Buckhorn Exchange
Best Historic Steakhouse in Denver · CO
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
Customers said it first.
A Centurion Award verifies the public record that’s already there. Read the reviews yourself on the platforms below.
Public-record snapshot as of July 2026. Live ratings are always current on each platform.
Why this business cleared the bar.
This record was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record. Selection follows the published criteria; Buckhorn Exchange met them on that evidence. The business can claim the listing or ask us to remove it.
- ✓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 2025 for more than 130 years of steaks and game under Colorado's first liquor license.
The specific data behind this award, and the exact thresholds, stay internal so the standard can’t be gamed. Read the methodology.
The details, verified.
- 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
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.
Every award, on the record.
Each Centurion Award is its own dated annual record, and staying current means clearing the bar again each new year. The verification above is from the latest published award. Open a year for that year’s citation.
2025 Centurion Award
Best Historic Steakhouse in Denver Denver, CO · Awarded under the 2025 evaluation View the 2025 award →Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again. Selection is by published criteria, never for sale.
Visit Buckhorn Exchange
A signal you can check.
This page is the standing record for Buckhorn Exchange (2025). It was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear. It wasn’t voted on or sponsored, and selection is not for sale. Owners can claim the listing or ask us to remove it. For hours, bookings, and live reviews, go straight to the business itself.
This page was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear.
Own this business? Claim the listing for free to manage it, correct it, or remove it. If you want the award kit (badge, certificate, and announcement), you pay after you claim. Through December 31, 2026, publishing is $99. The evaluation itself is free. The $99 covers the first year only. Renewals are $199/year. That fee never buys selection.
Run a business like this one?
If you’ve put in the years, you may already qualify. Evaluation is free, private, and never for sale.