Best Of Denver® 2025 Winners
Food & Drink
It’s been fifteen years since now-James Beard Award-winning and Michelin-starred restaurateur Kelly Whitaker debuted his first restaurant, Basta, and it still feels fresh and lively. As it was on day one, nearly everything is cooked in a single wood-fired oven, including naturally fermented pizzas made with flour from Whitaker’s nearby artisan mill, Dry Storage. The clam pie remains a favorite, but you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu here, whether you opt for a loaf of the charred and chewy piada and a fresh Caesar salad or another Basta staple, the delicately layered lasagna.
Weekend after weekend spent paying for pricey brunches can make even one of our favorite meals feel like a ball and chain. Free yourself at Rise & Shine Biscuit Kitchen, where you can eat and drink for under $15 every time — and that’s if you go all out with toppings and sides. Lines can get long, so bring a pal to catch with — and don’t miss the biscuit of the day, which incorporates unusual flavors like green chile goat cheese and brown sugar pear.
One mimosa is great, but bottomless mimosas in flavors like pineapple, mango and strawberry? That’s an excuse to go hard at brunch. For $19, Mezcal will pour you bottomless mimosas in six different flavors from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday. Pair them with Mexican brunch fare such as chilaquiles, huevos rancheros or chile cheese fries with an egg on top.
Blackbelly in Boulder has been slinging some of the tastiest breakfast burritos in town for years. In 2024, owner Hosea Rosenberg opened his first venture in Denver, Blackbelly Market, and the breakfast burritos have proven to be popular in the Mile High, too — for good reason. The OG includes eggs, Hatch green chiles, tater tots and cheese, or opt to add the butcher’s daily choice of meat. What makes these burritos stand out are the crispy tater tots and how perfectly the ingredients are blended, ensuring that every bite is packed with all the good stuff. Dip it in the accompanying Diablo sauce for a truly satisfying experience. No-tortilla burrito bowls are also available.
It’s been nearly three years since pastry chef Thoa Nguyen opened her first solo venture, a bright and airy cafe that serves sweet and savory bites, including banh mi sandwiches on French baguettes. But the bite we crave most often from here is the everything-seasoned croissant filled with ham, egg and cheese. The large, buttery pastry is the ideal vehicle for a filling handheld meal that gets an extra boost from a hit of black pepper and savory garlic aioli. Pair it with an ube foam latte for an indulgent breakfast on the go.
Miles Odell started selling bagels at the Highlands Square Farmer’s Market before debuting his LoHi brick-and-mortar last October. Odell is originally from New Jersey, and the shop’s menu combines his Jewish heritage and experience in Japanese cuisine for a bagel lineup like no other. Sandwiches are served open-faced on a naturally fermented, hand-rolled bagel in flavors such as furikake and rosemary. Each is piled with toppings that go beyond the norm, like sushi-grade hamachi and pastrami lox. Bonus: Bagel pizzas were recently added to the lineup.
An offshoot of Bakery Four, Rich Spirit opened in Gold’s Marketplace last year. Owner Shawn Bergin is a pastry perfectionist, and he brings that same level of attention to his naturally leavened bagels, which get a sweet note from dark malt. The result is a light, airy and chewy interior with a crisp exterior bite. The shop doesn’t offer additions like eggs or bacon, but if it's a bagel with cream cheese (or fancy Isigny butter) you crave, you can do no better.
It may keep you from buying a house, but the avocado toast at Huckleberry Roasters is well worth the expense. Best eaten with a fork and knife, this popular menu item stars a thick slice of crisp multigrain sourdough, perfectly ripe avocado (diced, never mashed) and housemade lemon za'atar spice to brighten the simple yet flavorful dish. The generous portion is filling in itself, but add a poached or plant-based egg for a protein boost. Equally loved for its locally roasted coffee, this homegrown chain boasts eight metro-area locations, so you’re probably not far from your new favorite breakfast.
It's nigh impossible to get more genuinely old-school than being a diner on the National Register of Historic Places, but Davies' Chuck Wagon is exactly that. It's also been a local favorite for almost seventy years now, having established itself as a consistent and reliable source for good ol' American grub back in 1957. It remains a West Colfax classic for breakfast, lunch or dinner — but brunch is where Davies’ makes its name. And like any joint worthy of its plastic menus, many of its breakfast options give you the choice of toast or pancakes. The right answer is always pancakes.
This breakfast-only concept currently serves out of the kitchen at Chilgogi on weekend mornings, but don’t get confused: It's an entirely different menu, from a group of seven friends who began the venture by simply sharing photos of their home cooking. The star of the breakfast spread is yóutiáo — golden, crispy fried dough sticks that are a staple in China but seldom seen here. Complement it with soy milk and explore other offerings like soft tofu pudding, crispy rice cakes and cifantuan (rice rolls stuffed with yóutiáo, pork floss and pickled vegetables). This weekend treat is a nostalgic journey for those familiar with traditional Chinese breakfasts.
Bubble tea is out, milk tea is in. And no one does it better than Milk Tea People. The Market Station tea bar is known for its carefully crafted recipes and dedication to excellence. The shop's minimalist design reflects its emphasis on simplicity, opting for high-quality organic ingredients instead of preservatives and artificial flavorings. There are no bad drinks at Milk Tea People, but you can't go wrong with the Green Thai Tea Almond Sweet Cream. While you're at it, throw in a Wafchi (the shop's specialty Belgian waffle and mochi hybrid topped with gelato).
Stepping into Viva! feels like being transported to a small town in Mexico. The immigrant-owned cafe is a home away from home for husband-and-wife team Leonardo Munoz-Corona, who utilizes his years of experience as a chef to whip up fresh bread and pastries along with daily specials, and Elisa Garcia, who works the coffee bar. The recent addition of breakfast tortas stuffed with eggs, meat, black bean spread, chipotle sauce, pickled onions and oregano is a welcome alternative to a breakfast burrito and a great complement to the latte de olla, while sweet treats such as guava cheese pastry and conchas go well with a café lechero. The walls are adorned with vibrant murals painted by Garcia, and the space is also home to a mini gallery and gift shop filled with locally made goods.
Denver is a coffee city — you’re never too far from a locally roasted quality cup. Coffee drive-thrus, on the other hand, are still dominated by chains. Lilac Coffee broke onto the scene last year when it took over the former Hot-Chick-A-Latte on East Colfax. Serving up Corvus coffee at drive-thru speed, Lilac also boasts its own menu of specialty coffee drinks, like the Korean Cereal Latte. Whether you’re driving or walking, this is the top spot in Denver to get your joe on the go.
When Subjective opened inside of a former ballroom, owner Jeff Bebout knew he wanted to use part of the 7,000-square-foot space for an employee-owned roasting collective and climate-controlled storage for green coffee, but what to do with the other several thousand square feet? The cafe, decked out in retro furniture, is the perfect work-from-home option, and even better for holding community events. Since opening in 2023, Subjective has hosted maker markets, open mics for standup, poetry, drag shows, workshops and game nights. It’s truly an inclusive, communal space that welcomes everyone, which is something we need more of.
Located in Green Spaces, Migas is a Latina- and Black-owned coffee shop from college amigos Marisol Jurado and Alex Merriex, who both grew up in Denver. The two teamed up to create a coffee shop inside the 12,500-square-foot Five Points space where patrons can grab a coffee and utilize the large area to work, meet with friends and patronize the adjacent small businesses, such as Black and Blossomed and Obscura Ink. Migas has even taken to hosting a monthly book club and collaborative events with fellow vendors in the space.
Occasionally we find ourselves jonesing to travel but don’t have the budget to fly across the ocean. An inexpensive way to soak up European vibes in the heart of downtown is at Amante Coffee, which uses beans from a third-generation roaster in northern Italy. Amante also has three locations in Boulder, but entering the Denver outpost, with its door hidden behind a column inside the historic Oxford Hotel, feels like discovering that small alleyway cafe that only the locals visit.
