Guidebook for Colorado Springs
Food Scene
Uchenna Ethiopian Restaurant
2501 W Colorado AveEthiopian fare and delicious cake for dessert
Best, most authentic, pizza in OCC, and has other high quality Italian food.
71 locals recommend
Pizzeria Rustica
2527 W Colorado AveBest, most authentic, pizza in OCC, and has other high quality Italian food.
Real tea and dim sum experience. Chinese proprietor personally selects all teas during regular trips to China.
22 locals recommend
Yellow Mountain Tea House
2616 W Colorado AveReal tea and dim sum experience. Chinese proprietor personally selects all teas during regular trips to China.
Bennys Restaurant & Lounge
517 West Colorado AvenueHighest quality Nepalese and Indian food in the area.
Japanese and Asian fusion. Reliably good quality food and drink in a clean, modern setting.
15 locals recommend
Nara Sushi & Grill
3117 W Colorado AveJapanese and Asian fusion. Reliably good quality food and drink in a clean, modern setting.
The only Greek place in the immediate area--abundant portions, good quality, authentic. Love the avgo Lemono soup!
73 locals recommend
Jake and Telly’s Greek Taverna
2616 Colorado AveThe only Greek place in the immediate area--abundant portions, good quality, authentic. Love the avgo Lemono soup!
Slow Food capital of OCC, with same owners as Pizzeria Rustica. High end, great variety of tapas, great place to attend a special event.
59 locals recommend
TAPAteria
2607 W Colorado AveSlow Food capital of OCC, with same owners as Pizzeria Rustica. High end, great variety of tapas, great place to attend a special event.
Community coffee spot, competent coffee and other cafe drinks--play chess, hang out on a bomber sofa, enjoy the open mic environment.
45 locals recommend
Jives Coffee Lounge
16 Colbrunn CtCommunity coffee spot, competent coffee and other cafe drinks--play chess, hang out on a bomber sofa, enjoy the open mic environment.
Restaurant and gourmet market. Great for breakfast or lunch--you'll get ample, well-prepared food with high quality ingredients and a farm to table feel. Environment is open and well-lit and the service is competent and friendly.
90 locals recommend
Garden of the Gods Market and Cafe
616 S Tejon StRestaurant and gourmet market. Great for breakfast or lunch--you'll get ample, well-prepared food with high quality ingredients and a farm to table feel. Environment is open and well-lit and the service is competent and friendly.
French restaurant and patisserie. Try whatever is on the specials board. Can't go wrong if you love French Onion Soup.
77 locals recommend
La Baguette
2417 W Colorado AveFrench restaurant and patisserie. Try whatever is on the specials board. Can't go wrong if you love French Onion Soup.
Not your typical Mexican food. Excellent margaritas. Tucked away location in Manitou Springs' Cabin district.
72 locals recommend
Crystal Park Cantina
178 Crystal Park RdNot your typical Mexican food. Excellent margaritas. Tucked away location in Manitou Springs' Cabin district.
Reliably good Mexican food hub within a short drive of downtown Manitou Springs or Old Colorado City.
51 locals recommend
Amanda's Fonda
3625 Colorado AveReliably good Mexican food hub within a short drive of downtown Manitou Springs or Old Colorado City.
Moxie
925 S 8th StVegan heaven.
Make an evening of witnessing the falls and having an excellent dining experience at this upscale, mountain lodge style restaurant owned and operated by The Broadmoor. Accessible only via Broadmoor shuttle with parking on The Broadmoor's campus East of The Golden Bee.
8 locals recommend
Restaurant 1858
1045 Lower Gold Camp RoadMake an evening of witnessing the falls and having an excellent dining experience at this upscale, mountain lodge style restaurant owned and operated by The Broadmoor. Accessible only via Broadmoor shuttle with parking on The Broadmoor's campus East of The Golden Bee.
