A mix of my all time favorite spots for eating and drinking in Denver!
I can’t pick a real favorite, so listed in no particular order :)
Location: 3330 Brighton Blvd #201 Denver, CO 80216
Neighborhood: RINO
Type: Israeli, Dinner, Sunday Brunch
If I had to recommend one spot and one spot only in Denver, hands down it would be Safta. This spot has everything and something for everyone. And it is so uniquely amazing that I really feel a trip to Denver without stopping at Safta would be a sad trip! It really might be the only restaurant I have been to where I have yet to have something I would not order again! From the perfect pitas (wood-oven cooked!) to the delectable dips, to the sweet and savory desserts, this place is just amazing! Plus, it is located in The Source, which is one of the coolest spots in Denver! This Israeli restaurant is known for its pita and dips, and my favorite ones to get are the labneh (has pink peppercorn, shallots and a drizzle of oil), the muhammara (has hazelnuts, cilantro and chili oil), and the chanterelle mushroom (has chermoula butter and tahini). The falafel is also incredible and the tahini sauce served with the falafel is so good! For dessert, the halva semifreddo (turkish coffee granita and dark chocolate) is so light and smooth. The granita is like super finely crushed ice, and the halva is like a very light ice cream consistency! Super different from any other dessert! The menu changes frequently, but the dips above seem to be staple dishes that shouldn’t be missed! I really don’t think you can go wrong ordering anything off the menu.
2. Cart-Driver
Location 1: 2500 Larimer St. Suite 100 Denver CO 80205 (RINO)
Location 2: 2239 West 30th Ave. Denver CO 80211 (LOHI)
Neighborhoods: RINO and LOHI
Type: Pizza, Dinner, Brunch at LOHI
Since Colorado used to get a lot of flack for its pizza, I had to list Cart-Driver here! There are two locations, one in RINO and one in LOHI, and if you are in Denver and want pizza, get yourself to one of these spots! Also important to note that I have only had takeout from Cart-Driver, and to have amazing pizza 20-30 min after it has been done (due to commute time), I can only imagine how absolutely mouth-watering this pizza is at the restaurant! Having tried a few of the pizzas at Cart-Driver, my favorites are the namesake Cart-Driver (sausage, kale, mozzarella and chili flake) the Daisy (mozzarella, basil, tomato sauce), and the summer special, Peachza (Palisade peach, horseradish honey, triple cream brie, calabrian chili, basil and red onion). The wood fired crust has that characteristic char and chew, and the fresh ingredients really pop! And each pizza is a perfect solo effort, so make sure to get your own! The RINO spot is tiny with mostly appetizers, pizza and salads, and the LOHI location has more seating with additional menu items like pasta, and a weekend brunch menu.
3. Bakery Four
Location: 4150 Tennyson St. Denver CO 80212
Neighborhood: Tennyson
Type: Bakery/Coffee
Bakery Four is the best bakery I have yet to visit in Denver (it is my mission to visit all the bakeries!) and the long line is totally worth the wait! The plain croissant is usually my standard for determining how good a bakery is, and Bakery Four nails theirs! The crispy exterior, perfect layers, and airy interior make for a very enjoyable croissant! The other bakery items change weekly (check out their Instagram for the daily menu) and the breads are also some of the best I have had! If you can only go to one bakery during your time in Denver, this is the one!
Location: 1641 Market Street Suite 133 Denver CO 80202
Neighborhood: Downtown/Market Station/Central Business District
Type: Tea, Gelato
Milk Tea People is probably my most frequented spot when I am in Denver. This place is just magical. Kevin and Tim, the owners, are so nice and happily explain the tea menu to each customer. The drinks and wafchis (mochi waffles) are made to order, and everything that I have tried here is amazing! It is so hard to only choose one drink, so I often end up getting a couple when I go (I should mention that since this spot is right in the heart of Denver, parking is super hard to find, so another good reason to stock up on milk teas when you go :) ). The strawberry matcha, made with fresh strawberry puree and the most vibrant green matcha you have ever had, is my all time favorite drink. I also love the hojicha and the mango matcha. The lemon blueberry wafchi and the ube wafchi are also amazing, and can be topped with a scoop of Gelato Boy gelato!
