In Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs, restaurants tend to close no later than 10pm during the week and 11pm on weekends, although there are exceptions. Tipping is standard for the U.S. at 15% to 20%.
Local delicacies include Rocky Mountain oysters (yes, they are deep-fried bull’s testicles), Mexican fare, beef, and game. Boulder is on the forefront of numerous culinary trends, namely vegetarian, “localvore,” and organic, as are Denver and Colorado Springs, although to a lesser degree. The farm-to-table movement helped earn Boulder the title of “America's Foodiest Town” from Bon Appetit magazine in 2010, thanks to its status as a hub for the natural-foods industry, its farmer's market, and its dynamic dining landscape. Likewise, Denver and Colorado Springs culinary scenes have taken major steps forward in recent years.
Then there's the suds: Denver and the surrounding area have been dubbed “the Napa Valley of beer,” and with good reason. Home to numerous microbreweries and brewpubs, the Mile High City plays host to the Great American Beer Festival, the world's largest beer festival, every September. It also brews more beer per capita than any other city in the country (and that's not counting Coors in nearby Golden) and ranks second in terms of total breweries. In LoDo (Lower Downtown), the landmark Wynkoop Brewing Company is the largest brewpub in the nation, and its founder, John Hickenlooper, went on to become mayor of Denver en route to the governor's office.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
