The best restaurants within walking distance of downtown Colorado Springs

---
title: "The best restaurants within walking distance of downtown Colorado Springs"
description: "Nine restaurants within a 10-minute walk of 217 S. Weber St. — a steakhouse in a 1901 building, a rooftop with Pikes Peak views, a speakeasy that books out."
source: "https://www.avian-coloradosprings.com/blog/restaurants-walking-distance-downtown-colorado-springs"
markdown: "https://www.avian-coloradosprings.com/markdown/blog/restaurants-walking-distance-downtown-colorado-springs"
lastModified: "2026-06-02"
---
# The best restaurants within walking distance of downtown Colorado Springs
- Published: 2026-05-28
- Last reviewed: 2026-06-02
- Author: Avian leasing team
- Category: Neighborhood
- Primary keyword: restaurants walking distance downtown Colorado Springs
- Secondary keywords: restaurants walking distance downtown Colorado Springs, downtown Colorado Springs restaurants, Tejon Street restaurants, best restaurants Colorado Springs downtown, restaurants near 217 S Weber St
- Reading time: 5 minutes
You're one block off Tejon. That's the main dining stretch in [downtown Colorado Springs](/blog/downtown-colorado-springs-living), and it's the one place in any [Colorado Springs neighborhood](/blog/moving-to-colorado-springs-neighborhood-guide) where walking to dinner every night actually works. Nine spots worth knowing sit within a 10-minute walk of Avian's address at 217 S. Weber St. Some have been around 30+ years. One's in an old city morgue. Range runs from a real steakhouse to a food hall with seven kitchens.

## What restaurants are within walking distance of downtown Colorado Springs?

Nine. Closest is [Lumen8 Rooftop Social](https://www.lumen8cos.com/) at S. Tejon and Costilla, about three minutes on foot. Farthest is [Poor Richard's](https://poorrichardsrestaurant.com/) at 324½ N. Tejon, around nine minutes north. In between you've got MacKenzie's Chop House, The Rabbit Hole, Phantom Canyon Brewing Company, Shuga's, Streetcar 520, Denver Biscuit Company, and COATI Uprise.

## The best upscale dinner spots downtown

### MacKenzie's Chop House, 128 S. Tejon St.

[MacKenzie's](https://www.mackenzieschophouse.com/) has been at this since 1997, inside the Historic Alamo Building. Two minutes from Avian, maybe three if you're dawdling. The kitchen runs a weekly "Fresh Sheet" next to the permanent menu: Alaskan king crab, Australian cold-water lobster, Kobe prime cuts. They're not reinventing the steakhouse. They're running the format, and they've been running it for 27 years.

Hours: Monday-Friday 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. (10 p.m. Fridays), Saturday-Sunday dinner only from 5 p.m. Happy hour 4-6 p.m. weekdays, 3-6 p.m. Fridays. Book ahead for weekend dinner.

### The Rabbit Hole, 101 N. Tejon St.

Below street level, in a space that used to be a [city morgue](https://95rockfm.com/colorado-underground-morgue-restaurant/). The Gothic decor is on purpose. The cocktail program's good enough to be its own reason to show up, and the food (New American small plates, rotating with the seasons) is the secondary reason. Dinner only, 4-10:30 p.m. daily.

They recommend booking two weeks out for weekend tables. That's real demand, not a marketing line. About five minutes north of Avian.

### Lumen8 Rooftop Social, S. Tejon at E. Costilla St.

On top of the Element and SpringHill Suites, three minutes from Avian. Colorado-inspired menu that shifts with the seasons, locally sourced, heavy on cocktails and local taps. On a clear day, which is most days here, nothing blocks the Pikes Peak view.

Dinner Sunday-Thursday 3-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday until 11 p.m. Weekend brunch 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Happy hour Monday-Friday 3-5 p.m. Bar's walk-in friendly. Make a reservation for a table at dinner.

## The best casual restaurants near Tejon Street

### Phantom Canyon Brewing Company, 2 E. Pikes Peak Ave.

Open since 1993, in a four-story Victorian [built in 1901](https://savingplaces.org/stories/phantom-canyon-brewing-company-in-colorado-springs-colorado) at the north end of downtown. The building's half the reason to come. [Phantom Canyon's](https://phantomcanyon.com/) kitchen runs a step above the standard brewpub: smoked ribeye, lemon brown sugar salmon, smoked chicken pot pie. Start with the beer pretzels.

Daily from 11 a.m. Monday-Wednesday and Sunday until midnight, Thursday-Saturday until 2 a.m. The late hours matter when you want somewhere to go after a show.

### Streetcar 520, 520 S. Tejon St.

In the old Trolley District building, five minutes south of Avian. [Streetcar 520](https://streetcar520.com/) is New American and genuinely all over the place: bao buns, shrimp and grits, a house burger built from a short-rib/chuck/brisket blend. Three small plates beats one entrée here almost every time.

Weekday dinner from 4 p.m., weekend brunch from 11 a.m. Happy hour daily 4-6 p.m.