Although it just opened at the end of 2024, Coffeegraph has quickly impressed — not only for its house-roasted coffee, but also for its creative seasonal menus with themes such as Harry Potter, Lunar New Year and Love. Many of the drinks include ingredients inspired by the owner’s native Indonesia, so you’ll find flavors here that you won’t find anywhere else, such as lychee rose, lemon EVOO, Osmanthus flower and gula aren (unrefined palm sugar) five spice. Now that Coffeegraph has extended its hours, we’re looking forward to stopping by even more frequently to see what the shop comes up with next.
Meet sparkling cold brew, the espresso tonic’s sweeter, smoother cousin. Not many spots have picked up on this bound-to-be trend yet, but Queen City is already in the know and serving its Paloma at all six of its locations. Fizzy grapefruit soda and frothy nitro cold brew is an unexpected yet delicious combo with notes of citrus and chocolate — it’s reminiscent of an orange Tootsie Pop, in the best possible way. Give this layered drink a good swirl to meld the flavors, and keep it in mind for a hot summer day.
Best Non-Coffee Drink at a Coffee Shop
Mortado at Panda Coffee House
Owner Vinay Patidar and his fiancée sampled dozens of types of matcha green tea before deciding on which they would offer to the public at Panda, which opened inside the FlyteCo Tower last year. They settled on a ceremonial-grade matcha from Japan that is chocolatey and nutty rather than grassy, a common flavor note in many matchas that a lot of Westerners aren’t fans of. The dark-green color and luscious texture of Panda’s pick make for a smooth, rounded matcha, which is available in several beverages, such as the Matchacano, matcha milk with homemade strawberry purée, and a matcha tonic. Our favorite, though, is the Mortado, a short drink with a one-to-one ratio of matcha and milk that is creamy and delicious hot or iced.
Best Place for Coffee in the Morning and Cocktails in the Afternoon
The Secret Garden
The Secret Garden opened in 2024 and borders Cheesman Park, making its patio feel like an extension of the public outdoor space. The building is an annex of the historic Tears-McFarlane House, which was built in 1898 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Fit for the setting, the Secret Garden boasts a list of classic cocktails and seasonal selections like mezcal Mexican hot cocoa and mulled wine. If it’s too cold to sip outside, the interior feels like a secret garden, too, with wall-to-wall green paint, cozy patio furniture and a green bar. Open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., it’s an ideal stop for a caffeine fix in the morning or a cocktail after work — or both.
Hearth, which started as a bakery, has since expanded to a coffee shop with two locations and its own line of coffee. That may explain why, though the coffee is good, the baked goods are the star of the show here. Owner and baker Matt Quinlisk favors locally milled flours, and his pastry dough is laminated over multiple days with French butter to create a flaky, crispy crust. Although there are staples, like the white chocolate raspberry scone and almond croissant, the best part of visiting Hearth is tasting whatever seasonal creations are available, whether it’s a maple-pear pecan pastry, potato chive Danish or chocolate tahini cookie. The selection leans more savory than sweet, but even more sugary treats, like the brownies, are well balanced.
Founded in 2019 by Shawn Bergin and his wife, Alex Urdanick, Bakery Four started as a small operation but has gained many loyal fans who followed it to its new home when it opened on Tennyson Street in 2022. While it’s consistently recognized as one of Denver’s best bakeries, we’re particularly fond of its rendition of a classic: the baguette. Bakery Four’s version is long and narrow, light and airy, with the unmistakable aroma of well-fermented dough, and the chewy, soft interior is perfectly complemented by the satisfying crunch of the crust. Bonus: Bakery Four is adding a second location on Colfax this year. The more baguettes, the better!
Pies can be hot, buttery and full of fruit, like cherry or strawberry-rhubarb. They can be cold, silky and smooth, like Key lime. Or they can be savory and full of meat, like a pot pie or one filled with braised beef and potatoes. Legacy Pie Co. has all these and more. The Lehnert family has been making pies since 1929, when Great-Grandma Katherine opened a pie stand. Fast-forward nearly a century, and the family's Legacy Pie Co., an offshoot of the OG business Colorado Cherry Company, has two locations serving up classic, new and seasonal pies. With gluten-free and take-and-bake options as well as handheld pies for lunch or a mid-day dessert, Legacy Pie Co. has a little something for everyone — or a big something, if you have the appetite.
Right Cream makes some of the best ice cream in town, but owner David Right wanted to do more than serve scoops and pints, so in 2023, he began dishing out smartly priced smashburgers a couple nights a week. Those burgers sold out fast, so Right added more burger nights and branched out to breakfast burgers and bacon, egg, cheese and hashbrown sandwiches on weekend mornings. These days, you might come across such creations as a cheesy rangoon and egg roll burger, honey-butter chicken biscuit or wagyu burger with truffle dijonnaise on a house-baked mill roll, depending on what night it is. After walking out with some of the city's best smashburgers and ice cream in your belly for less than $20, Right Cream might become part of your weekly rotation — along with a few sit-ups.
Denver has no shortage of sandwich shops, but Mr. Lucky's reigns supreme for the lunch crowd. This grab-and-go joint has been a cornerstone of Capitol Hill diets for a quarter-century, with enough fans in the old neighborhood to open a LoHi location, as well. Both spots can quickly whip up a top-shelf sandwich, from cold cuts and chicken salad to hot roast beef and meatballs with provolone. The knockout punch always comes from the bread, however, which is the perfect balance of soft inside and crunchy outside (the gluten-free option isn't too bad, either). After being jolted by the blaring music employees listen to as they crank out hoagies, then mowing down your order, you'll never feel more alive on a Tuesday afternoon — but if you're hankering for an afternoon nap, add on a Frito pie.
We’ve been fawning over the pastries, bread and sandwiches from GetRight’s since it started as a pop-up in 2020, and it's only gotten better since opening its brick-and-mortar in 2023. Now the business from husband-and-wife duo Matt Dulin and Lindsey Judd has added something else to crave: pizza, which started as a creative use for leftover baguette dough. While it was once only served by the slice as a lunch option, now you can get full pies for takeout Thursday through Saturday evenings. The pies are crispy, satisfying those who enjoy the extra crunch, yet saucy for that burst of flavor. GetRight’s also has plans to grow its pizza operations this year — the right call, in our opinion.
Jake Rothey started serving his pies from the kitchen inside Tight End in 2022, but after closing that venture to find a space of his own, he brought back the PZA 2.0 in a standalone space on Santa Fe that’s not just as good as it was before, but better than ever. The East Coast-style pizza with an impressively light yet chewy crust now comes with even more topping choices, ranging from classics to more creative combos, like the Dillmatic, with dill ranch and pickle chips. Plus, the PZA now also serves wings, salads and sandwiches on its housemade bread. The space is small, so takeout or delivery is your best bet — particularly on First Fridays, when the place is popping.
A true story of success and perseverance, King of Wings has become a community staple. Owners Eddie Renshaw and Evan Pierce first introduced Denver to their mouthwatering wings and sauces in 2015 with a humble food truck. After opening their first brick-and-mortar in 2019, a kitchen fire forced a temporary closure. Undeterred, they bounced back stronger than ever, expanding to a second location in Golden in 2022. While they are undeniably the king of wings in the metro area, one bite of their juicy, crispy, perfectly fried tenders might leave guests rethinking their go-to order. Pair them with your choice of over a dozen dipping sauces — though the signature Tangy Gold alone will keep you coming back for more.
If you long for simpler times, the Wishbone is straight out of the ’90s. Although the family-owned spot dates back to 1963, its current location debuted in 1994, and not much has changed since. Tired of trendy neon signs and walls covered in plants? You’ll find none of that here. What you will find is no frills, friendly service and plates of juicy, well-seasoned, golden fried chicken paired with your choice of potato (listen to your server and get mashed), a side of chicken gravy in a small plastic cup, some pickle slices and a piece of Texas toast. Don’t forget to drizzle on some of the honey in the syrup bottles that sit on every table.
