Was in Boulder for work and decided to make the drive to the Buckhorn. I'm glad I went. Yes, everything is somewhat expensive, but I think part of that is paying for the experience. Don't expect a high-end steak house ambiance or menu, and you won't be disappointed. Genuinely unique appetizers and entrees, and the service was great. I would come back just to see what esoteric dishes they were offering.
Mona
Our server was fantastic. Very helpful with the trio orders and attentive. Large portions. Very large! The dead animal above us kept dropping bits of dust, which was a bit gross. The biggest issue was that we were unable to figure out how the pricing on the trios worked, and we were absolutely flabbergasted when the bill arrived. For the quality of the food served, the pricing is over the top.
Jeanett
I went to Buckhorn Exchange in Denver on November 15 and had a great time! As (I believe) the oldest restaurant in the city, it's full of history and decorated with plenty of mounted animal trophies—beware if you're sensitive to that kind of decor. The atmosphere is lively and fun, the drinks were tasty, and the service was friendly. With the pre-holiday vibes in the air, it made for an even more enjoyable dinner with friends. Highly recommend!
Brian
Food arrived cold after waiting an hour. Tenderloins were prepared poorly for a pepper crust - you need a little fat while grilling so the flavors meld. Simple steamed vegetables, no butter or salt. Madeira orange glacé came from a bottle. Most mediocre dinner I ever spent $200 for. But it's a Colorado institution. You should do it once. But probably just once. On the bright side, the server did her best to apologize.
Victoria
We celebrated our anniversary here. The environment really captures the essence of old western Denver and our waiter was so knowledgeable about the menu and the restaurant's history. We ordered a steak for two and got it with a history lesson! And the apple pie really was as amazing as they claimed it was! I can't wait to go back!
Darian
First time in Denver and first bar we went rude service. After leave there and going to the buckhorn it was great service and food! Will be back.
Renee
Wow — this place is outrageously delicious and such a fun experience! It was our first visit, and it did not disappoint. The food, service, and ambiance were all exceptional — warm, cozy, and wonderfully unique. From the moment we walked in, we felt genuinely welcomed. Our bartender, Brittany, was attentive and knowledgeable and went out of her way to make our birthday celebration feel special; our server, Talia, was also great. The restaurant has a cozy lodge vibe, with wild game décor and autographed celebrity photos adding to the charm. Every dish was outstanding — the bison prime rib was phenomenal, the alligator tail appetizer a delightful surprise, and the pork ribs and quail were equally delicious. Don't skip the cheesecake — it was over the top! Recommend making reservations, especially on weekends. We requested a table upstairs, which was a bit quieter and more spacious, while downstairs offered a lively, bustling atmosphere — perfect if you want to be in the heart of the action. If you do sit downstairs, be sure to head upstairs to see the gorgeous bar made in Germany in 1857. This is the ideal spot to bring out-of-town guests for a true Colorado experience. It's a one-of-a-kind restaurant that should not be missed.
Kathy
Well, the history of the place is amazing, the food was good. The service was good, but the prices were too high.
Fredrick
I came in from Hawaii and this was a spot on my list to go to. The ambience was wild, to see the first liquor license in Denver was really cool. A Lot of nostalgia and ambience to the place. Now the food- everything we had was on point- Our table had the Buffalo and Elk Filets I had to order the Rocky Mountain Oysters - was a bit anti climactic for me from so many people saying they would never eat them I was expected well, you know one giant circular item to come out - and have to try that- but it was the strips and they were tasty. That is the only reason it was anti climactic I built it up in my head as this item to have to overcome. The duck wings were on the menu and we had them The house blue cheese dressing all so good We had not room for dessert but service was good, we had all our questions answered. Would go there again next time I am in Denver and guaranteed a place to bring friends.
