If you can really splurge, Charles Court in the Broadmoor (1 Lake Ave., 719/577-5733, www.broadmoor.com/charles-court.php, daily 7 a.m.–11 a.m. and 6–9:30 p.m., closed Tues., $22–44) is a wonderful restaurant with dishes that highlight local ingredients such as Colorado lamb and beef and San Luis Valley Quinoa. The menu can change nightly.

Denver mayor John Hickenlooper has an appreciation for Colorado Springs as well. Mr. Hickenlooper is a successful brewpub owner with the Wynkoop Brewing Company in Denver’s LoDo neighborhood, but he also saved a historic building here and started the Phantom Canyon Brewing Company (2 E. Pikes Peak Ave., 719/635-2800, www.phantomcanyon.com, Mon.–Sat. 11 a.m.–2 a.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–2 a.m., $12–25). This is standard pub food for lunch or dinner, but dependably good, with fresh beer on tap.

In about the same price range as the Phantom Canyon Brewing Company is The Ritz Grill (15 S. Tejon St., 719/635-8484, www.ritzgrill.com, $13–27), with a sophisticated art deco look and late-night menu that makes it a local favorite.