
20 restaurants that scream “Denver”

Denver’s greatest restaurants reflect the city’s Rocky Mountain soul and its metropolitan heart. The result is a unique dining scene that’s equal parts rugged and refined.
Join the pinky-up crowd for tea, scones, and finger sandwiches at a storied hotel downtown. Check out an iconic Lincoln Park steakhouse complete with mounted game on the walls. Travel to Paris, if only momentarily, at a quaint cafe and bakery in Denver Tech Center.
Get to know the Mile High City through some of its best restaurants. Read on for a guide to 20 spots that scream “Denver.”
When a place feels as cozy as Spuntino, it’s bound to remain one of the top restaurants in the city. Diners can sit and chat with co-owner Elliot Strathmann about his amaro program and well-curated Italian wine list. Tap into Strathmann’s knowledge for the perfect drink to go with executive chef Cindhura Reddy’s exquisite Italian food, which comes with Colorado and Indian twists—the latter flavors are homages to Reddy’s Indian roots. The menu changes with the seasons and might feature toasty arancini with Hatch green chiles and white cheddar and wild-tracked Rocky Mountain elk tartare with toasted masala aioli and ajwain seed crisps.
When a place feels as cozy as Spuntino, it’s bound to remain one of the top restaurants in the city. Diners can sit and chat with co-owner Elliot Strathmann about his amaro program and well-curated Italian wine list. Tap into Strathmann’s knowledge for the perfect drink to go with executive chef Cindhura Reddy’s exquisite Italian food, which comes with Colorado and Indian twists—the latter flavors are homages to Reddy’s Indian roots. The menu changes with the seasons and might feature toasty arancini with Hatch green chiles and white cheddar and wild-tracked Rocky Mountain elk tartare with toasted masala aioli and ajwain seed crisps.
There weren’t many fine-dining restaurants around Larimer Square when James Beard Award-winning chef Jennifer Jasinski opened Rioja in 2004. So the restaurant is considered a pioneer that blazed the trail for other innovative spots to descend on this historic block. Expect Mediterranean-inspired fare with local flavors, such as smoked sweet potato soup, grilled octopus tonnato, and housemade pastas tricked out with artichoke mousse, seasonal produce, and duck sausage. There’s also a tasting menu available upon request. Despite the white tablecloths, Rioja maintains an easygoing vibe. The restaurant remains a Denver staple for brunch, lunch and dinner, and Denver wouldn’t be the same without it—or Jasinski’s other beloved restaurants including Bistro Vendome, Stoic & Genuine, and Ultreia.
There weren’t many fine-dining restaurants around Larimer Square when James Beard Award-winning chef Jennifer Jasinski opened Rioja in 2004. So the restaurant is considered a pioneer that blazed the trail for other innovative spots to descend on this historic block. Expect Mediterranean-inspired fare with local flavors, such as smoked sweet potato soup, grilled octopus tonnato, and housemade pastas tricked out with artichoke mousse, seasonal produce, and duck sausage. There’s also a tasting menu available upon request. Despite the white tablecloths, Rioja maintains an easygoing vibe. The restaurant remains a Denver staple for brunch, lunch and dinner, and Denver wouldn’t be the same without it—or Jasinski’s other beloved restaurants including Bistro Vendome, Stoic & Genuine, and Ultreia.
Classic American is the best way to describe what’s served at this restaurant. Secret Sauce—the hospitality group behind neighboring pan-Asian spot Ace Eat Serve—opened Steuben’s in 2006. It’s a place for solid comfort food, from pot roast to fried chicken to green chile cheeseburgers, which are a staple in the Denver diet. Steuben’s staying power lies in consistency: It kept its original menu intact save for the addition of a popular hot chicken. The restaurant is also great for kids, with a playful pint-sized menu that includes a milk flight.
Classic American is the best way to describe what’s served at this restaurant. Secret Sauce—the hospitality group behind neighboring pan-Asian spot Ace Eat Serve—opened Steuben’s in 2006. It’s a place for solid comfort food, from pot roast to fried chicken to green chile cheeseburgers, which are a staple in the Denver diet. Steuben’s staying power lies in consistency: It kept its original menu intact save for the addition of a popular hot chicken. The restaurant is also great for kids, with a playful pint-sized menu that includes a milk flight.
Chef Christopher Lin has been immersed in Chinese American food since he was a child, thanks to his Chinese immigrant parents and their New Hampshire restaurant. Luckily for Denver, Lin brought his skills to Congress Park, where he creates shareable platters such as hot and sour shredded potato salad with wood ear mushroom, shrimp fried rice, twice-cooked pork belly, and chongqing chicken spiked with chiles and Sichuan peppers. A lot of the dishes sound familiar to any Chinese food lover, but they tend to have a little twist: The lo mein has confit duck leg in it and the barbecued spare ribs are spiced with peanuts, for example. The setting leans modern with thick wood tables, padded chairs, and a row of stools along a wall of windows. There are also outside seats for balmier days and a full bar that you can sit at to sip a yuzu highball or glass of dry Riesling.
Chef Christopher Lin has been immersed in Chinese American food since he was a child, thanks to his Chinese immigrant parents and their New Hampshire restaurant. Luckily for Denver, Lin brought his skills to Congress Park, where he creates shareable platters such as hot and sour shredded potato salad with wood ear mushroom, shrimp fried rice, twice-cooked pork belly, and chongqing chicken spiked with chiles and Sichuan peppers. A lot of the dishes sound familiar to any Chinese food lover, but they tend to have a little twist: The lo mein has confit duck leg in it and the barbecued spare ribs are spiced with peanuts, for example. The setting leans modern with thick wood tables, padded chairs, and a row of stools along a wall of windows. There are also outside seats for balmier days and a full bar that you can sit at to sip a yuzu highball or glass of dry Riesling.
