If you’re not sure where to start, I’m here to share my top recommended places to eat in Denver! Pin or bookmark this page, because you’ll want to try out these restaurants at some point!

Best Breakfast and Brunch Restaurants in Denver

Denver Biscuit Co

If you’re anything like me and you LOVE biscuits and gravy, then Denver Biscuit Co is a no-brainer. They offer biscuit sandwiches, biscuit shrimp and grits, biscuit pot pie and even biscuit cinnamon rolls! If the dish can be made from biscuits, you’ll probably find it here. This casual eatery is well-known and perhaps one of the best breakfast restaurants in Denver.

The hearty, comfort Southern food certainly hits the spot, especially in Denver’s chilly mornings. May I suggest bringing your appetite and trying The Franklin – a biscuit sandwich with buttermilk fried chicken, bacon, and cheddar cheese – smothered in sausage (or vegetarian) gravy! There are several locations, but I visited the one at Stanley Marketplace, which is a community-focused marketplace with over 50 food and drink stalls, shops, and more!

Location: Inside Stanley Marketplace, Aurora, Colorado.
2501 Dallas St., Aurora, CO 80010
Denver Biscuit Co

Onefold

Undeniably, the crowded line at the front should tell you not to underestimate Onefold, a cute breakfast and lunch nook. It’s a restaurant that serves up family-inspired recipes made from scratch. Though physically small and cozy, Onefold brings food to the table that speaks volumes in flavor and execution. Perhaps it’s because many of the dishes are cooked in duck fat, which always enhances the taste.

Here, you’ll find eggs cooked all ways, Asian and Mexican influenced flavors, and portions that will keep you stuffed. The open kitchen and bright, minimal farmhouse-styled décor make the restaurant feel a little bigger than it is, but don’t be surprised if you’re asked to share a table with strangers due to the constant inflow of customers! My favorite here was the bacon fried rice with 2 duck-fat fried eggs! It’s mixed with chili oil, soy sauce, garlic, and your choice of maple or habanero Tender Belly bacon. The comforting duck congee porridge is also a great choice. Wash it all down with a cup of fresh-squeezed juice!

Location: West City Park
1420 E. 18th Ave, Denver, CO 80218
Onefold

Best Restaurants in Denver for a Night Out

Elway’s Downtown

If you’re looking for a delicious steakhouse, Elway’s Downtown is the perfect choice. Co-owned and named after Denver Bronco’s beloved quarterback John Elway, this restaurant combines the quality of a traditional steakhouse with the ambiance and menu options of a contemporary restaurant. Although the quality of the food and service is upscale, the ambiance is more casual and welcoming than you may expect.

Elway’s menu consists of a good variety of hot and cold appetizers, fresh salads, U.S.D.A. prime hand cut steaks with plenty of sauces and sides to add, as well as various classic meat and seafood dishes. For starters, I really enjoyed the South African lobster tails dipped in their house-made biting cocktail sauce! The lamb chop fondue was surprisingly tasty as well. I tend to shy away from lamb sometimes because of its gaminess. However, when you’re in Colorado, you have to try locally sourced Colorado lamb at least once, right? For the main meats, I tried two specials: the bison tomahawk and the Japanese A5 wagyu steak. Both were so satisfyingly delicious! Next time, I’ll want to try the rib eye and short rib!

Location: Downtown Denver, inside the lobby of The Ritz Carlton Denver.
1881 Curtis Street, Denver, CO 80202
Elway’s Downtown

Rioja

Another restaurant to try is the beautiful Rioja which boasts of Mediterranean-inspired but locally and seasonally influenced dishes. Chef Jennifer Jasinski creates elegant dishes out of simple ingredients, bringing out the bright flavors in each dish. As a result, she won a James Beard Award for “Best Chef in the Southwest” in 2013.