Greg
Our server Brittany certainly made our evening experience terrific. Her humor and knowledge of the menu was excellent. The 500 or so taxidermy make this an eclectic location to visit and enjoy a meal. I had the garden salad to start my meal and my wife had the cream of mushroom soup. I have to say the soup was out of this world and a definite thumbs up. The salad fresh with nuts, cranberries and mandarin orange pieces. I would recommend ordering your meat medium rare because I felt my medium bison was a little tough. Same with the elk...I should have taken my wife's advice. I will say we were both first time diners of quail and we found that very good. There was so much flavor and it was cooked to perfection. The meals were served with a choice of potatoes and came with a vegetable medley which was also delicious. I would definitely visit the Buckhorn Exchange again and opt for the medium rate preparation of the meat.
Food: Some things were good and some things were just missing something. The smoked sausage was good but the polenta was bland. The artichokes were nothing spectacular. The steaks were good but the temps weren't consistent throughout the whole cut. The apple pie dessert was addictively amazing. Overall for the food cost the quality just wasn't consistent enough. Service was very good and attentive. Atmosphere, as everyone notes, is unique and entertaining.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Larry Lions
Incredible experience!!! If you’re visiting Colorado i would recommend taking the Fam
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Autumn Heydenreich
Dined here for dinner after receiving a recommendation from a local. It was a fantastic experience and exactly what my boyfriend and I were looking for. The atmosphere was so unique without feeling like it was trying too hard. Staff were all very attentive and ensured we never had an empty glass or dirty table. We received a complimentary bread basket, which was perfect while waiting on our entree. The steak was AMAZING. We split “The Big Steak” for two, which came with two salads and two sides. This was an experience as well, as our server cut the 24 oz steak right at our table! We rounded out the meal with a slice of cheesecake which was served with a raspberry sauce and ever so decadent. The pile highly recommend dining here, especially for a celebratory dinner when looking for something nice.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bobby Clark
Fantastic experience in this rustic restaurant. Great service. Tasty food.
My elk was extremely dry and overcooked, was in a hurry so I just ate it. Appetizers were good but having the main course served that dry was disappointing.
Was in Boulder for work and decided to make the drive to the Buckhorn. I'm glad I went. Yes, everything is somewhat expensive, but I think part of that is paying for the experience. Don't expect a high-end steak house ambiance or menu, and you won't be disappointed. Genuinely unique appetizers and entrees, and the service was great. I would come back just to see what esoteric dishes they were offering.
Our server was fantastic. Very helpful with the trio orders and attentive. Large portions. Very large! The dead animal above us kept dropping bits of dust, which was a bit gross. The biggest issue was that we were unable to figure out how the pricing on the trios worked, and we were absolutely flabbergasted when the bill arrived. For the quality of the food served, the pricing is over the top.
I went to Buckhorn Exchange in Denver on November 15 and had a great time! As (I believe) the oldest restaurant in the city, it's full of history and decorated with plenty of mounted animal trophies—beware if you're sensitive to that kind of decor. The atmosphere is lively and fun, the drinks were tasty, and the service was friendly. With the pre-holiday vibes in the air, it made for an even more enjoyable dinner with friends. Highly recommend!
Food arrived cold after waiting an hour. Tenderloins were prepared poorly for a pepper crust - you need a little fat while grilling so the flavors meld. Simple steamed vegetables, no butter or salt. Madeira orange glacé came from a bottle. Most mediocre dinner I ever spent $200 for. But it's a Colorado institution. You should do it once. But probably just once. On the bright side, the server did her best to apologize.
We celebrated our anniversary here. The environment really captures the essence of old western Denver and our waiter was so knowledgeable about the menu and the restaurant's history. We ordered a steak for two and got it with a history lesson! And the apple pie really was as amazing as they claimed it was! I can't wait to go back!
First time in Denver and first bar we went rude service. After leave there and going to the buckhorn it was great service and food! Will be back.
