranti Di Sopra
When it comes to fine dining and Italian food, Paravicini’s is at the top of Taylor’s list.
“It’s one of my favorite restaurants. In my opinion, it’s some of the best Italian I’ve ever had,” Taylor said.
All of the Italian classics are present at Paravicini’s, from gnocchi Bolognese and spaghetti and meatballs to lasagna and penna alla vodka. At Ristoranti Di Sopra—Paravicini’s sister restaurant on the second floor—classics like cacio e pepe or indulgent dishes like pappardelle all’ aragosta with lobster meat, shallots, mushrooms, brandy and lobster cream sauce are featured.
Paravicini’s Italian Bistro can host groups: Frank’s Room can host up to 22 for a private event and has AV, and the Goomba Room can host up to 40 semi-private with booth seating. At the intimate Ristoranti Di Sopra, its upstairs room can host up to 75 with its attached patio area can be broken out into a separate meeting space for 20.
Both restaurants are located in Historic Old Colorado City on Colorado Springs’ west side. Designated a National Historic District, this storied neighborhood is home to some of the city’s best local shops, galleries and fine dining.
ViewHouse Colorado Springs
ViewHouse is becoming a popular name in the state of Colorado. Its first location opened in 2013 across from Denver’s Coors Field and quickly became one of the city’s most popular bar destinations. In 2020, ViewHouse opened its fourth location in the state in Colorado Springs.
This expansive eatery, bar and rooftop comes with views of Pikes Peak, indoor and outdoor flat screens for sports fans, and outdoor backyard games like cornhole. The Colorado Springs location also has a dedicated banquet space for up to 100 people. The in-house events team at ViewHouse can help plan corporate functions, teambuilding activities, receptions and social events.
It also offers customizable food and beverage packages, taking the casual pub fare offered to restaurant patrons and tailoring it for larger groups. Planners can choose from creative party platters to “build-your-own” stations like a cheesecake bar, nacho bar, BYO mac and cheese bar, bacon bar and more. Colorado craft breweries and distilleries are also featured among ViewHouse’s beverage options.
The Broadmoor
Anyone who plans meetings in the Colorado Springs area knows of The Broadmoor, a Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond hotel with 784 rooms and 315,000 square feet of event space for up to 5,000 attendees, including the recently added Bartolin Hall.
This luxury resort is also known for exceptional dining destinations—convenient for groups staying onsite.
“If you want five-star restaurants, The Broadmoor is the place to go,” Taylor said.
Seventeen restaurants, cafes and lounges ranging from fine dining to casual patisserie await groups at The Broadmoor. All of its outlets put an emphasis on fresh, local and sustainable ingredients. Some notable options include Ristorante Del Lago for authentic al fresco Italian dining, with an intimate private dining room for up to 12; Summit for contemporary cuisine inspired by Latin, South and North America, which offers a private dining room for up to 22 or a semi-private table for up to 11 with a pull-down screen; and La Taverne, the resort’s steakhouse with Eagles Nest Ranch wagyu beef raised exclusively for The Broadmoor at Eagles Nest Ranch in Colorado.
Taylor also noted that the Golden Bee, a 19th-century British pub—which is an actual 19th-century British pub transported panel by panel from the U.K. to The Broadmoor—is open to the public, so groups in town for meetings not staying at The Broadmoor can take advantage of its classic pub fare like fish and chips, Reubens and more, or book it for private events. The Golden Bee added a rooftop patio in 2013 that can be reserved for groups up to 60.
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Uva Wine Bar
Featuring over 40 wines by the glass and 200 by the bottle, Uva Wine Bar is the spot for fans of the grape or planners looking for a unique venue for small- to mid-sized groups. For food, a curated menu of gourmet shareables, meat/cheese boards and other house specialties complement the robust wine selection. Planners can arrange wine and food pairings, wine flights, wine tastings or a specialized menu prepared by the in-house chef.
Uva Wine Bar also has a private room with AV that can host up to 16 people. Groups can buy out the whole venue—including the outdoor patio—for up to 145.
Rocky Mountain Food Tours
For groups that want to taste a little bit of everything, Visit Colorado Springs’ Taylor recommends planners book an outing with Rocky Mountain Food Tours for a dine-around of some of the city’s best food and beverage spots.
“They are a wonderful partner and offer the option to tour three or four restaurants. They can include Brother Luck and some of the main downtown area as well as craft breweries,” she said, adding that they also offer a craft brewery tour for beer connoisseurs.
Rocky Mountain Food Tours can accommodate groups from eight to 45 people and can customize tours depending on group needs and availability. For larger groups, Rocky Mountain Food Tours will divide groups into smaller groups and can accommodate lunchtime or dinnertime, if needed. Along the way, participants will learn more about Colorado Springs blossoming food scene as well as history of Pikes Peak, the gold rush, the railroad and more from tour leaders.
3 More Breweries to Try
Pikes Peak Brewing Company isn’t the only noteworthy brewery in Colorado Springs. The city (and the state of Colorado) is well-known for its craft beer prowess. Here are a few more outlets where you can sip some suds during the next business trip to Colorado Springs.
- Colorado Mountain Brewery–Roundhouse: Housed in the historic Midland Railways Roundhouse, Colorado Mountain Brewery offers a dedicated banquet space on its second floor for up to 100 people. Groups can also meet on its large patio while enjoying some award-winning burgers and beer.
- Phantom Canyon Brewery: Located in the heart of downtown Colorado Springs in a building that dates back to 1901, Phantom Canyon Brewery has eight different event spaces, including its newly remodeled third floor that can host groups of 10-200, featuring 12-foot ceilings and views of downtown and the Front Range. For a really memorable event, rent the second-floor Billiards Hall, which is the oldest in Colorado Springs and has a full-service bar, 10 tournament-style billiard tables, HD televisions, a jukebox, two dart boards and a covered outdoor patio with fire pits. A full pub menu is also available for lunch or dinner.
- Goat Patch Brewing: The award-winning “balanced brews” at Goat Patch Brewing are worth a visit, which is located in the newly renovated Lincoln Center, the former Lincoln Elementary School. Though the brewery doesn’t serve food, for events, planners can work with outside caterers or food trucks for private events onsite. Capacity for the event space is 50 people and comes with an attached outdoor area, 55-inch TV, chalkboard, a full bar and more.
Connect
Visit Colorado Springs
(719) 635-7506
www.visitcos.com
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