Denver City Park West looking Downtown
Denver Food

As a city on the rise, we’ve seen our food and dining scenes explode over the past few years.

With so many great local restaurants to choose from, it can feel overwhelming at times! That’s why we launched Delicious Denver Food Tours – to connect locals and visitors to amazing restaurants across the Mile High City.

If you haven’t already, we hope you’ll join us on one of our walking food and drink tours. Our experienced foodie guides would love to take you behind the scenes at some of Denver’s best local restaurants.

Thanks, and happy eating!

Sincerely,

The Delicious Denver Food Tours Team

Union Station Denver

Union Station was renovated in 2014 and is now the beating heart of downtown Denver. Referred to as “Denver’s Living Room,” it’s a functioning local and regional transit hub and a center for restaurants and nightlife with three James Beard Award winning chefs inside the station and its surrounding buildings.

Tavernetta, $$$$

Fine dining Italian from James Beard Award winner Lachlan MacKinnon and his partner and sommelier Bobby Stuckey. Great happy hour.

Featured on Delicious Denver Food Tours’s Cocktail Tasting Tour

Ultreia, $$$

Portugese and Spanish tapas and pintxos from James Beard Award winner Jen Jasinski. Great sherry program. Excellent and diverse gin and tonics.

Featured on Delicious Denver Food Tours’s Downtown Food Tour

Sunday Vinyl, $$$

Modern Italian wine bar and small bites from the James Beard Award winning team behind Tavernetta. Excellent brunch.

Featured on Delicious Denver Food Tours’s Denver Wine Walk

Woodie Fisher, $$$

Named one of Yelp’s Top 50 restaurants in the U.S. for 2021, Chef Franco Ruiz brings his Michelin experience to New American cuisine (including brunch) in this historic Denver restaurant space.

Featured on Delicious Denver Food Tours’s Dinner Tasting Tour

Mercantile Dining & Provisions, $$$$

New American farm-to-table restaurant and market from a James Beard Award winner. Chef’s table experience available.

Citizen Rail, $$$

New American from Chef Christian Graves centered around a custom built live fire grill. Great for brunch or happy hour.

Zoe Ma Ma, $

Chinese/Taiwanese street food steps from Union Station. James Beard Award finalist in 2022 for Outstanding Restauranteur.

Stoic and Genuine, $$$$

Seafood and raw bar from James Beard Award winning chef Jen Jasinski. $2.50 oysters 2 – 5 pm Mon-Fri with $7.50 glasses of bubbles.

Ghost Donkey, $$$

Sister restaurant to this LA original, enter this neon LSD fever dream just across the tracks from Union Station. Menu is mezcal-based cocktails and creative and original nachos.

Food Tour Guide crossing street with group

“LoDo,” short for “Lower Downtown,” is considered the heart and center of downtown Denver and is easily accessible to visitors. It boasts some of the city’s best dining and is conveniently located near major landmarks like Union Station and Coors Field.

LeRoux, $$$

Atmospheric French bistro with a fantastic happy hour from the team behind Cholon and Yumcha. Excellent French Onion soup and raw crudite.

Featured on Delicious Denver Food Tours’s Denver Wine Walk

Urban Farmer Denver, $$$$

Farm to table steakhouse focused on beef as an expression of terroir. Numerous items produced in house including mushrooms, greens and honey. Butter Pecan Old Fashioned recommended.

Featured on Delicious Denver Food Tours’s Cocktail Tasting Tour

Mile Post Zero, $

Denver’s newest food hall featuring locally-owned vendors like Taco Mucho Bueno, Toro Sushi + Ramen and Burgers and Dreams. Be sure to check out the 35-tap beer wall.

Featured on Delicious Denver Food Tours’s Market & Food Hall Tour

Avelina, $$$$

Upscale New American from French trained chef Josh Oakley. Modern decor and huge scotch and whiskey list. Chef’s choice family style menu available.

Cholon, $$$$

Asian dishes with elements of European technique from Chef Lon Symensma formerly of Jean-Georges and Buddakan in NYC. French onion soup dumplings recommended.

