I haven’t lived in Denver for quite some time, but here’s a little list of my favorite places.
CITY PARK
Fantastic park with a view westward of the Denver skyline with the mountains behind it.
CHEESEMAN PARK
Cheeseman Park is located between 8th St. & 13th St. right East of Downing. It’s a very large park with a ton of space to do fun things like play kickball or volleyball. I love how open it is.
COORS BREWERY
The Coors Brewery is the third-largest brewer in the United States. The brewery is located in Golden, Colorado (about a 20 minute drive West of Denver). They give daily tours of the brewery and you can discover all of the classic beers as well as their delicious craft beers. Blue Moon is my favorite.
COORS STADIUM
Home of the Colorado Rockies. A baseball game is never a bad idea. The stadium is in neighborhood called the Ballpark district, which is a great place for brewery hopping and a stroll.
DENVER ART MUSEUM (DAM)
The new DAM building was built in 2006. Located in Civic Center, it is known for its collection of American Indian Art. The architecture is now one of the most distinctive buildings in the city of Denver, with a look like nothing ever seen before. According to their website, it’s one of the biggest art museums between the West Coast and Chicago. Some of the big recent expos was Yves Saint Laurent and Becoming Van Gogh.
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN PARK
This viewpoint is right West of Golden Colorado. It’s a wonderful place to drive up, or hike, to catch a beautiful view of the hogback. Lookout Mountain is also where Buffalo Bill’s Grave is.
MAYAN THEATRE
A fabulous movie theatre on South Broadway. See a movie here if you can!
RED ROCKS AMPHITHEATRE
One of the most beautiful concert venues in the entire world.
SOUTH BROADWAY DISTRICT
I love this neighborhood. It’s got all the old signs and store fronts with a modern twist. The antique shopping is wonderful. Read more.
16TH STREET MALL & PAVILLIONS
16th Street Mall is a pedestrian street with heaps of shops and restaurants. The Champs Elysées of Denver. A nice walk though, with Union Station at the north end.
CITY O CITY
Fabulous restaurant and café on 13th. It’s expanded recently. I love stopping in for an iced coffee while strolling in Capital Hill. Great for snacks and a happy hour beer. Or go for a coffee.
HIGHLAND TAP & BURGER
Burger joint in the Northwest neighborhood. Located on 32nd avenue, you can stop in for a delicious burger and a beer of your choice at a great price. I love to customize my burger here. And their fries are the bomb, FYI.
HOPS AND PIE
Delicious pizza and delicious beer. ‘Nuff said.
JELLY
Magical breakfast joint.
LINGER
Constructed in the former Olinger’s Mortuary, Linger has added quite a bit of spunk to the Denver Highlands. The restaurant offers american and international tapas with your favorite local pint or one of many deliciously crafted cocktails. The theme goes along with the mortuary ideas, with vintage medicine bottles as water pitchers and metal clipboards for the menus. It’s to die for. I highly recommend stopping by for a cocktail on the terrace with a view of the Mile High City, followed by sliding in a comfy booth enjoying delicious grub. Reservations are highly recommended.
PINCHE TACOS
Epic tacos à la carte. Enough said. York & Colfax. Also in the Highlands.
THE SHOPPE
My favorite cupcake shop located on East Colfax. They are also known for their pie and their cereal on the menu. Pop in an play games for hours.
STEUBEN’S FOOD SERVICE
One of Denver’s staples for traditional American comfort food: mac ‘n cheese, fried chicken, smoked salmon & brussel sprouts, habanero honey fried corn, deviled eggs…Highlighted by their 40’s-60’s flare, on their website they put it perfectly: “Eat at Steuben’s. Take-Out from Steuben’s. Drink at Steuben’s. Feel at home, in Denver, at Steuben’s.”
SWEET ACTION ICE CREAM
Fantastic ice cream made with natural Colorado ingredients. They also have a few vegan flavors available daily. I personally go for the blackberry lemon sorbet when it’s on the menu.
TOM’S URBAN 24
Tom’s Urban 24 is founded by the fantastically innovative Tom Ryan. Killer breakfast burritos. Wonderful ambiance. Perfect place for a late night dinner with friends.
THE WALNUT ROOM
The Walnut Room has delicious thin-crust pizza. It’s casual and delicious.
VERT KITCHEN
Vert Kitchen is one of my favorite spots in Denver (am I saying this about everything?). Vert has a very healthy menu that will wake up your nutritional senses. They have a delicious sandwich selection, with vegan and vegetarian options. Their sides are divine, I’m a fan of their quinoa salad. Great for lunch on a sunny day- pop a squat on their back patio.
ADRIFT
Denver’s phenomenal Tiki bar. You’ll forget you’re in the Rockies while sipping your Mai Tai. In the Baker neighborhood near many other fabulous places.
BEATRICE & WOODSLEY
A must-see spot on South Broadway. Go in for dinner, or even just a glass of wine. The decor is unlike any other place I’ve ever seen: the Colorado wilderness. Focused on seasonal dishes, B&W gives a fresh taste to traditional American dishes. Recos are highly recommended.
BRECKENRIDGE BREWERY
Breck Brewery has a location in the center of the Ballpark neighborhood. If you sit by the windows, you’ll have a view of Coors Stadium. Their beer-battered fried pickles are one of my favorite things on earth. They’ve always got seasonal flights of local beers on tap. The town of Breckenridge is located about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Denver’s city center.
THE CRUISE ROOM
This bar was hidden for decades before it was rediscovered by a staff member of the Oxford Hotel and remade into the bar that it once was, which opened the day after the Prohibition was repealed in 1933 . It is an art deco heaven with lighting that will make you feel like you’re in an old fashioned movie while you sip your martini. I am a fan of their lemon drop martini. They’ve also got an adorable jukebox. Read more.
DENVER BEER CO.
I love this brewery. It’s very open and spacious, with old garage doors. They’ve got a delicious choice of beers on tap, seasonal and year-round. It’s a newer brewery, but with a clear identity and distinctive brews. Their philosophy is all about reflecting their Denverites that drink their beers. And dogs are allowed there! I think it’s fantastic that their bar is built from beetle kill pine wood, a new industry of woodwork that is utilizing the pines that are destroyed by beetle kill across the state of Colorado. They are all about staying as sustainable as possible.
GREAT DIVIDE BREWING CO.
Great Divide’s has some of my favorite beers. I first fell in love with their Raspberry Ale a few years ago. Not only do they have the best labels I’ve ever seen, but they have some damn good beers. Amongst my favorites are Hey Day, Colette and Yeti. You’re bound to find something you will love there. They have free tours every hour as well certain days, so with a pint in hand, check out their process and all about their beer making strategy. They also just celebrated their 19th Anniversary!
LITTLE BEAR SALOON
A bit of hike from downtown Denver, but much worth it. Saloon with live music. My parents used to come and dance here in the 70s.
WILLIAMS & GRAHAM
I just love this speakeasy. W&G is located in the LoHi district on the corner of 32nd & Tejon. The staff is friendly as can be, and the concept is just fantastic. They make you feel like a regular at their bar during the Prohibition. Delicious cocktails.