Aloha Cones brings the flavors of Hawaii to Denver, serving poke bowls that transport you straight to the islands. Founded in 2013 by Aaron Kumura in Oahu, this eatery quickly gained acclaim, earning the title of Best Poke Bowl by Honolulu magazine in 2016. After Kumura's passing in 2019, Michelle Parker and Daniel Miller continued his legacy, expanding to a location in the Denver Health building at 6th and Broadway a year ago. Aloha Cones flies in fresh fish from Hawaii twice a week, ensuring top-quality poke. The shoyu ahi and spicy ahi bowls served over sushi rice or salad are customer favorites. For a true Hawaiian experience, Aloha Cones delivers freshness and tradition in every bite.
When David Schloss and his fiancée, Lena Young, debuted the fast-casual Sonny’s in 2023, it quickly gained notoriety for its large pita sandwiches stuffed with rotisserie chicken, falafel or both, topped with a variety of flavorful ingredients like zhoug, hummus, Israeli pickles and za’atar fries. But Sonny’s offers much more, including refreshing salad options like the classic Greek and our favorite, fattoush made with romaine, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, pickled radish, parsley, pickled onion, pita chips, tahini yogurt and sumac lemon vinaigrette. For mezze, try baba ganoush, orzo or Israeli salad. Need to feed a family? Go for the whole rotisserie chicken or the new baharat rotisserie lamb, which is available on Sundays only.
When Coors Field opened thirty years ago, Joyl Watkins began slinging hot dogs from a cart outside the stadium. Now, Diamond Dawgs is a LoDo staple. In the off-season, Watkins and his cart can be found outside the USPS on 20th and Curtis streets, dishing out $3 dogs to a rotating cast of regulars who come as much for the conversation and commentary as they do for the sustenance. For Rockies home games, Diamond Dawgs posts up at 19th and Wynkoop, typically selling out by the fifth inning as hungry fans flock to the cart that's become a beloved tradition for many.
This classic family-owned diner with two locations and roots that date back to 1920 may be best known for its green chile and massive breakfast burritos these days, but it was built on its Coney Island-style red chili. There are a lot of ways to enjoy the beefy goodness on its multi-page menu, but our favorite is when it’s smothering a griddled hot dog on a toasted bun with a layer of gooey cheddar. These wieners are winners anytime, but the Sam’s chili cheese dog is even tastier during the diner’s happy hour — from 2 to 6 p.m. daily in Glendale and the same time Wednesday through Sunday downtown — when you can score one for just $4.
That meme of the "new barbecue place in town" with a small strip of meat and beans in a tiny condiment cup isn't that far from reality anymore. Decent barbecue costs an arm and a leg nowadays and has become a rare treat for most families. Not at Brothers BBQ. The small but growing Colorado barbecue chain hosts kids-eat-free nights on Mondays and Tuesdays after 5 p.m., with children receiving a free plate with the purchase of an adult meal. Brothers also has rib specials every Thursday after 3 p.m., with $1.99 pork ribs, $2.99 sliders, $3.99 beef ribs and discounted beers. It's time to fill up and let the belt loose at Brothers, where you’ll get fed like family.
It’s easy to see why this hole-in-the-wall spot, open since 1978, is still popular with the locals. The food feels like home, even if it’s infinitely better than anything someone in your home could cook. With huge portions — each entree comes with a side salad and garlic bread — you’re looking at dinner and tomorrow’s lunch. Although there are a few small tables, Rico’s is mostly a takeout restaurant. You can’t go wrong with an order of lasagna: A square chunk of noodles almost as big as your plate, it’s served swimming in a pool of homemade red sauce and oozing with bubbly mozzarella cheese, an ideal comforting meal for a cozy night in.
Denver would be a happier city if there were a Pizza and Grill in every neighborhood. At this small, casual joint in the Golden Triangle, you can depend on solid food selections from all corners of the world, usually for less than $15. Large pizzas with three toppings are around $20, no coupon required, and the personal lunch special is ridiculously affordable: Burgers, gyros and subs can all be had for less than $12, with fries. Pizza and Grill also serves up a fine plate of chicken curry and tikka masala, and offers an extensive list of Italian-America and Mexican dishes, as well as classic pub appetizers like wings and mozzarella sticks. If you're trying to save a few bucks and can't decide on where to go, remember that the "Grill" in Pizza and Grill is endless.
When Vital Root introduced meat to its “99 percent vegan” menu last year, it was met with varied feedback. But plant-based dishes remain at the core of this fast-casual concept from the Edible Beats group. Its Korean stir-fry with lemongrass tofu, fava bean falafel wrap and Cobb salad featuring seaweed “bacon” are among the fan favorites that satisfy sans meat. Concerns around cross-contamination are fair, but curbed in knowing that all animal proteins are processed and par-cooked off site — so carry on and enjoy your chik’n and waffles without worry.
Fellow Traveler’s vegan menu is, at first glance, meaty. Dishes include poutine, a smashburger, banh mi, chicken and waffles, and carne asada street tacos. You have to read the descriptions to realize you’re in a vegan restaurant. Using tofu, cauliflower, jackfruit, soy curls and more, chef and owner Joe Phillips, who was a longtime Sputnik employee and is now a part-owner of that business, too, clearly chooses his ingredients to create a satisfying mouthfeel as well as taste — and it works.
Even though we love Colorado, there’s something to be said for the unique cuisine of our neighbors to the south. Experience true New Mexican food at Santo from chef Hosea Rosenberg, who hails from the Land of Enchantment. Here, Hatch green chile reigns supreme and items like posole and red chile warm bellies night after night. There are lots of tasty vegetarian items on the menu, and every meat option is cooked to perfection. When your server asks the official New Mexico state question, “Red or green?” at Santo, we recommend going for both.
Metro Denver has a lot of places to get a good burrito. At Big Mama’s in Westminster, the menu offers a few simple choices for meats, including tender steak, juicy pork and an excellent bean-and-chicharrón option. Pick one and add some of Big Mama’s hot chile, which shines right through to lend a little kick. Then throw in the extras — onions, cheese, lettuce and tomato if you like — and it turns from a handful into a behemoth that’s delicious for both lunch and dinner. For something a little less gut-busting to fuel your mornings, check out the $5.50 daily breakfast burrito with rotating meats.
There was a time when Denver boasted a number of 24-hour eateries to satisfy your food hankerings in the wee hours. But then came the pandemic. Luckily, many 24/7 Mexican joints are still serving, including Tacos Los Compas, which took over what used to be a Taco Bell and kept it open, serving not only the local night owls, but also the new resident students on the nearby Auraria campus. Is it fine dining? Nope. But is it delicious burritos as big as your forearm available at all hours? Yes, yes, gracias, yes.
Picadillo can be found across Latin America, made in various ways. In Mexico, it usually consists of beef and potatoes cooked in a red tomato base seasoned with bay leaves, thyme and garlic, with peas and minced carrots often mixed in. It’s a staple of the Mexican diet and one of the few beloved non-spicy dishes. While it’s commonly served on a tostada with sour cream, in northern Mexico, you can find it rolled in a flour tortilla to form a hearty, savory burrito. North of the border, it’s almost impossible to find unless you’re in Denver near 13th Avenue and Sherman Street, where JLR Burritos sets up its food truck. Its signature JLR burrito is a picadillo version with classic Mexican-style ingredients and flavor. It’s a rarity, and JLR offers it with your choice of salsa, including our favorite, a creamy guacamole.
Tortas a Toda Madre, aka Tortas ATM, is an essential stop for Denver sandwich lovers and Mexican food fans. These are sandwiches that fire all of the primal nerve endings running from your tongue to your brain. A variety of options awaits any customer looking for a just-sturdy-enough torta roll layered with fatty, salty, tangy, peppery, meaty, cheesy goodness. There are numerous combinations of pork leg, ham, breaded steak, hot dogs and turkey tails, properly dressed and covered in melty cheese. Add some of ATM’s punchy red or green salsa for the ideal finishing touch on these beauties.
