Top 10 Food & Drink Favorites in Denver
Denver is a food and drink lover’s paradise. With long strips of shops and restaurants, it’s easy to spend an afternoon or evening bopping from one place to the next. This is basically what we spent a good portion of our weekend in Denver doing. Here’s our top 10 food and drink favorites that we recommend you try next time you’re in Denver.
For the Foodies:
Snooze: We’d read about this one quite a few times on the must try places in Denver list. They have a few spots around the city, but there’s one conveniently located in Union Station. Whether you’re feeling eggs, pancakes or a breakfast burrito, this breakfast spot is diner food with an upscale twist. It’s the perfect place to grab brunch before heading back to the airport. It’s not a huge spot though, so be prepared for a wait.
Milkbox: We didn’t even make it out of Union Station before we found one of our top Denver picks. Milkbox is an ice cream shop right inside of the train station, and man is it good. They had unique flavors as well as fun spins on classic favorites. Grab a scoop and a chair outside and enjoy some good ice cream and people watching.
D-Bar: This dessert bar is the perfect way to end the night, but they also offer plenty of dinner options, so you can spend your entire evening there. They have some really fun takes on classic recipes, and the prices are reasonable (something that shocked us). Try the cookie plate for some gooey goodness and wash it down with a glass of milk. You get to try 4 different cookies, so it’s almost too much for one person. If you’re trying to end the night with something cool and refreshing, try one of their creamy milkshakes. I got the mint chocolate chip, and it was to die for.
Venice Ristorante: Sometimes nothing sounds better than a big plate of pasta, which is why we made our way to this spot just down the street from Union Station. Bring your appetite because the portions are huge. A caesar salad is big enough for two to split and the caprese makes the perfect appetizer for the table. The pasta and risotto are delicious, but you might think about splitting or be prepared for a whole lot of leftovers.
Il Posto: This place booked up quickly, so we didn’t have the chance to get dinner. We were able to grab a seat at the bar and grab a drink and appetizer. This is the perfect spot to grab a small bite and enjoy a casual evening with friends as you make your way down Larimer street.
For the drink lover:
Viewhouse Ballpark: There’s nothing overly special about the drinks or service here – it’s a pretty standard sports bar. However, the views are what really set this place apart. Right across the street from Coors Field, the outdoor deck gives you great views of the game and the lights of Denver.
Jackson’s LODO: This is another one of those places where the drinks and service are nothing special, but there is a cool outdoor roof that hosts DJs in the summer. Spend the evening swaying along to your favorite songs and meeting tons of other young people. The only downside is that this experience is fairly weather dependent. This place draws an early 20s-early 30s crowd and has a bit of a college feel, so if you’re looking for a more low-key or sophisticated experience, this is not the place for you.
Barcelona Wine Bar: If you’re looking for a place to enjoy a casual evening and some good conversation, this is the place to do it. The owner spent time in Italy learning from winemakers and still has connections to this day. Whether you like sweet or dry, red or white, there’s a flight for everyone.
Garage Sale: I’ve never seen this concept done before Denver. If you’re interested in grabbing a drink and digging through thrifted clothes/records, this is the place for you. Honestly, the clothes are ridiculously overpriced, but it was kind of neat to grab a drink from a thrift shop.
Sidecar Lounge: Head to LODO for a strip of bars filled with young people. This is kind of your standard dive-bar feel, but the servers were fun and the drink specials were interesting. Try the purple starf***er – a grape soda flavored drink with pop rocks around the edge of the glass. It takes you back to your youth. PRO TIP: They give you a free drink at their sister bar, the Refinery, so make sure to bop over there to use it.
With international travel still a bit difficult, make sure to check out some of our other U.S. favorites for fun cities to visit close to home.
