Top Colorado Culinary Schools & Restaurant Management Colleges

With 6 of its cities in Money Magazine’s Top 100 Best Places to Live 2010, Colorado is not only a wonderful tourist destination, but also a great place to live. Home to vibrant landscapes consisting of mountain ranges, plains, rivers and desert, Colorado is filled with opportunities for growth and entertainment.
The agricultural industry in Colorado is also vibrant, thanks to the plentiful amounts of sunshine and fresh water. Known for its melons, green chilies, buffalo, peaches, apples, apple cider, sunflowers and corn, this state provides wonderful locally grown ingredients to its culinary industry. The varying landscapes of Colorado provide diverse types of cuisine, meaning there is a lot to offer to those interested in the culinary world.
Restaurants employ nearly 227,000 people in Colorado and close to 34,000 new jobs will be created by 2020. The job growth rate by 2020 is expected to be around 14.8% in Colorado, much faster than the national average. *
This means that culinary students will have the opportunity for great growth and potential in the culinary industry. If attending culinary school in scenic and lush Colorado is something you may be interested in, I encourage you to scroll below for a listing of some prestigious culinary arts schools available in Colorado. Additionally, I have listed some top-notch hotel management and hospitality management schools in Colorado for those interested in the hospitality field.
* based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Census Bureau
Denver, Colorado
The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Colorado
Art of Cooking
Baking & Pastry
Culinary Arts
Culinary Management
Hosptiality Management
Food & Beverage Management
Westwood College, Denver North
Other Colorado Culinary & Hotel Management Schools
Culinary School of the Rockies - Boulder, CO - Professional & Home Cook Programs
Mise En Place - Denver, CO - Basic Cooking Classes
University of Denver - Denver, CO - Hospitality Management Programs
What Do You Need To Know to Get Into Culinary School?
As the Reluctant Gourmet, I have never been to cooking school, but I keep telling myself it's never too late. The best way for you to learn more about becoming a chef is to visit my new Culinary School Resource Center. Here you will find articles, books, school resources and many other useful resources.
Also, try reading as much as you can about going to cooking school and what it is like to be a professional chef. One book I highly recommend to anyone thinking about culinary school is, The Making of A Chef, by Michael Ruhlman. It will really help you understand what you may be getting yourself into. For a complete list of Books For Cooks.
Find Top Culinary Schools By State
Colorado culinary arts schools & hotel management schools