Ancestral Oaxacan flavors are resurrected every Sunday morning at Re:Vision Co-Op on Morrison Road in west Denver by the team at La Reyna Del Sur. Snow or shine, chef Rubén Hernández, his sister Jessie Hernández and lifelong friend Noe García uncover their custom-built underground pit at dawn to unveil and share their delicious culinary culture with the public in a first-come-first-served, get-it-before-it-sells-out barbacoa feast that’s available by the plate for dining in or by the pound to go. Farm-raised lambs from Greeley are processed and cooked in traditional Oaxaca style with a complex chile rub and packed with avocado leaves in huge pots under a seal of agave leaves. Eight hours later, the braised lamb meat is silky smooth and ready to be received by a fresh masa tortilla and housemade salsa. This is homestyle Oaxacan cooking, right in Denver’s backyard.
Olde Town is swimming in tacos. In community social media groups, every time a new restaurant is set to open, someone jokes, “It’s probably a taco joint.” And more often than not, it is. Tacos are the focus at Teocalli Cocina, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, Ruta Libre and Cochino Taco. They’re a feature on the menus at Wapos Cantina and Lady Nomada, too. In addition, you can find them listed at Olde Town Tavern and Grill, Smokin’ Fins and Schoolhouse. And Golden’s Bonfire Burritos is set to expand to 58th and Olde Wadsworth Boulevard soon. Besides burritos, Bonfire offers — you guessed it — tacos.
Make no mistake (though the family that runs this spot will tell you it still occasionally happens): There is no ice cream at Curtis Park Creamery. The only dairy you'll find is the cheese in an enchilada or sour cream on your taquito — and either choice would be a solid one at this no-frills takeout place across the street from Curtis Park. There are no tables or chairs. There's usually a line, sometimes a long one, and it's typically full of locals and families who crave the deliciousness that the Rodriguez family has been serving up since 1969. The tamales are top-notch (and usually sell out before closing), and because this is a family-run business, it’s not open on Sundays. So word to the wise: Plan ahead — and don't forget the cinnamon crisps.
Chef Zuri Resendiz opened his first brick-and-mortar store in August 2024, after two years of dishing tacos and other Mexican entrees from his food truck. The brightly decorated cubbyhole restaurant is a neighborhood joint, a choice that Resendiz made intentionally, citing its proximity to Cattivella in Central Park, where he gained a following serving as its chef de cuisine. The menu, while primarily Mexican, offers much more, with Chef Z’s own unique twists on each dish. The taco menu includes classics, but entrees and appetizers are usually more twisty, with items like wild mushrooms and polenta served with goat cheese and fresh dill, and hamachi tiradito over sweet potato purée flavored with habanero peppers and chalaquita salsa.
This ghost kitchen run by two sisters and their mother uses multi-generational recipes developed by the family to bring traditional Mexican flavors to soul-food-inspired dishes. Takeout or delivery is the only way to enjoy these eats, but Cocinita Mexicana goes to great lengths to bring the restaurant experience to its customers. In addition to the careful packaging and presentation, each order comes with a handwritten, personalized thank-you note — complete with a link to a Spotify playlist made to accompany your meal. The care that goes into each delicious order is unmistakable.
Denver has its own regional take on Mexican food, and most of the places that serve it are decades old, but Chula, which turned two this year, is doing Den-Mex right. After her divorce, Myrna Soltero Diaz rebranded a former 4G’s location to make it her own, but just days after it opened, a car crashed into the building, forcing it to close. Two months later it was back, and now it has firmly established itself as a go-to for green chile-smothered Den-Mex-style crispy rellenos (which you can also order as nachos), Mexican hamburgers and more. Even the chips, made fresh with housemade corn tortillas, and fresh salsa with the right hint of heat are notable, as are the margaritas, which are buy-one-get-one-free all the time.
After twelve years of slinging tacos from a food truck, it’s no surprise that Chris Heredia is a real pro. In October, he opened the brick-and-mortar version of Chivis Tacos, a simply decorated counter-service space with just a handful of tables, a stocked salsa bar and damn good eats. The menu includes enchiladas, tortas and burritos, but the tacos remain the star no matter which of the seven protein options you order — though we’re partial to the carne asada. At just $3 each and served with grilled onions and a fried jalapeño, they’re also a damn good deal.
Nothing beats borscht on a cold day. The metro area isn’t known as a hot spot for Eastern European fare, but Masha and the Bear deserves credit for doing the traditional version of Russia’s favorite beat-and-beef soup right. It dishes up bear-sized bowls of steamy, hearty borscht, rich from the fat, tender chunks of beef soaked in the soup's savory broth. Each serving is topped with fresh parsley and dill and served with a dollop of sour cream on the side to make it even smoother. Masha’s borscht is sure to leave you completely stuffed and warm, so you can leave your big furry hat at home.
Chef Bo Porytko is known for his culinary imagination, which combines with his Ukrainian roots at the small-in-size but big-in-charm Molotov. The menu is ever-changing, but you’ll always find variations of varenyky (Ukrainian dumplings), infused horilka (Budmo!) and borscht. Recent iterations include a white version with rye croutons, dill oil, poached egg and kielbasa, one made with sour cherry and duck, and another cucumber yogurt-based take with new potatoes, dill vichyssoise and golden beet chips.
We’re always a little skeptical of out-of-state groups dropping locations of their restaurants in Denver, but as the city’s dining scene gets more national attention, it’s bound to happen more frequently. Some, though, are certainly better than others, and Sushi by Scratch, which earned a Michelin star in 2021 for its outpost in Montecito, California, is one of the good — make that great — ones. This basement-level ten-seat counter in Larimer Square is well worth the $195-per-person price tag, which includes a half-hour pre-dinner session with canapes and a welcome drink in the lounge before the well-paced and clearly well-thought-out seventeen-course-plus main event. This spot truly scratches our itch for a memorable omakase experience.
Sushi lovers seeking the best bang for your buck, look no further than Chubby Fish. The one-year-old restaurant offers a huge variety of quality rolls and nigiri, but the all-you-can-eat deal extends beyond sushi. Diners can also enjoy ramen, skewers, hibachi, tempura and much more, all for $30.99 for adults, $15.99 for kids, and free for toddlers. On top of delicious food, Chubby Fish has a fun ambience, playing anime on the televisions, EDM music over the speakers and displaying manga graphics throughout the shop. Bonus points for the cute tuxedo-clad robots that help bring food to the tables.
When Orrapan Botthaisong moved to Denver from Thailand a decade ago, she had just $300 to her name. Ten years later, she’s the owner of two Thai restaurants: the more casual La Mai Thai near Sloan’s Lake, which is named for her mother, and Som Dee, which opened in December and is named for her father. Much of the decor in this upscale spot came from Thailand — as did some of the staff, including Botthaisong’s brother, who moved to Colorado to help her run the business. While the familiar dishes on the menu are cooked with care, you’ll be well rewarded by trying something new to you, like the spicy Heatwave Shrimp or the signature Som Dee ribeye steak with a toasted sticky rice crust and a side of tangy jaew dipping sauce.
Filling the hole left behind by the nearly-fifty-year-old Twin Dragon was a tall order, but Wok Spicy has proven to be a worthy successor since its debut last May. It excels at Szechuan dishes and has a lot to choose from, but if you must pick a place to start, go for the mapo tofu. This version has plenty of punch from mouth-numbing Szechuan peppercorns, and the deeply flavored sauce is studded with fermented black beans, ground pork and sliced scallions, while the tofu itself is silky, nearly melting in your mouth.
The OG Hong Kong Station in Centennial has some of the most delicious Chinese food in the state. If the restaurant has a flaw, it's that the small dining room cannot handle its increasing popularity, often leading to long wait times to secure a table for dinner. That problem is solved by its Hong Kong Station 2Go outpost. The new location opened in the Hampden neighborhood in early 2024 with a focus on takeout and delivery orders. Now diners can enjoy the restaurant's signature dishes, like Szechuan fried chicken and Hong Kong-style French toast, without the wait.
