Denver Weekend Getaway
Itinerary Outline:
Friday Afternoon:
▻ Arrive
▻ Explore RiNo
▻ Dinner in RiNo
▻ Ice Cream or Nightcap in RiNo
Saturday:
▻ Quick Breakfast: Rise and Shine, Santiagos or The Weathervane depending on location
▻ Hike
▻ Post-Hike Beers
▻ Lunch
▻ Afternoon Activity: Cheesman Park, Denver Art Museum, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, or Meow Wolf
▻ Dinner
▻ Evening Activity: Dancing or Karaoke
Sunday:
▻ Farmers Market or Brunch (or both)
▻ Afternoon Activity: Union Station
▻ Lunch (Near Union Station)
Detailed options, locations, and recommendations below!
Friday
Afternoon: Arrive
✨Have a glass of water before you head out! Hydration is key for the dry climate, the altitude, and a good hike the next day! ✨
▻ Explore RiNo: Known for its vibrant murals, countless breweries, and eclectic vibes, RiNo is a great place to kick off your stay in Denver.
Start at one end of Larimer (The Rambler or Barcelona Wine Bar) and work your way to to the other. Pop into a brewery for a flight. Snap a photo in front of one of the murals, or grab a treat at The Denver Cental Market. Check out the link below for the scoop on events, happy hours, and promotions going on.
Evening: Dinner
Make sure to get something filling! Two of my favorite spots for dinner are below, but you can check out my guides for more suggestions and details!
▻ Barcelona Wine Bar
$$ - Traditional Spanish Food - Reservations STRONGLY encouraged -Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
▻ Los Chingones (Multiple locations)
$-$$ - Vibrant Mexican Food - Unbeatable Happy Hour and views - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Bonus: Ice Cream or Nightcap
Depending on how you're feeling, the night doesn't have to end after dinner. Personally, I always go for a sweet treat, but if nightcaps are your thing, Denver has plenty of those!
Ice Cream:
▻ Heaven Creamery RiNo
$-$$ - Delicious ice cream, coffee and dessert. They also do not use any processed sugar, artificial flavors, artificial colors, or additives. Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
▻ High Point Creamery
$-$$ - Eclectic flavors such as Basil with Blackberry Swirl - Vegan options & Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Nightcaps:
▻ Millers & Rossi
$-$$ - Art Gallery Mixed with Speak Easy and a Hint of Tiki Bar - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
▻The Red Barber
$-$$ - Spacous Rooftop with 360 Views of the Denver Skyline - Vegan options & Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Saturday
Morning: Quick Breakfast
Hiking early is necessary in Colorado for a few reasons: weather, traffic, and sun. If you are going to hike early, that means you need to eat early as well. So, check out these quick, optional to-go, and filling staples!
▻ Rise and Shine Biscuit Kitchen (Three Locations)
$ - North Carolina Biscuits - Try the biscuit of the day!!! - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
▻ Santiagos (Multiple Locations)
$ - Local's Go-To - Known for fresh and delicious breakfast burritos
▻ The Weathervane Cafe
$ - Fun and Funky - Excellent food in a space that invites a break - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
Mid-Moring: Mountains
Want to feel like a local? go for a hike and then grab a beer and something to eat! In the Colorado Rockies, the afternoon has a higher risk of storms, powerful sun, and getting stuck in traffic. So, getting out there early is your best bet for maximizing your time and safety. However, if you get stuck in traffic, that is the true Denver experience. 🙃
▻ Nightbird Gulch Trail ◦ 3.4 mi ◦ 2 hrs ◦ Elevation △ 882'
🍻 Pairing: New Terrain Brewery
▻ Panorama Point via Mule Deer Trail and Raccoon Trail ◦ 5 mi ◦ 2.5 hrs Elevation △ 1023'
🍻 Pairing: Holidaily Brewery (Gluten Free Brewery)
▻ Mason Creek Trail to Bear Paw Trail ◦ 8.2 mi ◦ 4 hrs ◦ Elevation △ 1499'
🍻 Pairing: Snowtap Taproom & Pizzeria
