For more than 100 years, The Broadmoor Hotel and Resort in Colorado Springs has been THE place to stay in Colorado, whether as a lodging guest or to enjoy their famous Sunday brunch, dining at one of the restaurants, or attending an event. I once attended an otherwise very boring conference there just to bask in the presence of being at The Broadmoor. On a recent overnight stay (no dull conference required), my husband and I experienced everything that’s new and wonderfully classic at The Broadmoor.

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Hungry for more? Read about the opportunity to make chocolate at The Broadmoor.

The Broadmoor Hotel Vibe

The Broadmoor is fancy. There, I said it. The décor is posh, everything is elegant and slightly proper. It’s a destination property, certainly not just a place to rest your head for the night. There is valet parking, bellhops, ornate finishes, and twinkly lights in the trees. But The Broadmoor is not stuffy. It invites you to relax, grab a beer and sit out on the patio by the fire. It invites you to laugh heartily, splash around in the pool, bring the kids, leave the kids with grandma and grandpa, get married, veg out. It’s a place to head off for a hike or take in the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo from, or play some golf or tennis. It’s definitely the place to go to feel special and to proudly say, “We stayed at The Broadmoor,” (something people don’t say about a stopover place to grab some zzzz’s).

The rooms at The Broadmoor Hotel & Resort are a view themselves

I’ve stayed at The Broadmoor twice in my adult life. The first time was in a smallish room in the tower, overlooking the front lawn and entryway. It felt to me like I was a queen, high up in my castle, surveying my land. Upon my recent return visit, we stayed in a ground level suite in one of two older, two-story buildings next to the main one. With a front patio (perfect for lake- and people-watching while sipping coffee in the morning), living room, bedroom, and bathroom, it was, for the one night we were there, our dreamy apartment, a pied-a-terre. A bit of a freak for mercury glass and ornate mirrors, I was beyond happy to live amongst both adorning the beautiful fireplace. Nothing that was on the nearby TV felt worthy of lounging in front of that cozy scene – sorry, Food Network, I’d rather just stare at a crackling fire in that fireplace and admire the mantel baubles. Coffered ceilings, decorative trim, décor that wasn’t nailed down, all made it feel like this was our extraordinary home away from home. If that’s not your jam, there are plenty of other rooms and suites of different mood in one of several buildings on the property.

Hungry for more? Read about another Editor’s Pick trip to St. Augustine, FL.

The grounds of this Colorado Springs resort

The centerpiece of The Broadmoor Resort is the lake; on our autumn visit, the reflections of brilliant golden cottonwood branches and mountain backdrop took our breath away. In addition to ducks paddling about, you’ll see people out on paddleboats in the warm weather. Take the path around for an early morning exercise walk or a romantic stroll after dinner. Geese swimming through early morning mist is a dreamlike scene.

An arched bridge is the most interesting way to get from one half of the property to the other, and to additional restaurants. Seeing the staff use that bridge to get from one side of the property to another – culinary staff in their toques and chef’s coats – was a charming and unique sight.

Rows of trees sprinkled with white lights help illuminate the path through the shopping area of The Broadmoor where you can also perch to enjoy a cup of coffee and a good book at a café table in a charming courtyard.

Hungry for more? Colorado is known for its spirits which can be enjoyed on the spirits trail.

The food and drink scene at The Broadmoor Hotel, Colorado Springs

The restaurants, bars, and other food venues at The Broadmoor are not an incidental thing. Tremendous thought went into the design of each spot, the concept of the menus, and the preparation of what’s served there. Visit the website for the rundown on each dining opportunity. Here are a few we enjoyed on our visit – Lake Terrace Dining Room is where breakfast is typically served for guests and where the famed Sunday brunch takes place. Years ago we went and I still, to this day, remember the incredibly tender “pepper beef” on the buffet. I wonder if they still serve that… We had breakfast at Ristorante Del Lago, a gorgeous restaurant serving authentic recipes from around Italy. During the day, the breakfast buffet is the way to go to experience the delicious options which include less-Italian/more-American options including egg dishes, breakfast meats, pastries galore, yogurt parfaits, and much more. Grab a table by the window for clear views of the lake.

The brunch buffet at Ristorante Del Lago is extensive. Here’s a sampling including a honeycomb “press”.

Walking into the Golden Bee is like stepping into a traditional, classic pub in England – all dark, carved wood and slightly tarnished brass – it’s a must when visiting The Broadmoor. One highlight is being bee’d by your server, where they fling an embroidered bee “sticker” at you, aimed with precision at your upper chest. So fun! On our recent visit, stopping in just for some French Onion Soup (deliciously rich and cheesy) and a local craft beer so as not to ruin our appetites for dinner, we were not immediately bee’d. Disappointed, we assumed this endearing tradition had been abandoned. Then, suddenly, our friendly server checked on us and said, “Oh! I didn’t bee you, did I?” and immediately set two bees free and a-flight from their plastic sheet in his apron. Yay, we were bee’d afterall!

Hungry for more? While in the area, tack on a stay at the Garden of the Gods Resort.

