John Hickenlooper opened Phantom Canyon in the 1901 Cheyenne Building in December 1993, years before he was Denver's mayor, Colorado's governor or a US senator. More than thirty years on, it is still the anchor brewpub of downtown Colorado Springs: house ales poured under pressed-tin ceilings, a pool hall upstairs, and a scratch American kitchen at 2 East Pikes Peak Avenue. This is not fine dining, and it does not pretend to be. It is a good beer, a beer-cheese soup the regulars order on reflex, and a room with a hundred-year-old bones that fills up after work.
The Kitchen
Head chef Manny Coss runs the kitchen at 2 East Pikes Peak Avenue, cooking a scratch brewpub menu built to drink alongside the beer rather than upstage it. The plate everyone knows is the Phantom Beer Cheese Soup, made with the house ale; from there the buffalo meatloaf, the Elote Burger and the Lemon Tabasco fried chicken are the orders regulars repeat. Most dishes land between $16 and $32, which keeps a full table affordable.
The beer is the real headline. Head brewer Brian Koch keeps the flagship Alpenglow Wheat, Box Car Red Ale, Streamliner IPA and Dos Lunas Lager on, and took three silver medals at the 2026 Colorado Brewers Cup. The brewery has poured since 1993, when John Hickenlooper opened it inside the historic 1901 Cheyenne Building, and it remains one of the oldest brewpubs in the state. Order a flight to taste across the range, and the kitchen will steer you to whichever plate drinks best with it. The cooking is solid and generous rather than refined, and the value is the point.
The Room
Phantom Canyon spreads across two floors of the 1901 Cheyenne Building, exposed brick and tall windows downstairs, a billiards hall with pool tables upstairs. Lighting is bright-casual rather than dim, the sound runs loud once the after-work crowd lands, and tables are spaced for groups rather than for intimacy. Dress is no-rules; you will see work shirts, jeans and the odd suit. It is family-friendly early and beer-hall busy late, with long hours that stretch to 2am on weekends. Come for energy, not for hush.
Best for a Team Dinner
Book Phantom Canyon for a team dinner because it is built to hold a group. Three reasons it fits: the two-floor space absorbs a big table without anyone feeling crammed, the billiards hall upstairs gives the night somewhere to go after the plates clear, and house beer flights plus a wide American menu keep everyone happy whatever their budget. Picture the team around a long downstairs table, a round of Streamliner IPA, beer-cheese soup to start, then pool upstairs. For more group-friendly rooms, see our team dinner dining guide.
Not for a quiet date or fine-dining expectations. It is a busy two-floor brewpub with a pool hall upstairs, the kitchen aims for generous rather than refined, and it runs loud on weekend nights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phantom Canyon worth it?
Yes, as a downtown brewpub rather than a fine-dining room. John Hickenlooper opened it in 1993, head brewer Brian Koch took three silver medals at the 2026 Colorado Brewers Cup, and head chef Manny Coss runs a scratch kitchen of generous American plates. Go for the house beer, the historic 1901 building and the value, not for refined cooking. It is one of the best-value tables downtown.
How hard is it to book Phantom Canyon?
Booking is easy on weeknights and busier on weekends. Phantom Canyon takes reservations and walk-ins across two floors, so midweek tables are usually available same-day, while Friday and Saturday nights fill with the after-work and pool-hall crowd. For a larger team dinner, call ahead a few days. See our Colorado Springs dining guide for nearby options if it is packed.
What is the average meal price at Phantom Canyon?
Expect roughly $16 to $32 per person for food before drinks, with most entrees and burgers landing in the low twenties. House pints are priced like a neighbourhood brewpub, not a hotel bar, which is a big part of the value. A team can eat and drink well here without the bill running away, which is why it suits a group night out.
Is Phantom Canyon good for a team dinner?
Yes, it is one of the better team-dinner rooms downtown. The two-floor space absorbs a big group, the billiards hall upstairs gives the night somewhere to go, and the house beer flights plus a shareable American menu keep everyone happy across budgets. Long hours mean you are not rushed out. See our team dinner guide for more group-friendly rooms.