The Carter Payne

Never disappoints. Will be taking home leftovers. The green chili lager complements the nachos. Really amazing. The Stranahans strong ale is perfect for a cold, fall day. We planned our day around the pop up Saturday. Made our weekend special.

I’m a huge fan of Chef Brent Beavers for over 30 years. It’s been awhile since we were able to dine ala carte since The Carter Payne does mostly events now. We were lucky enough to get in for “The Foods of Love” for Valentine’s Day 2026 and I must say, that I will eat anything that Beavers cooks. He’s a master, a genius and man of many talents. Don’t miss out on this culinary experience! Live life to the fullest! Amazing!!

We decided to try this place for an anniversary and enjoyed the overall experience. The food was unique to the location (something special, in other words) and we love a restaurant with a little local history tied to it. We would definitely recommend it for a casual night out, especially if the weather is nice enough for you to be outside at night. Service was excellent. We were greeted right away and the seating process was simple. The staff acts as a team and covers down on checking with customers and bussing, we thought that was great! The place operates on a tab system, meaning your first interaction for refreshments needs a card to start your bill. We liked the beer, wine, and cocktails stations and that each had their own staff member. We would have personally liked a few more simple non-alcoholic options, especially something in the realm of a hot drink. Food was overall a good experience. This is one of the few locations that we found that serves a steak tartare. While very delicious and presented well, we personally felt the price tag of $17 was a bit high for what was brought to the table as a "shareable" option. My wife and I had to really be careful not to gobble it all up and share. Besides the bread and other items, you and another person could each have about 1 tablespoon in terms of a bite. But, it was very delicious and done very well. As far as entrees, the menu does change and is somewhat limited. I had a bison sausage campanelle and my wife had a roasted rabbit with rice and winter veggies. The campanelle dish was very delicious and filling, also with some housemade foccacia... awesome! The rabbit dish was filling but lacked overall flavor - having been cooked with honey, ale, and tamari soy sauce it was really plain except for some coloration on the dish (we used salt and pepper to overcome this). The profitoreles were definitely a "share" item and absolutely covered in chocolate, but also very tasty. We would definitely come back and try other options as the menu changes. It's slightly expensive compared to other options (entrees average 25-30) but worth it for a unique and special experience.

I held a brunch here for my friends and we loved this place! I was able to work easily with the staff to create a menu that suited some folks with dietary restrictions and provided a great experience for everyone there! The spacious dining area and ability to access so many different types of beverages was also a plus! We enjoyed our time here! I'd recommend for large groups as well as simple date nights!

The food was absolutely AMAZING!! We ordered the BBQ Smoke Trio, Goat cheese and Mac, and the Sanctuary salad. The salad was a meal in itself. Incredible! The smoke vinaigrette was amazing! The smoked meat was incredible as well and oh my goodness, the Goat cheese mac, WOW, just WOW! Our waiter (Bob) was awesome! It was our first time there. He was so patient with all of our questions about the food and gave excellent recommendations on the food and drinks. We will definitely be back! The service and food was the best, especially for the prices!! Nicely done Carter Payne!

My husband and I had our wedding reception at the Carter Payne and had an incredible experience. From our first conversation with Jeff, we knew we were going to be cared for. Every detail was thought through, from our menu, to the room set up, to the day of coordination (special shout out to Bob!). We didn’t want to have a cookie cutter reception and The Carter Payne team helped us craft an experience that felt just like us. Everything went so smoothly and everyone raved about the food and experience. Thank you for making it easy for us to relax and enjoy the day! I would highly recommend The Carter Payne for any event - they can truly bring any vision to life.

