No matter your budget or the cuisine you’re craving, you’ll find dozens of options in Denver’s River North Art District. Authentic dishes, fusion creations, and hidden gems are around every corner. Our guide to the best restaurants in RiNo includes:
- Pasta and pizzerias
- Latin American eateries
- Asian restaurants
- Breakfast and bakeries
- Burger, barbecue, and seafood spots
- Dessert options
- Other personal favorites
If you want to sample several of the neighborhood’s best eats, join our highly-rated RiNo Food Tour! It includes five generous tastings and optional drink pairings, plus insights into RiNo’s art and dining scenes.
Pasta & Pizza Restaurants in RiNo
Vero
2669 Larimer Street │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$
Vero’s ricotta gnocchi is made with a flavorful tomato sugo and fresh mozzarella (photo: Vero Facebook)
Italian eatery Vero is one of eleven vendors within Denver Central market. Its glossy, green-tiled pizza oven creates wood-fired pies, and the menu features a selection of pasta, too. One noteworthy favorite is its housemade ricotta gnocchi, which is one of five generous tastings on our RiNo Arts District Food Tour.
Join our guided experience or stop in solo. Weekday afternoons are a prime time to visit, as its neighboring vendor Curio Bar offers one of the best happy hours in Denver.
Cart-Driver
2500 Larimer Street #100 │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$
Savor a meal inspired by the flavors of Southern Italy (photo: Cart-Driver Facebook)
Cart-Driver operates its counter service within an intimate, renovated shipping container. Locals gather over platters of wood-fired pizza, oysters, and tins of sardines. Pair your meal with an Aperol spritz or opt for a craft cocktail like its effervescent negroni made with a splash of prosecco.
Dio Mio
3264 Larimer Street │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$
Experience upscale Italian in a fun, casual atmosphere — all at a great price (photo: Dio Mio Facebook)
Handmade pasta at Dio Mio is one of the best things to eat in RiNo. The ambiance at this counter-serve eatery is casual and approachable, and the global wine selection won’t break the bank. Yet, a glass of merlot paired with its fennel sausage rigatoni matches the experience of any Italian fine dining restaurant.
The Greenwich
3258 Larimer Street │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$$ │ Book A Table
The Greenwich serves up artisanal pizzas in a chic setting (photo: The Greenwich Facebook)
New American restaurant The Greenwich serves an eclectic menu with highlights like its signature meatballs and lemon-roasted chicken. But more recently, this RiNo eatery has built a reputation around its wood-fired pizzas.
Its white pizza with housemade hot sauce and roasted mushroom pie with taleggio and gouda cheeses are especially popular. Be sure to order its famed cheesecake for dessert, which features a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
Redeemer Pizza
2705 Larimer Street │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $
Order by the slice or opt for the whole pie (photo: Redeemer Pizza Facebook)
Redeemer Pizza puts a unique spin on New York-style pies by using a delicious sourdough crust. Don’t skip on the housemade dipping sauces, including dilly ranch and chili honey. An order of garlic knots is a must, too.
For the VIP experience, join our RiNo Food Tour! It makes a stop at this celebrated pizzeria.
The Walnut Room
3131 Walnut Street │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$
The Walnut Room offers an extensive menu and entertainment (photo: The Walnut Room Facebook)
Thin-crust, Chicago-style pizzas are The Walnut Room’s specialty. In authentic fashion, whole pies are square-cut and nineteen signature topping options make up the menu. Gluten-free crust and plant-based cheese are also available, as are individual slices and other pub grub.
Entertainment is a key draw to The Walnut Room. It shows prime-time games on its TVs and allows guests to play rounds on its golf simulator. Book a tee time via The Back 9.
Latin American Restaurants in RiNo
Los Chingones
2463 Larimer Street │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$
This Mexican eatery’s menu is as colorful as its interior (photo: Los Chingones Facebook)
Los Chingones ranks as one of the best rooftop restaurants in Denver. Dine al fresco or pop inside this edgy Mexican eatery. Its graffiti-painted walls are as vibrant as its plates of tacos, quesadillas, and smothered burritos.
