Colorado Springs restaurant offers simultaneous sense of both home and away

By Kristian DePue

On the corner of East Costilla and South Tejon, within the heart of Colorado Springs, is an illuminated invitation to an elevated evening: Lumen8 Rooftop Social. Look up from the streets and you’ll see a curvy, contemporary composition lit in color. With only a quick elevator lift to the eighth floor of the SpringHill Suites hotel, locals and tourists alike can enter an experience showcasing views of downtown and the towering topography of the Front Range.

Photo courtesy of Lauren McKenzie of REN Creativ.

Lumen8 Rooftop Social
402 S Tejon St.
Colorado Springs CO 80903
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719-822-2889

Looking through the floor-to-ceiling windows or beyond the spacious patio, there’s no question you’re in Colorado Springs. However, the interior design and décor give a big city, coastal vibe — as if you’re dining and imbibing in Los Angeles, Miami or San Diego.

“It’s not bougie, you just feel like you’re on vacation,” says Chef Chris Starkus, one of the chief creatives behind the concept. “Lumen8 is upscale, clean, organized and put-together. That’s exactly what we want it to be — while feeling accessible, inviting and relaxing.”

Starkus draws from a deep well of experience within high-end hospitality and the culinary arts, from working with celebrity chefs in the Neon Capital of the World — including Rick Moonen, “The Godfather of Sustainability” — to provisioning as a personal chef and estate manager in the Pacific Northwest, to getting his hands both sticky and dirty beekeeping and doing urban farming in the Mile High City. He’s been a culinary consultant, a higher education instructor, and continually featured on various media platforms, including ColoradoBiz and The Modern Eater Network. His passion for culinary endeavors is widespread and thoughtful, giving attention to sourcing, sustainability and conservation. To succinctly summarize: as Lumen8 Rooftop Social’s culinary director, Starkus brings both breadth and depth to the dining table.

“Chef Chris Starkus is very passionate about taking care of those who locally provide for us — those who allow us to share their hard work in a tangible setting,” says Forrest Jackson, Lumen8’s manager of food and beverage. “Further than that, he has transformed many minds into understanding the importance of being an advocate for recycling, composting and general care of our earth.”

Beyond saluting Starkus, Jackson champions the restaurant’s endeavor to entertain: “Lumen8 is a shareable concept that lends to an upscale, modern and welcoming atmosphere. Lumen8 is one of the best, well-rounded experiences in food and beverage here in the Springs, entirely. We work and strive to restore passion, knowledge and craft. And our network of support allows us to provide Colorado Springs the best sourced products, along with some of the best industry leaders I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside.”

The venue’s name has a multifaceted meaning, reflecting the alluring lights of the facade. And the interior matches that enticement, as a bright, warm, engaging environment, awakening an energy and excitement.

The views and large windows allow for sunsets from the Front Range to shine through. Then, of course, the number on the tail end of the phonetically creative name refers to serving patrons atop the eighth floor.

The cocktail menu features spirits from Lee Spirits Co. in Colorado Springs and Woody Creek Distillers in Basalt. “Lumen8’s food and beverage are equal in terms of sourcing, authenticity and craftsmanship,” says Starkus with confidence. “I want people to know they can come up, have a glass of wine, sit on our patio and watch the sunset fall behind the Front Range.”

Lumen8 is driven by thoughtful, intentional sourcing — whether it’s local, regional or beyond — with good techniques, in both the kitchen and bar.

“We’ve built our menus to be approachable while offering some esoteric options and potentially unfamiliar provisions,” continues Starkus. “We’ve carefully curated a broad stroke. Lumen8 can appeal to anybody and everybody.”

Born and raised in rural Indiana, Kristian DePue works as a contributing writer in Colorado Springs. In addition to writing, he enjoys travel, watching films, and a good cocktail.

This article appeared in the November-December issue of Thirst Colorado. Click here to read the full magazine online, and pick up our print magazine all over Colorado.