We tried this place for Mother’s Day and had a great time! This apparently was the first African-American church in Colorado Springs, not a restaurant. They have an interesting concept with a food menu and three different drinks bars (stations) - one for wine, one for been and one for liquors. The beer station makes their own beer ~200 types, never makes the same beer twice. The other two stations have anything you way want also! Their menu is great, we had the breakfast club, salmon tostadas, breakfast enchiladas and the shaved ham Bennies. All good was great with nice flavors, a slight hint of spice, but just enough to add a tickle. The service was excellent, with everyone being friendly and attentive. The space itself is interesting, being a church originally. As shared we were here for a holiday brunch and it was loud at the start, however as the room emptied a little bit it was great. They also have a nice patio, which would be excellent on a sunny, warm day! Parking is on the street and used to be free, now paid, so don’t ignore that fact or you may get a ticket. Super easy to find a spot on a Sunday! We’d definitely come back for some sips. It’s a very convenient and pleasant place to gather!

Have you ever wanted to please a Michelin chef, a sommelier, a brewer, and a mixologist in one spot? Well, look no further as The Carter and Payne offers the community with four passion projects under one roof. Essentially, there are three walk-up order spots for drinks where you are met with a professional who specializes in their craft. What people don't realize is that bartenders in general like to specialize. Be it wine, beer, or cocktails, you will happily be treated with a great drink. Since you are also ordering at the register, I will say this is not a traditional dining experience, so please be patient as well! They have 200 crafted artisan beers, 60+ wines without the pretentiousness and a craftbar that have wonderful spirits and even the care of amazing mocktails. Last but not least, the mouth-watering brunch and dinner menu with some of the best upscale casual food in town. All of the staff are not only passionate about their craft but the project as a whole. This is reflected in the food, drinks, and customer service. It is rare to witness the chef touching tables to make sure everything tastes perfect. I also talked to the owner, Jeff, where we discussed the project in greater detail. I ordered two entrees, a chicken marsala and the bison sausage campanelle. The wrong stock was used for my marsala, so Jeff personally came to our table to let us know exactly what happened. In his care, he didn't want my girlfriends food dying in the window just so they didn't have to remake everything. He also prefaced her peanut allergy and made us feel understood and welcomed. He wanted us to have the best dining experience possible. The level of thought and care is out of this world. Thanks, Jeff, for such a wonderful visit. We will be returning patrons. P.S. Shout-out to Ethan for being such a wonderful bartender and getting me into the cocktail scene. Cheers!

Reasons why the Carter Payne is awesome: 1. Venue - outdoor seating with views of Pike's Peak, and it's in an only church. The space echoes but it's so fun! 2. The food is creative and just outstanding. For example, my 16yo son is not generally a salad enthusiast, but he has declared that the Carter Payne house salad could be his only meal to eat for the rest of his life if he were stranded on an island. I'm not sure I would choose it over chocolate mousse, but the smoked tea dressing must contain something "special" because everyone craves it. 3. Local Relic beers. Oh wow - creativity and flavor...if you like beer and haven't tried them, you are missing out. 4. Julie and the wines. She really knows her stuff. 5. Did I mention the food? All of it. Everything here is unique and beyond fabulous.

From Chicago, visiting friends and we went to TCP on our first night. This place is really fun. The building is very cool with high ceilings, it is an old church. It's a fun vibe, especially with a larger group, but harder to talk because it is loud. There are three drink stations--wine, mixed drinks, and beer. Our party sampled all of them. Very nice. Everything is connected when you start a tab, so you don't have to worry about paying at each station. My wife and I shared the sanctuary salad--delightful! We add bacon as our protein and had the smoked tea vinaigrette--doesn't sound like much, but it made the salad great! Daughters ordered the charcuterie board, which was delicious. And we ordered the chocolate mousse for desert--very rich, like fudge. Mmm. Highly recommended!! If you are in Colorado Springs you have to try it. Service was very, very good. At the end of the night, I asked my wife how much she thought it cost for the four of us to have dinner and drinks. She said, "$200." It was $120 with tip.

Delicious BFG. Beautiful space. We had a lovely brunch. The bloody didn't disappoint.

