Aurora Eateries Eyeing Michelin Spotlight

“Just the thought of Michelin bringing what they do to an area like Aurora, I think it's going to only do good things for the city.”

Three years ago, the Michelin Guide launched its first Colorado edition and those who have been included in the years since say that the attention has greatly benefitted the dining scene and its national culinary reputation.

But that impact didn’t reach far. Initially, the guide’s inspectors were limited to the very specific cities of Denver, Boulder, Aspen/Snowmass, Vail and Beaver Creek — all of which agreed to foot the bill for the marketing costs associated with launching in a new market. That meant such notable culinary scenes as Aurora’s highly diverse collection of restaurants were not included, along with Colorado Springs, the Western Slope, and several mountain communities. 

No longer. This week, Michelin announced that the 2026 edition of the Colorado Michelin Guide will cover the entire state, and restaurant owners previously left out of its spotlight couldn’t be happier. 

“I’m really excited,” says chef Caroline Glover, the James Beard award-winning chef and owner of Annette inside the Stanley Marketplace, who called the Aurora omission a “missed opportunity” back in 2023.