Applause Please! 

For three years in a row, the Michelin Guide has included Sweet Basil and Osaki’s in Vail and Mirabelle and Splendido in Beaver Creek in its list of 50 recommended Colorado restaurants. What exactly does that mean? These restaurants are commended for their quality and remain on Michelin’s radar (and should also be on yours).

Avanti Food & Beverage Vail

In its second winter season at the base of Golden Peak, Avanti Food & Beverage Vail will dole out loads of entertainment in addition to the six restaurants and bars that thrive under the food hall’s roof. Look for trivia on Wednesdays, live music on Thursdays, après DJs on Fridays and Saturdays, and the NFL Sunday Ticket (cue the all-day food and drink specials) on, you guessed it, Sundays. Also anticipated: Spontaneous building-wide sing-alongs and free shots (for those 21 and over, of course). 458 Vail Valley Dr, Vail 

Zuma 

The Sebastian may have shuttered Leonora, the hotel’s Latin-themed house restaurant, but the powers that be did so to usher in Zuma. Expected to open in December, this high-end Japanese izakaya will have, in addition to a gorgeous dining room and bar, a DJ booth crafted from glowing amber resin. Given the success of the London, Cannes, and St. Tropez locations, plan for Zuma to become a local après-ski hot spot. 16 Vail Rd, Vail

The Milk Breakfast 

The former Ti Amo space in Eagle this fall became the Milk Breakfast, serving (from 7 to 11:30 a.m.) shareable plates of fluffy buttermilk pancakes and artisanal sourdough toasts (topped with cream cheese,  mixed berries, avocado, and smoked salmon), challah French toast, a trio of bennies, and Mexican breakfast classics. Lunch service (11:30 a.m.–3 p.m.) revolves around sandwiches (burgers, chipotle and pesto chicken, turkey panini) and a daily soup. True to the name, hot beverages include chai and matcha lattes and an artfully pulled frothy cappuccino. 94 Market St, Eagle

Slope and Hatch 

Slope and Hatch, which has seen unprecedented success in Glenwood Springs over the last decade, opened in Eagle in December 2024 with a similar menu of souped-up tacos, hot dogs, regional craft beer, and social cocktails like margaritas, palomas, mules, and sangria. Don’t miss the curried lamb taco and a side of Cajun fries. 115 E Second St, Eagle 

Tennessee Pass Cookhouse 

If you haven’t hiked, snowshoed, or cross-country skied the mile to the Tennessee Pass Cookhouse for dinner, can you even say you’ve wintered in Colorado? Under new ownership, the cookhouse kicks off this season doing what it’s done for decades: creating an iconic, delicious, off-the-grid alpine adventure that people come from near and far to experience. The four-course dinner is Colorado-driven with a game-centric menu (and organic/biodynamic wine pairings), with complimentary snowshoes, skis, and headlamps provided for those who don’t own the requisite gear. If skiing or snowshoeing back to your car in the dark while tipsy isn’t your kind of fun, no problem; make a reservation to stay in one of the six sleeping yurts.

Taste of Vail 

It’s never too early to plan for the Taste of Vail, April 1–4, 2026. This annual festival includes a bevy of new distilleries and wineries (plus returning favorites from Napa, Sonoma, and Paso Robles), local chefs rubbing elbows and cooking alongside celeb chefs, competitions and chef face-offs, and—hello—caviar pairings. Sign us up!