The Greatest Restaurant in the World!
A cultural institution in the Denver area since its opening in 1974, Casa Bonita, under new ownership, is proud to open with a refreshed look and feel, and a brand new culinary team. While maintaining the magical ability to transport guests back in time to 1970s Mexico, Casa Bonita provides an unmatched experience that includes live music, shows, games and memories that will last a lifetime.
General Information
- Casa Bonita was founded in 1968 in Oklahoma City, OK by entrepreneur Bill Waugh. It later expanded to Tulsa, OK, Little Rock, AR, Fort Worth, TX, as well as Lakewood, CO.
- The Lakewood location originally housed a Joslins department store. With minimal plans and no permits, architects and carpenters constructed one delightful experience after another as they went along. Construction began in 1972 and the restaurant opened on March 27, 1974.
- In 2015, Casa Bonita was recognized as an official landmark by the Lakewood Historical Society.
- In 2021, Trey Parker and Matt Stone reached an agreement to purchase Casa Bonita’s Lakewood location, which had been closed since early 2020 due to the pandemic. Parker and Stone have many memories of going to Casa Bonita as children and the restaurant means a great deal to them. Colorado’s Casa Bonita location is the only location that remains in existence.
- The iconic, pink Casa Bonita tower stands 85′ tall and is visible for miles. On top of the tower’s golden dome stands a statue of Cuauhtémoc (kwah-hoo-tem’-ok), the last Aztec Emperor.
- Inside, different facades and themed rooms are intended to invoke regional Mexican architectural styles: for example, Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara.
- The exterior of the building was repainted in 2022 and required over 400 gallons of custom-blended pink paint.
- Casa Bonita’s famed sopaipillas were created with a recipe specifically designed for the altitude of Colorado.