Denver Restaurant & Bar Recommendations
A very long list of all my favorites. I have tried to include every type of cuisine to cater to every craving you might have. Each title is linked so you can find more information <3
Restaurants
Uncle Ramen
My favorite of all time. The best ramen I’ve ever had. I have a relationship with Uncle Ramen. There is one located in the Lower Highland area and Washington Park. I recommend the Spicy Chicken, Chashu, Duck, and Khao Soi ramen. You really can’t go wrong. The buns are amazing, but you have to promise me that you’ll try the Chilled Tofu. It’s my favorite thing on the menu and tastes nothing like what you’d expect. It’s refreshing and delicious.
Linger (Lower Highlands)
Linger is a cute spot to mark off your Denver Bucket List. It has amazing food, drinks, and the atmosphere is really cute. Most of the menu is appetizers, meant to be ordered for the table and be shared. The rooftop is a great place to grab a drink and has a view of the city!
El Five – Tapas & Paella
One of the most recommended spots in Denver. It is located in the Lower Highland area, right above Linger. It’s on the pricer end, but the food and view are worth it (The picture of the view is the header of this blog). It is a very shareable meal, meaning you should order a lot and share it amongst the table. For starters, I highly recommend the Matzo Soup Dumplings, Crispy Cauliflower Yufka, and the Smoked Burrata. The Seafood and Carne Paella is a must. This was my first time eating paella and I fell in love. This is also a restaurant that books up fast. It’s usual booked a month out so plan.
Blue Pan Pizza – Detroit Style Pizza
Pure Bliss. Very thick and filling, this style of pizza reminds me of focaccia bread topped with pizza toppings. The Brooklyn Bridge pizza is my favorite on the menu. Topped with blobs of ricotta, pepperoni, and sausage. The edgy’s are crisped with cheese making every bite wonderful.
Sushi Den
The best sushi in Denver. I don’t know one person that would disagree with me. There’s not much more to say, other than go. You must go right at 5 pm or the wait time can get outrageous. Can’t get in? Go to their sister restaurant Izakaya Den right next door, with basically the same menu!
Little Man Ice Cream – Instaworthy
This cute little ice cream shop is located on one of my favorite streets in the Lower Highlands area. It has a variety of REALLY yummy ice cream. I recommend the Salted Oreo or when it’s in season, the Horchata.
Fire on the Mountain – Wings & Salads
Located in Wash Park and in the Highlands area. My friends obsess over this spot. It’s been voted the best wings in Denver for years now. I personally think they need an award for their Spicy Peanut salad (Pictured above). Hit them up, you won’t regret it.
Boa Brewhouse – Funky Chinese Streetfood
The vibes are on another level. With an in-house DJ setting the tone, this is a great place to eat dinner before a night on the town! Grab some soup dumplings, you won’t regret it!
La Fillette Bakery – The Best Croissants
I can’t get out of the door before stuffing these croissants in my face… SO FLAKY and delicious. My favorite for breakfast is the ham and cheese croissant and my favorite for dessert is the chocolate!
Cart Driver – Pizza
My mouth is watering just thinking about this place. Very traditional wood-fired pizza with fresh ingredients. Located in Highlands and in the RiNo area.
Denver Biscuit Company – Yummy Breakfast Sandwiches
A classic place to stop for breakfast. Would you just look at that sandwich? I’m a sucker for gravy on all my breakfast food. They have great mimosas and bloody marys too. View the menu here.
Perdida – Coastal Mexican
I’m obsessed with this cute little Mexican restaurant. It’s located in Washington Park on one of my favorite streets. The Baja atmosphere gets a 10/10 from me. They have lots of natural lighting, live plants, gorgeous blue tile, and ratan light fixtures, totally my vibe. The food and drinks are also amazing! We ordered off the happy hour menu and got the queso, salsa, guac, and chicken tacos. Quite possibly the best chicken tacos I’ve ever had! It is a bit pricey though, so go during happy hour.
Hop Alley – Elevated Chinese
Cholon – For The Dumplings
Located Downtown and in Central Park, I am only recommending this restaurant for the dumplings. Soup Dumplings with Sweet Onion, Gruyère Cheese. Get two orders, you won’t be upset. Okay, the noodles and buns were also amazing. The service, drinks, and price were meh… Keeping it real over here.
La Loma – Fancy Mexican
I worked at their sister restaurant, Sierra, and I obsessed over the food. The food that this company creates is incredible. It’s pretty pricey unlike your typical Mexican spots, but it’s SO worth it. La Loma has the most delicious green chili, so I recommend anything that comes with it. The Mini Chile Rellenos are amazing!!
Odyssey – Italian
This QUAINT Italian restaurant is an old, cute house turned restaurant and is located on 6th ave. The structure of the house has not been touched. There are different rooms for you to sit in. It’s very cozy and romantic. I recommend the pasta. I loved the Carbonara!
Steuben’s – American
A Denver classic. Pretty sure it’s been featured on the Food Network a billion times, or something like that. Everything on the menu is amazing.