Visit during happy hour (weekdays from 3:00-5:30 pm) to enjoy all menu items for $7 or less. Or, sample this eatery’s street tacos on our RiNo Arts District Food Tour!
Work & Class
2500 Larimer Street │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$
Taste a blend of Latin American and Southern flavors at this unique eatery (photo: Work & Class Facebook)
Adjacent to Cart-Driver, you’ll find another shipping container housing Work & Class. It offers an eclectic menu, taking inspiration from Latin American and classic Southern cooking. Try its signature dishes like coriander-roasted Colorado lamb and cheddar-chile mac and cheese.
Mister Oso
3163 Larimer Street │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$ │ Book A Table
Vibrant dishes are served on bright trays at this fun South American eatery (photo: Mister Oso Facebook)
Hands down, Mister Oso is one of the best restaurants in RiNo. The recent Bib Gourmand award-winner takes inspiration from the bold flavors of South America. Patrons love its daily happy hour deals and the extensive taco selection. The birria tacos are a popular choice, which pair perfectly with coconut rice and cinnamon-dusted churros.
Super Mega Bien
1260 25th Street │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$ │ Book A Table
See dim sum-style carts roll through this fun Latin American restaurant (photo: Super Mega Bien Facebook)
Inside the trendy Ramble Hotel lies Super Mega Bien. Its atmosphere is undeniably cool and its Latin American fare is top-notch. Order from dim sum-style carts, featuring small plates like ceviche, patatas bravas, and butternut squash croquetas. Housemade tonics with various gins create must-try cocktails, all of which pair beautifully.
Asian Restaurants in RiNo
Temaki Den
3350 Brighton Boulevard │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$$ │ Book A Table
Top nigiri with your choice of caviar at this high-end Japanese eatery (photo: Temaki Den Facebook)
Located within The Source Hotel, Temaki Den is known for its industrial aesthetic and upscale Japanese menu. Opt for an omakase tasting to sample some of the restaurant’s best, including salmon oshizushi and bluefin tsukami with Hackleback caviar. A sake flight completes the experience.
Hop Alley
3500 Larimer Street │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$$ │ Book A Table
Enjoy Szechuan cuisine with a twist at one of the most popular RiNo restaurants (photo: Hop Alley Facebook)
Savor shared plates of Chinese fare at one of the most celebrated Asian restaurants in RiNo. Though the modern menu is upscale, the vibe is far from pretentious with an upbeat ‘90s hip-hop playlist. Banter with friends between bites of Beijing duck rolls, bone marrow fried rice, and other Szechuan-inspired dishes.
Uchi
2500 Lawrence Street #200 │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$$$ │ Book A Table
Uchi impresses with fresh and authentic Japanese dishes (photo: Uchi Facebook)
Despite its landlocked location, Uchi creates masterful Japanese cuisine, including sushi and sashimi. To sample several of the kitchen’s best dishes, many visitors opt for the ten-course omakase menu. Happy hour is another ideal time to book a table.
Magna Kainan
1350 40th Street │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$$
Savor upscale Filipino dishes and signature cocktails (photo: Magna Kainan Facebook)
Filipino restaurants are a rarity in Denver, making Magna Kainan all the more special. This new eatery puts an upscale twist on the classics. Think Wagyu bistek, hamachi collar sinigang, and crab fat noodles with squid ink pasta.
It may not be tita’s style of cooking, but the warm hospitality will make you feel right at home. Spark a conversation with the owner after a cocktail or two — the rum-based bevvy with ube and calamansi citrus is a must.
Izzio Bakery
2669 Larimer Street │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$
Kouign amann, a fan favorite at Izzio Bakery (photo: Denver Central Market Facebook)
A trip to Denver Central Market is one of the best things to do in RiNo. Here, you’ll find several RiNo restaurants including Izzio Bakery. It’s loved for its pastry selection featuring flaky croissants and various flavors of kouign amann. For a more substantial meal, order from a selection of toasts, sandwiches, and hearty bowls.