Yumcha, $$

This dumpling and noodle bar from well-regarded local chef Chef Lon Symensma features shareable plates and funky cocktails at an affordable price.

Jax Fish House, $$$

Oyster bar and seafood in the heart of downtown. Tight space with communal seating, fantastic for happy hour or lunch. Great atmosphere and service.

Rhein Haus, $$

House made pretzels, sausages and 24 beers on tap from local breweries as well as authentic German breweries. Reserve their indoor Bocce Ball court Mon- Thurs.

Jovanina’s Broken Italian, $$$

Family owned for almost two decades, Jovanina’s has pizza, pastas and secondi in an intimate, classic space. Great cocktails and their Wed/Thu wine specials are great in Sotto Voce, their prohibition style basement lounge.

A5, $$$$

Retro designed steakhouse named one of the best new restaurants of 2021. Modern interpretations of steakhouse classics with local sourcing and creative plating.

Illegal Pete’s, $

Denver’s homegrown higher quality Chipotle features burritos, bowls and more. Great cheap eats and drinks in the heart of downtown.

Cruise Room, $$$

Open since the day prohibition ended, this classic bar’s original design is based on bars aboard the first generation of luxury cruise ships. It retains its old school charm with an updated cocktail menu.

Dairy Block Denver

This multi-use development’s primary feature is a pedestrian alley lined with some of Denver’s best restaurants and bars. A common liquor license allows visitors to freely wander the alley checking out the street art and installations.

Poka Lola Social Club, $$$

Craft cocktail bar featuring house made mixers and bitters. Fresh and seasonal ingredients with a bend towards Tiki style flavors. Great interior and atmosphere.

Featured on Delicious Denver Food Tours’s Cocktail Tasting Tour

Denver Milk Market, $$

Food Hall and Market from Denver celebrity chef Frank Bonnano featuring hit dishes from across his diverse restaurant portfolio. Great gelato.

Featured on Delicious Denver Food Tours’s Market & Food Hall Tour

Kachina Denver, $$

Mexican with Native American influences. Great mezcal and tequila flights as well as our favorite tacos in the city served on Navajo Fry Bread.

Featured on Delicious Denver Food Tours’s Downtown Food Tour and Dinner Tasting Tour

Blanchard Family Wines, $$

Colorado owned tasting room featuring Colorado and California grapes. Great paired dessert flights. Located on Dairy Block alley, great for people watching.

Featured on Delicious Denver Food Tours’s Denver Wine Walk

Seven Grand, $$

The 4th outpost of the best whiskey bar in the west, the spirits list at this dark leather and wood bar is truly overwhelming. A must visit for whiskey drinkers with hundreds of spirits to try.

Bruto, $$$$

This 15-seat Michelin star chef’s tasting room features multi-course omakase style tasting of Latin and global cuisine cooked on live fire. Paired alcoholic beverages available.

Deviation Distilling, $$

Locally owned distiller of creative gins and whiskeys, Deviation has a chic space and a diverse and interesting cocktail lists. Try the small pour gin flight and their coffee house inspired whiskeys.

Run for the Roses, $$

Cocktails & bar bites offered in a swanky, lower-level speakeasy lounge with a private room for large groups. Menu is a deck of playing cards, which they leave on your table to play games.

Foraged, $$

Hip, bi-level destination with an upscale sushi bar and craft cocktails. Omakase style is also an option.

Westbound and Down, $

Winner of several medals at the Great American Beer Festival. Downtown outpost for the main facility in Idaho Springs.

Coors Field Night Game Denver

Located between Lower Downtown (LoDo) and River North (RiNo), the ballpark neighborhood is a fun and lively place to hang out, especially when the Rockies are playing at Coors Field.

This neighborhood also has a number of great locally-owned dining finds and spots bars/breweries.

Marco’s Coal Fired Pizzeria, $$

AVPN Certified wood-fired Neapolitan Pizza from a family-owned restaurant recommended by the Michelin Guide. Great house-made limoncello and wings. Rear patio in summer is lovely.

