Why? It's an excuse to get together with good friends and linger over good food with a side of day drinking. Along with boozy brunch staples, the appeal of this meal that goes from morning to afternoon is the lack of menu rules. Want a big stack of pancakes and a burger? No problem. Craving pastries alongside a salad? Sure, why not?
In Denver, brunch isn't just limited to weekends, either. Most of the spots on this list serve the beloved meal on weekdays, too, so you can indulge on a Wednesday if the opportunity arises.
Here are our favorite brunches in metro Denver, from a diner that serves extra-tall mimosas to a dim sum favorite to a sprawling Mediterranean buffet.
The Dutch baby pancake at the Bindery is available in both a sweet and a savory option.
Emma Hampsten
1817 Central Street
303-993-2364
Chef Linda Hampsten Fox's LoHi restaurant is the perfect place for a classy brunch, which is served on Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The menu spans cuisines, with everything from a Dutch baby pancake with sweet or savory accoutrements to breakfast carbonara, duck hash and chilaquiles making an appearance. You can also load up on pastries to go for plenty of post-brunch snacks. And while the full brunch menu isn't available on weekdays, the Bindery is open at 8 a.m. for breakfast Tuesday through Friday, with offerings that include an omelet of the day, breakfast tacos and all the brunch cocktail staples, including a build-your-own mimosa option.
The Cookery at Myrtle Hill
1020 South Gaylord Street
303-733-7448
South Gaylord Street is packed with small businesses that draw in residents of the neighborhood, but none has as loyal a following as this spot that serves a homestyle menu of breakfast and lunch selections from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. The sister concept to Devil's Food Bakery next door, the Cookery at Myrtle Hill underwent a renovation during the pandemic and reopened in 2021 with a larger, pastel-hued space complete with counter seating. This is the kind of low-key brunch place that's best for small groups, and it's guaranteed to please everyone, whether you opt for the quiche of the day, a simple breakfast sandwich on a brioche bun or something more hearty, like chicken pot pie with a side of French onion soup.
Fancy toast options rotate regularly at Fox and the Hen.
Molly Martin
2257 West 32nd Avenue
303-862-6795
Chef Carrie Baird loves breakfast, and now she has a spot where she can have fun with it. From the hot sauce wall to the collection of framed prairie dog art outside the bathrooms, quirky touches abound, but the food from this Top Chef alum shines on its own, too. Standouts include the Fancy Toasts section — Baird is known for topping slices of bread with a riot of flavorful ingredients — as well as a dish called Bobby Flavos, a huevos rancheros dish that commemorates her win over the smug chef's win on his own TV show; an omelet inspired by a certain episode of The Bear; and animal-style hash browns.
There are several poutine options on the menu at Le French.
Mark Antonation
4901 South Newport Street
720-710-8963
846 Albion Street
303-558-0875
When it originally debuted in the DTC in 2019, Le French was mostly a classic French bistro with a few hints at its founder's Senegalese heritage. Since opening a second location in the 9+CO development in 2023, though, owner Aminata Dia has leaned into showcasing that part of her background, making for a menu that is filled with unexpected, refreshing touches. Available both locations, brunch highlights include Brie with baobab-stone fruit preserves, a Senegalese fried chicken sandwich with lemon-onion yassa sauce, beef bourguignon poutine and a variety of sweet and savory crepes.
Mimosas
2752 Welton Street
720-372-7572
This upbeat Five Points eatery has an R&B-heavy playlist and a wall covered in images of oranges — fitting for a spot named Mimosas, which serves a whole list of them, including five flight options with a variety of spins on the bubbly brunch favorite. The menu leans Southern, with such items as biscuits and gravy, chicken and waffles, and a cheesy, rich take on shrimp and grits studded with slices of Andouille sausage, all available from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
Breakfast tacos with griddled cheese at Onefold.