Wendy Fong is a cake-making pro. Her custom creations are impressive, but even more intriguing is the fact that she also serves some of the best Hong Kong-style eats in town at the strip-mall spot she opened in 2024. Here you can dig into house specialties like sizzling clay pots, scallion pancakes and greens in flavorful sauces. Don’t be scared off by the word “fusion,” which simply refers to the fact that there are a smattering of Thai dishes on the menu, too. And definitely save room for dessert, as Wong offers individual-sized sweet treats in-house, too.
Open since 1998, this spot’s specialty is, of course, pho, made with a broth that simmers for twelve hours. But while you’ll find a big, piping hot bowl on pretty much every table when you visit, soup isn’t the only thing that’s on here. In a world where nearly every version of crab cheese wonton is indistinguishable, Pho Peoria’s is a deep-fried beacon for crab lovers. Each one is stuffed with so much scallion-flecked, crab-heavy filling, it overflows from the wrapper, and the whole thing is slightly charred on top for an added layer of flavor that makes these one of a kind.
BaekGa is the kind of restaurant that makes Korean natives feel at home. One bite of its rich sundubu (spicy soft tofu stew) proves that point. Its LA Galbi, a sliced three-bone Angus short rib, is a true indulgence that’s tender, smoky and packed with deep, savory-sweet flavor. While the menu is on the pricier side, all main plates are meant for two and come with an overflowing spread of banchan, steamed rice and fresh, crisp lettuce for ssam (wraps); we’ve never had to request a banchan refill here. And the kimbap? It’s as big as your forearm.
Pho may be the most recognizable Vietnamese soup in the U.S., but bun bo Hue, which originates from the city of Hue in central Vietnam, deserves its time to shine, too. O Lien Kitchen got its start inside Viet Hoa supermarket and opened its brick-and-mortar in 2023. It offers several specialties from Hue, including banh khoai, a yellow-tinted fried crepe made of rice flour and turmeric that arrives stuffed with pork, shrimp, egg, bean sprouts and veggies. That’s a solid starter before you dig into a huge serving of the restaurant’s excellent bun bo, a rich and spicy beef broth and noodle soup that can be ordered with a variety of proteins, including pork hock and beef rib.
Denverites are blessed to have a great variety of banh mi available, and the one sitting at the top can be found at CoNu’s Corner, a kitchen nestled inside a convenience store in West Highland. It was a four-year journey to get the shop up and running amid the pandemic, but now that it’s fully operational, it’s quickly become a neighborhood staple. Expect the traditional choices here, filled with high-quality ingredients prepared by owner Thuc-Nhu “Nhu” Hoang’s mother. The two most popular options are the barbecue pork and the Combination, built from a variety of Vietnamese cold cuts. The star, though, is the bread: perfectly crackly on the outside, and soft and chewy inside.
This family-owned restaurant combines Vietnamese, Chinese and American classics. The standout: Grandma’s Meatloaf, made with noodles instead of breadcrumbs, topped with ketchup glaze and accompanied by jasmine rice and broccoli. Visit Zomo on a Monday at 5 p.m., and the place will likely be packed. It’s casual enough to frequent on a random weeknight but sleek enough for a date or special occasion. When you visit, be sure to ask for Grandma herself — she’s sometimes in the kitchen and deserves every compliment.
Now with three locations — in Arvada, on West 38th Avenue and in the former Annie's Cafe space on East Colfax — Spice Room’s sprawling menu of Indian and Nepali delights requires several visits to even make a dent in it. But there’s one sure-to-please way to start: the Masala Onion Bloom. Move over, Outback: This deep-fried appetizer is coated in a gluten-free batter, dusted with chaat masala and served with a sweet dipping sauce for a distinct spin that’s lighter than the chain restaurant’s version. Plus, the price tag is a wallet-friendly $7.
Best Suburban Food Truck Corner
West 52nd Avenue and Marshall Street, Arvada
This southeast Arvada corner boasts three fantastic Mexican food trucks. Leading the pack is 2023’s Taco Tuesday champ, Don Carlos #3. While its award-winning tacos are now $1.75 (formerly 99 cents) on Tuesdays, they remain a steal, especially the incredible al pastor off the spit. Carnitas, chicken and housemade chorizo are also winners. Across the lot, Barbacoa El Oso Estilo Chihuahua specializes in barbacoa, offered in burritos, tacos, quesadillas, gorditas and tortas — and don't miss the flavorful consomé, a meal in itself. Across the street, Ahi Con Oscar serves up over a dozen breakfast and lunch burritos, plus a variety of tacos. This unassuming corner is a taco lover's dream, with distinctly different styles and offerings.
Best Food Truck Turned Brick-and-Mortar
Mama Jo’s Biscuits and BBQ
A lot can happen in four years: Just ask husband-and-wife duo Ben and Jodi Polson, who launched their food truck, Mama Jo’s, in 2021. Recently, they took their business to the next level by opening a brick-and-mortar location in the former home of Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs on Colfax. The inspiration for the original food truck concept came from Jodi’s buttermilk smoked Gouda biscuit, which, combined with Ben’s passion for barbecue, created the perfect pairing. The new space allows Mama Jo’s to serve all of its beloved dishes and more. The Nashville hot chicken biscuit is a fan favorite, and the barbecue platters with sides like collard greens and pimento mac and cheese are crave-worthy. If you’re a banana pudding fan, Jodi’s fried banana pudding pie is a must-try, as are the apple fritters.
When longtime friends Hung Le and Jay Nguyen launched Shrimp Daddy Burgers in 2024, they set out to carve their own path in the local food truck scene. Inspired by their Cajun roots, the duo developed a dish like no other: the shrimp burger. The made-from-scratch signature patty combines minced and roughly chopped shrimp with bell peppers, onions, carrots and Cajun seasonings, offering a fresh twist on a classic. The star of the concise menu is the Hot Daddy, a play on the Nashville hot chicken sandwich featuring the shrimp patty topped with tangy coleslaw and a drizzle of spicy oil. One taste and you’re sure to be hooked.
There’s a lot to love about Gallo, which recently reopened after a refresh, but our favorite part is its pastry program, which is straight out of Nonna’s kitchen. You’ll find the expected Italian treats here — cannoli, tiramisu, Napoleon cakes — but those in the know will notice a far greater variety of traditional Italian classics, including pignoli, pizzicati, occhi di bue and sfogliatelle (aka lobster tails), as well as holiday classics like St. Joseph’s zeppoli and struffoli, all made by chef Gaspare Licata, a master baker from Sicily who has traveled the world perfecting his craft.
Barolo Grill has been serving northern Italian cuisine for over thirty years and has been steadily overseen by former employee-turned-owner Ryan Fletter for the past decade. There are a lot of reasons to celebrate its longevity, from the impressive wine collection to the consistently tasty fare, but one thing you should always do here is save room for dessert, particularly if you’re a fan of crème brûlée. Barolo’s version, which has been on the menu since day one, isn’t some modern twist, but rather a traditional take: It’s made with rich custard flecked with fresh vanilla beans and sugar carmelized with an iron — never gas — for a clean taste that will renew your appreciation for the classic sweet treat.
Run by Michel Alexander Polania and his mother, Chupacabra gets its name from the Spanish words "chupa" ("to suck") and "cabra" ("goat"), because Polania proudly calls his popsicles the G.O.A.T. One bite of Chupacabra’s mixed yogurt and fruit paleta, and you’ll see why. It’s so packed with real strawberries, kiwis and pineapple that you could almost justify eating it for breakfast…almost. The creamy ice cream yogurt base keeps it indulgent, while the natural cane sugar lets the fruit shine without overloading on sweetness. It’s basically a breakfast smoothie on a stick — just colder, tastier, and way more fun to eat.