Call Your Mother Deli
2669 Larimer Street │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $
Bagel sandwiches add even more variety to Denver Central Market (photo: Call Your Mother Deli website)
This Washington DC-based chain was warmly welcomed when it opened its first out-of-state outpost on Tennyson Street two years ago. Arguably, Call Your Mother kickstarted a bit of a bagel obsession in the city. Its fifth metro area location just debuted inside Denver Central Market.
If it’s your first time visiting, order one of its signature breakfast sandwiches. You can’t go wrong with pastrami and bodega-style eggs stacked between a crisp-chewy everything bagel. Vegetarian options are also plentiful — and don’t overlook the potato latkes served with apple jam.
Butcher Block Cafe
1701 38th Street │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $
Chicken fried steak with white gravy is a staple at this traditional American diner (photo: Butcher Block Cafe Yelp)
For the classic greasy spoon diner experience, head to Butcher Block Cafe. This affordable, nostalgic eatery serves up sweet and savory breakfast favorites. Cinnamon rolls and French toast appear on the menu alongside chicken fried steak, biscuits and gravy, and more hearty options.
Reunion Bread
3350 Brighton Boulevard #140 │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$
Golfeados, or Venezuelan sticky buns, are Reunion Bread’s speciality (photo: Reunion Bread Facebook)
Start your morning with a visit to Reunion, one of several vendors within The Source Hotel. This local favorite crafts artisanal breads and pastries, including sweet and savory croissants, a daily Danish special, and its signature Venezuelan-style sticky buns. Pair these with espresso beverages like its house mocaccino made with dark Belgian chocolate.
Crema Coffee House
2862 Larimer Street │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $
Banh mi is one of the most popular items on Crema’s food menu (photo: Crema Coffee House Instagram)
Crema has a location within Denver Central Market, but its original brick-and-mortar offers a far more extensive food and drink menu. Pair coffee and tea beverages with options like its breakfast burrito, daily quiche, beet salad, and banh mi with pork belly or tofu. Though outlets are unavailable, the shop offers wifi and a hipster vibe, complete with bold murals and an eclectic playlist.
Stowaway Kitchen
2528 Walnut Street #104 │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$
Sourdough waffle toppings rotate seasonally (photo: Stowaway Kitchen Facebook)
Stowaway Kitchen is one of the best brunch spots in Denver, loved for its ambiance and globally-inspired fare. Favorites on the menu include its sourdough waffle and scram sandwich made with soft scrambled eggs and tomato chutney. Several dishes are available gluten-free and vegan, and visitors love its housemade cashew milk lattes. Craft cocktails and other beverages round out the selection at this bright, cheerful eatery.
Port Side
2500 Larimer Street #103 │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $
The Duke breakfast sandwich, a weekend special at Port Side (photo: Port Side Instagram)
Like its neighbors Work & Class and Cart-Driver, Port Side is set within a renovated shipping container. It offers limited indoor seating and an outdoor patio where guests can dine on breakfast sandwiches, burritos, and avocado toast. Complete your meal with made-to-order smoothies, coffee beverages, and brunch cocktails like its mezcal sunrise and housemade Bloody Mary.
Yardbird Table & Bar
2743 Blake Street │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$$ │ Book A Table
Extra hungry? Order the whole bird (photo: Yardbird Table & Bar Facebook)
Is a $42 plate of chicken and waffles really worth it? At Yardbird, the answer is an absolute yes. Pour on the honey hot sauce and bourbon maple syrup, and don’t shy away from other favorites like its shrimp and grits and fried green tomato BLT.
Available Friday through Sunday, brunch is an ideal time to visit. But note that this RiNo outpost also serves a solid dinner menu with even more Southern-inspired goodness.
