Fort Collins Travel Guide: Where to Stay, Eat, Drink & Explore

Before this trip, I honestly didn’t know much about Fort Collins besides the fact that it was home to Colorado State University. My husband had a work trip there, so I decided to tag along, work remotely during the day, and explore while he was busy.

I wasn’t expecting to love it so much...even with the extreme heat!

Fort Collins has the perfect mix of historic charm, incredible restaurants, walkable streets, outdoor adventures, and a slower pace that made me feel relaxed from the moment we arrived. It’s the kind of place where people actually smile and say good morning, you can spend hours wandering local shops, and every corner seems photo-worthy.

If you’re planning a trip, here’s exactly how we spent five days in Fort Collins, along with my honest recommendations on what I’d do again.

Where We Stayed

The Elizabeth Hotel

If you’re visiting Fort Collins, I highly recommend staying at The Elizabeth Hotel.

The location couldn’t be better. It’s right in the heart of Old Town, so we were able to walk almost everywhere—from restaurants and coffee shops to shopping and live music.

Some of my favorite things about the hotel:

• Beautiful modern rooms

• A vinyl player in every room and vinyl's in the lobby to borrow (make sure you ask for their newest collection they keep behind the check in counter)

• Sunset Lounge rooftop bar with piano player

• Magic Rat live music venue downstairs

• Breakfast served until 3 p.m.

• Nice gym

• Walking distance to almost everything

One of my favorite memories was simply walking down the hall at night to grab a drink at the sunset lounge for summer time or listen to live music without ever getting back in the car.

Day One: Arrive & Explore Old Town

After flying into Denver, we rented a car and drove about an hour north to Fort Collins.

Once we checked into The Elizabeth Hotel, we immediately started exploring Old Town.

The first thing I noticed was how charming everything felt. Historic brick buildings, string lights hanging above the streets, flower planters everywhere, and local businesses instead of chain stores. Fun fact: parts of Old Town are said to have inspired the look of Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland, which made wandering the streets feel even more magical.

It immediately had that small-town charm that makes you want to slow down.

Lunch at Blue Agave

Blue Agave Grill was one of our favorites in Fort Collins. We ordered the queso fundido to start, and it was the perfect appetizer to share. For my entrée, I went with the fish tacos, which were fresh, flavorful, and easily some of the best tacos. Our server gave us so many recs and I realized how friendly everyone is here.

The OBC Wine Project.

The outdoor patio was adorable, and it was the perfect place to cool off with a frozen frosé on a warm afternoon. We figured this was our only day we would have time to relax outside with a beer for my husband and wine for me before the work week!

Dinner at RARE Italian

Our first dinner was at RARE Italian, and it was the perfect way to kick off the trip.

The restaurant has a cozy atmosphere and a great menu of handmade pasta, steaks, and Italian classics. If you’re planning a date night in Fort Collins, definitely add this to your list.

Day Two: Morning Walks & Exploring Downtown

One of my favorite mornings of the trip started with a walk along the Poudre River Trail.

If you’re visiting during the summer, I highly recommend going early before it gets too warm.

The trail winds alongside the river and is incredibly peaceful. People were biking, walking their dogs, and something that genuinely stood out to me—almost everyone smiled and said good morning.

Coming from Los Angeles, it was such a refreshing change of pace.

That walk alone reminded me how much I love slower mornings.

Lunch at Union Bar & Soda Fountain

After my walk, I grabbed lunch from Union.

It ended up being the perfect place for a casual meal before returning to work for the day.

Shopping Around Old Town

One of my favorite things about Fort Collins is that it’s incredibly walkable.

I spent hours just wandering through Old Town and popping into local businesses.

Some of my favorite stops included:

• Old Firehouse Books

• Happy Lucky’s Teahouse

• Local clothing boutiques

• Home décor shops

• Gift stores featuring Colorado-made products

Even if you don’t plan on buying anything, it’s worth taking your time because almost every block has something interesting.

Dinner & A Quiet Night In

While my husband had a work dinner, I ordered room service, watched a movie in bed, and enjoyed a quiet evening at the hotel.

Sometimes those slower travel nights end up being some of the most memorable.

Day Three: The Perfect Remote Work Day

One thing I didn’t expect was how much I’d enjoy working remotely from Fort Collins.

Instead of sitting in an office, I packed my laptop and headed to Ginger and Baker.

Ginger and Baker

This quickly became my favorite place in town.

Whether you’re looking for breakfast, lunch, coffee, or somewhere to work remotely, Ginger and Baker checks every box.

I loved:

• The atmosphere

• Plenty of seating

• Matcha

• Fresh salads

• Sandwiches

• Their famous pies

Honestly, I found myself wanting to come back every day.

Working there with views of the river nearby made the workday feel completely different than being back home.