Every once in awhile you find a restaurant that blows you away. Carter Payne fills that spot. I ordered the chicken tostadas There were three large ones - too much to eat with a dessert coming. So tasty with pickled onions on top. My husband got the jerk crusted strip steak with mushrooms. Get the mushrooms! So worth it! He asked for sour cream for the potatoes and enjoyed something he rarely eats. The dinner alone was very delicious. But after donating to IGive we also got dessert. How can I say without swearing how good this was? Thick chocolate mousse, barrel aged beer, cherry sherry, and a mixed drink that was over the top. I almost let our coupon expire. So happy I didn't! Carter Payne was amazing!!

It feels like I'm surrounded by praising, singing, laughing and hallelujahs when I entered The Carter Payne - The Payne Chapel opened in 1897 as the first African American Church in Colorado Springs. Grace and goodness fills the room. So does the smell of good food. Housed within is the The Local Relic. True CRAFT beer. As a beer connoisseur, I recommend anyone who appreciates finer beers to get there straight away. I had the Vanilla Chai Porter. Delicious smell and divine taste. The wine and craft cocktail stations are there to serve all without discrimination. The menu is very creative and tasty. I do recommend that the kitchen makes sure the food is hot when it hits the table. But all the staff is wonderful and happy to be there. The art is very intriguing as well.

We were seeking something new and stumbled across this gem on our excursion. Tucked in a beautiful church that originated in 1897 as the first African American church in Colorado Springs is The Carter Payne, bringing the same sense of community to its visitors. We were immediately greeted and staff explained how they were set up. It was brunch hour so we sat down to explore the menu. Around us, there were three bars-one for specialty cocktails, one for beer, and one for wine. Each offered unique options that I promise you can't find elsewhere. Food and most of the non-alcoholic options were at the table. We opted for a flight of mimosas, French press coffee and brunch. I had the arrachera and eggs. My husband had the monte cristo French toast plate. I subbed the tortilla with a biscuit because The Carter Payne has house made jam that I couldn't pass up. Our mimosa flight came out and it was perfection. A large bottle of champagne and a flight of four juices including grapefruit, orange, pineapple and cranberry. We started with that and out came our food. Both plates were beautifully put together-visually and flavor combinations were well thought out. The jams for the weekend were pear ginger and blueberry lemon. Both of these were absolutely bursting with flavor. The steak on the arrachera was lacking a little in the seasoning department and the biscuit was cold. The eggs were a little overcooked for me. Outside of those small things, this was an extremely positive experience. The art on the wall was awesome and the staff were incredibly kind and attentive. We will definitely be back!

We came here for brunch our wedding anniversary. The food and drinks were delicious. You could really tell the food is fresh and intentional. Even the jams were phenomenal. Really enjoyed the vibe and spacious dining room with a historical and community significance. Looks like they have a great outside dining area. Koralis provided some of the best service we have ever had. Koralis was attentive, kind, gave us space to enjoy our meal, and proactively provided recommendations for our first time here. Highly recommend. I can't wait to try dinner here and probably come here for any opportunities for drinks and chats.

We popped in for a night cap on a Wednesday and it was definitely an experience, not only because they renovated a church into a restaurant, but the vibe was a bit too fancy for our weekday night. We still sat down and enjoyed a drink and their very large charcuterie board. We chatted with one of the bartenders about their locally distilled beers and got to taste one of the beers on show. The floor manager was a very nice host, and I loved that they had a cornhole going on outside in the yard.

came with out of town co workers and this place provides something for everyone! we split several different plates and the charcuterie (the dressing on the board is incredible). i samples about 5 wines at the wine bar and they were incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. great outdoor space too!