Burger, Barbecue, & Seafood Restaurants in RiNo
Split Lip
3560 Chestnut Place │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$
Enjoy juicy burgers with “too many pickles” at Number Thirty Eight (photo: Split Lip Instagram)
Split Lip is a unique restaurant concept inside Number Thirty Eight, a spacious RiNo hangout and live music venue. Order beer from the bar, then head here for tasty pub grub including piled-high burgers. Most options come with “too many pickles” and pair perfectly with cheese curds, tots, and other tasty sides.
Pit Fiend Barbecue
2826 Larimer Street │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$
Live fire, wood-smoked barbecue is this casual restaurant’s specialty (photo: Pit Fiend Barbecue)
Denver has a surprising number of barbecue restaurants and Pit Fiend ranks highly for its smoked meats and fixin’s. Find classics like beef brisket and pulled pork on the menu, along with mac and cheese, potato salad, and cornbread muffins with hot honey. The eatery serves unique options, too, like vegan jackfruit barbecue available by the quarter, half, and full pound.
Smōk Barbecue
3330 Brighton Boulevard #202 │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$
Order a meat platter with flavorful fixin’s (photo: Smōk Barbecue Facebook)
Smōk Barbecue is another vendor at The Source Hotel and is loved for its selection of regional barbecue styles. Savor Carolina-style pulled pork, Nashville hot chicken, and burnt ends that take you right to Kansas City. Fried okra, sweet potato tots, and other flavorful sides appear on the menu, along with housemade banana pudding for dessert.
Odie B’s
1350 40th Street #180 │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$
Odie B’s isn’t any ordinary sandwich shop (photo: Odie B’s website)
Since opening earlier this year, Odie B’s has become one of our favorite RiNo lunch spots. This lively bodega is loved for its chopped cheese, double smash burgers with melty cheddar, and other flavor-packed sandwiches — which in many cases, can be made vegan. Round out your meal with a bag of mismatched fries and maybe even a mid-day cocktail. Tequila-spiked Gatorade, anyone?
Shake Shack
2995 Larimer Street │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$
Dine on gourmet burgers and cheesy fries from Shake Shack (photo: Shake Shack Facebook)
Unlike most restaurants in RiNo, Shake Shack is a national chain. But its mouthwatering menu makes it a worthy inclusion in this guide.
Order its signature Angus beef cheeseburger or opt for its ‘shroom burger featuring a deep-fried, cheese-filled portobello patty. Like any good burger joint, Shake Shack also offers crinkle-cut fries and hand-spun milkshakes in classic chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavors.
Fish N Beer
3510 Larimer Street │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$
Pop in at happy hour for oysters, available three ways (photo: Fish N Beer Facebook)
For a great happy hour special, head to Fish N Beer. Tuesday through Saturday from 5:00-6:30 pm, this seafood mainstay serves up oysters for $2.50 per, plus other discounted food and drinks. Standard menu staples include smoked fish dip, crab-stuffed cod, and other decadent plates.
Dessert Spots in RiNo
Dochi
2449 Larimer Street │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $
Choose from a large variety of sweet mochi donut flavors (photo: Dochi Facebook)
Of course, our RiNo Arts District Food Tour has to include dessert! For this, we take our groups to Dochi, a charming cafe known for its mochi donuts.
These unique confections are soft and chewy like Japanese mochi, as well as slightly crisp like an American fried donut. Join the tour or visit on your own to try its wide variety of flavors including ube, matcha pistachio, and many more.
High Point Creamery
2669 Larimer Street │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $
A selection of this shop’s creative flavors (photo: High Point Creamery Facebook)
High Point Creamery is a must-try dessert spot inside Denver Central Market. It features some of the city’s most unique ice cream flavors. Satisfy your sweet tooth with options like brown sugar cinnamon and Earl Grey and shortbread. Taste its signature flavor, basil with blackberry swirl, on a RiNo Food Tour!
