Where to eat in Denver

34 independent restaurants, bakeries and food spots in Denver. Chains are left out.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

Eat
Azucar Bakery
Café, dessert restaurant and bakery. Sit-down area with LavAzza coffee, fruit smoothies, pastries, Inca Kola, tarts, cookies, cupcakes, ice cream.
10AM-7PM
Eat
Bennie Blanco's
Bennie Blanco's is a classic hole-in-the-wall pizza joint, and in this case the phrase is literal. There's no seating, but big, New York-style slices fresh from the oven can be had for as little as $3.00 a slice.
Eat
Blue Bonnet
A noisy bar featuring southwest/Tex-Mex in Denver. There is patio seating and two separate dining rooms that are a bit quieter than the main bar. Consistently rated a "Best of" in various local polls.
Eat
Buckhorn Exchange
Denver's oldest restaurant, from 1893, played host to famous guest after famous guest, arguably starting with one President Teddy Roosevelt in 1905. Without a doubt, this is as touristy as it gets, but it is nonetheless absolutely worth a visit. Famous for its game meat, both prosaic and rare, the buffalo tenderloin is exceptional, but more adventurous palates can go after the rattlesnake dip, alligator tail, ostrich medallions, or even yak steak! (Call ahead to check ostrich and yak availability.) The place is saturated in Old West kitsch, aging wood, and animal heads, and Th-Sa nights Roz Brown stops by to croon old cowboy tunes accompanied by his autoharp.
Lunch: Mon-Fri 11AM-2PM; dinner: Mon-Thu 5:30PM-9PM, Fri Sat 5PM-10PM, Sun 5PM-9PM$25-60
Eat
Cherry Cricket
Once featured on the Travel Channel's Man vs. Food, the Cherry Cricket is known for having a massive variety of toppings to put on your burger, including such oddities as melted peanut butter, fried eggs, and cream cheese.
Eat
D Bar Desserts
Dessert is the main course at d Bar, especially with celebrity chef Keegan Gerhard making the delectable desserts. The menu does includes savory items as well as Allegro Coffee to go with your sweets.
Eat
El Taco de Mexico
This small Mexican lunch-counter offers many delicious food choices for the adventurous palate.
Eat
Empress Seafood
Empress has long been the queen of dim-sum and affordable yet flavorful seafood selections from all over Asia.
Eat
Far East Center
Several southeast Asian restaurants located in this area offer a wide variety of pho, noodle houses, upscale Vietnamese, dim sum and other Asian cuisines. Pho 95, Pho Duy, Super Star Asian and Saigon Bowl are a few of the places to try in this diverse and delicious culinary corridor.
Eat
Illegal Pete's
A local favorite hangout with great, cheap burritos. Its patio is directly on the 16th St Mall, making it a great place to people watch.
Eat
Imperial Chinese
The Imperial is Denver's premier Chinese restaurant and has been since the 1990s.
Dinner entrées range from $10-30, with all but the Peking Duck and various specials under $22
Eat
India Express Denver
Indian restaurant with a wide range of gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan options. Dishes include butter chicken, tikka masala, biryani, and several vegetarian choices. Spice levels range from mild to hot. Featured on Visit Denver. Mid-range, near Cherry Creek North.
11AM-10PM$20-30
Eat
Jerusalem
Open until 3AM, this small but excellent Middle Eastern restaurant offers great no-frills food in a laid-back and hip atmosphere.
Eat
Levən Deli
Leven
A bakery with wine and a deli counter, or a deli with an active oven? Either way, the baked goods and sandwiches are excellent. At 11am, the menu switches from breakfast to lunch. Outdoor seating is glorious in warm sunny weather.
Mon–Fri 8AM-7PM, Sat Sun 8AM-4PM$15-30 including tax and tip
Eat
Olive & Finch
A small deli counter indoors serves grab and go coffee and sandwiches for the train commuters, while a dozen tables on the patio allow for more relaxed dining. Order at the counter, and staff bring you the food.
Daily 7AM-9PMlunch $15–25 per person
Eat
Patzcuaro's Mexican Restaurant
This neighborhood favorite has the most amazing tacos and green chili.
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Pete's Kitchen
This combination Greek restaurant and short-order diner is open 24 hours a day and has a great Greek salad and French toast. It's a favorite of local celebrities as well.
Eat
Sam's No. 3
Just a block off the 16th Street Mall and across the street from the Denver Center of Performing Arts Complex, this family-owned restaurant has been feeding Denver and its visitors since 1927. Featured on Diners, Drive-ins & Dives for their Famous Kickin' Pork Green Chili, it's not a spot to be missed.
Eat
Snooze
Inventive, trendy (and really good) breakfast is the show-stopper at the east edge of LoDo, and you can expect the place to get extremely crowded on weekends. The thick, rich hot chocolate is definitely worth ordering.
Mon-Fri 6:30AM-2:30PM, Sat Sun 7AM-2:30PM$8-20
Eat
The Wolf's Tailor
This Michelin-starred restaurant puts a lot of care into a sustainable, seasonal chef's tasting menu. The chef's menu is the only offering. Seating indoors or in a small garden outdoors.
$175/person + tax
Eat
Urban Farmer
This is a most curious hybrid: a committee steakhouse with serious, delicious vegan options on the menu. High quality with a price to suit. In a heritage building, for which the city tacks a small maintenance charge onto your bill. Outdoor tables along Wazee Street are pleasant when the weather cooperates.
Mon–Sat 4–10PM, Sun 4–9PM, Sat Sun 9AM-2PM$100/person including tax and tip
Eat
Venice Ristorante
Amazing, authentic Italian. Very expensive. Very romantic. Very good. Reservations highly recommended.
Eat Not mapped
Snarf's Sandwiches
Celebrated local chain of off-beat sandwich shops offering a variety of store-made ingredients, including their signature hot pepper giardiniera, in both traditional deli-style and more adventurous combinations. Founded in Boulder and now a Colorado-wide mainstay, with a dozen locations around the Denver area alone. Ask about their "Not-on-the-Menu Menu".
Eat
Barolo Grill
Decadent Italian.
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Bubu Republic
303 16th St Mall #3
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D'Corazon Mexican Restaurant
1530 Blake St Unit C
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Denver Döner
480 16th St Mall
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Denver Ted's Cheesesteaks
2020 Lawrence St Unit A
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La Popular Food Company
2033 Lawrence St
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Lazo Empanadas
303 16th St Mall
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Mexico City Lounge
2115 Larimer St
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The Denver Central Market
2669 Larimer St
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Wally's Wisconsin Tavern
Bar & grill.
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Zoe Ma Ma
Chinese street food

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Denver (CC BY-SA 4.0).