Briarhurst Manor is the most celebrated restaurant in Manitou Springs, occupying a handsome 1872 English-style manor house set in gardens beside Fountain Creek. The building itself is worth seeing — pink rhyolite stone, gabled rooflines, Victorian interiors — and the setting is remarkable for a place that is also a serious working restaurant. The cooking is upscale American with Colorado ingredients: Rocky Mountain trout, elk, lamb, seasonal vegetables.
This is the kind of place people come for anniversaries and special occasions, and the prices reflect that. The multi-course tasting menus are the best way to experience the kitchen. The wine list is strong on American and European bottles. Reservations are essential and should be made well in advance for weekend evenings. The outdoor terrace, open in summer, overlooks the creek and is one of the more beautiful dining settings in the region.