There’s just something about rolled ice cream that makes it taste better — maybe it’s the smooth, airy texture, or the satisfying curls that hold toppings in every bite. Milkit in Greenwood Village has been serving the Thai-inspired treat for six years and stands out for its bold flavors and high-quality ingredients. The Halo-Halo, a vibrant taro mix topped with whipped cream, red bean, nata de coco and fresh mango, all drizzled with sweetened condensed milk, is a must-try. It’s a playful, frozen twist on the classic Filipino dessert, packed with chewy, fruity and creamy textures in every bite. Watching it being made fresh is half the fun — but eating it is even better.
Tucked into the triangle formed by the convergence of Downing and Curtis streets on the edge of Curtis Park is Thick's, a sweet addition to Five Points that opened in February. It’s still testing out new flavors of its handmade gelato and letting the neighborhood find it organically — and that’s by design. Owners John Hayden and Keith Pryor want to offer those in the area an option for great desserts while using Thick's as a stalking horse for another place soon to open farther down on Champa Street, a shop that will serve the same treats while paying homage to one of the neighborhood’s favorite sons, Beat Generation figure Neal Cassady.
Despite opening in March 2020, just as the pandemic hit hard, this strip-mall ice cream shop made it through and recently celebrated five years in business. Its customizable menu includes Colorado Boulevard Shakes, Denver Dessert Nachos, Mile High Floats and City Sammie Slaps (MyKings’ spin on ice cream sandwiches), all of which you can make your own with over twenty toppings, from childhood cereal faves to candy and beyond. Owner Le’Day Grant’s bright smile and work with the community make the shop even sweeter.
Paul Porter has combined his knack for revitalizing entertainment venues with a passion for bikes, beer, burgers and bowling at the Werks, which recently opened at Gold’s Marketplace. The vibrant space features six bowling lanes, a bike shop for electric bicycles, a brewery and a full-service bar with local brews. The food menu is packed with craveable burgers, flatbreads and nachos. Plus the massive outdoor patio is getting a spring overhaul and will soon be perfect for four-legged companions and sunny gatherings. With plans for a second location in Boulder, this is your new go-to for fun, food and good times.
SomePlace Else is a pinball lover’s paradise. The Arvada brewery has over thirty machines and regularly hosts tournaments and leagues. Top-rated machines like Godzilla, Attack From Mars, Twilight Zone, Jaws and James Bond 007 are present, but the games don’t stop there: Skee-Ball, Mario Kart and Tetris tournaments also happen here, making SomePlace Else a prime spot for both gamers and beer drinkers to gather. Even better, the space is themed after Star Wars and Star Trek, the owners’ favorites.
As the owners of Cohesion will tell you, foam is beer, too. It deserves your love, especially when served with the care and adherence to Czech tradition that is on display at this north Denver establishment. Whether a full-foam mliko, a lots-of-foam snyt or a more approachable hladinka pour, servers will execute it with the same rigor that goes into brewing and aging Cohesion’s fine lagers. And if a whole glass of foam is a little intimidating, the brewery offers mliko shots to provide a sense of what makes drinking foam a unique and delicious experience.
Although they’ve expanded their tap list in recent years to include more mainstream styles, the owners of Hogshead Brewery remain dedicated to the fine art of British cask ales. Hogshead’s cask line, with modestly named styles like “bitter” and “mild,” is served at cellar temperature (not exactly warm, but also not so cold that it dulls the beer’s flavor) and using only natural carbonation to push the beer out of the casks, resulting in a rich, creamy head. The process accentuates just how flavorful English beer can be, and the traditional styles tend to be lower ABV, allowing for a proper session of chin-wagging over a couple of Chin Wag ESBs without having to worry about the drive home.
Best Stop for an Après-Ski Pint Off I-70
Westbound & Down Brewing Company
We love Westbound & Down in all its variations and locations, but the original is the perfect spot for a cold one on the way back to the Front Range after a day shredding the gnar or cruising the groomers. Whether you’re coming from Grand County, Summit County, Loveland or farther afield, Idaho Springs is a great place to stretch your legs and enjoy one of Westbound’s many award-winning ales or lagers. Pair it with a burger or sandwich from the kitchen to refuel before braving the last of the I-70 traffic.
Monolith owner Stephen Monahan has a great deal of experience in opening breweries, but until recently, it was always for other owners. He leaned on that experience when opening his own place in late 2023, in the former home of Black Project. Monahan put his own touch on the space, with wonderful murals and an assortment of creative lighting. Tuesday nights are a great time to visit, with a free jazz show featuring a handful of local musicians jamming for hours on end. Wine, cocktails and N/A offerings complement the delicious house beers along with soft pretzels and tasty bites from neighbor Maria Empanada, so settle in and soak up the surroundings.
For a bike and a beer, it’s hard to beat the convenience of Raíces. The brewery is perched at the intersection of the 45-mile South Platte River Trail and the shorter 3.5-mile Lakewood Gulch. Both connect to a number of additional bike trails. The huge warehouse-like taproom and large AstroTurfed yard have plenty of seating, and the menu, with a wide range of beer, liquor and non-alcoholic options, caters to most palates. With so many trails, you could ride for hours, but one of our favorite short excursions is to start at RiNo Art Park, ride south through Confluence Park, and end with a cold one at Raíces.
Over the past year, River North racked up a long list of medal-winning beers. Whether it was the Denver International Beer Competition, the Brussels Beer Challenge, the European Star Awards, the World Beer Cup or the Colorado Cup, River North kept bagging medals — including many golds and a couple of best-of-show/best-brewery honors. What might initially be overlooked is that most of those winners were dark beers ranging from porters and brown ales to Nightmare Fuel, an imperial coffee stout. It’s no wonder this brewery holds an annual Porter Palooza and a Super Stout event.
Whether you need to work up a lather before a show at the Oriental, already need cooling off from navigating the crowds of people and vehicles on Tennyson, or just need a really good beer that doesn’t take itself too seriously, Call to Arms is calling to you. The brewery has established itself as an institution in the Berkeley neighborhood over the past decade with a focus on fun and community. From light lagers and its flagship IPA to more esoteric options, the beers are always rock solid, and even the most hardened craft beer pundit will crack a smile while ordering a glass of Go Go Sour Rangers or Janet Reno’s Dance Party.
A Colorado institution for over 35 years, Odell Brewing is older than many of its fans. The independently owned brewery has successfully used the taproom model, expanding locally rather than nationally. This strategy keeps it close to its community and not as reliant on the lower-margin distribution business. Each Odell taproom — there are locations in RiNo and Sloan's Lake in addition to the Fort Collins mothership — has a vibe all its own. The brewery maintains a high level of quality control, offering top-notch small-batch beers at every location. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to craft beer, there’s something for you at Odell.
Former Ursula Brewing employees Andrew Bergeron and Rob Bessett took over the space and renamed it Milieu Fermentation in early 2024, and they’ve completely overhauled the look and feel of the brewery. It’s become a true community gathering space, with a large number of events drawing in students and employees of the nearby Anschutz Medical Campus. A win at Chicago’s Festival of Barrel Aged Beers in late 2024 and being named a best new brewery by Vinepair has also helped put Milieu on the radar as a destination spot — a difficult feat to pull off in the highly competitive local brewery market.
Best Distillery to Visit If You Have a Shamrock Tattoo
Talnua Distillery
Pat and Megan Miller love Ireland. And they sure love whiskey. And they really love Irish whiskey. That’s why they started the first distillery in the United States that abides by Ireland’s technical definition for pot still whiskey. Talnua makes fantastic spirits, and its passion for the product carries over into a top-tier tasting room experience. A range of carefully crafted cocktails highlight the whiskeys (and gins!) made on site, and the tasting room is the only place to get some of its best and unique expressions.
Best Distillery for Cocktails, With or Without Booze
The Block Distilling Co.
