My Denver Basics Guide has a list of the most popular, picturesque, and central places to eat in Denver. In this guide, I expanded that list to include the places that locals go on the regular. These places may be less well known or a little out of the way, but I guarantee that they are just as good, and sometimes even better!
Cafés and Coffee Shops
Cafe Miriam at City Park
$$ - French Brunch - Well Priced, Quaint Café - Frequently receives yelp and local awards - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Devil's Cup Coffee (and Rosie's Ice Cream)
$ - Delicious Pastries and Excellent Coffee - check out Rosie's Ice Cream in the back for a cool treat on a hot day for you and your pup - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Prodigy Coffeehouse (Multiple Locations)
$ - Great Coffee with a Cause - Prodigy follows a social justice employment model similar to Greg Boyle's Homeboy Industries in LA. If you want great coffee that directly goes to empowering the person who made it, this is the coffee shop for you. - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Rivers and Roads Coffee
$ - Completely Gluten Free Coffee Shop - Gluten Free and looking for a tasty treat with your coffee? Rivers and Roads is a completely gluten free facility! - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
St. Mark's Coffee House
$-$$ - Many Coffee, Breakfast, and Lunch - Excellent cafe to work meet with friends, etc. There are many options for types of seats, lighting, indoor and outdoor seating. - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Stella's Coffee Haus
$ - Cozy House Turned Coffee Shop - Great atmosphere and plenty of spaces to work, read, etc. There is one room dedicated to working or reading silently - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
The Corner Beet
$$ - Vegan and Vegetarian Café - This café offers a full menu of fress pressed juices, raw foods, vegan and vegetarian fare. - Vegetarian 🌱
Café Miriam at City Park - Breakfast Brunch
@megreidy
$$ - French Brunch - Well Priced, Quaint Café - Frequently receives yelp and local awards - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Details
Devil's Cup Coffee
@megreidy
$-$$ - Delicious Pastries and Excellent Coffee - check out Rosie's Ice Cream in the back for a cool treat on a hot day for you and your pup - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Details
Prodigy Coffeehouse / 40th & Colorado
@megreidy
$ - Great Coffee with a Cause - Prodigy follows a social justice employment model similar to Greg Boyle's Homeboy Industries in LA. If you want great coffee that directly goes to empowering the person who made it, this is the coffee shop for you. - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Details
Rivers and Roads Coffee
@megreidy
$ - Completely Gluten Free Coffee Shop - Gluten Free and looking for a tasty treat with your coffee? Rivers and Roads is a completely gluten free facility! - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Details
St Mark's Coffee House
@megreidy
$-$$ - Many Coffee, Breakfast, and Lunch - Excellent cafe to work meet with friends, etc. There are many options for types of seats, lighting, indoor and outdoor seating. - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Details
Stella's Coffee Haus
@megreidy
$ - Cozy House Turned Coffee Shop - Great atmosphere and plenty of spaces to work, read, etc. There is one room dedicated to working or reading silently - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Details
The Corner Beet
@megreidy
$$ - Vegan and Vegetarian Café - This café offers a full menu of fress pressed juices, raw foods, vegan and vegetarian fare. - Vegetarian 🌱
Details
Mexican Food
Agave Taco Bar
$$ - Fusion Tacos, Tasty Drinks, Excellent Queso - Excellent Patio, Happy Hour, and Taco Tuesday Deal - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Casa de Sanchez Panadaría y Restaurante
$ - Incredibly Authentic Mexican Food - Full restaurant and bakery! Lovely family owns it!
Girasoles Mexican Grill (Also known as tres Girasoles
$ - Authentic Mexican Food - Their food is quick, authentic and delicious.
La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal
$-$$ - Top Mezcal, Authentic Pozole, Mayan Roots - The chef, manager, and team at La Diabla only prepare the most authentic pozole, tacos and Mezcal. This restaurant is consistently ranked higher and higher within Denver and nationally, Read more below or give the name a google. - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Maria Empenada (Multiple Locations)
$-$$ - Huge Variety of Tasty Empanadas - Classic empanadas from all over the world. Great to get as a snack, grab for a park day, or get a couple for a full meal - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Pateleria Chihuahua
$ - Best Fresas con Crema in town - Classic Mexican paleteria - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Taquitos Jalisco
$ - Authentic Mexican Food Truck Tacos - Bring cash
Agave Taco Bar
@megreidy
$$ - Fusion Tacos, Tasty Drinks, Excellent Queso - Excellent Patio, Happy Hour, and Taco Tuesday Deal
If you go on Tuesday between 3-6, you can combine happy hour deals and the taco Tuesday deal. Their cocktails are flavorful and strong. If you like spicy margaritas, their spicy marg is both fresh and spicy.
Details
Casa de sanchez panadería y restaurante
@megreidy
$ - Incredibly Authentic Mexican Food - Full restaurant and bakery! Lovely family owns it!
