Buckhorn Exchange — Denver, CO
2025 Centurion Award winner

Buckhorn Exchange

Best Historic Steakhouse in Denver · Denver, CO

Steakhouse · Denver, CO · Since 1893

The overview

Colorado liquor license No. 1, since 1893.

The Buckhorn Exchange is Denver's oldest restaurant, open since 1893 and holder of Colorado Liquor License No. 1. Founded by Henry "Shorty Scout" Zietz, its walls bristle with more than 500 taxidermy mounts and antique firearms, and the menu runs to elk, buffalo, quail and Rocky Mountain oysters.

A designated landmark that has hosted presidents and cattlemen alike, the Buckhorn is the 2025 Centurion Award winner for Best Steakhouse in Denver.

What they're known for

  • Elk, buffalo & game steaks
  • Rocky Mountain oysters
  • Colorado Liquor License No. 1
The public record

What reviewers already knew.

A Centurion Award doesn’t replace the public record — it verifies it. Read it for yourself, on the platforms where it lives.

Public-record snapshot as of July 2026. Live ratings are always current on each platform.

The verification

Why this business cleared the bar.

Selection is by the published criteria, evaluated on public evidence. Buckhorn Exchange cleared every one.

  • Years in operation. Operating in Denver since 1893 — 133 years of continuous business.
  • Sustained online presence. An established local institution with a consistent public footprint — listings, coverage, and word of mouth in Denver.
  • Established customer track record. A deep public track record: Denver has kept Buckhorn Exchange busy for 133 years.
  • Liked by customers and the community. Genuinely beloved by Denver regulars and visitors alike — a bona fide community favorite.
  • Recognition in the local community. Named best historic steakhouse in Denver for 2026 for more than 130 years of steaks and game under Colorado's first liquor license.

The full verification report — the specific data behind this award — is held by the business. The exact thresholds stay internal so the bar can’t be gamed. Read the methodology.

Award record

2025

Best Historic Steakhouse in Denver Denver, CO · Awarded under the 2025 evaluation

All awards for Buckhorn Exchange →

Visit Buckhorn Exchange

Location1000 Osage St, Denver, CO 80204
In business since1893
Find them onFacebook · Instagram · Yelp
Facts at a glance

The sourceable record.

Clean, checkable facts about Buckhorn Exchange — for readers, search engines, and answer tools alike.

Legal / trading name
Buckhorn Exchange
Category
Steakhouse
Founded
1893, Denver, CO
Founders
Henry H. Zietz
Location
1000 Osage St, Denver, CO 80204
Centurion Award
Best Historic Steakhouse in Denver — 2025
Record last verified
July 2026

A signal you can check.

This is a dated award record, published by The Centurion Awards after Buckhorn Exchange cleared the 2025 evaluation for its market and category. It was not bought, voted on, or sponsored — the criteria are public, only winners are published, and an award that stops holding up is revoked, not quietly removed. Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again. For everything else — hours, bookings, live reviews — go straight to the business itself.

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions.

What is Buckhorn Exchange?

Denver's oldest restaurant, opened in 1893, holder of Colorado liquor license No. 1 and famous for steaks and Rocky Mountain game.

Is Buckhorn Exchange award-winning?

Yes — Buckhorn Exchange is the 2025 Centurion Award winner for Best Historic Steakhouse in Denver, a verified, criteria-based award. Named best historic steakhouse in Denver for 2025 for more than 130 years of steaks and game under Colorado's first liquor license.

Where is Buckhorn Exchange?

Buckhorn Exchange is in Denver, CO.

Run a business like this one?

If you’ve put in the years, you may already clear the bar. Evaluation is free, private, and never for sale.