Best Restaurants in Denver

I am an avid foodie. And yes, I know the word “foodie” is so cringe and so 2016, but it’s true. I love food and I love to eat. And Denver has some of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to. So here’s a roundup of the best (aka my favorite) restaurants in Denver!

bar dough restaurant, best denver restaurants — ^{small plates at bar dough}

My favorite restaurants in Denver, by type of cuisine

American Restaurants

Sassafras was one of the first restaurants I ever ate at in Denver. In fact, it may have been the first. So it has a soft spot in my heart. But boy oh boy is this place good. It has one of my favorite brunches ever. My favorite items? The shrimp and grits and breakfast mac. And make sure you get an order of beignets!

Mercantile is a delicious restaurant located in Union Station. The folks at Mercantile aim to bridge the gap between farmer and table by creating a revolving menu based on what’s fresh. Their pastas are always incredible!

Wildflower is one of my favorite restaurants in Denver. I was taken here for my birthday and we loved it so much we came back 2 weeks later. The menu changes seasonally but if the Focaccia or Grilled Artichokes are on the menu, get them! The drinks here are also great.

Asian Restaurants

ChoLon Bistro is an incredible modern Asian restaurant who’s name means “Big Market” in Vietnamese. The restaurant plays on different traditional dishes but with a unique twist. Their french onion soup dumplings are the perfect indication of this!

Uncle Ramen is a delicious ramen joint which also serves super yummy bao buns. Pro tip: this place gets super busy, get here when it opens or order to-go!

Osaka’s Ramen is my favorite ramen place. It’s super traditional and delicious. It can take a bit to get your meal, but be patient, it is so worth it!

Temaki Den my favorite place for sushi! They have a seared salmon Nigiri that is amazing.

Uchi is an Austin based restaurant and where I always requested for birthdays as a kid, so I was super stoked to see they had a Denver location and it was just as good as the Austin spot. The Fried Milk dessert is a must and one of my favorite desserts of all time! Also try the Hama Chilli, Shag Roll and Brussel Sprouts.

Q House is a vibey Asian spot that is so tasty. They have punchy flavors and unique dishes that will probably push you out of your comfort zone. I loved the WOK-FRIEDCHEUNGFUN Wok Fried Cheungfun and Chong Qing Chicken.

Italian Restaurants

Tavernetta is one of my favorite Italian places. It’s located right next to Union Station and super swanky. They have an awesome happy hour. And I love their gnocchi!

Bar Dough is a lovely little restaurant over in the Highlands. It has fantastic pasta, desserts and breads. And the owner was on Top Chef!

Latin American Restaurants

Work & Class has some of my favorite small bites in Denver. They are a tapas style restaurant, so be prepared to order lots! Their jalapeno cornbread is incredible!

Maria Empanada is a fantastic spot for a meal on the go. I love getting these empanadas and then reheating them at home for lunch. Both the savory pastries and dessert pastries are delish!

Middle Eastern Restaurants

Safta has amazing Israeli food! I’ve heard their brunch is amazing but only been for dinner. Highly recommend the Lamb Ragu hummus and the Falafel.

Aash Kara is also a solid Israeli spot in the Highlands. I love sitting outside for a nice ambience.

Food Halls and Mixed Cuisines

Comal Food Incubator is an amazing spot with a rotating menu that supports immigrants and refugees entrepreneurs. The food is amazing, authentic and constantly changing.

Avanti is a food hall with two locations, one in the Highlands and one on Pearl street in Denver. Both have lovely rooftops so you can enjoy a view with your food!

Deli’s and Bakeries

Leven is an amazing Jewish deli and restaurant. They have an amazing happy hour and the Reuben is top tier.

D’Deli is an old fashioned sandwich shop located in the heart of Golden. I love stopping here to grab sandwiches before heading out on a hike.

Bakery Four has some of the best croissants I’ve had outside of France, seriously. The Pain au Chocolat is amazing and their Olive Loaf is 10/10.

Moxie is one of my favorite spots to bring folks. I love the Louisville location or the Lyons spot if heading out to Rocky Mountain. Their King Eggs are so good.

Taste of Denmark is an authentic Danish bakery, if you’ve never had Danish pastries before this is a really fun spot!