Closed on Wednesdays
Details
Girasoles Mexican Grill
@megreidy
$ - Authentic Mexican Food - Their food is quick, authentic and delicious.
The actual restaurant has very little seating, but the food is great to take to a park to eat!
Details
La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal
@megreidy
$-$$ - Top Mezcal, Authentic Pozole, Mayan Roots - The chef, manager, and team at La Diabla only prepare the most authentic pozole, tacos and Mezcal. This restaurant is consistently ranked higher and higher within Denver and nationally, Give the name, and the chef, a google!
Details
Maria Empanada
@megreidy
$-$$ - Huge Variety of Tasty Empanadas - Classic empanadas from all over the world. Great to get as a snack, grab for a park day, or get a couple for a full meal - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Details
Paleteria Chihuahua
@megreidy
$ - Best Fresas con Crema in town - Classic Mexican paleteria - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
They close every once and a while to travel to Mexico. So, check their hours on google or give them a call before you go.
Details
Taquitos Jalisco
@megreidy
$ - Authentic Mexican Food Truck Tacos - Bring cash
I became a vegetarian about 3.5 years into living in Denver, and these tacos are some of the only tacos that I miss. There is a veggie taco option, but it isn't near as good.
Details
Miscelaneous Favorites
Home Grown Denver (Multiple Locations)
$$ - Tasty Pizzas, Starters, and Salads - I bring everyone who visits me to Home Grown, and no one has ever been disappointed or dissatisfied. - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Odyssey Italian Resturaunt
$$-$$$ Delicious & Rich Homemade Pasta - Romantic and cozy interior, delightful patio, excellent service.
Local Pro Tip: On Monday's they do 1/2 off on their homemade pastas. However, you will need to make a reservation a couple weeks in advance for a Monday.
Sullivan Scrap Kitchen
$$ - Wildly Delicious while Caring for the Environment - Sullivan's scratch kitchen prepares super delicious food with incredible detail to avoiding food waste. They have great burgers, happy hour, brunch and dinner.
Home Grown Denver
@megreidy
$$ - Tasty Pizzas, Starters, and Salads - I bring everyone who visits me to Home Grown, and no one has ever been disappointed or dissatisfied. - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
They have tons of outdoor seating options with heaters, fires, and tents in the evening.
My go to order is their Roasted Brussels Sprouts starter with a 1/2 Pigs and Pears, 1/2 Funguy pizza. I also like their Quinoa Salad, Arugula Salad, and Kale Salad.
They are great about taking off the meat on the whole pizza or part of the pizza to accommodate Vegetarians as well.
If you are looking for a sweet treat after, I highly recommend Bonnie Brae Ice Cream over Sweet Action.
Details
Odyssey Italian Restaurant
@megreidy
$$-$$$ Delicious & Rich Homemade Pasta - Romantic and cozy interior, delightful patio, excellent service.
Local Pro Tip: On Monday's they do 1/2 off on their homemade pastas. However, you will need to make a reservation a couple weeks in advance for a Monday.
Details
Sullivan Scrap Kitchen
@megreidy
$$ - Wildly Delicious while Caring for the Environment - Sullivan's scratch kitchen prepares super delicious food with incredible detail to avoiding food waste. They have great burgers, happy hour, brunch and dinner.
Details
Sandwich Spots
Birdcall (Multiple Locations)
$$ - Unique Chicken Sandwiches - Fun and flavorful combinations of chicken sandwiches. There are multiple vegetarian options as well. - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Curtis Park Delicatessen (Multiple Locations)
$$ - Authentic Deli Experience - Don't expect any frills, but the sandwiches are tasty and filling. - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Snarf's Sandwiches
$$ - Large Variety of Options - There are too many good sandwiches to choose from! - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Birdcall
@megreidy
$$ - Unique Chicken Sandwiches - Fun and flavorful combinations of chicken sandwiches. There are multiple vegetarian options as well. - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Details
Curtis Park Delicatessen
@megreidy
$$ - Authentic Deli Experience - Don't expect any frills, but the sandwiches are tasty and filling. - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Details
Snarf's Sandwiches
@megreidy
$$ - Large Variety of Options - There are too many good sandwiches to choose from! - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Details
South East Asian and Indian
Himalayan Spice Indian Cuisine
$$ - Amazing Flavors - Generous portions of authentic Indian dishes! - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Swing Thai (Multiple Locations)
$$ - Local Thai Chain - Delicious Sauces and flavors - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Little India (Multiple Locations)
$$ - Huge Menu, Everything is Tasty - One of the largest menus that I have seen, and I have never been disappointed by what I got. Great take out! - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Himalayan Spice Indian Cuisine - Denver
@megreidy
$$ - Amazing Flavors - Generous portions of authentic Indian dishes! - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Details