Prior to your meal, the staff offers you complimentary bread service, which was one of my favorite parts of dinner. A server brings a platter overflowing with various fresh-made bread like lavender sourdough, goat cheese & rosemary biscuits, focaccia, and kalamata olive bread. Then you get to pick which ones you want to try! For appetizers, the crispy Brussels sprouts salad with roasted kabocha squash, gooseberries, shaved apples, and hazelnuts is a great choice. It’s a refreshing mix of savory and sweet that I would’ve devoured – only if I didn’t have to share. For entrees, we tried the pastas and liked both the Colorado lamb and ricotta gnocchi and the tagliatelle and clams. The pasta tasted al dente, and the dishes were lighter than I expected. If you’re looking for a date night spot, consider Rioja.

Location: Historic Larimer Square, a charming old-town neighborhood worth a leisure stroll.  
1431 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80202
Rioja

Root Down

For some of the best restaurants in Denver, talk to the locals and they’ll tell you that Root Down is a neighborhood favorite! This fresh and funky restaurant converted from an old gas station and prides itself on a globally-influenced seasonal cuisine. Rather than tying itself to a specific genre of food, the chefs focus on organic and local ingredients.

Root Down’s offbeat mid-century decor, bright eclectic art and cozy ambiance are perfectly complemented by the bright and intense flavors of each dish. It’s loud, fun, and makes you feel like you’re in an underground house party. To begin with, try the roasted baby beet salad and Colombian arepas. Then move onto the mains, like the rockfish tom kha and Moroccan roasted chicken. A quick glance at these dishes instantly showcase the global influence of the menu. Every single dish I tried was delightful, and each item had its own distinct cultural taste. No wonder it’s a local favorite restaurant in Denver! Also note, the chefs also accommodate all dietary needs.

Location: Highlands, or “LoHi” Denver
1600 W. 33RD Ave, Denver, Co 80211
Root Down

Honorable Best Asian Restaurants in Denver

Viet’s Restaurant

If you happen to crave some authentic Asian food, Viet’s Restaurant is an unassuming Vietnamese restaurant tucked away in the corner of a strip mall. Granted, I haven’t visited many Asian restaurants in the city so I can’t say this is the “best” Asian Restaurant in Denver. However, some locals introduced me to this gem, and it was really delicious! From the outside, it may not look like much, but the food speaks for itself.

Viet’s offers practically every single Vietnamese dish you can think of eating! The menu is quite extensive. In fact, there are pages and pages of specials, spring rolls, noodles, rice plates, and more. Because we wanted to try a little bit of everything, we ordered family style to share. My favorites were the fresh papaya salad with shrimp and steamed pork, the Ca Kho To (sweet & spicy catfish in a clay pot) and Viet’s House 50/50, which came with deep fried softshell crab, grilled pork and shrimp, shrimp paste, shrimp tempura, egg rolls. Once the dish arrived, we rolled these into our own messy spring rolls, a fun hands-on experience for everyone! For delicious and authentic Vietnamese cuisine, add this one to your list.

Location: Southwest Denver
333 S. Federal Blvd, Denver, CO 80219
Viet’s Restaurant

Without a doubt, Denver has many great food options, and these are just a few! Have you been to any of them? Or if you’ve been, what do you think are some of the best restaurants in Denver?

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What are the Ice Castles?

The first Ice Castles were created in 2011, born from a father’s labor of love to bring happiness, magic, and joy to his children. What started out as a backyard ice cave has since grown tremendously in size and expanded to six locations – Colorado, Alberta, Minnesota, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, and Utah. *Update* – For the 2022 winter season, there will only be 5 locations – Minnesota, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Utah, and New York.

Its mission? To bring joy and winter memories to everyone around! It’s no longer just for kids – couples, families, and even friends travel from all over to see these incredible sites. In fact, this winter phenomenon was one of my main reasons for wanting to travel to Denver, Colorado. Although the Ice Castles aren’t exactly in Denver, the attraction is close enough to plan for an afternoon of fun. It’s a perfect place to go after lunch in Denver. As soon as ticket reservations opened online for this winter season, I booked some for me and my friends.