5. ChoLon
Location: 1555 Blake St. Suite 101 Denver CO 80202
Neighborhood: Downtown/Central Business District
Type: Modern Asian, Lunch, Happy Hour, Dinner
ChoLon is an Asian fusion restaurant that has the very best happy hour! There are now two locations, but I have only been to the downtown location. My recommendation- get some Milk Tea People and ChoLon in the same afternoon, since they are right around the corner from each other! ChoLon’s happy hour is 2:30-5:30 Monday through Sunday, and the best things to order are the French Onion soup dumplings (tiny dumplings that send a burst of French Onion soup into your mouth upon taking a bite), the Wagyu beef skewers (the steak sauce served is some of the best sauce I have ever had), and the Tofu Bao Buns (the pickles and slaw and sauce served with these are all so good!). Such a fun little happy hour with some incredible dishes!
Location: 1555 Blake St. Denver CO 80202
Neighborhood: Central Business District
Type: Coffee
As with most cities, there is no shortage of good coffee shops in Denver. A long-time favorite is Little Owl, in downtown Denver, a couple spots down from ChoLon. Little Owl serves some of the best coffee/lattes/coffee drinks, and often has some delicious pastries in its tiny spot, with a few indoor and outdoor tables.
7. Sushi Den
Location: 1487 South Pearl St. Denver CO 80210
Neighborhood: Platt Park
Type: Sushi
For sushi, Sushi Den really lives up to the hype. The sushi here is some of the best I have had, and takes the top step for me when it comes to sushi in Denver (probably because the fish is flown in fresh from Tokyo everyday). This is another restaurant where I have only gotten takeout from, and I can’t wait to go back to Denver and eat at this restaurant! Located in quaint Platt Park, Sushi Den has a wonderful outdoor eating deck with cute lights, and a large indoor dining room. There are many cute restaurants, coffee shops, and boutiques on the same street, so it would definitely be a fun area to explore before dinner.
Location: 2620 16th St. Denver CO 80211
Neighborhood: LOHI
Type: Ice Cream
Little Man ice cream is the best spot for ice cream in Denver. The picturesque 28 foot tall old fashioned milk can that houses the walk up ice cream service makes this spot hard to miss. It is also right next to another honorable mention restaurant, Linger, making a fun dinner and dessert night when combining Linger and Little Man! Little Man ice cream has expanded to a few locations in and around Denver, and is probably best known for its salted oreo ice cream. There are rotating and seasonal flavors, and there are also vegan flavors daily, so there is something for everyone.
Location: 3350 Brighton Blvd. Denver CO 80216
Neighborhood: RINO
Type: Bakery/Coffee
Going back to The Source in Denver, Reunion Bread is a close second to Bakery Four in my opinion. Reunion also nails their plain croissants, and they used to make their own chocolate hazelnut spread to have a homemade version of a Nutella croissant. The breads and babkas at Reunion are also outstanding!
10. Tavernetta
Location: 1889 16th St. Denver CO 80202
Neighborhood: Union Station
Type: Italian, Dinner
Tavernetta is the best Italian restaurant in Denver! If you have been to Pizzeria Locale and Frasca in Boulder and love Bobby Stuckey's restaurants, then you must try Tavernetta! The restaurant space is super neat, and it is right next to Denver’s Union Station, so it is pretty easy to get to (though since it is in downtown Denver, parking is tricky). This is also one of those restaurants where you can probably order anything on the menu and be happy with your choice. Our last visit in August 2022 was wonderful, and our waiter was super helpful. The entire staff is really well versed in wine pairings and the different dishes, and they are happy to help you find something on the menu that you will enjoy. The house made focaccia and pastas are a must! While this restaurant is on the higher end price-wise, it is worth every penny.
I will try to update this list with other favorites as I find them, and as always, I would love to hear your Denver favorites, too! :)