Summit is a stunning restaurant with a contemporary twist on cuisine of the Americas with an impressive wine and cocktail selection. Feel confident relying on the staff to know exactly what wine to pair with which courses you’ve chosen and for them to ensure each dish is paced perfectly for a leisurely evening.

The night we dined at Summit, with another couple, highlights included the Summit Caesar Salad with romaine hearts, arugula, and white anchovies (pictured top left, above); The impressive Fennel Pollen Cured Salmon with “everything” lavash, red onion crème fraiche, capers, Persian cucumbers, and (I don’t now how they do it) flat segments of farm hen egg (pictured bottom right, above); Prince Edward Island Mussels in an aromatic wine broth (bottom left); Rohan Duck Paella with Bomba rice, duck breast, red onion, and Peruvian yellow pepper aioli (top right); and “BLT” Corner Post Ranch Pork Chop with heirloom tomatoes, Little Gem lettuce, Pueblo chile and tomatillo salsa (bottom, center). Dessert was Churrus dipped in Hot Chocolate, and a decadent Chocolate Bombe melted open with caramel sauce to reveal ice cream inside.

A chocolate bombe for dessert at Summit looked pretty enough before warmed caramel was poured over it…

Melted open, the inside of the chocolate bombe revealed ice cream and other goodies.

The hotel bar, appropriately called The Hotel Bar is historic, with murals and photos from the 1920’s. While you can get comfy inside, the spacious patio, warmed by the fireplace and with views of the lake is a mighty fine way to while away some time.

The restaurants aren’t the only place to grab a bite. There’s also Café Julie’s, a Parisian Patisserie featuring the Resort’s Luxury Valrhona Chocolate Collection, gelato, sandwiches, cakes, salads, and other goodies. Go in, if only to gaze at the beautiful treats and take in the free whiffs of delicious things being prepared behind the glass wall. One time you may see chocolates being made. Another time, it may be croissants, or loaves of bread. But it’s even better to order something and sit down at the charming café tables. Note that a 20% service charge is automatically added at each restaurant, except where there is over-the-counter service such as Café Julie’s; additional tipping is appreciated and optional.

Hungry for more? Here’s the Peanut Butter Cookie recipe from Cafe Julie’s.

In the area: Other things to do when staying at The Broadmoor

Just can’t sit down and just…sit? The Broadmoor offers you everything from golf to tennis to swimming, to workouts, spa time, hikes, horseback riding, rock climbing and more. The onsite Outfitter will get you set up with anything you didn’t come prepared to do.

There are two things you definitely should not miss as part of your visit to The Broadmoor: Seven Falls, less than a mile from The Broadmoor, is a series of waterfalls in a 1,250-foot-wall box canyon. See valleys, rock formations, and prairies as you make your way up 224 steps to hiking trails. Check out the live web cam – in addition to the falls, you may see people climbing the stairway just to the left. The other don’t-miss is a ride on the Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway. Start out (masks on, please) on the shiny red train in a charming gingerbread station. The train soon moves through passages flanked by trees and jutting rocks. Then you break free of tree line and there are THE VIEWS! As far as you can see, the land stretches on as the train, on a special cog track, makes its way among massive boulders and rugged rock fields to the new Visitor’s Center. I wish I could tell you what that Visitor’s Center is like but we couldn’t get to the top because of high winds. Ignorance is bliss because, while it’s probably really amazing up there, we were darned happy with the experience we’d had up and back (everyone did receive a partial refund for not being able to go all the way up). With interesting (albeit campy) narration by the conductor, a ride on the Cog Railway is definitely worth making time for as part of our stay at The Broadmoor. Gratuities are appreciated by the friendly train crew.

While staying at The Broadmoor, go on a scenic ride on the nearby Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway nearby.

Nearby attractions

While you’re in the Colorado Springs area, visit the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (get so close to the giraffes you can feed them and feel their breath on you!) and the new United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum, an interactive way to get up close and personal with the best of the best in athletics. Insider tip: Don’t miss the warm turkey sandwich in the museum café – trust us.

We always suggest signing up for notifications and news from places you may go. When you do, you’ll be the first to know of special events and rates. Plus, it’s a great way to become more acquainted with a place before going so you can zero in on the activities you want to do. The Broadmoor is a wonderful treat that should be part of a visit to Colorado and Colorado Springs, specifically. You deserve to feel that special.

To learn more about The Broadmoor Hotel and Resort, visit their website, here. You can also use Real Food Traveler’s Expedia affiliate link* to help you plan your visit to Colorado Springs and The Broadmoor. 

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–Story and photos by Courtney Drake-McDonough, RFT Publisher and Managing Editor and Jimmy McDonough, RFT Eco-Friendly Food, Travel & Adventure Editor

Please note, we were hosted at The Broadmoor Hotel & Resort to help facilitate this article. However, as is always the case with the writers and editors of Real Food Traveler, that doesn’t sway our commitment to providing our readers with an honest and objective opinion of our experience there. Learn more in our disclosures page. And learn more about Real Food Traveler on our About page.