Featured on Delicious Denver Food Tours’s Downtown Food Tour

Cherry Cricket, $$

Denver institution since 1945, fantastic burgers, great beer list, Denver’s best pork green chili. THE sports bar for Broncos and Avalanche games.

Featured on Delicious Denver Food Tours’s Downtown Food Tour

Lazo Empanadas, $

Immigrant brothers from Buenos Aires, Argentina, serving flaky, baked empanadas. Dine in or take out. Dessert empanadas also great.

Featured on Delicious Denver Food Tours’s Downtown Food Tour

Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs, $

Growing from a food cart on the 16th Street Mall, this exotic game dog spot has been named one of the top ten hot dog spots in the U.S. and featured in Food and Wine, WSJ, NY Times and more.

Featured on Delicious Denver Food Tours’s Downtown Food Tour

Attimo Wine, $$$

Italian winery and small plates from Jon Schlegel, owner of Snooze AM Eatery. Live music on the patio in the summer and a great monthly wine club.

Snooze AM Eatery, $$

Original location of the brunch phenomenon spreading across the south and west. Great service, diverse menu, local ingredients. Try the pancake flight.

La Diabla, $$$

Jose Avila’s former work as a partner of Machete Tacos is evident here and won him best new restaurant of 2021 from the Denver Post. Pozole is the specialty of the house.

Aloy Modern Thai, $$

Sister born on a farm outside of Bangkok bring a farm-to-table approach to Thai food using modern techniques. Try the house specialty Kao Soi.

Mexico City Lounge, $$

This Denver institution has been open since 1968. The house specialty is fried tacos and they serve breakfast until 3 p.m., great for a hangover meal.

Denver Central Market, RiNo

Short for “River North,” RiNo is a trendy, up-and-coming neighborhood known for its world-class street art and high concentration of local breweries and independent restaurants.

Redeemer Pizza– $

Sourdough specialty NY and Sicilian pizzas named one of Denver’s Top 25 Restaurants in 2022. Visit the dining room in the evenings, or enter through the alley for service on the heated patio all day.

Featured on RiNo Arts District Food Tour

Osaka Ramen– $$

Jeff Osaka’s namesake restaurant is a creative izakaya and ramen shop just off the main drag. Try the Karaage fried chicken and spam musubi.

Featured on RiNo Arts District Food Tour

Los Chingones, $$

Mexican street food and tacos from celebrity chef Troy Guard. Features a monthly rotating taco from a visiting chef.

Featured on RiNo Arts District Food Tour

Denver Central Market, $$

One of Denver’s most vibrant and delicious food halls and markets. Great spot for sweets including chocolates, ice cream and pastries. Fantastic street art in the alley behind.

Featured on RiNo Arts District Food Tour

Dochi Donuts, $

This locally owned extension of the Florida original started by Jason Le serves uniquely chewy and delicious rice flour donuts in interesting flavors like ube (purple yam) and matcha.

Featured on RiNo Arts District Food Tour

Deep Roots, $$$

Family-owned winery featuring Colorado and California grapes. Wine making happens in the warehouse space, and their vintner is often on site working.

Work and Class, $$

Mexican American from James Beard nominated Dana Rodriguez. Great small plates and sides. Order your seasonal protein by the 1/4 pound to share.

Uchi, $$$$

Austin based fine dining sushi from James Beard award winner Tyson Cole. Omakase tasting menus available.

Safta, $$$

Alon Shaya’s blend of Middle East, Europe and North African cuisine is in the Source Hotel in RiNo. Experience life changing pita bread, hummus and shared plates.

Super Mega Bien, $$$

Latin American Dim Sum from James Beard nominated Dana Rodriquez. Unique and fun space, great staff. Fun for groups.

Cart Driver, $$$

Sporting a limited but excellent bar menu along with antipasti, the highlight here is Neapolitian style wood fired pizzas with modern flavors enhancing old world techniques. Also order the oysters.

