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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Getting to sleep in and saunter into a restaurant late-morning or early afternoon with my favorite people to share a meal that’s a hybrid of breakfast and lunch almost always feels special. It’s fun, relaxing, and something that definitely sparks joy. Add in a gorgeous view, and my day is complete!

The fairly new restaurant GuacAmigos in Newport Beach, California is a perfect brunch spot if you’re looking for a casual environment with delicious food and waterfront views. It’s a Tony Hawk restaurant located in the Newport Harbor, and the skateboards on the walls throughout the restaurant reflects that. The large windows that stretch to the ceiling let in a ton of natural light and beautiful up-close views of the harbor.

The menu consists of Mexican-inspired cuisine with a California twist. As they suggest, it’s “the heat of Mexico, the heart of California.” There are plenty of taco options, burritos, fajitas, enchiladas, and surf & turf, just to name a few. Their brunch menu includes dishes like chilaquiles, Mexican eggs benedict, and French toast.

For appetizers, I suggest starting with the Tableside Guacamole. Talk about a show and super FRESH guacamole – as in, the guacamole lady aka your guac-amigo literally cuts the avocado in front of you! I mean, how often do you get to see guacamole made to your liking? With mix-ins like corn, bacon, tomatoes, jalepeno, it’s quite a step-up from the regular guacamole appetizer. Plus, the tortilla chips are so addicting! They are so light, thin, and crispy! Even if you don’t order guacamole, they’ll bring you a basket of tortilla with salsa, and it is amazing.

GuacAmigos offers a variety of tacos, and you can’t leave without trying one. The lobster tacos and wagyu carne asada so are worth splurging for! They cost a pretty penny, and I can tell you I was pretty hesitant at seeing these prices when cheap taco shops are aplenty in Southern California. However, when the tacos arrived, I was sold. The big chunks of butter-poached lobster with grilled corn and salsa, roasted poblano sauce on paper thin tortilla was so delicious! And that wagyu carne asada? So tender! My skeptic soul was satisfied that it was really wagyu – it was the most tender carne asada I’ve ever had!

The Mexican eggs benedict is a fun twist on the classic breakfast dish. I love eggs benedicts, but paired with lobster?? Irresistible! More delicious lobster on top of ripe avocados and sopes was a wonderfully unique marriage of two cultural influences.

And as many weekend brunch spots, GuacAmigos offers bottomless mimosas! As a sangria lover though, I highly recommend their sangria! I love the mix of fresh fruit used, and it was a delightfully refreshing drink.

Restaurant: GuacAmigos
Address: 2607 West Pacific Coast Hwy, Newport Beach, CA 92663-4708

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