Breckenridge has a great deal of restaurant options and believe it or not this small history mining town also boasts some insanely delicious fine dining cuisine. If you are looking to enjoy a nice meal out during your time in Breck I’ve outlined some of my absolute favorite high end restaurants throughout town.
While there are many amazing restaurants in Breckenridge, while narrowing this list down to the 5 BEST Fine Dining Restaurants I first focused on my personal dining experiences and also on restaurants that I believe really capture the essence of Breck.
I struggle to use the term “fine dining” to describe pretty much any restaurant in Colorado’s high country due to the casual nature of our ski towns. The food, drinks, atmosphere, and service offered at all of my below suggestions certainly is exquisite, but don’t for a second think it is inappropriate to enter any of these establishments with your young family or while wearing jeans, a flannel, and winter boots. No one here has ever said you needed to be dressed to the 9’s in order to enjoy nice food in a nice environment. Colorado’s mountain lifestyle is a casual one and that extends into our restaurants.
I highly recommend you plan ahead and make reservations if you decide that you wish to dine at any of these restaurants. Due to the quality of their cuisine and service they all tend to book up, even during our slower seasons.
Breckenridge “Fine Dining” Suggestions - Listed Alphabetically
Named after the Latin word ‘shine’, Aurum does indeed stand out while sparkling at the same time. Clean lines, high ceilings, white walls, and natural wood finishes throughout make this place feel warm and welcoming, just like home. The menu is “New American” themed with options ranging from Octopus Carpaccio, to Colorado Striped Bass, and Braised Pork Osso Buco all with unique palate pleasing platings and flavors.
Elevated edgy American cuisine, or as they like to say ‘Modern American Cuisine with an Attitude’. Located in the same building as the award winning Breckenridge Distillery the food here is specifically formulated to showcase the complexity and quality of the distillery’s spirits in an upscale mountain atmosphere. I would also like to preface that the menu is on the rich or heavy side, so suggest you visit when needing to refuel after a long day on the slopes or other outdoor adventures.
Breckenridge’s historic steakhouse is still in business for good reason. The Briar Rose has been serving up dry aged steaks, wild game, and seafood for decades in an elegant atmosphere. I highly suggest you arrive early in order to enjoy a cocktail in the saloon to check out the historic backbar. It’s truly a piece of history. In the mood for a smaller meal or didn’t manage to get a reservation in the chophouse? The saloon offers its own small plates menu and the full chophouse menu too!
**Radicato
Breckenirdge’s newest buzz and let me tell you, it is worth the hype. Offering a family style mountain italian dining experience Radicato is sure to please even the pickiest palate. The homemade old world pasta dishes are out of this world. Might I also suggest you start with the Bangs Island Mussels, and feast on some Zucca Di Delicata as a side. If given the opportunity to order a coursed tasting menu I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it!
Host to “New American” cuisine using seasonal locally sourced ingredients with a focus on elevated everyday dining. Where your plates look like works of art….start with a decadent bowl of braised short rib french onion soup before moving on to their fine dining take on pork and beans with the most fantastic white beans I have ever tasted. Looking for something lighter? No problem! Rootstalk offers several seafood based and robust vegetarian options too. Having difficulty deciding? Simple! Just order the 5 or 7 course chef’s seasonal tasting menu with the optional wine pairing add on.
**Both Radicato and Rootstalk are owned and operated by chef Matt Vawter, a Summit County local who graduated from Summit High School, attended culinary school followed by interning under some of the best chefs throughout the county. After gaining what experience and knowledge Matt could locally he left the area to work under other skilled and successful chefs. In 2020 Matt returned ‘home’ to Summit County in pursuit of his dream of owning a Summit area restaurant where he also wished for his children to grow up. Rootstalk opened in 2020 and formally had a handful of homemade pasta dishes on the menu. Matt opened ‘Mountain Italian’ themed restaurant Radicato in 2022 in part due to the success and popularity of his pasta plates at Rootstalk and because the people of Breckenridge proved they supported local new elevated dining options.
If you enjoy delicious, flavorful, and artful cuisine, dining at one of Matt’s two restaurants is an absolute must if you ask me.
More Breckenridge Dining Suggestions!!!