With the Michelin Guide awards coming to Denver on Monday, September 14, there’s a lot of buzz going around about who should make the list. While the prestigious guide has been in the metro area since 2023, this is the first year all of Colorado is included. With that in mind, Denver diners have plenty to say about which Mile High restaurants deserve recognition.
In fact, in a recent DiningOut Denver Facebook conversation, readers named 28 restaurants they believe are worthy of a star, revealing a mix of chef-driven destinations, under-the-radar gems and beloved Denver institutions.
The conversation drew 33 comments, with Annette in Aurora emerging as the clear favorite. The Stanley Marketplace restaurant received three mentions — more than any other restaurant in the discussion — including the very first response.
“That list has got to include Annette, right?” one reader wrote.
That enthusiasm makes sense. Chef Caroline Glover’s Annette has long been recognized for its thoughtful, seasonal cooking and polished-but-approachable dining experience. All this makes it one of the most natural Michelin contenders mentioned in the conversation.
Restaurant Olivia also generated strong support, earning two mentions and an emphatic “Olivia!!!” from one commenter. The Washington Park restaurant has built a following around handmade pasta and Italian-inspired cooking, putting it firmly in the conversation for diners looking beyond traditional fine dining.
Two other restaurants tied with Olivia at two mentions each: Yuan Wonton and The Plimoth.
Yuan Wonton represents a different kind of Michelin conversation. Chef Penelope Wong’s handmade dumplings and commitment to a healthy restaurant culture has long made her a favorite in the scene. This year Wong took home Best Chef Mountain at the James Beard Awards, further positioning her for a possible Michelin recognition, which is something the restaurant has yet to obtain.
Meanwhile, The Plimoth emerged as something of a sleeper pick. One reader paired it with Point Easy, while another responded that the restaurant is “severely underrated.” That comment points to an interesting theme in the discussion: Michelin-worthy doesn’t necessarily mean the most obvious or most talked-about restaurant.
Other established names also made the cut. Rioja, chef Jen Jasinski’s Larimer Square restaurant, received a vote, as did Guard and Grace, Point Easy, Kumoya, Marigold in Lyons, and Rootstalk in Breckenridge.
The geography was notable, too. While the question centered on Denver, readers expanded their definition of the region, naming restaurants in Aurora, Lyons, Windsor, Breckenridge, and the Denver Tech Center. That suggests that when local diners talk about Michelin-worthy dining, they are thinking beyond city limits.
Not every nomination fit the traditional Michelin mold either. Comments included Piper Inn, Cherry Cricket, Chubby’s, Pints Pub, and even Burger King. Those picks appear to be less about Michelin-style tasting menus and more about what makes Denver’s food culture special to the people who live here.
And, that may be the most revealing part of the conversation. For some diners, a Michelin-worthy restaurant means meticulous technique, ambitious cooking and an elevated experience. For others, it means a restaurant that has earned a devoted following and feels essential to the city’s identity.
There was even a little good-natured skepticism about Michelin itself, with one commenter joking, “Isn’t that an award for tires?” The quip highlights the complicated relationship many diners have with the Michelin Guide: prestige matters, but it isn’t necessarily the ultimate measure of a great restaurant.
Based on the conversation, however, one name rises above the rest. Annette was the only restaurant mentioned three times, making it the readers’ strongest Michelin-star contender.
Olivia, Yuan Wonton, and The Plimoth followed close behind, while the broader list showed just how varied Denver’s dining scene has become. Whether Michelin agrees with local diners is another question. But if this social conversation is any indication, Denver’s food lovers already have their own guidebook — and they aren’t shy about making recommendations.