Carter Payne, you do not disappoint! For real though, post (mid?) pandemic going out is still not quite as fun as it used to be and I find myself usually a little... let down. I know everyone is trying so hard but when you've got limited resources, time and access to sitters, you're hopes are so high. So when we finally stopped in after reading reviews and tracking this place since it opened last year, we were blown away! The vibe is on point! The staff is friendly! The beer is phenomenal, the cocktails too! And I mean, this charcuterie board is the best I've had since we moved to Colorado. The absolute perfect spot for an afternoon beverage and snacks and I'm certain a fantastic place for dinner. I love the description in the menu of what the church was and stood for and their commitment to keep that unique piece alive in who they hire and what they serve. The record player is available for patrons to spin their favorite tunes and I loved that! Having three bars to choose from was fun, I love an interactive dining experience. I cannot wait to go when it's warm and sit outside. Although it was just me and the hubby there were a lot of people with small children coming through and I think this is probably more the time of day (afternoon). I love the idea of a quality place you can come and bring your kids to. All in all amazing spot and my new favorite place to chill in CoS

Excellent food. Breakfast enchiladas, French toast, coffee, desserts all delicious. Great service. Cool building (old church) with interesting architecture. Highly recommend

Omg!! This place is absolutely fabulous! It's 3 bars inside an old church. There's a wine bar, cocktail bar and a brewery. Need I say more... okay. The food we split the charcuterie board.. amazing!!!! Food is a must, you won't be disappointed. The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommend!! Dress warm though it's a bit drafty.

Had the best steak here I have had in 15 years. Rice and vegetables look run-of-the- mill, but they are absolutely bursting with flavor. Local Relic beer and wine were exceptional. The sommelier is one of the most knowledgeable and innovative I have ever met. We will be back. Go now!

Not great, water jug came out with grime and small pebbles inside. Server blamed it on "the dang dishwasher" It's a unique artsy "food court" style with a server. You can go up and get a beer, wine, or cocktail at one of the bars inside. Food has to be ordered by a server. Food wasn't great, steak came out cooked below temp than what was ordered. Quality of the steak was subpar. The combinations of flavors on the entrees are unique but didn't seem to blend well with each other. I got the NY strip with fried rice. Best course was dessert. The chocolate mousse was delicious!

My family took me to this place yesterday for the first time and I will promise you: the first ingredient is love. From the moment I walked inside with my 100 year old great grandmother they were quick to seat us and extremely friendly. When you walk in you can see into the kitchen which is clean and well-kept with passionate looking chefs. The kitchen is stocked with a variety of visible fresh ingredients: beautiful fruits and veggies. The atmosphere is beautiful and angelic. The person who helped us find a wine to our liking seemed like quite the connoisseur who knew the detail and history of the wines being served, and she matched me up to a wine which I loved more than any I had had before. The waitresses were all attentive and helpful, fast on their feet, and very kind. The first dish was the chorizo fries with gorgonzola. The cheese was one of the most exquisite I believe I had ever tasted. The size was perfect for four people , and very generous helping. We had the orange chicken. It was the most tender piece of chicken, the noodles were cooked perfection and the veggies tasted fresh. There was the best subtle flavor of oranges from the orange zest and once again, one entree felt like it was big enough for two. If you come here I promise you are in for a treat. This is my favorite restaurant in Colorado!

What a gem we discovered on Valentines Day. Why more people are not talking about this place I DO NOT KNOW. Everything was well executed. Service was spot on. Food was creative, thoughtful and delicious. Wine and beer pairings could not have been more perfect. Everyone was friendly, upbeat and knowledgeable of not only the food and cocktails but the history of the chapel. Dani from local relic brewery was amazing and we enjoyed getting to know her. We highly recommend!

I cannot say enough wonderful things about the owners, the establishment and everyone that works there. For my promotion, I held a social/reception down in the cellar. Jeff worked with me in my budget, and was so accommodating and helpful. Katie and the rest of the crew the day of the event were incredible, and the food was SO GOOD. I will 100% over do an event here again, or just come to have a drink with friends. Thank you all for an incredible time. It made my already so special day even better. I wish I had photos to add but...we had a lot of fun....so not many photos were taken :)

Food service and attention to detail liquor chooses and wine the best ! Desserts are fantastic ! Wei f Go again yes

This place is phenomenal! Wonderful knowledgeable people. Great wine. Great beer. Great cocktails. Wonderful variety of small plates. This all takes place in an historic old beautiful church. Easy parking. Go!