Nocturne, $$$

Featuring two seatings a night of jazz and a rotating seasonal pre-set menu, this old school supper club continues to deliver with great music and excellent food and drinks.

Beckon, $$$$

Michelin star intimate restaurant with seasonally-driven multi-course menu. Very small space, and reservations book up fast.

Death and Co., $$$$

The only other location of the New York original named the world’s best cocktail bar, the richly designed space in the lobby of the Ramble hotel hosts complex and varied cocktails. Reservations recommended.

Fish and Beer, $$$

Oysters, fresh fish and a variety of creative fire grilled seafood creations combined with an in-house beer sommelier. Great staff and beverage progam, fun and bustling space.

Hop Alley, $$$

Chef Tommy Lee brings his Cantonese roots with Sichuan flavors to modern small plates in a stylish space. This is consistently rated and mentioned as one of Denver’s best restaurants.

Improper City, $$

Like a small private park organized around a bar built into a warehouse, Improper hosts different food trucks every night of the week and offers outdoor space to lounge and play games.

Dio Mio, $$$

Quick-service meets fine-dining in this modern, buzzy space in north RiNo featuring some of Denver’s best hand-made pasta and sauces.

Dining Al Fresco, Larimer Square in Denver

Larimer Square is Denver’s oldest city block. This historic district has been well preserved and offers a number of great restaurants, bars and boutique shopping.

Rioja, $$$

James Beard Award winning restaurant from Jen Jasinski. Mediterranean tapas with modern techniques and flavors.

Osteria Marco, $$

Handcrafted pizzas, cured meats and cheeses, plus other Italian plates in a cozy basement setting. Run by local Italian chef Frank Bonnano.

Disco Pig, $

Funky, disco theme bar located on the oldest block in the city. A good option for people looking for a late-night spot downtown.

Bao Brewhouse, $$

Creative Chinese street food and tea room across two floors. The first floor features a tap room with the second floor offering a seated family-style menu.

Corridor 44, $$

Denver’s only champagne lounge with a South of France meets Morocco vibe for menu and decor.

Tamayo, $$

Part of Richard Sandoval’s restaurant empire, Tamayo does modern Mexican fusion in a light and airy space with a huge rooftop deck for sunny days (which is almost all of them in Denver).

Downtown Denver has a mix of office, hotels and cultural venues that nurture a thriving dining scene. You won’t find many of our picks on the 16th St. Mall whose restaurants are primarily national chains that can afford the premium rent.

Whether you need a quick after work drink or a celebration dinner for your team, Downtown has a number of great spots to dine.

Guard and Grace, $$$$

Celebrity Denver Chef Troy Guard’s 9000 square foot modern steak house has modern styling, an extensive wine list and a wide variety of local beef from a petite 4oz filet to a mammoth 22oz bone-in ribeye.

French 75, $$$

As befitting Frank Bonnano’s diverse restaurant empire, French 75 starts from French fine dining ideas and creates modern takes that fuse with world cuisines. Try the lobster ramen or the excellent French dip.

La Loma, $$$

A classic built on gas and oil power lunches from the 80s and 90s, La Loma has been family owned for over 30 years and serves a crowd-pleasing slightly upscale mix of Mexican and Tex Mex in a beautiful space across from the Brown Palace Hotel.

Chez Maggy, $$$

Michelin starred chef Ludo Lefebvre brings his culinary magic to Chez Maggy – where French brasserie meets Mile High style. An homage to his Denver family, chef Lefebvre leans into his roots and heritage to create a unique approach to classic French cuisine using elements and ingredients native to Colorado.

Brown Palace, $$$

The Brown Palace is Denver’s second oldest hotel but grander than any other in town. Dining and drinking options abound but we recommend having a drink in the Ship’s Tavern and enjoying afternoon high tea in the atrium lobby.

Panzano, $$$

Logan Stephenson revitalized this downtown Italian staple when he joined Panzano in 2019. Having spent 3 years apprenticing under Michelin starred chef Michael White, the hand made-pasta is a highlight here.

