We’re back again, and this time the 2026 ACU Marketing, PR & Development Council Conference is at Aurora, CO at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Conference Center (“GRRCC”). This list is a work in progress as we get recommendations from friends in the Denver area so come back until the list is final. The list will feature what we find to be interesting restaurants in Aurora, but also restaurants that are worth driving to Denver.
Huckleberry Roasters
Huckleberry Roasters is worth the drive. When Julian last visited Denver in 2024, he made a beeline from the airport to the Pecos location. “I read the reviews and knew I had to make this my first stop. It was a real treat talking to their coffee experts about their coffee and the coffee world in general”, he said. Huckleberry has cafes in Pecos (original), Dairy Block, Tennyson, Baker, Wheat Ridge, Larimer Square, Southglenn and Congress Park.
Approximate Driving Distance from GRRCC to Pecos cafe: 17.8 miles, 25 minutes
La Machaca de Mi Amá
This is what they say on their IG: “Mom’s Homemade Food From Culiacán”. No need to say more.
Approximate Driving Distance from GRRCC: 11 miles, 21 minutes
Guard and Grace
This comes as a recommendation from a friend, and for good reason. Guard and Grace is a Michelin Guide-Recommended (it hasn’t achieved a star yet) and was named one of the world’s best steakhouses in 2024. Among the recommended menu items: Whipped Italian Burrata, Prosciutto Tasting Flight, A3 Tomahawk, Filet Flight, Duck Fat Fries, and “everything on the dessert list.”
Approximate Driving Distance from GRRCC: 18 miles, 30 minutes
Annette Scratch to Table
It’s unpretentious but upscale. This is the type of place that focuses on ingredients and the art of cooking, which makes a meal that much more delightful in such a setting. They’ve been named one of America’s best new restaurants by Bon Appetit and Food and Wine. Also, they just so happened to have won a James Beard award in 2022. The menu is seasonal and wood-fired, and the cocktails are very, very, very well done.
Approximate Driving Distance from GRRCC: 12 miles, 23 minutes