Wow — this place is outrageously delicious and such a fun experience! It was our first visit, and it did not disappoint. The food, service, and ambiance were all exceptional — warm, cozy, and wonderfully unique. From the moment we walked in, we felt genuinely welcomed. Our bartender, Brittany, was attentive and knowledgeable and went out of her way to make our birthday celebration feel special; our server, Talia, was also great. The restaurant has a cozy lodge vibe, with wild game décor and autographed celebrity photos adding to the charm. Every dish was outstanding — the bison prime rib was phenomenal, the alligator tail appetizer a delightful surprise, and the pork ribs and quail were equally delicious. Don't skip the cheesecake — it was over the top! Recommend making reservations, especially on weekends. We requested a table upstairs, which was a bit quieter and more spacious, while downstairs offered a lively, bustling atmosphere — perfect if you want to be in the heart of the action. If you do sit downstairs, be sure to head upstairs to see the gorgeous bar made in Germany in 1857. This is the ideal spot to bring out-of-town guests for a true Colorado experience. It's a one-of-a-kind restaurant that should not be missed.
Well, the history of the place is amazing, the food was good. The service was good, but the prices were too high.
I came in from Hawaii and this was a spot on my list to go to. The ambience was wild, to see the first liquor license in Denver was really cool. A Lot of nostalgia and ambience to the place. Now the food- everything we had was on point- Our table had the Buffalo and Elk Filets I had to order the Rocky Mountain Oysters - was a bit anti climactic for me from so many people saying they would never eat them I was expected well, you know one giant circular item to come out - and have to try that- but it was the strips and they were tasty. That is the only reason it was anti climactic I built it up in my head as this item to have to overcome. The duck wings were on the menu and we had them The house blue cheese dressing all so good We had not room for dessert but service was good, we had all our questions answered. Would go there again next time I am in Denver and guaranteed a place to bring friends.
Our server Brittany certainly made our evening experience terrific. Her humor and knowledge of the menu was excellent. The 500 or so taxidermy make this an eclectic location to visit and enjoy a meal. I had the garden salad to start my meal and my wife had the cream of mushroom soup. I have to say the soup was out of this world and a definite thumbs up. The salad fresh with nuts, cranberries and mandarin orange pieces. I would recommend ordering your meat medium rare because I felt my medium bison was a little tough. Same with the elk...I should have taken my wife's advice. I will say we were both first time diners of quail and we found that very good. There was so much flavor and it was cooked to perfection. The meals were served with a choice of potatoes and came with a vegetable medley which was also delicious. I would definitely visit the Buckhorn Exchange again and opt for the medium rate preparation of the meat.
Restaurantji Recommends
Food: Some things were good and some things were just missing something. The smoked sausage was good but the polenta was bland. The artichokes were nothing spectacular. The steaks were good but the temps weren't consistent throughout the whole cut. The apple pie dessert was addictively amazing. Overall for the food cost the quality just wasn't consistent enough.
Service was very good and attentive.
Atmosphere, as everyone notes, is unique and entertaining.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Incredible experience!!! If you’re visiting Colorado i would recommend taking the Fam
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dined here for dinner after receiving a recommendation from a local. It was a fantastic experience and exactly what my boyfriend and I were looking for. The atmosphere was so unique without feeling like it was trying too hard. Staff were all very attentive and ensured we never had an empty glass or dirty table. We received a complimentary bread basket, which was perfect while waiting on our entree. The steak was AMAZING. We split “The Big Steak” for two, which came with two salads and two sides. This was an experience as well, as our server cut the 24 oz steak right at our table! We rounded out the meal with a slice of cheesecake which was served with a raspberry sauce and ever so decadent. The pile highly recommend dining here, especially for a celebratory dinner when looking for something nice.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fantastic experience in this rustic restaurant. Great service. Tasty food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Rocky Mountain Oysters Aka Buffalo Balls
My elk was extremely dry and overcooked, was in a hurry so I just ate it. Appetizers were good but having the main course served that dry was disappointing.
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