Zocalito, $$$

This Oaxacan focused latin bistro highlights chef Michael Beary’s obsession with heirloom peppers and preserving traditional ingredients by sourcing direct from farmers.

City Park, Denver

This residential area of Denver located within walking distance of the city’s largest park, City Park, has a great neighborhood feel with lots of single-family homes and tree-lined streets. It’s also home to a number of great neighborhood bars and restaurants.

One Fold, $$

Asian leaning breakfast including duck fat potatoes, congee and fried rice. One of Travel and Leisure’s best breakfast spots in the U.S.

Olive & Finch, $$

Market and bistro with pastries, sandwiches and more in an airy and vibrant environment. Try the fancy toasts at bfast or brunch!

White Pie, $$

Wood fired neapolitan pizzas with modern ingredients. Porky Porkorino is recommended. Great happy hour red wine 3 – 5 p.m.

Dos Santos, $$

Buzzy taqueria on the 17th street strip. Great Yucatan style pork as well as several varieties of fish tacos. Several good vegetarian options as well.

Pete’s Kitchen, $

Breakfast burritos to gyros in a classic, family-owned-and-operated diner open since 1989.

Atelier by Radex, $$$

Neighborhood place with a French & European menu and a classy, low-key vibe, plus a small patio.

Sullivan Scrap Kitchen, $$

Original eatery with a sustainability focus serving gourmet fare made with surplus ingredients.

Uptown, Denver

Located just east of Denver’s downtown, this neighborhood is accessible while still retaining a more residential feel. It’s location just north of the capitol makes it central, and it has a number of great restaurants and local eateries.

Steuben’s, $$

Updates on Americana diner classics at an always busy local spot with a great beverage program. Excellent brunch and nightly specials.

D Bar Denver, $$

Open all day this bakery cafe and restaurant serves simple lunch and snacks but showcases an extensive and excellent dessert menu. Great spot to hit for sweets late night.

Ace Eat Serve, $$

Thach Tran’s pan asian cuisine is combined with a huge space featuring ping pong tables throughout. Great ramen! Grab a bowl and play a game with your table mates.

Colorado Campfire, $$

Cool, rustic place with two patios for 70 local draft beers, distilled spirits & elevated pub fare.

Coperta, $$

Roman trattoria fare and southern italian specialties from sibling restaurateurs. This neighborhood restaurant has simple and classic decor and feeling of community that extends from the food to the staff.

Frozen Matter/Retrograde, $$

Artisanal ice cream shop hides a neon speak-easy entered through a massive freezer door at the back of the shop. Seating is limited, so get an ice cream while you wait.

South Broadway, Denver

Funky and eclectic, “Sobo” boasts a number of great restaurants and bars in addition to its many art galleries. It’s also home to art events and walks throughout the year.

Maria Empanadas, $

Argentinian style empanadas from Lorena Cantarovici who came to Denver with just $300 in her pocket. Breakfast empanadas are great with a South American style Cortado coffee.

Denver Biscuit Co., $$

Expect a line at this Denver local favorite. Specializing in unwieldy, rich and imaginative biscuit sandwiches, they also have excellent cinnamon rolls as big as your head.

Lucille’s Creole Cafe, $$

This homegrown southern/cajun breakfast brunch spot has been around since the 80s. From chickory style coffee to beignets, this is your taste of New Orleans in the Mile High City.

Duffey Roll, $

This home-grown morning bakery specializing in cinnamon rolls is a quiet local spot to grab a morning sugar hit. They have savory options as well, but don’t sleep on the classic roll.

Post Chicken and Beer, $$

Featured on several Food Network shows, Post brews their own beer and fries some of the best chicken in Denver. Half, full birds or sandwiches and check them out for brunch.

Voodoo Donuts, $

A Portland OR import, Voodoo has both classic and novel donuts available late in their South Broadway outpost. They also offer a variety of vegan donuts if that’s your jam.