Great breakfast and lunch. You'll get a definite feel of community and living like a local. Tell the owner Rey that we sent you to get a locals discount.
12 locals recommend
Good Karma Cafe
110 Cañon AveGreat breakfast and lunch. You'll get a definite feel of community and living like a local. Tell the owner Rey that we sent you to get a locals discount.
Think upscale, health-oriented comfort food, Manitou style. Tell Chef Lyn and wife Laura we sent you. Found in the Manitou Art Center across from Manitou Springs' Memorial Park.
Create Cafe
515 Manitou AveThink upscale, health-oriented comfort food, Manitou style. Tell Chef Lyn and wife Laura we sent you. Found in the Manitou Art Center across from Manitou Springs' Memorial Park.
Great breakfast buffet, veranda dining menu--breakfast, lunch or dinner at the oldest hotel in Colorado.
8 locals recommend
Cliff House Dining Room
306 Cañon AveGreat breakfast buffet, veranda dining menu--breakfast, lunch or dinner at the oldest hotel in Colorado.
Regular or gluten free pizza, tasty calzone's, NY style. Eat in, pick up or delivery.
14 locals recommend
Ruffrano's Hell's Kitchen Pizza Manitou Springs
9 Ruxton AveRegular or gluten free pizza, tasty calzone's, NY style. Eat in, pick up or delivery.
Burrowing Owl
1791 S 8th StVegetarian and Vegan
Connected to a bookstore, a toy shop and a cafe, all of the same owner. Great for pizza, soups, sandwiches and local music (evenings, usually). Breakfast, lunch and dinner served.
66 locals recommend
Poor Richard's Restaurant
324 1/2 N Tejon StConnected to a bookstore, a toy shop and a cafe, all of the same owner. Great for pizza, soups, sandwiches and local music (evenings, usually). Breakfast, lunch and dinner served.
Drinks & Nightlife
Local cafe with wine tasting. Storefront for some truly interesting Colorado wines.
65 locals recommend
Colorado Mountain Brewery at the Roundhouse
600 South 21st StreetLocal cafe with wine tasting. Storefront for some truly interesting Colorado wines.
Unusual beer spot, with a self-pour tap room featuring lots of distinctive beers, ciders and even kombuchas, and with surprisingly good pizza, sandwiches and other munchies. Open, convivial environment.
51 locals recommend
Trails End Taproom
2925 W Colorado AveUnusual beer spot, with a self-pour tap room featuring lots of distinctive beers, ciders and even kombuchas, and with surprisingly good pizza, sandwiches and other munchies. Open, convivial environment.
Pub with Irish flair, cozy environment; love the unusual style of nachos and the reasonably priced steaks and fish.
43 locals recommend
Alchemy
2625 W Colorado AvePub with Irish flair, cozy environment; love the unusual style of nachos and the reasonably priced steaks and fish.
Good all around hangout with typical pub food on the menu.
74 locals recommend
Mother Muff’s Kitchen and Spirits
2432 W Colorado AveGood all around hangout with typical pub food on the menu.
Excellent drinks, intimate environment where locals hang-out, and a foodie's menu. We recommend the Moscow Mule on open mic night.
36 locals recommend
Swirl
717 Manitou AveExcellent drinks, intimate environment where locals hang-out, and a foodie's menu. We recommend the Moscow Mule on open mic night.
Speakeasy. Intimate. Hiding behind a haberdashery. Great fun, great drinks before or after a meal in downtown CO Springs.
57 locals recommend
Brooklyn’s on Boulder Street
110 E Boulder StSpeakeasy. Intimate. Hiding behind a haberdashery. Great fun, great drinks before or after a meal in downtown CO Springs.
Fantastic brews made on site and delicious eats to match. A Manitou Springs treasure walkable from The Keys' sister properties at the White Yarrow Homestead in Manitou Springs. Contact Keys Owner for parking complementary parking details.