Dinner at Maida Trattoria

For dinner we went to Maida Trattoria.

The pasta was delicious, the restaurant felt intimate, and it quickly became one of my favorite dinners from the trip.

Sunset at Horsetooth Reservoir

If I could recommend only one thing to do in Fort Collins…

Go watch sunset at Horsetooth Reservoir.

The views overlooking the water and surrounding mountains were absolutely beautiful, especially as the sun dipped behind the horizon.

It ended up being one of my favorite moments from the entire trip.

Where to watch sunset at Horsetooth Reservoir: We watched the sunset from Rotary Park, which ended up being one of our favorite spots of the trip. Just plug Rotary Park, Fort Collins, CO 80526 into Google Maps, or use the nearby address 471 N County Road 23, Fort Collins, CO 80526. Get there about 30–45 minutes before sunset so you have time to find parking and enjoy the views. The golden hour over the reservoir is absolutely worth it.

Day Four: Steaks & Live Music

Breakfast: Silver Grill Cafe – We stopped here for their famous giant cinnamon roll, and it's definitely worth trying if you're visiting Fort Collins. It's a local institution that's been serving breakfast since 1933.

We enjoyed dinner at Sonny Lubick Steakhouse, which is a Fort Collins staple if you’re looking for a classic steakhouse experience.

Later that evening we walked back toward The Elizabeth Hotel for rooftop drinks before listening to live music at Salt Row Brewing and Magic Rat.

Being able to walk everywhere made the evenings incredibly easy and relaxing. The live music scene here is very cool.

Town Pump

If you're looking for a laid-back local bar, stop by Town Pump. It's a classic Fort Collins dive bar that's been around for decades and has a fun, no-frills atmosphere. We grabbed a glass of Pinot Grigio (which came with a very generous pour!) and loved getting a taste of one of the city's longtime neighborhood spots.

Social (speakeasy)

For a completely different vibe, end the evening at Social, a cozy underground speakeasy tucked beneath Old Town. The dim lighting, craft cocktails, and intimate atmosphere make it feel like a hidden gem and it's a great spot for a date night or after-dinner drink.

My Favorite Restaurants

After five days in Fort Collins, these were my favorites:

Blue Agave

Ginger and Baker ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Perfect for breakfast, lunch, remote work, or pie.

Maida Trattoria

One of my favorite Italian dinners of the trip.

RARE Italian

Great atmosphere for date night.

Sonny Lubick Steakhouse

Perfect if you’re celebrating or want a classic steak dinner.

Union Bar & Soda Fountain

Great casual lunch.

The OBC Wine Project

Go for the frozen frosé and patio.

Silvergrill Cafe

famous giant cinnamon roll - they have a special flavor of the month too!

The Emporium (hotel breakfast)

Walrus Ice Cream

My Favorite Things To Do

If you’re only in town for a weekend, these would be my must-dos:

• Walk Old Town

• Stay at The Elizabeth Hotel

• Watch sunset at Horsetooth Reservoir

• Walk the Poudre River Trail

• Eat at Ginger and Baker

• Shop the local boutiques

• Browse Old Firehouse Books

• Visit Happy Lucky’s Teahouse

• Grab rooftop drinks at Sunset Lounge

• Listen to live music at Magic Rat

• The Social - speakeasy

• The Town Pump - oldest bar in the city

What I Wore in Fort Collins

One of my favorite things about visiting Fort Collins was how easy it was to dress comfortably while still feeling put together. Since we were there in the summer, I packed a mix of casual daytime outfits for exploring Old Town and the Poudre River Trail, along with a few dresses for dinner and sunset.

Here are all of the outfits I wore during our trip. You can shop each look through my LTK, or I've linked everything below when available.

Is Fort Collins Worth Visiting?

Absolutely.

Fort Collins completely exceeded my expectations.

It has the charm of a small town with enough restaurants, shopping, outdoor activities, and nightlife to keep you busy for several days.

More than anything, I loved how relaxed it felt.

People were genuinely friendly, mornings were peaceful, and everything felt slower in the best possible way.

It’s also one of the few places where I could genuinely picture myself spending an extended amount of time—especially if you’re someone who enjoys working remotely while traveling.

Whether you’re planning a Colorado road trip, a couples getaway, or simply looking for a destination that’s easy to explore on foot, Fort Collins deserves a spot on your list.

Final Thoughts

Fort Collins ended up being one of my favorite surprise destinations. I came expecting a work trip and left wishing we had booked a few extra days. Between the walkable downtown, incredible restaurants, scenic trails, and unforgettable sunsets, it struck the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation.

If I went back tomorrow, my itinerary would be simple: start the morning with a walk along the Poudre River Trail, spend a few hours working from Ginger and Baker, browse the shops in Old Town, grab dinner at Maida or RARE, and end the day watching the sun set over Horsetooth Reservoir.