Looking for BBQ in Breckenridge, CO? The good news for barbecue lovers is that this historic mountain town has real smoke to offer. Breckenridge BBQ has grown up over the last few years, and today you can find a dedicated smokehouse turning out tender brisket, a longtime Main Street favorite that added barbecue to its lineup, and a brewery pairing house beer with smoked meats. Below is an honest local guide to where the barbecue is worth your time, plus a word on what to do when someone in your group would rather have pizza.
Craving pizza or Italian instead tonight? Tin Plate Artisan Pizza is a short walk away at 110 S. Ridge St., serving 72-hour cold-fermented sourdough pizza, house-made mozzarella, and 12-hour braised short-rib pies. Take a look at the Tin Plate menu, browse the home page, or see our guide to the best pizza in Breckenridge. No reservations needed, just walk in.
Is there good BBQ in Breckenridge?
Yes. While Breckenridge is better known for its ski runs and its craft dining scene, the town has a genuine barbecue option or two right in the historic core, and a brewery just off Main Street that smokes its own meats. You will not find a giant Texas-style meat market up here at 9,600 feet, but you can absolutely get a plate of brisket, ribs, and smoked wings without leaving town. Here are the spots worth knowing.
Whiskey Star Smokehouse
If you want a true dedicated smokehouse, Whiskey Star Smokehouse at 231 S. Main St. is the closest thing Breckenridge has to a purpose-built barbecue joint. It pairs a smoker with a whiskey bar, and the menu leans into the classics: smoked brisket, ribs, wings, and comfort-food sides. Regulars call out the brisket as the standout, exceptionally tender, and the kitchen has fun with it in dishes like brisket tacos and brisket mac and cheese. The smoked sausage and wings get plenty of love too. With a full whiskey list behind the bar and later weekend hours, it is an easy pick for a relaxed barbecue dinner right on Main Street.
Kenosha Breck (formerly Kenosha Steakhouse)
Kenosha Breck at 301 S. Main St. is a longtime Breckenridge favorite that trades as a steakhouse, burger spot, and barbecue kitchen all in one. It is a reliable choice when your table cannot agree on a single craving: someone can order a steak, someone else a burger, and someone else smoked barbecue, all in the same room. The patio is dog-friendly, the beer list is deep, and the space handles groups well. If you are pairing a barbecue plate with a proper Colorado steak, this is the address to remember. For more on the town’s beef scene, see our guide to steak in Breckenridge.
Highside Brewing
Highside Brewing brought its brewery-and-barbecue concept to Breckenridge at 301 N. Main St., following its original Frisco taproom. If your idea of a good barbecue night involves a flight of house-brewed beer next to a plate of smoked meat, this is your spot. It is a laid-back, beer-forward room rather than a white-tablecloth affair, which makes it a natural stop for a casual group or an after-adventure meal. Check current hours before you go, since taproom kitchens can keep seasonal schedules.
Barbecue nearby, down the valley
If you are willing to drive about 20 minutes down Highway 9 toward Frisco and Dillon, Summit County opens up a few more barbecue and smokehouse options, including Highside Brewing’s original Frisco location. But for anyone staying in town and searching “bbq breckenridge co,” the three spots above cover the barbecue craving without leaving the Breckenridge core. For a fuller picture of where to eat in town, our complete Breckenridge dining guide and our guide to Main Street restaurants map out the rest of the scene.
Prefer pizza tonight? Tin Plate is a short walk away
Barbecue is not the only comfort food that draws a crowd in Breckenridge. If half your group is craving smoked brisket and the other half wants a great pie, Tin Plate Artisan Pizza at 110 S. Ridge St. is a short walk from Main Street and worth the detour. We are not a barbecue kitchen, and we will not pretend to be. What we do is slow, careful pizza: a 72-hour cold-fermented sourdough crust, heirloom wheat from local Moxie Bread Company, house-made mozzarella and cultured butter, and a 12-hour braised short-rib pizza that scratches a similar low-and-slow itch. Good pizza takes time. The best pizza takes time and quality ingredients. There is a west-facing patio with Ten Mile Range views, house cocktails made in-house, and no reservations for the main dining room, so you can simply walk in. Our family also runs Three Daughters Pizza at the same 110 S. Ridge St. address for New York style slices to go.
Want to compare? Browse the Tin Plate menu, visit our home page, or read our best pizza in Breckenridge guide to see why we are a go-to for pizza and Italian in town.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get brisket in Breckenridge?
Whiskey Star Smokehouse at 231 S. Main St. is the go-to for smoked brisket in Breckenridge, and reviewers regularly call the brisket exceptionally tender. You can order it on a plate or in dishes like brisket tacos and brisket mac and cheese. Kenosha Breck at 301 S. Main St. also serves barbecue alongside its steaks and burgers.
Does Breckenridge have a dedicated smokehouse?
Yes. Whiskey Star Smokehouse on South Main Street is a dedicated barbecue smokehouse paired with a whiskey bar, serving brisket, ribs, wings, and comfort-food sides. Highside Brewing on North Main Street also smokes its own meats and pairs them with house-brewed beer.
What is the best BBQ restaurant in Breckenridge?
For a true barbecue-first experience, most locals point to Whiskey Star Smokehouse for its brisket and smoked-meat menu. If you want barbecue as part of a broader steakhouse or burger meal, Kenosha Breck is the versatile pick, and Highside Brewing is the best choice when you want craft beer with your smoked meat.
Is there anywhere to get pizza near the Breckenridge BBQ spots?
Yes. Tin Plate Artisan Pizza at 110 S. Ridge St. is a short walk from the Main Street barbecue spots and serves 72-hour sourdough artisan pizza, including a 12-hour braised short-rib pie. It is a good option when part of your group wants barbecue and part wants pizza. Walk in, no reservations needed for the main dining room.