5 Memorable Places to Eat on a Colorado Rail Tour | Local Restaurants & Breweries

Downtown Colorado Springs

Discover the Flavours of Colorado with Darjeeling Tours

One of the pleasures of travelling through Colorado is that the food often reflects the same character as the landscape, bold, unpretentious and full of local flavour. On our Best of Colorado small-group rail tour, the scenery may take centre stage, but the places we stop to eat quickly become part of the story.

Over many years of leading escorted rail tours in Colorado, Amit has quietly built up a list of favourite places to eat along the route. These are not tourist traps or generic chains. They are the sort of restaurants travellers remember long after the journey ends, full of local atmosphere and welcoming hospitality.

If you join our Colorado rail tour this September, these are just a few of the memorable stops you can expect along the way.

Shady Lady Saloon, Silverton

In the old mining town of Silverton, it does not take much imagination to picture the frontier days. Wooden storefronts line the streets and the mountains rise steeply on every side.

The Shady Lady Saloon captures that spirit perfectly. Once an 1880s brothel, it has been transformed into one of the town’s most colourful and characterful restaurants. Inside, the décor leans cheerfully into its Wild West past, while the menu offers generous portions of classic American comfort food.
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After a day riding one of Colorado’s famous historic railways, it is exactly the sort of lively place where our group enjoys settling in for an evening, good food, relaxed conversation and a sense that you have stepped into another era.

Shady Lady Saloon, Silverton

Beau Jo’s Pizza, Idaho Springs

Colorado has its own distinctive take on pizza, and Beau Jo’s in Idaho Springs is where many locals insist you should try it.

Known as “Colorado-style pizza”, the pies here are built for hungry mountain travellers. The dough is thick and hand-braided into a sturdy crust designed to hold generous toppings. The finishing touch is what surprises first-time visitors, the crust is often dipped in honey once the slice is finished.

It may sound unusual, but it is a beloved regional tradition and one that many guests end up recreating long after the tour has finished.

Brakeman’s Burger Bar, Colorado Springs

Just beside the railway tracks in Colorado Springs sits Brakeman’s Burger Bar, a place that feels tailor-made for anyone travelling across the state by train. The restaurant leans into its railway heritage with playful décor, vintage rail references and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. Their smashed burgers have earned a loyal local following, while the menu also includes lighter options, craft beers and excellent fries.

It is an ideal stop during our time exploring Colorado Springs, and a reminder that the connection between railways and good roadside food is alive and well.

San Luis Valley Brewing Company, Alamosa

Alamosa sits in the vast San Luis Valley, one of the most dramatic landscapes in southern Colorado. After a day spent exploring the region’s famous railways and wide-open scenery, the San Luis Valley Brewing Company is a favourite place for our group to gather in the evening.

Set in a beautifully restored historic building, the brewery combines locally crafted beers with hearty pub food and a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. It is the kind of place where locals linger over a drink, and visitors quickly feel at home.

For travellers on our Colorado train holiday, it is the perfect place to unwind and share stories from the day’s journey.

Ol’ Miner Steakhouse, Gunnison

Gunnison still carries echoes of its frontier past, and Ol’ Miner Steakhouse leans proudly into that heritage. The restaurant’s Old West décor, warm hospitality and generous portions make it a memorable stop on our journey through the Rockies. While the steaks and ribs are local favourites, there are plenty of other comforting options on the menu, all served in a setting that feels authentically Colorado.

After a day of mountain scenery and historic rail travel, it provides exactly the kind of relaxed, satisfying meal that rounds off the experience.

Savouring Colorado on the Best of Colorado Rail Tour

On a Darjeeling Tours escorted rail tour, the journey is about more than simply travelling from place to place. It is about experiencing the landscapes, history and culture that make a destination unique.

The restaurants we visit along the route are part of that experience. From frontier saloons in historic mining towns to lively brewpubs in the San Luis Valley, each stop adds another layer to the story of Colorado.
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Join us this September on our Best of Colorado small-group tour and discover the state’s spectacular mountain scenery, historic railways and warm American hospitality, with a few unforgettable meals along the way.

View our Best of Colorado Itinerary