Temper Chocolates
2669 Larimer Street │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $
A few of Temper Chocolates’ many bonbon options (photo: Temper Chocolates Facebook)
Another Denver Central Market vendor, Temper Chocolates offers fancy confections and an array of art-decorated bonbons. Indulge in flavors like mango-passionfruit white chocolate, Jameson-infused milk chocolate, and coconut cream caramel in a dark chocolate shell. Purchase single pieces or boxes in varying quantities, or peruse its wide selection of local and globally sourced chocolate bars.
Other Top RiNo Restaurants
Farm and Market
2401 Larimer Street │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$
The chicken chickpea pita sandwich is a must-try (photo: Farm and Market Facebook)
Farm and Market serves the freshest food in the neighborhood. Inside lies a hydroponic urban farm with columns of crisp lettuce, arugula, curly kale, and more. Produce and other locally-sourced goods are sold within its curated, yet expansive market.
House-grown greens also appear in several made-to-order dishes including its BLT wrap and mushroom miso salad. The chicken chickpea pita sandwich is another menu highlight — and one of five tastings on our RiNo Arts District Food Tour!
Safta
3330 Brighton Boulevard #201 │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$ │ Book A Table
Savor and share small plates influenced by Middle Eastern flavors (photo: Safta Facebook)
Sampling Middle Eastern cuisine at Safta is one of the best things to do in Denver. Set inside the Source Hotel, this modern eatery was founded by Israeli-American celebrity chef Alon Shaya. Menu favorites include muhammara and labneh served with housemade pita bread, along with baba ganoush and lamb ragu.
Nocturne
1330 27th Street │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$$ │ Book A Table
Nothing beats an incredible dinner and a show (photo: Nocturne Facebook)
Nocturne may be one of Denver’s most romantic restaurants, but all are welcome at this lively jazz club. Order à la carte or treat yourself to a New American three-course menu. Live music fills its two-level lounge every Wednesday through Sunday night. Note that reservations are highly encouraged.
Barcelona Wine Bar
2900 Larimer Street │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$$ │ Book A Table
Sample an array of Spanish flavors (photo: Barcelona Wine Bar Facebook)
Barcelona Wine Bar offers an incredibly extensive list of globally sourced wines, available by the bottle and the glass. To make sense of the 20-page menu, speak with your server about your preferences.
Additionally, consider asking for pairing recommendations. Many wines match beautifully with its paellas and tapas, which include whipped sheep’s cheese, oyster mushrooms, and decadent jamón and manchego croquetas.
Corsica Wine Bar
2801 Walnut Street #100 │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$$ │ Book A Table
Share French and Italian small plates with friends (photo: Corsica Wine Bar website)
Corsica offers an array of small plates, similar to its sister concept Barcelona Wine Bar. But this RiNo newcomer spotlights the flavors of France, Italy, and its namesake Mediterranean island.
Bring a few friends to dinner, as everything on the menu is tempting. But be sure to start with the vinegar potato chips, nduja-stuffed dates, and ricotta toast. Pair these with one of several apéritifs, served as a spritz or on the rocks. For something more substantial, order the cacio e pepe or farro risotto with mushrooms, sunchoke, and black truffle.
Beckon
2843 Larimer Street │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$$$ │ Book A Table
A monkfish dish at this fine dining restaurant, which regularly updates its menu (photo: Beckon Yelp)
Few of Denver’s best restaurants are as exclusive as Beckon, which was recently awarded a Michelin star. Dining at its chef counter is a pre-paid, ticketed affair. The seasonal menu rotates, featuring beautiful local ingredients and exquisite plating. Wine pairings are available, as well as an upscale cocktail menu.
Major Tom
2845 Larimer Street │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Price: $$$ │ Book A Table
Toast Champagne and share elevated plates at Major Tom (photo: Major Tom Facebook)
Intimate eatery Major Tom is a sister concept of Beckon but comparatively, it’s more approachable in its ambiance and menu. Phases of the moon decorate its interior walls and an outdoor mural which backdrops its cozy patio.
Take a seat near the fire pit and order popular plates like its overnight cabbage, mushroom tartine, and duck confit served with dried cherry mostarda. Wine and a wide selection of Champagne add reasons to visit for a special occasion.