Torchy’s Tacos, $

Continuing the long tradition of Austin TX and Denver cross-pollinating eachother’s dining scene, Torchy’s is a fun, delicious and unique taco spot with a decent bar. Their breakfast offerings are also great.

Stranahans, $$

Stranahans is one of Colorado’s oldest local distillers and at their production facility and lounge you can do tour, a tasting and then enjoy some cocktails. (All that together is probably too much)

Smokin’ Yards, $$

This beloved local BBQ spot started in the mountain town of Idaho Springs. They offer a variety of styles including central texas, southern style and carolina style pulled pork.

Ti Cafe, $

A coffee bar from three 2nd generation immigrant sisters you can get deep, dark Vietnamese style coffee with condensed milk as well as a diverse offering of French/Vietnamese pastries.

Blackbird Public House, $$

A locally-owned spot offering thin crust pizzas, fresh shucked oysters and a complementing menu of comfort foods that include traditional favorites and seasonally created, chef driven items.

Adrift, $$

Tropical-themed tiki bar offering rum-centric, island-style drinks plus Polynesian-inspired bites.

Little Man Ice Cream

This trendy neighborhood is one of the fastest growing in Denver now home to some of the city’s best restaurants, boutiques and art galleries. The neighborhood is comprised of three distinct areas: LoHi (Lower Highlands), Tennyson Street and Highlands Square.

Root Down, $$

Housed in a redesigned mechanics shop and gas station, Root Down is a sustainability focused brunch and dinner spot with veggie focused fare from Edible Beats restaurant group.

Linger, $$$

This restaurant is in a former mortuary with both interior and rooftop dining options, Linger is global fusion and street food inspired small plates. Great view of downtown Denver from the roof.

Wolf’s Tailor, $$$

Named one of Bon Appetit’s best new restaurants in the U.S., Wolf ‘s Tailor brings together Michelin starred alumni for a chef driven omakase fusing farm-to-table Japanese with new American.

Little Man Ice Cream, $

This award winning local ice-creamery inspired by Coney Island is easy to spot from their milk can shaped building or the hour long line wrapped around the block in summer.

Postino, $$$

This wine cafe is part of a chain across the southwest. The patio at the Highlands location is great, but the real draw is the incredible happy hour: $6 glasses of wine before 5 p.m.

Bar Dough, $$$

Menu and concept originally designed by Carrie Baird of Top Chef fame, this pizza/pasta focused spot is bright and airy with great service. Brunch also recommended.

Uncle, $$$

Winner of best new restaurant in 2013, Chef Tommy Lee’s minimalist ramen shop does not accept reservations and has limited seating. Expect to wait, expect it to be worth it.

Lady Jane, $$$

A hipster-esque vinyl driven craft cocktail bar from the group behind Hudson Hill, Lady Jane has a constantly rotating menu of diverse and complex seasonal cocktails.

Spuntino, $$$$

This multi-award winning and James Beard nominated Italian restaurant is run by a husband and wife team. The menu is classic Italian with some Rocky Mountain twists.

Bacon Social House, $$

This brunch spot now has several locations across the state. The bacon flight will give you a taste of six slices of bacon including a rotating seasonal selection.

Senior Bear, $$$$

From the restaurant group behind Ash’Kara, A5, Bar Dough and more, Senior Bear is Latin inspired food and drink. The $125 Parillada recalls a Colombian grill platter and is great for a party.

Avanti, $$

This bustling multi-story food hall has incubated some of Denver’s best young restaurants on its always changing dining level. Upstairs is outdoor space for drinks with great views of downtown

My Brother’s Bar, $

The oldest bar in Denver, continuously serving fine beers and spirits since 1873. Laid-back haunt with no sign serving up burgers & beers while classical music plays on the speakers.

Daughter Thai Kitchen, $$

Trendy Thai eatery offering modern small plates & family-style dishes, plus a cocktail list.

El Five, $$$

Spanish and Eastern Mediterranean small plates and drinks served in a funky, buzzy top-floor penthouse.

Want to learn more about Denver’s amazing food scene?

Join us on one of our Denver food tours!