If you’re looking for creative, high-quality cocktails, 2025 is really the golden era — especially at the Block. It uses its flavorful spirits as a base to create distinct cocktails, while its N/A amaro and aperitif help create what might be the best booze-free cocktails in the state. The Block’s four-grain straight whiskey plays very well in the classics, the seasonal roster of cocktails shows off the creative talent across the entire team, and the list of highballs offers spritzy sipping options.
Laws has always approached whiskey with a singular focus, and its new tasting room reflects the reverential attitude its founder has toward the spirit. Tours begin in a room lined with wooden pews — handmade by Al Laws and his stepfather — that look out through two-story Gothic windows onto the distillery’s grain silos, where visitors learn about the gospel of whiskey-making. Tours end with a tasting in a dramatic black room with shelves of underlit bottles. Afterward, customers can climb the spiral staircase designed to resemble the inside of a barrel to the bar area, where Laws is now able to offer meticulously crafted cocktails in addition to neat pours.
BRT construction be damned: Nothing beats drinking your way down this storied street that, thankfully, is still home to some of Denver’s best — and oldest — dives, plus plenty of newer additions to keep things interesting. If you’re ambitious, start close to the Capitol at Nob Hill Inn before making your way to places like the new Champagne Tiger, in the former Tom’s Diner, or bluegrass bar Velvet Banjo, in the former Sancho’s space. From the Lion’s Lair, Pete’s Satire, the Squire and PS Lounge to Tight End, Goosetown and Middleman, the drinking on Colfax is as fine as ever (even if the street itself is looking rough).
Best Bar in Cherry Creek to Pretend You're on Colfax
Milwaukee Street Tavern
Cherry Creek is generally home to high-end shops and restaurants that lean more “My classy grandma would approve” than hip, divey or cool. The opposite can be said about Colfax Avenue, which is one of our favorite streets to mosey down for a drink. If you’re in Cherry Creek and crave some down-to-earth fun like you’d get on Colfax, the Milwaukee Street Tavern is the place for you. The bar offers food for under $10 during happy hour and plenty of beers and spirits all day long. The mini bowling alley and numerous TVs showing sports are extra reasons to go.
This musician-owned venue in LoDo is a rare find in a neighborhood where “old Denver” has been slowly pushed out in favor of out-of-state clubs and establishments where getting drunk at a premium reigns supreme. At Herb’s, the “low on pretension, high on energy” tagline is real. For starters, there’s rarely a cover, despite the club hosting great live music almost every night. If you can’t convince your friends to make the trip to a Colfax dive, head to Herb’s for the same bliss.
Best Place to Become an Aurora Barfly
Noonan’s Sports Bar and Grill
Becoming an Aurora barfly means drinking somewhere tucked away in the bedroom city’s quiet suburbs, in a quaint and decent place. You need a place like Noonan’s, patronized by fellow barflies, neighbored by five-person households and townhouses, and furnished with booths and cushioned stools for long nights. Overlooking a golf course, Noonan’s feels like a swanky treehouse where a dad or his grown-up son who lives at home can escape, watch sports and drink cheap, simple beers like Coors or Modelo. Aurora is for people going home after work, where they spend their weekends in peace and quiet — and for the barflies among them, Noonan’s is the best place to sip away the days.
True Guinness lovers know that every pint of the black velvety ale deserves a chilled glass, a careful pour and absolutely no spillage. Few places get it right every time, but the bartenders at the Fainting Goat respect the name and serve it without spilling a drop, with a smooth dome of foam just barely over the rim and in Guinness pint glasses adorned with the golden harp icon. While some bars use (gasp) Ball aluminum cups for pours of Ireland’s favorite brew, the Fainting Goat proves that it’s not just serving a beer, it’s serving a Guinness.
Yacht Club lives up to its reputation as a dive bar with an ironically snobby name and a menu that caters to both big spenders and those on a budget. On the low end, the bar offers $3.50 Miller High Life cans (make it a combo by adding a $3.50 shot) and the Norm, a $5 hot dog. There are wines for around $10, and the long list of cocktails are around $15 each — which is pretty average these days for a well-made libation. A selection of high-end spirits and wines may cost you, but they’re sold at break-even pours. Our favorite splurge here is the $25 caviar dog. Or go even bigger with the Royale With Cheese: two caviar dogs, a cheese ball spread (that comes with Ritz crackers!) and a bottle of champagne for $140.
Cuba Cuba’s Golden Triangle location, which has been open since 2001, mixes some truly delicious mojitos that are heavy on the rum while still going down easy. The best option for imbibing here with a friend or two is to grab a mojito pitcher for $48 instead of single drinks for $14 each. For $2 extra, you can boost your booze with flavors like mango, blackberry, pineapple, coconut, strawberry, jalapeño, ginger or grapefruit. Even better: Whatever you don’t drink in the restaurant, Cuba Cuba will package and send home with you, so not a single drop (or dollar) goes to waste.
Poncha Springs brewery Elevation Beer opened the Office Bar in Salida in 2024, and this classy retro watering hole has quickly proved to be a popular spot that draws an eclectic clientele. The beer list is extensive, with over 35 options available, from approachable classics like Genesee Cream Ale and Narragansett Lager to limited beers from out-of-state powerhouses like Jester King and Fremont. There’s even an English beer engine on hand for those soft, creamy British-style cask pours. A few draft wines and spirits are available, too, but it's the bottled wine and amaro selections that really stand out.
Cana’s home is an actual old bungalow. Each room is a different vignette: The charming space in front has a fireplace; there’s an area near the small bar with plush maroon armchairs; a quaint side room has brown leather couches; and there’s a fire pit on the backyard patio. You know the billiard room in the board game Clue? It’s kinda like that, minus the billiards. There’s usually only one person working, which is fine because it’s never jam-packed…just busy enough to feel like you’re hanging at home.
Open since December 2023, this low-key haunt from the team behind another favorite watering hole, Crow Bar, has all the signs of a well-worn dive in the making. While we love bantering with the bartenders and playing a game of Buck Hunter, we especially appreciate the Scapegoat’s commitment to curating the many curiosities that adorn the walls, including the taxidermied goat heads that oversee the action and paintings that depict everything from more goats, of course, to a UFO visiting a dinosaur.
Best Neighborhood Bar That Feels Older Than It Is
TrashHawk Tavern
While it just turned three in October, this South Broadway watering hole has grown up before our eyes, becoming a favorite that seems like it's been there all along. Whether you’re popping in for a shot of Malört at the bar, gathering with friends for a gossip session on the patio, playing beer pong and enjoying eats from the rotating food trucks or taking part in events like a Midwestern-style euchre tourney, TrashHawk is a dependable pick for good vibes, good times and good people.
LoDo isn’t exactly brimming with the kind of straightforward, low-profile watering holes you find in other neighborhoods. But among the sports bars, clubs and high-end cocktail havens is Bedlam, a place you’d have to be crazy not to love. Brothers Jacob and Jeremiah Berndt opened the joint last May in a narrow space that was most recently Deep Roots Winery & Bistro, and it feels like a clubhouse that you want to tuck into for hours. The eclectic art, cozy seating and mix of high- and low-end drink options and bites makes it as appealing for a mid-week mixed drink and a game of pool as it is for a weekend splurge on pricey whiskey and caviar served with Lay’s.
Honest Abe would approve of this bar that’s hidden inside the Ice House building near Union Station. It promises that all of its drinks are $5 — and that’s no bullshit. No catches, no upcharges. Just a simple menu of beer, wine and spirits, plus basic mixers. It might take a little work to find this cash-only addition to downtown, but that effort will be rewarded with a low-key, basement-level hangout that feels like a secret escape. Come for the cheap drinks, stay for events like live comedy and the Thursday night rock, paper, scissors tournament.