51 locals recommend
Manitou Brewing Company
725 Manitou AveFantastic brews made on site and delicious eats to match. A Manitou Springs treasure walkable from The Keys' sister properties at the White Yarrow Homestead in Manitou Springs. Contact Keys Owner for parking complementary parking details.
Parks & Nature
Gotta see it--walk it, hike it, bike it, drive it. The place where Colorado's 4 distinctive ecosystems meet. Diverse flora, fauna, wildlife and geology. Avoid crowds by going at dawn, dusk and weekdays.
1169 locals recommend
Garden of the Gods Club and Resort
3320 Mesa RdGotta see it--walk it, hike it, bike it, drive it. The place where Colorado's 4 distinctive ecosystems meet. Diverse flora, fauna, wildlife and geology. Avoid crowds by going at dawn, dusk and weekdays.
Take a train to the top of America's Mountain, Pike's Peak, from Manitou Springs. Be prepared for high altitude, any kind of weather, stunning views on the way up and from the top at more than 14K feet.
211 locals recommend
Pikes Peak Cog Railway
515 Ruxton AvenueTake a train to the top of America's Mountain, Pike's Peak, from Manitou Springs. Be prepared for high altitude, any kind of weather, stunning views on the way up and from the top at more than 14K feet.
Spelunking tours with gas lamps, a ropes course hanging over Williams Canyon, a zip-line style ride and a ride that drops you a few hundred feet down the canyon. Folks not into thrills can hang out in the main building to souvenir shop and take in some impressive views of the Canyon, Manitou Springs and Pike's Peak.
464 locals recommend
Cave of the Winds Mountain Park
100 Cave of the Winds RdSpelunking tours with gas lamps, a ropes course hanging over Williams Canyon, a zip-line style ride and a ride that drops you a few hundred feet down the canyon. Folks not into thrills can hang out in the main building to souvenir shop and take in some impressive views of the Canyon, Manitou Springs and Pike's Peak.
Get up close and personal with wolves on any number of different tours. We recommend the feeding tour, where guides feed the wolves so that they come right up to the edge of the pasture-style enclosures. Howl with the wolves at tour's end and feel like you've joined the pack. A must-do for lovers of wildlife.
149 locals recommend
Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center
4729 Twin Rocks RdGet up close and personal with wolves on any number of different tours. We recommend the feeding tour, where guides feed the wolves so that they come right up to the edge of the pasture-style enclosures. Howl with the wolves at tour's end and feel like you've joined the pack. A must-do for lovers of wildlife.
Located in the northeast section of the County near Calhan with approximately 750 acres. The paint mines have evidence of human life as far back as 9,000 years ago. The colorful clays were used by Native Americans. The park features fantastic geological formations including spires and hoodoos that were formed through erosive action that created incised gullies and exposed layers of seienite clay and jasper. The park includes a restroom facility, four miles of trails, interpretive signage, and many natural wonders.
18 locals recommend
Paint Mine Open Space
Paint Mine RoadLocated in the northeast section of the County near Calhan with approximately 750 acres. The paint mines have evidence of human life as far back as 9,000 years ago. The colorful clays were used by Native Americans. The park features fantastic geological formations including spires and hoodoos that were formed through erosive action that created incised gullies and exposed layers of seienite clay and jasper. The park includes a restroom facility, four miles of trails, interpretive signage, and many natural wonders.
Take a shuttle from the Broadmoor to get into Seven Falls, climb the steep stairs around The Falls, hike around the top and come back for a high-end meal in an intimate, mountin lodge environment at 1858 Restaurant. A great late afternoon to mid-evening trip you'll remember.
14 locals recommend
Seven Falls Inspiration Point
Take a shuttle from the Broadmoor to get into Seven Falls, climb the steep stairs around The Falls, hike around the top and come back for a high-end meal in an intimate, mountin lodge environment at 1858 Restaurant. A great late afternoon to mid-evening trip you'll remember.
