Denver’s First Taco Bell Cantina Coming to DIA

Denver has one of the top airports in the country for dining, largely due to DIA’s relatively recent prioritization of partnering with local restaurant brands. It all started with Root Down, which has been wildly successful since its airport debut over a decade ago. In 2024, DIA launched 29 new concessionaires, including familiar names such as El Chingon Bistro, Mizu Sushi Izakaya and Bar Dough.

This year, additions have included Tocabe, D Bar, The Bagel Deli and speakeasy-inspired cocktail lounge Williams & Graham, with more to come. But one “coming soon” sign stands out among the local names: Taco Bell Cantina.

DIA’s public information officer, Ashley Forest, confirms that Mission Yogurt, the hospitality company that owns many of DIA’s restaurants, is developing a Taco Bell Cantina location set to open in Concourse A East near gate A49 in mid-April 2026.

Taco Bell launched its more upscale Cantina brand in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood a decade ago, most notably bringing boozy beverages to its lineup there. Beer, wine and its signature Twisted Freezes, including a Baja Blast version, are staples of the Cantina brand. But the addition of alcohol has proven tricky for the brand as it has expanded over the years. Some Cantina locations, including a short-lived outpost that opened in Boulder in 2017, were never able to obtain a liquor license, leading to quick closures.

As a result, there are no Taco Bell Cantina locations in the state. Typically, they open in busy metropolitan areas, with a high concentration in New York City and throughout California, as well as a bustling outpost on the Las Vegas Strip known for hosting burrito-fueled weddings. But we have not found any evidence of another Taco Bell Cantina in any U.S. airport.

While DIA has yet to confirm whether this will be the first airport outpost of the brand, it will be one of the only airport Taco Bell locations, period. While other fast food go-tos like McDonald’s and Chik-fil-A are airport staples that often have the longest lines, Taco Bell has never had a widespread airport presence (which, considering its digestive reputation, is probably a good thing for passengers).

The only other airport Taco Bell locations we have been able to confirm are at the Punta Cana International Airport in the Dominican Republic, and a Taco Bell Express that had been open in the Great Hall at DIA until construction began there in 2018.

With seemingly no other airport Taco Bell Cantinas to compare this future outpost to, we’re curious to see if 9 a.m. pre-flight boozy Baja Blasts become a new DIA tradition.