### Shuga's, 702 S. Cascade Ave.

Ten minutes southwest of Avian, on Cascade. [Shuga's](https://www.shugas.com/) has been one of downtown's steadiest spots for years. Known for brunch, the Lavender Martini, and a menu that blends Mediterranean with American comfort food. Want a weekend morning table? Show up before 10:30 a.m. or plan to wait.

Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-midnight, Saturday-Sunday from 10 a.m. Kitchen runs until 11 p.m. weeknights, midnight on weekends.

## The best breakfast and brunch spots downtown

### Denver Biscuit Company, 528 S. Tejon St.

Part of the [Atomic Cowboy](https://www.theatomiccowboy.com/) complex, right next door to Streetcar 520. There's a real Saturday morning line. The fried chicken biscuit sandwich is the anchor order. Also worth it: biscuits and gravy, chicken and waffles, The Franklin (biscuit, egg, cheese, ham).

Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday-Sunday until 3 p.m.

### Poor Richard's Restaurant, 324½ N. Tejon St.

At this address since 1975, when Colorado College senior Richard Skorman [opened it as a bookstore](https://www.cspm.org/cos-150-story/poor-richards/). The bookstore and toy shop are still on the block. One of the few genuinely local places that made it through 50 years of downtown turnover. The signature's an 18-inch New York-style pizza: scratch dough, Campari tomato sauce, 28 topping options. Sandwiches come on locally sourced bread with housemade soup.

Daily. Monday-Thursday and Sunday 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday-Saturday until 9 p.m.

## When the group can't agree: COATI Uprise

### COATI Uprise, 514 S. Tejon St.

[COATI Uprise](https://www.coatiuprise.com/) is a food hall with seven restaurant concepts, a brewery, and two bars. Korean street food from Anju, Venezuelan arepas from Arepapi, salad and grain bowls from Green Freak. That's three of the seven. It's the move when a group can't settle on one place, or when you want fast lunch without a full sit-down.

Daily 9 a.m.-midnight.

## Questions people ask

**How far is The Rabbit Hole from Avian Apartments at 217 S. Weber St.?**
About five minutes on foot. [The Rabbit Hole](https://www.rabbitholedinner.com/) is at 101 N. Tejon, one block east of Weber then three blocks north. Dinner-only, and weekend reservations fill fast, so book ahead.

**Which downtown Colorado Springs restaurants are open for weekday lunch?**
[MacKenzie's Chop House](https://www.mackenzieschophouse.com/) opens at 11:30 a.m. [Phantom Canyon](https://phantomcanyon.com/), [Poor Richard's](https://poorrichardsrestaurant.com/), and Denver Biscuit Company (at 8 a.m.) all open Monday-Friday for lunch. [Shuga's](https://www.shugas.com/) opens at 11 a.m. on weekdays too. Streetcar 520 and The Rabbit Hole are dinner-only on weekdays.

**Which of these restaurants has rooftop or outdoor seating?**
[Lumen8 Rooftop Social](https://www.lumen8cos.com/) is the obvious one, open-air with Pikes Peak views. [Phantom Canyon](https://phantomcanyon.com/) has an outdoor patio. [COATI Uprise](https://www.coatiuprise.com/) has an outdoor area off the main hall.

**Do I need a reservation, or can I walk in?**
[The Rabbit Hole](https://www.rabbitholedinner.com/) needs reservations and books two weeks out on weekends. MacKenzie's and Lumen8 take reservations but seat walk-ins at the bar. Denver Biscuit Company, Phantom Canyon, COATI, Streetcar 520, Poor Richard's, and Shuga's are all walk-in friendly, though Shuga's weekend brunch fills fast.

---

*Live one block off Tejon. Avian Apartments at 217 S. Weber St. puts every restaurant in this guide within a 10-minute walk. LEED Silver, rooftop spa, mountain views. [Studios through two bedrooms](/floor-plans). [Tour Avian](/contact).*

## Common questions

### How far is The Rabbit Hole from Avian Apartments at 217 S. Weber St.?

About five minutes on foot. The Rabbit Hole is at 101 N. Tejon — one block east of Weber, then three blocks north. It's dinner-only and reservations fill fast on weekends, so book ahead.
### Which downtown Colorado Springs restaurants are open for weekday lunch?

MacKenzie's Chop House opens at 11:30 a.m. Phantom Canyon, Poor Richard's, and Denver Biscuit Company (at 8 a.m.) all open Monday–Friday for lunch. Shuga's opens at 11 a.m. on weekdays too. Streetcar 520 and The Rabbit Hole are dinner-only on weekdays.
### Which of these restaurants has rooftop or outdoor seating?

Lumen8 Rooftop Social is the most notable — open-air with Pikes Peak views. Phantom Canyon has outdoor patio seating. COATI Uprise has an outdoor area alongside the main hall.
### Do I need a reservation, or can I walk in?

The Rabbit Hole requires reservations and books two weeks out on weekends. MacKenzie's and Lumen8 take reservations but seat walk-ins at the bar too. Denver Biscuit Company, Phantom Canyon, COATI, Streetcar 520, Poor Richard's, and Shuga's are all walk-in friendly — though Shuga's weekend brunch fills fast.