Snooze – Brunch
Snooze is located in a lot of popular cities, but it’s too good not to mention. They have so many food options and it’s got a fun, retro atmosphere. I recommend the Shrimp and Grits, breakfast tacos, and their pancakes!
Denver Bars
When it comes to nightlife in Denver there are a few areas that I would recommend for my twenty-something friends: Lower Highlands, RiNo, South Broadway, and Lower Downtown (IN THAT ORDER). All of these areas offer a lot of great places to stop in and get a drink. Lower Highlands is particularly my favorite area, so I list it first. I suggest picking a few places and then see where the night takes you 🙂
54thirty Rooftop Bar – Drinks With a View (Downtown)
On the 20th floor of the beautiful Le Méridien Hotel, this rooftop bar is the perfect place to view the sun set behind the mountains while you drink a yummy cocktail. This place is quite fancy though, and you may need reservations. I recommend booking early.
Postino’s – Wine Bar (Highlands)
With three locations in Denver, Postinos is a favorite to everyone here. The bruschetta is amazing and the atmosphere is super hip. Their happy hour consists of $5 glasses of wine, everyday till 5 pm.
Forget Me Not – Cocktails (Cherry Creek)
Recess Beer Garden & Field Trip – The Perfect Patio (Highlands)
My favorite bar! This beer garden offers a cute outdoor patio with Christmas lights strung and lots of fire pits. This is a good first stop before you hit the town. They serve food and alcohol so you can sip your beer and eat yummy tater tots. Right next door is a brand new bar called Field Trip! I would check out both.
Terminal Bar At Union Station – Picture Perfect
If you don’t know this already, Union Station is kinda a big deal. It’s the building that Denver is known for. It’s a very cute station with a lot of character, and the bar is just as cute. It’s a seat yourself and has a lot of options. Plus, it’s only an $11 ride on the Light Rail to get to the airport. It’s a perfect stop for when you get into or leave town.
Canopy – Insta Worthy (South Broadway)
A super modern and hip bar on South Broadway Street. It has the perfect neon sign to take selfies with and a cute photo booth to remember the night by! South Broadway is a great are to bar hop. I’d recommend the Irish Rover and the Historian. Then when the party’s over hit up Pie Hole for some late-night pizza.
Happy Camper
This restaurant/bar is located in the Highlands area in Denver and has the best environment for summer. They have fun drinks, delicious pizza, and fun decor. This is the spot that a lot of The Bachelor contestants like to visit. Thinking of going, be sure to make a reservation.
June 2021 edit: This has definitely turned into more of a bar scene. I used to recommend this spot for families to sit down and eat dinner, but I’ll just say it’s gotten a little sticky. I’d now recommend it as more of a mimosa brunch, and nightlife scene.
Refinery (LoDo) – Shots, Shots, Shots
I take all my visitors here, strictly to do the famous “Flower Shot”. The shot’s official name is Buzz Bomb, it is served with a flower and a shot of cherry vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice. You eat the flower and then take the shot. The flower creates a numbing sensation in your mouth that lasts for a few minutes. The refinery also has some really yummy pickle shots!
Denver Beer Co – Casual Patio with Board Games (Highlands)
My favorite brewery in the city and a great location. This brewery has great outdoor seating and a variety of yummy beers. My favorite is the Juice Freak IPA. It always has a food truck right outside for you to order at.
Avanti – Food Trucks & A View (Highlands)
Another hip happen’ place to be in Denver. This is a huge bar with multiple levels, a rooftop bar that faces the city, a variety of food stops, yummy cocktails, pretty art, etc. You can’t really go wrong.
Fin’s Manor – Fun Outdoor Atmosphere (RiNo)
Fin’s Manor is a fun outdoor bar with yummy food trucks! There’s usually always live music and a ton of fire pits going. Such a fun place and there are a ton of breweries and bars that surround it.
Howl at The Moon (LoDo) – Piano Bar
People might roll their eyes or laugh that I put this piano bar on my recommendations list but I have never once had a bad night at this bar. In fact, this was the very bar where I made the decision to move to Denver so yeah… I’d say it’s a little magical. It has a live band where you can submit requests, and if you’re lucky get invited to dance on stage. Is it over-priced? YEP. There are many times they charge too high of a cover and we dip. BUT when the price is right we’re in there. I just don’t think I could have a bad night at that bar… but to be fair I like to dance, if you don’t then it’s probably not the place for you.
ViewHouse (LoDo)
My friends like to joke about how much I hate this place, and I wouldn’t say that’s completely accurate. ViewHouse is right across from Coors Field and is a great place to check out. They have great outdoor seating with bags and other fun games, a huge rooftop, and a lot of space on the inside for dancing. It offers a whole lot of entertainment. The reason I don’t like it is that the nightlife there gets insane. I’m not much of a crowd person and enjoy more of a “hangout” scene so I get a little overwhelmed past 11 pm.
Mile High Spirits (LoDo)
This is where you go if you want to dance my friend. It’s a huge space and they have two areas to dance in. Try to go on a night they have a silent disco, SO fun!