Onefold/Instagram
1420 East 18th Avenue
303-954-0877
1919 19th Street
720-788-7550
If you're over Benedicts and scrambles, Onefold is ready to make eggs interesting again. The original Uptown location opened in 2015 and quickly gained a following with such dishes as bacon fried rice (or a Chinese sausage version) topped with a duck fat-fried egg, and congee (a savory rice porridge) with rich duck confit and spicy chili oil. Even more typical offerings are stepped up here, like the breakfast tacos topped with griddled cheese. In late 2021, a second location by Union Station was added after a year of pandemic-related delays and soon, Onefold will add a third outpost at 5960 South Holly Street in Greenwood Village.
Safta
3330 Brighton Boulevard
720-408-2444
While this brunch is only available on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., it's worth planning ahead for the occasion. Chef Alon Shaya's Denver eatery is among the best restaurants in town, and there's no better way to get a taste of the many things it does well than partaking of the all-you-can-eat weekend brunch spread for $50 per person. The word "buffet" hardly does justice to the sprawling selection of freshly made options you'll find, from wood-fired pita paired with a variety of hummus and other dips to smoked fish, shakshuka in individual-sized skillets, thick latkes, pastries aplenty and much more.
Sam's No. 3
1500 Curtis Street
303-534-1927
435 South Cherry Street, Glendale
303-333-4403
Denver's diner scene has taken some big hits since the pandemic began, but Sam's No. 3 continues to build on the history that began back in 1927. Today the Armatas family operates Sam's locations in Glendale and downtown Denver, both of which serve a full (as in sixteen-page-long) menu of American, Greek and Mexican staples every day of the week. The extra-tall mimosas pair perfectly with the extra-large breakfast burritos, which come in over two dozen varieties. But with a menu this large, it's easy to create your own adventure when ordering. Wanna stuff fried cheese curds in your Toro Pot or nosh on a chili cheese dog along with your omelet? Sam's is happy to make all your brunch dreams come true.
Sassafras
3927 West 32nd Avenue
303-433-0080
Though it once had three locations, Sassafras has scaled back, concentrating on its spacious Highland eatery with truly homey vibes (it's located in two adjoining houses) where its serves Southern brunch from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays and until 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Alongside an array of mimosas and other libations is a selection of nine Bloody Marys, including the extra-large Proud Mary, a full 24 ounces of spiked refreshment. The food offerings include loaded mac and cheese, po'boys and Benedicts, as well as some longtime staples such as bison hash topped with two runny-yolked chicken-fried eggs.
Star Kitchen
2917 West Mississippi Avenue
303-936-0089
While this spot is short on booze (though it does offer a small selection of beer and wine to ease your hangover), we can forgive that brunch shortcoming given the appeal of a solid dim sum experience. Denver doesn't have the huge dim sum scene you'll find in cities like Chicago or New York, but we've got Star Kitchen, where the carts roll out of the kitchen loaded with dumplings of all kinds, fried noodles, shrimp balls, chicken feet, sticky rice and on and on. Go before the 10 a.m. opening on Saturday and Sunday; the line to add your name to the list starts to form at least a half-hour early. For a less crowded experience, Star Kitchen also offers a smaller dim sum selection on weekdays from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Mushroom tartine from Stowaway.
Stowaway Kitchen/Instagram
2528 Walnut Street
720-583-5481
Inspired by their adventures abroad, owners Amy Cohen and Hayden Barnie opened this cafe in 2015 and have been serving up some of the most creative brunch fare in town ever since. Unlike the typical heavy, nap-inducing eats that fill most brunch menus, the food at Stowaway skews lighter and draws from global influences, with items like oyako-don, traditional Japanese donburi; an eggplant and halloumi sandwich and the colorful mushroom tartine, available from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday through Monday. As befits a cafe, the coffee game is on point here, but so are the cocktails, which include the Duderino, Stowaway's take on the trendy espresso martini.
Wilde
3618 Tejon Street
In October 2023, chef-owner Lydee Lovett transformed her Highland restaurant Chicken Rebel into the breakfast-and-lunch spot Wilde. The pastel, coatal-inspired haven offers entrees like a crab cake Benedict, the Baja breakfast burrito with carne asada and Captain Crunch stuffed French toast. Forlorn fans mourning the loss of Lovett's famed Chicken Rebel sandwiches will be thrilled that a Nashville hot version remains on Wilde's menu.