We walked in not knowing what to expect. There are three bars and you can open a tab and order from any of them. My husband had a cocktail and I had a glass of wine from another bar. Once seated a server comes to take your order. The food was very good and I loved the wine selection. We had the salmon tostadas and th charcuterie board. Great value! It's a pretty loud environment with no AC which was ok but I was wishing for a fan toward the end of the meal. I will return!

Very good food and service. A unique experience with 3 separate bars and small batch beers. Will definitely take out of town guests here to impress

This place is quite unique, and I really wanted to love it, but I just "liked" it. We walked in and sat at a table, and no one acknowledged us for quite a few minutes. I had to flag someone down to find out how to put in an order. The gentleman (who was very nice) told me we had to order our drinks ourselves at the bar of our choice (cocktails, craft beer, or wine) and then someone would be by our table to take our order. Simple enough. Unfortunately, no one ever came by our table to take our food order while all our neighbors who came in either with us or after were waited on. I had to flag down a lady (who I'm assuming was a waitress) to take our order. She was very nice, but the confusion around their whole process was very unorganized. Our food was good, but no one ever came by to check on us after food delivery. Once again, I had to find someone to get my check to pay. I felt that this place has so much potential if they can organize their ordering process.

Only went here for cocktails, but they were outstanding. Plenty of nearby parking and the church makes for a cute setting.

A bit expensive. Wine was 12 a glass but the food was good although limited choices. Dessert was phenomonal. Buttermilk penna casa which was light. The church needs some sound absorbing material in the corners because the room is very loud.... 3 bars 1 for beer 1 for wine 1 for mixed.... beer selection was good try a flight to sample

I'm all honesty, the best laid out brunch I have had in a long time. Atmosphere is everything. Love the Old Neighborhood church feel. Great music, loud enough to enjoy and still have a conversation. Cocktails were superb. Can't wait to come back and experience the dinner scene .

I drove by 3 times trying to figure out what this place was...and finally stopped...best decision I made today! Wow, an old church with 3 x bars inside...micro brew on site check!...cocktails check! Wine bar check! This is the most relaxing place I have been in in quite some time. The beer is completely off the charts for variety and distinctive flavor....Pecan Porter that is amazingly delicious! The charcuterie planter is easily enough for 2 people and the flavor combinations going on here is well indescribable, but oh so good. My first visit and I'm hooked! Try it and you won't be disappointed!

This place is unlike anything else you'll experience in Colorado Springs or maybe even most places. A beautiful building and excellent service keeps us coming back but the food, beer, wine & cocktail selection is insane. Go here. You won't regret it!

Interesting but odd service model. The space is very cool. Loud. but unique. The drink options are wonderful and distinctive and the bartenders are knowledgeable and generous with tastings. We came for dinner and never got acknowledged by the server the entire time we were there. We'd have gladly spent lots of money on food but short of physically grabbing the server, we did not succeed in ordering food. We finished our drinks and went elsewhere for food. Will try again but know now that we need to be very assertive to get the attention we need to order food. Should it be this difficult? I think not.

Loved it! Nice wines. Good service. Outside rustic seating. The charcuterie platter is really good. And the people are very friendly! Love the history of the old church. A COS treasure. Plan to go back soon!

Went to BFD for brunch with a friend and what I had was horrible. It was the 'Priory (?) Plate'- French toast with eggs and fried potatoes. The french toast had little to no batter at all, so it was like eating pieces of dry bread, and the eggs were so overdone that the yolks were almost hard boiled. I thought this place was supposed to have one of the best chefs in town, so it was really surprising to see them not know how to make french toast or cook an egg. Other than that, the potatoes were good and the staff very friendly though not too organized.

Had one beer and tea. Both were good. You can open a single tab and visit all the vendors off the single tab. Cool venue and super helpful staff!