Afternoon: Lunch
Although grabbing food at the breweries above is always an option, a couple of places to grab a delicious lunch are:
▻ Happy Camper
$$ - Pizza & Pictures - Equally delicious and Instagram-able - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
▻ My Neighbor Felix (Multiple Locations)
$$ - Pan-Mexican - Culinary traditions from all parts of Mexico - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
▻ Tamayo
$$ - Innovative Mexican - Great patio, rooftop deck, and Happy Hour
Late Afternoon: Activities
If you've hiked and had lunch and are looking for more activities, your hike may not have been hard enough... or you are just a champion. Some excellent Saturday afternoon options in Denver are:
▻ Denver Museum of Nature & Science - Ever-changing and interesting exhibits, and it has a great view from the Anschutz Family Sky Terrace ($25)
▻ Meow Wolf Denver ($40 nonresidents, $30 residents)
▻ Relax in Cheesman Park (Free)
▻ Denver Art Museum - ($19 nonresidents, $15 Residents)
Evening: Dinner
▻ Avanti
$-$$ - Food Vendors & Views Galore! - Something for everyone - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
▻ Bao Brewhouse
$$ - Immersive Dining - Excellent atmosphere, even better food! - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
▻ Uncle (Two Locations)
$$ - Japanese Ramen & Cuisine - Delicious!
Evening: Activities
Looking to maximize the weekend and get out on the town? Here are my recommendations for karaoke, and dancing.
▻ Dancing
💃🏻 La Rumba ⇢ the local go-to for salsa, bachata, and merengue. I
🤠 Grizzly Rose⇢ Two-stepping, line dances, and country music *It's a inconveniently located*
🕺🏻Milk Bar⇢ an "underground" club with different music in every room/floor. *Entrance is in an alleyway*
▻ Karaoke: Wild Right
🎤 Wild Right ⇢ dive bar has karaoke, cheap drinks, and a good mix of regulars.
Sunday
Morning: Brunch or Farmers Market
Sundays are for... farmer's market or brunch. You decide! (Or do both!)
Farmers' markets
Farmers' markets are abundant in Denver and are open on Sunday mornings from early summer to fall. From coffee to people watching, to flowers that make your mouth go numb, to life-giving juices, breakfast sandwiches, and local art, you can find almost anything at these markets.
👩🏼🌾 The Farmers' Market at Higlands Square ◦ 21 May - 15 Oct ◦ 9am - 1pm
👩🏼🌾 South Pearl Street Framers' Market ◦ 7 May - 12 Nov ◦ 9am - 1pm
Brunch:
▻ Sassafras
$$ - New Orleans & Southern Comfort Food - Excellent for brunch - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
✨ Great location if you want to go to the Highlands Farmers Market as well✨
▻ Snooze, an A.M Eatery (Multiple Locations)
$$ - A Denver Classic - VERY popular American diner experience - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
✨ If you have to check out of your hotel early or have an early afternoon flight, I recommend packing your bags and heading to the Snooze in Union Station. You can enjoy breakfast and then hop on the train to the Airport✨
▻ The Cookery at Myrtle Hill
$$ - Fusion of Seasonal and Local - A flavorful and filling brunch - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
✨ One of my personal favorites✨
Afternoon: Activity & Lunch
Looking to use every last moment of your time in Denver? Head to Union Station! If you don't have a car, pack your bags before you head out, and arrive at the train station early enough to enjoy walking around LoDo, grabbing a bite at Snooze, Ulteria, or Mercantile Dining and Provisions.
▻ Mercantile Dining and Provision
$$-$$$ - Fresh, Seasonal, and Healthy Fare - Delightful after travel - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
▻ Snooze, an A.M Eatery (Multiple Locations)
$$ - A Denver Classic - VERY popular American diner experience - Vegetarian Friendly 🌱
▻ Ultreia
$$ - Spanish Tapas - Delightful patio for tapas and drinks.
Hotel Recommendations
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