Dutch Mill Cafe
Antonito, CO
Photo courtesy Larry Glass

The Dutch Mill Cafe sign gives travelers through Antonito a good reason to slow down. Despite the name, you’re more likely to find Mexican and southwestern dishes than anything involving wooden shoes. The marquee adds another bit of character to Main Street. 04-09

Antonito sits at the southern end of Colorado’s San Luis Valley, where U.S. 285 carries travelers toward New Mexico. It’s also the Colorado terminus of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, bringing hungry railroad visitors into town alongside the regular customers.

UPDATE: Dutch Mill continues serving downtown Antonito and appears in the railroad supporters’ 2026 dining information. The cafe and adjoining tavern keep this familiar stop in business, with the roadside sign still the detail that first makes you look. 06-26

Ben's Cafe (Closed)
Green River, UT
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Check out the signage and throwback building for Ben's Cafe. This photo dates back to 2001 and captures a classic roadside cafe that was a familiar sight along Green River's Main Street.

Like many cafes that once served travelers crossing eastern Utah, Ben's Cafe occupied a prominent location along the highway and became part of the town's roadside landscape. The vintage building and neon signs helped make it one of the more recognizable stops in town.

UPDATE: Ben's Cafe is long gone, but the building remains very much alive. Since 2010, the location has been home to La Veracruzana restaurant, which has become a popular stop of its own. In fact, during recent visits, the restaurant has appeared especially busy during breakfast hours. The historic Ben's Cafe signs were restored and now show the new name of restaurant. 07-26

Castle Cafe
Castle Rock, CO
Photo courtesy Larry Glass

The Castle Cafe sign looks right at home on its old downtown corner in Castle Rock. The building has the sort of presence that makes you wonder who passed through before you, and in this case there’s quite a list. 04-09

During the 1890s, the Castle Hotel and Bar welcomed quarry workers, ranchers, railroaders, and travelers. The present restaurant dates to the 1990s, so the building’s history is considerably longer than the current cafe’s run. Its signature attraction today is pan fried chicken, served family style.

UPDATE: Castle Cafe continues serving customers at 403 Wilcox Street. The old hotel building remains a downtown landmark, while those chicken dinners give visitors a practical reason to do more than photograph the sign. A historic building is even better when supper is waiting inside. 06-26

B&B Cafe
Castle Rock, CO
Photo courtesy Larry Glass

The B&B Cafe in Castle Rock, Colorado is still in business and has very good food. Located in the heart of downtown, the cafe has been a longtime gathering place for both locals and visitors. 04-09

The building dates back to the 1920s and has witnessed a great deal of local history over the years. One of the most notable events occurred in 1946 when Castle Rock Marshal Raymond Lewis was killed during a shootout inside the cafe. More than seventy years later, a bullet hole from that incident still remains in the ceiling as a reminder of that tragic day.

UPDATE: The B&B Cafe continues to serve customers today and remains one of Castle Rock's best-known local restaurants. Along with its reputation for good food, the cafe has become something of a local landmark thanks to its connection to the town's history. If you stop in for a meal, don't forget to look up at the ceiling. 06-26

Arschel's Cafe
Beaver, UT
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The old sign at Arshel’s Cafe gave travelers through Beaver something worth watching for along Main Street. Its distinctive lettering belonged to the sort of family cafe where a stop for coffee could easily turn into a longer conversation.

The cafe was associated with Arshel and Roma Hollingshead, whose family name became part of the town’s dining history. Decades later, the familiar sign was still catching attention. A 2008 travel account even noted the cafe’s mauve neon and matching booths, a combination worth remembering.

UPDATE: The location began housing Arshel’s Loaded Burger in 2024, giving the old cafe another chapter. Burgers have taken center stage, but the familiar name remains. It’s good to find a roadside restaurant getting a new menu instead of a demolition notice. 07-26