Arriving at the Winter Attraction

When the day finally arrived, my friends and I took a trip out to Dillon, which is about 1.5 hours or ~70 miles west of Denver. As we drove toward Dillion, we started seeing more snow and ice along the way! When we pulled up to the castle grounds, I eagerly scoped out the site, only to see that my view of the Ice Castles was blocked by a chain-link fence covered with tarp. I could still see the top of the ice structures peeking up over the fence though, and I could hardly wait to run inside.

After waiting in a short check-in line and signing a mandatory waiver, I walked into the ice castles! It’s a self-guided experience, so there is no one inside to tell you where to go or what to do. Now before you start picturing the castle in Frozen or any other Disney fairy-tale, I must warn you that these ice castles are not nearly as big or grand. However, the site is still very impressive! The whole frozen structure was built entirely by hand, with professional ice artists carefully placing each icicle by hand.

My Frozen Experience

It certainly felt magical at the Ice Castles. As I walked through the snow and brushed my hand along the walls of ice, listening to whimsical tunes that at times took a dramatic turn, I felt the childlike joy and wonder well up in me. I plopped myself on an icy throne and gazed at the rainbow colors dancing on the frozen walls as the sun began to set. My friends and I crawled through tunnels and felt the thrill as we slid down slippery ice slides, not once, twice, but three times.

I probably would have stayed longer to enjoy the nighttime fire show, but the cold was starting to set in my bones. Unlike Disney’s Frozen Queen Elsa, the cold unfortunately DOES bother me, so I eventually had to call it a night. I was not the least bit upset though, as I felt my time there was already more than memorable!

General Info about the Ice Castles

The Ice Castles typically run from late December or early January until March. The season really depends on the weather and varies by location, so make sure to look on their website for the specific city you want to visit. At the time of my visit, general admission tickets sold for $16.99 Monday – Thursday, and $20.99 Friday-Sunday and holidays. Child admission tickets (ages 4-11) sell for $11.99 Monday – Friday and $15.99. However, prices vary by location. There are also standby tickets, but I would NOT recommend buying standby tickets, for reasons stated in my tips below. On average, the attraction takes about an hour to see, give or take, depending on how many lines you want to wait in and how many photos you take.

Tips for your first visit to the Ice Castles

If you’re thinking about going, here are 6 practical tips for visitors checking out the Ice Castles for the first time:

1. Make your reservations early and online. You’ll have to pick the date and time you’ll be arriving, which are available in 30 minute increment slots. For example, you can choose to arrive on a Friday between 3-3:30 PM, but you can stay inside the Ice Castles for however long you want! Weekends and sunset hours are the most popular times, so those tickets will sell out early. If tickets sell out, there will be no standby tickets available. Not only are standby tickets MORE pricey, they’re also NOT guaranteed. Your best bet is to reserve in advance!
2. Plan to arrive just before sunset, so that you can see the ice castles during the day and at night. At night, the castles are lit up with colorful LED lights, and it is so pretty!
3. Wear snow boots or waterproof boots. Trust me, you don’t want to go in sneakers as you’ll be walking through a foot of snow at times. Also wear shoes with good grip, as some walkways are icy and slippery.
4. Bring gloves and hand-warmers. It gets so cold! I stuffed some hand warmers in my gloves, and they saved my fingers from falling off from the cold. No joke.
5. Wear snow or waterproof pants. As I mentioned, there are multiple ice slides! You get to sit on a mat on the longest slide, but for the smaller slides (hence, shorter lines), you sit directly on ice. Having thick waterproof pants will help you keep warm, stay dry, and give you an extra cushion!
6. Use the restroom before you go. There are portable toilets just outside the entrance of the Ice Castles, but none inside. Once you enter the Ice Castles grounds, you probably won’t want to make your way out and back in again, as the exit and entrance are one-way and on opposite sides.

These Ice Castles are the perfect excuse to travel in the winter! Would you consider going to the Ice Castles phenomenon? If you have any other questions, feel free to ask me in the comments below!

For more info, you can check out the Ice Castles official website here.

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