Taking a class at Cook Street is like shadowing a professional chef for a day (or sometimes, days). You’re in an actual professional kitchen — the space used to be a Japanese restaurant — complete with high-BTU gas ranges, industrial ovens, a fire suppression system, and the kind of function-over-form equipment rarely sold to home cooks. The instructors are chefs with real-life restaurant experience sharing the secrets they learned on the line with exacting detail and anecdotes. The school gives the curious and the aspirational cook alike the ability to level up their skills with both one-off date night classes and multi-week intensives focusing on essential techniques. And for those who desire an even deeper dive, Cook Street offers a professional certification program with both day and night sessions.
A year ago, the former Beatrice & Woodsley space got new life when a team led by Mike Huggins, owner of bars Arvada Tavern, Union Lodge No.1 and the Tatarian, debuted a new restaurant that built upon the woodland whimsy of its predecessor. The result is a place that’s built for dreamy date night memories, where you can snuggle up in a booth surrounded by real aspen tree trunks as you sip pastis and dig into rustic French fare. If you really want to impress your plus-one, spring for the pricey but stunning namesake cocktail, which arrives on a bed of moss that is doused tableside with oolong tea-infused "mist."
Located in the heart of Denver’s RiNo district, Nocturne has been offering tasty eats and live jazz for a decade. Owned and operated by Scott and Nicole Mattson, the venue features dinner-and-a-show reservations with a seasonal three-course menu. Guests can customize their experience by choosing from several options, as well as enjoying small plates, cheese and charcuterie offerings paired with hand-selected wines and cocktails. Bar seat reservations are also available without the multi-course meal, though we recommend going for the full experience.
After running the now-closed Savory Vietnam for years, chef An Nguyen struck out on her own and opened Dan Da next door to her sister’s Banh & Butter Bakery Cafe in April 2024. The menu includes many favorites from her former kitchen, like the build-your-own spring roll platters that now come on striking towers. Every item here is meant to be shared, so the bigger the group, the better for exploring the wide-ranging menu, which includes everything from clay pots and whole deep-fried fish to egg rolls, soups and baby clams and snails in a variety of preparations. A definition of the restaurant’s name is displayed on the wall, reading, “These rustic dishes often bring a feeling of comfort, warmth and togetherness among people,” and that’s exactly what Dan Da delivers.
The Plimoth has been open on a quiet corner in the Skyland neighborhood for over a decade. The restaurant describes itself vaguely as serving New American fare, though the menu is anything but vague. Entrees and appetizers are inspired by in-season ingredients, and while there are some staples on the menu, like the Cracklin’ Chicken and pork rillette appetizer, the dishes often pair unexpected ingredients that keep the fare fresh and ever-changing. For an additional splurge, the Plimoth regularly hosts wine dinners that showcase special menus.
In 2020, Eric Skokan, who also owns Bramble & Hare in Boulder, began hosting dinners at his farm as a way to survive the pandemic — and they were a hit. Over the past four years, he’s navigated the permitting process and put in plenty of sweat equity to make those farm dinners a permanent fixture that officially launched in October 2024. Diners are greeted warmly by staff who escort them to a private cabana, where a tray of welcome bites awaits before the rest of the family-style meal is served. Even in the winter, the cabanas are a cozy escape, warmed by a fireplace that is stoked throughout the meal, and the food, almost completely sourced from the farm, is simply sublime.
In July 2024, the Michelin-starred Frasca Hospitality Group opened an Italian restaurant…in a King Soopers-anchored shopping center in Englewood. The location may be surprising, but the quality of food coming out of the kitchen is not, especially since it’s overseen by longtime pro chef Russell Stippich. While the fare leans upscale, Stippich and his crew are known to have a little fun, too, best illustrated by the happy hour bite listed on the menu as simply Mortadella e Mais — a gussied-up way to say “mortadella corn dog,” and yes, it’s just as tasty as it sounds.
The name of this four-year-old Uptown eatery may lack personality, but the restaurant itself is brimming with character that’s on full display during its generous happy hour. From 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, you can score boozy deals like $8 martinis and a $5 (!) Old Fashioned. But you can also get a whole meal’s worth of food without breaking the bank, thanks to deals including six cocktail shrimp remoulade for $5, broiled oysters with chorizo butter for $2 each, a cup of buffalo gumbo for $10, a hefty warm soft pretzel topped with blue crab, Old Bay and cheese for $10, and a $13 fried chicken sandwich. Revival is located just two blocks from the Fillmore, so it’s easy to fill up before a show at this neighborhood favorite.
After two years of construction woes and funding fears, Welton Street Cafe reopened in November at a new address on Welton Street. To call the new digs an improvement is an understatement. The restaurant used to produce its delicious Southern food menu out of a small, low-ceilinged kitchen with persistent HVAC issues. The new space reflects the quality of the food that has been coming out of the kitchen for over twenty years, with double the seating, a full bar and a larger kitchen. The decor is colorful and vibrant, and the Dickerson family has easily re-created the same community-family feel despite its larger size.
AJ Shreffler started slinging hoagies inspired by the sandwiches he grew up loving in Philly as a side gig, eventually leaving his full-time chef job to go full hog — er, cheesesteak. After years of hustling, he moved Little Arthur’s into the kitchen at Out of the Barrel Taproom in August 2024, where he’s been able to expand the menu, much to our delight. Now, in addition to hoagies, we’ve found ourselves regularly craving his giant East Coast-style pizzas, salads piled high with cheese, playful specials and indulgent desserts. Little Arthur’s has really grown up, and that’s a very good thing for hungry diners.
When restaurants were ordered to close dining rooms in 2020, some were slower than others to come back, and Vine Street was the slowest of them all. But the wait paid off. After four long years, the Uptown favorite reopened in June 2024, just in time for peak patio season. All of our favorites are as tasty as we remember, from the beer to the burgers to the wings, which, yes, are now being made the OG way with breading. Plus, there are some new things to love at Vine Street, including a new food offering — pizza — and the fact that you can now pay your bill with a credit card.
Located about an hour outside of Denver, this charming restaurant helmed by 2024 James Beard semifinalist Theo Adley is a forty-seat stunner, and as it approaches its three-year anniversary in July, there’s no better time to visit. Nestled on Main Street, Marigold offers a warm, inviting atmosphere that complements the simplicity of its dishes. Inspired by the flavors of northern Italy and southern France, Adley’s menu showcases skillful techniques and lets locally sourced vegetables and proteins shine. With a fun cocktail list and an award- winning vino selection that’s heavy on natural wines, one visit will have you planning your return.
Towering back bar shelves loaded with over a hundred mezcal bottles are flanked by a stainless-steel refrigerator displaying a few hulking fish hung by their tail fins for all to see as they dry-age. Leather-bound upholstery and raw wood accents fill out the decor at Mezcaleria Alma, the latest concept from chef Johnny Curiel and wife Kasie, who earned a Michelin star for their first eatery next door, Alma Fonda Fina. The space is rustic and chic, ancestral and modern — the visual equivalent of the menu, which draws on the boundless breadth of Mexico City and the bounty of the sea. Here, Johnny’s grand vision of sharing Mexico’s beauty through its food comes to life by bringing the cuisine into a quaint LoHi space, funneling it into a tight twelve-item menu and serving it to you directly over the chef’s counter. Great things do indeed come in small packages.
Since its opening last summer, Xiquita has injected both the national and local culinary scenes with a profound passion for Mexíco’s food, culture and unrivaled creativity. Chefs Erasmo “Ras” Casiano and Rene Gonzalez Mendez dove deep into the techniques and traditions of ancestral Mexícan flavors, resulting in innovative yet old-world dishes that shine brightly in the light of modern times. Classic nixtamalized maíz is the cornerstone of Xiquita’s masa-based menu, exemplified in dishes such as the braised duck taco served over mole negro, or the blue corn masa tlacoyo with bean salsa and goat cheese. The same care and passion extend to the cocktails and desserts — notably, the tezcalate chocolate ice cream dish that poses as grilled elote. Xiquita’s menu rotates with the shifting seasons and itinerant inspirations of the team, and it is their consistent excellence that truly makes this spot shine.
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