Swing Thai
@megreidy
$$ - Local Thai Chain - Delicious Sauces and flavors - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Details
Little India Restaurant & Bar 6th Ave
@megreidy
$$ - Huge Menu, Everything is Tasty - One of the largest menus that I have seen, and I have never been disappointed by what I got. Great take out! - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Details
Vegan and Vegetarian
City O'City
$$ - Vegetarian Everything! - City O' City is one of the BEST vegetarian restaurants in Denver. They have happy hour from 3pm-6pm & 10pm-12am, add a 20% service fee to cover the cost of ensuring a living wage for all employees, and they don't take reservations. On Wednesdays pizzas are 25% off, and on Thursday from 6 - 9 pm they host open mic night! - Vegetarian with Vegan options 🌱
fellow traveler
$$ - Retro Vegan Vibes - delicious fare and "sexy drinks," as they describe them, paired with the vibes of the restaurant make for unique and memorable evening. - Vegan 🌱
Watercourse Foods
$$ - Wide Selection of Totally Vegan Food- Serving everything from "Chicken: + Biscuits at breakfast to Fennel Sausage Bolognese and Peanut Butter Shakes - Vegan 🌱
Wellness Sushi
$$ - 100% Plant Based Sushi and Japanese Cuisine - Recently ranked on Yelps top 100, Wellness offers completely vegetarian sushi options and ramen. Vegetarian 🌱
City O' City
@megreidy
$$ - Vegetarian Everything! - City O' City is one of the BEST vegetarian restaurants in Denver. They have happy hour from 3pm-6pm & 10pm-12am, add a 20% service fee to cover the cost of ensuring a living wage for all employees, and they don't take reservations. On Wednesdays pizzas are 25% off, and on Thursday from 6-9 pm they host open mic night!
Details
fellow traveler
@megreidy
$$ - Retro Vegan Vibes - delicious fare and "sexy drinks," as they describe them, paired with the vibes of the restaurant make for unique and memorable evening.
Details
Watercourse Foods
@megreidy
$$ - Wide Selection of Totally Vegan Food- Serving everything from "Chicken: + Biscuits at breakfast to Fennel Sausage Bolognese and Peanut Butter Shakes - Vegan 🌱
Details
Wellness Sushi
@megreidy
$$ - 100% Plant Based Sushi and Japanese Cuisine - Recently ranked on Yelps top 100, Wellness offers completely vegetarian sushi options and ramen. Vegetarian 🌱
Details
Wine Bars
Bigsby's Folly Craft Winery & Resturaunt
$$ - Full Bodied Wine and Menu - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Room for Friends... a wine bar!
$$ - Feels Like Home - Room for Friends has a sophisticated but cozy atmosphere with a great wine list and charcuterie board options. - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Sienna Wine Bar & Small Plates
$$ - Wine Flights and Delectable Cheese Plates - Going to Sienna is cozy and exciting. With every type of wine flights and cheeses to pair with them, it is a delightful gastronomic experience! - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Bigsby's Folly Craft Winery & Restaurant
@megreidy
$$ - Full Bodied Wine and Menu- Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Details
Room for Friends ... a wine bar!
@megreidy
$$ - Feels Like Home - Room for Friends has a sophisticated but cozy atmosphere with a great wine list and charcuterie board options.
- Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Details
Sienna Wine Bar & Small Plates
@megreidy
$$ - Wine Flights and Delectable Cheese Plates - Going to Sienna is cozy and exciting. With every type of wine flights and cheeses to pair with them, it is a delightful gastronomic experience! - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Details
Honorable Mentions: Denver Basics Guide
A couple of my favorite and local spots from the Denver Basics Guide that I must mention are:
Barcelona Wine Bar
$$ - Traditional Spanish Food - Reservations STRONGLY encouraged - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Bonnie Brae Ice Cream
$ - Timeless Local Ice Cream - The line moves quickly - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Rise & Shine Biscuit Kitchen (Multiple Locations)
$ - North Carolina Biscuits - Try the biscuit of the day!!! - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Ultreia
$$ - Spanish Tapas - Delightful patio for tapas and drinks. - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
The Weather Vane Cafe
$ - Fun and Funky - Excellent food in a space that invites a break - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Barcelona Wine Bar
@megreidy
$$ - Traditional Spanish Food - Reservations STRONGLY encouraged - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Details
Bonnie Brae Ice Cream
@megreidy
$ - Timeless Local Ice Cream - The line moves quickly - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Details
Rise & Shine Biscuit Kitchen
@megreidy
$ - North Carolina Biscuits - Try the biscuit of the day!!! - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Details
Ultreia
@megreidy
$$ - Spanish Tapas - Delightful patio for tapas and drinks. - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Details
The Weathervane Cafe
@megreidy
$ - Fun and Funky - Excellent food in a space that invites a break - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Details
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