7 miles from the trailhead in Manitou Springs to Barr Camp and another 6 plus to the Summit of Pike's Peak. Challenging, stunning terrain for hikers, runners, nature-lovers. Barr Trail is the route for the annual Pike's Peak ascent and marathon.
28 locals recommend
Barr Trail
Barr Trail7 miles from the trailhead in Manitou Springs to Barr Camp and another 6 plus to the Summit of Pike's Peak. Challenging, stunning terrain for hikers, runners, nature-lovers. Barr Trail is the route for the annual Pike's Peak ascent and marathon.
1,474-acre city park in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is situated on the west side of the city, adjacent to Manitou Springs and south of U.S. Route 24.
Open from dawn until dusk. Dogs, bicycles, and horses are allowed on most trails. The Upper and Lower Dog Loops are off-leash areas, and there is a free-ride bike park at the east end of the first parking lot. Many of the trails make for good cross-country skiing on snowy occasions.
About eighty technical climbing routes have been established at Red Rocks. Climbers must be registered through the Garden of the Gods visitor center. Informal rock scrambling, while tempting, is not allowed.
430 locals recommend
Red Rock Canyon Open Space
3550 W High St1,474-acre city park in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is situated on the west side of the city, adjacent to Manitou Springs and south of U.S. Route 24.
Open from dawn until dusk. Dogs, bicycles, and horses are allowed on most trails. The Upper and Lower Dog Loops are off-leash areas, and there is a free-ride bike park at the east end of the first parking lot. Many of the trails make for good cross-country skiing on snowy occasions.
About eighty technical climbing routes have been established at Red Rocks. Climbers must be registered through the Garden of the Gods visitor center. Informal rock scrambling, while tempting, is not allowed.
Trails galore. Streams, waterfalls, ascents, vistas, wildlife--a natural wonderland.
114 locals recommend
North Cheyenne Cañon Park
15220 S Cheyenne Canyon RdTrails galore. Streams, waterfalls, ascents, vistas, wildlife--a natural wonderland.
Fox Run Regional Park
2110 Stella DrEverything Else
Walk the grounds and schedule high tea at the Castle. Amazing grounds and historic built environment amidst the incredible rock formations just North of Garden of the Gods.
40 locals recommend
Glen Eyrie Castle
Walk the grounds and schedule high tea at the Castle. Amazing grounds and historic built environment amidst the incredible rock formations just North of Garden of the Gods.
The Academy's enormous campus is breathtaking, and en route, one often sees gliders taking off, soaring or landing. The famous Academy Chapel, currently undergoing renovations, is an inspiring architectural achievement to behold. Great spot for people interested in the Armed Forces, aviation, etc.
215 locals recommend
U.S. Air Force Academy
The Academy's enormous campus is breathtaking, and en route, one often sees gliders taking off, soaring or landing. The famous Academy Chapel, currently undergoing renovations, is an inspiring architectural achievement to behold. Great spot for people interested in the Armed Forces, aviation, etc.
Entertainment & Activities
Victorian era mini-castle off of Ruxton Avenue in Manitou Springs. Arrange lunch and/or high tea in the tea room and take a tour of this fascinating castle.
63 locals recommend
Miramont Castle Museum
9 Capitol Hill AveVictorian era mini-castle off of Ruxton Avenue in Manitou Springs. Arrange lunch and/or high tea in the tea room and take a tour of this fascinating castle.
Sightseeing
Visit the museum and impressive replicas of SW Colorado Native American cliff dwellings to gain insight into the lives of indigenous peoples that travelled through this area, their encounters with white settlers, and the cultural, ecological, economic and political history that unfolded in this region.
288 locals recommend
Manitou Cliff Dwellings
10 Cliff RdVisit the museum and impressive replicas of SW Colorado Native American cliff dwellings to gain insight into the lives of indigenous peoples that travelled through this area, their encounters with white settlers, and the cultural, ecological, economic and political history that unfolded in this region.