OOHLALA, FANTASTIC FARE!!! Using very fresh ingredients, Immerse Cuisine creates such outstanding dishes - amazing!! A real treat to thoroughly enjoy high-quality cuisine!! AND LOCAL RELIC IS A REAL GEM!!! Love the great customer service and the vast selection of beers!! They friendly staff work so hard to please their patrons with a 4-flight sampler, based upon each person's preferences - they really aim to please! And the temperature of their brews is perfect to savor their remarkable beers. With the ambiance, warm and attentive service, outstanding cuisine and the wide array of delightful brews, anytime at The Carter Payne will deliver a most memorable experience!!!

The Carter Payne hosts Local Relic Artisan Ales, Crusade Wine Bar, and Immerse Cuisine. All are EXCELLENT! Chef Brent's food creations are amazing. The menu changes and something else that is stunningly delicious appears. This week I was hooked by the Adult Grilled Cheese and am craving more. Paired with his oh-so-tasty and where-have-you-been-all-my-life Broccoli Cheddar soup, I was full for 20 hours. Thank goodness I could get quarts of the soup to take home for the snowy days when it is too cold to eat outside. When the weather is warm again, the salads are a must try. Crusade has a wide selection of unusual wines with sommeliers to help guide you to the right choice for you that day. Local Relic. So much to say about their beers. The brewer is a genius. With 18 taps, the selection is varied and always changing. An unusual, and appreciated, characteristic of their beers is that the different flavors come forward as the temperature of the beer warms. Never be in a hurry to down a Local Relic beer! Better to buy flights and work your way around the changing flavors. When you've settled on that day's favorite, order a pour, sit back, relax, and enjoy. If you get hooked on Local Relic, cut your costs and become a member. Then your first flight is already covered AND you get four bottles a month to take home.

Awesome use of space. Enjoyed eating and drinking and relaxing outside while not being in a parking lot or next to a busy street. Every beer we tried in our 2 flights were very good. Chef Brent's shrimp.and grits were amazing. Was checking out the breakfast for dinner menu and wine flights for our next visit.

Highly recommend, had dinner before TV Unscripted show (which was hilarious) and were very impressed with the wines and food. Once you see the charcuterie board you have to have it, delicious.

The Carter Payne is one of those places that it is easy to drive by without a second look. But the inside of the little chapel is as my little grandma from Texas would have said is, "cute as a bug". A friend got married here recently and I kept trying to mentally picture where this was based on the address, but for the life of me couldn't recall what The Carter Payne even looked like. This venue was PERFECT for their vintage themed wedding and reception. I would highly recommend you check this place out!

As an event planner, I would like to thank The Carter Payne for helping me turn what could have been a very disastrous wedding reception into a beautiful event for the bride and groom. After being evacuated from our original reception location 90 minutes before the reception was supposed to begin due to the Waldo Canyon Fire, we needed a new location and lots of help immediately. The Carter Payne team absolutely went above and beyond and I appreciate how seamless the reception flowed after the most hectic of situations. They were completely understanding and patient in handling the last minute changes and were completely organized at all times. I had the utmost confidence that no matter what, the reception would go off without a hitch because of their hard work. The Carter Payne team is exceptional. They're very professional but still bring an element of actually caring how an event turns out for the client. It is evident that they all enjoy their jobs and that is very refreshing. The guests were in love with food and impressed by the wonderful service that The Carter Payne provided. The bride and groom are so grateful for all the service that this team provided and are anxious to work with them again. They said their wedding reception could not have been more perfect and they have The Carter Payne to thank for their wonderful memory.

The Carter Payne no longer does weddings. I tried to book a tour in October and she said that starting in 2014, they no longer do weddings. Bummer, it's so pretty!

The Carter Payne is a gorgeous event center. Located in downtown Colorado Springs, it really is a diamond in the rough. It is modern and very clean with a traditional feel. As an event coordinator, I pay attention to details, and The Carter Payne also pays close attention to details. The staff is helpful, accommodating, and friendly. I highly recommend The Carter Payne for an event, you will be able to sit back and relax as the professionals take care of everything.