Denver has no shortage of great restaurants, but none of them come close to matching the sheer strangeness and history of the Buckhorn Exchange. Open since 1893, it's the oldest restaurant in Colorado — and one of the most genuinely unusual dining experiences in the entire United States.
A Brief History
The Buckhorn Exchange was founded by Henry "Shorty Scout" Zietz, a scout and frontier guide who worked alongside Buffalo Bill Cody. Zietz opened the restaurant at 1000 Osage Street in 1893, in what was then the rougher edge of Denver's central district. He held Colorado Liquor License No. 1 — literally the first liquor license issued by the state — which the restaurant still holds today.
Over the decades it became a gathering place for frontiersmen, politicians, Native American chiefs, and eventually tourists. Presidents Teddy Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, and Ronald Reagan all ate here. The Denver Broncos used to bring players here after big wins. It's on the National Register of Historic Places.
The 575 Mounted Animals
Nothing prepares you for walking in. The walls, the ceilings, every surface — covered with 575 mounted animal heads and full-body taxidermy mounts. Elk, buffalo, moose, mountain lions, wolves, zebra, rhino, alligator, a two-headed calf, and dozens of species you won't immediately recognize. It's part natural history museum, part hunting lodge, part frontier saloon. The collection has been building since the 1890s and is protected as part of the historic designation.
The second floor has the same overwhelming density of mounts, plus framed photos of historic Denver and original frontier artifacts. A 1876 Colt revolver that belonged to Shorty Scout himself is displayed on the wall.
What to Order
The Buckhorn Exchange is famous for wild game, and the menu takes it seriously. Some standouts:
- Buffalo prime rib — rich, slightly gamey, deeply satisfying. The signature dish for many returning visitors.
- Elk medallions — lean and tender, often served with a berry reduction.
- Rattlesnake and rabbit sausage appetizer — not as challenging as it sounds, and a great story to tell later.
- Alligator tail — a bar bite that regularly makes first-timers do a double take at the menu.
- Colorado lamb chops — for those who want something a bit more conventional but still excellent.
- Western buffalo ribeye — if you want a steak, this is the one to get here.
They also do standard beef cuts — filet mignon, New York strip — for guests who aren't ready for game. The wine list is solid, and the cocktail program leans into Western classics.
The Atmosphere
Expect dim lighting, dark wood, leather booths, and the general feeling that you've stepped out of the 21st century entirely. The service is old-school attentive — the kind where your water glass never goes below half. Dinner here runs in the $60–$100 per person range with drinks, making it a special-occasion spot for most locals.
On weekend evenings there's often live country and bluegrass music downstairs. The bar itself — all original late-19th-century woodwork — is worth sitting at for a drink even if you don't stay for dinner.
Getting There
The Buckhorn Exchange is at 1000 Osage Street, Denver, CO 80204, about a 10-minute drive west from downtown Denver or a short ride on the light rail to the 10th & Osage RTD station. Reservations are strongly recommended for dinner, especially on weekends. Lunch service is also available.
Is It Worth It?
If you're visiting Denver and you have even a passing interest in American history, the frontier West, or genuinely unusual dining experiences — yes, absolutely. There is no other restaurant that looks like this, serves food like this, or carries the same unbroken thread back to the 1890s frontier. It's not a theme park recreation of the Wild West. It's the real thing, still operating after 130 years.