Family-style Italian used to be plentiful in Denver, but many of those places have sadly shuttered in the last decade. That isn’t the case with Carmine’s on Penn, which has been going strong since opening in 1994. The restaurant looks like a traditional red-sauce joint, with candles on the tables and simple, sturdy furniture and decor. You’ll find two portion sizes on the menu: The smaller one for two people, marked with a “T,” or the larger for groups, marked with an “F.” Kick off dinner with a classic Caesar salad complete with white anchovies, then make way for vodka sauce-drenched ravioli or baked ziti. The wine list is made up of all Italian varietals, ideal for pairing with the bolognese or spaghetti in clam sauce.
Family-style Italian used to be plentiful in Denver, but many of those places have sadly shuttered in the last decade. That isn’t the case with Carmine’s on Penn, which has been going strong since opening in 1994. The restaurant looks like a traditional red-sauce joint, with candles on the tables and simple, sturdy furniture and decor. You’ll find two portion sizes on the menu: The smaller one for two people, marked with a “T,” or the larger for groups, marked with an “F.” Kick off dinner with a classic Caesar salad complete with white anchovies, then make way for vodka sauce-drenched ravioli or baked ziti. The wine list is made up of all Italian varietals, ideal for pairing with the bolognese or spaghetti in clam sauce.
If you love meat, Buckhorn Exchange should be on your list as a must-visit Denver restaurant. After all, it’s an iconic city spot that was founded in 1893, back when the area was still considered the Old West. The space and offerings have changed since then, and now Buckhorn Exchange mainly specializes in steak and game meat. In addition to the beef and bison steaks, the menu includes lesser-seen options such as Rocky Mountain oysters, fried alligator tail, and rattlesnake marinated in red chile and lime. Reserve a table in one of the many rooms that make up this old house (a National Historic Landmark), all red-checkered tablecloths, deep red walls, and dark wood paneling. There are more than 500 taxidermy animals mounted on the walls and throughout the space, plus a whole lot of history to digest with your meal.
If you love meat, Buckhorn Exchange should be on your list as a must-visit Denver restaurant. After all, it’s an iconic city spot that was founded in 1893, back when the area was still considered the Old West. The space and offerings have changed since then, and now Buckhorn Exchange mainly specializes in steak and game meat. In addition to the beef and bison steaks, the menu includes lesser-seen options such as Rocky Mountain oysters, fried alligator tail, and rattlesnake marinated in red chile and lime. Reserve a table in one of the many rooms that make up this old house (a National Historic Landmark), all red-checkered tablecloths, deep red walls, and dark wood paneling. There are more than 500 taxidermy animals mounted on the walls and throughout the space, plus a whole lot of history to digest with your meal.
Tamayo was locally loved chef Richard Sandoval’s first Denver venture more than two decades ago. Tamayo has consistently delivered inventive modern Mexican fare to locals and visitors over the years, and it’s always a go-to among the lunch crowd and nighttime theater goers. Order dishes such as crab-topped guacamole, red snapper ceviche, lobster enchiladas, and a side of caramelized plantains with chipotle butter. Don’t leave without getting the housemade churros which come with cinnamon-chocolate and caramel sauces for dipping. The drinks list is equally impressive, headlined by tequila and mezcal as the main spirits of choice. After Tamayo, check out Sandoval’s empire that includes Toro Latin Kitchen + Lounge in Cherry Creek, plus other hotspots across Colorado.
Tamayo was locally loved chef Richard Sandoval’s first Denver venture more than two decades ago. Tamayo has consistently delivered inventive modern Mexican fare to locals and visitors over the years, and it’s always a go-to among the lunch crowd and nighttime theater goers. Order dishes such as crab-topped guacamole, red snapper ceviche, lobster enchiladas, and a side of caramelized plantains with chipotle butter. Don’t leave without getting the housemade churros which come with cinnamon-chocolate and caramel sauces for dipping. The drinks list is equally impressive, headlined by tequila and mezcal as the main spirits of choice. After Tamayo, check out Sandoval’s empire that includes Toro Latin Kitchen + Lounge in Cherry Creek, plus other hotspots across Colorado.
Before decent cocktails could be found at any diner, dive, or takeout spot, Williams & Graham revitalized the speakeasy in Denver and started serving really, really good drinks. When you walk into the tiny space, you can’t see the real bar. It’s hidden behind a bookshelf, and diners can enter only when a table or seat is ready. There’s a simple but solid food menu by executive chef Grant Bushkuhl that includes a signature dry-aged beef burger with Port Salut cheese or roasted bone marrow with bacon jam, among other knockouts. If none of the 60-plus classic cocktails on the menu sound right, the bartender will mix up a beverage to suit your tastes.
Before decent cocktails could be found at any diner, dive, or takeout spot, Williams & Graham revitalized the speakeasy in Denver and started serving really, really good drinks. When you walk into the tiny space, you can’t see the real bar. It’s hidden behind a bookshelf, and diners can enter only when a table or seat is ready. There’s a simple but solid food menu by executive chef Grant Bushkuhl that includes a signature dry-aged beef burger with Port Salut cheese or roasted bone marrow with bacon jam, among other knockouts. If none of the 60-plus classic cocktails on the menu sound right, the bartender will mix up a beverage to suit your tastes.