This article is part of a series of interviews with local foodies. As such, these are not my own restaurant recommendations, but they come from people who have far greater knowledge of their home cities than I do as a foodie abroad!
When I first started researching this piece, I realised I knew very little about Denver, Colorado at all – let alone about its food scene. I’ve only been to Colorado once – on a ski trip to Breckenridge many years ago – and have vague recollections of bison burgers and brewpubs, but not a lot else. Fast-forward a decade or more and I’m talking to Michael LaFarr, a clinical psychologist and downtown Denver resident, about how the city’s food scene has evolved, what characterises Colorado cuisine, and his tips for the best restaurants in Denver (plus a few bonus cocktail bars!).
“I was at grad school in Denver in the late 90s. Back then it was a sleepy cow town with lots of chain restaurants and not a lot of variety: steak was everywhere. But I loved the Rocky Mountain vibe and the friendliness of the folk who lived here. It was that vibe that drew me back in 2017,” Michael explains.
“In the intervening years, the food and wine scene had exploded. The city attracted lots of young people, who were looking for more interesting restaurant options, creative cocktails and biodynamic wines. There’s also a large Mexican-American population, and you see that Mexican influence woven into a lot of dishes at Denver’s restaurants.” I got the feeling from Michael that it has never been a more exciting time to dine out in Colorado’s capital. The rest of the interview made me hungry just listening to him… Let’s eat:
Best Restaurants in Denver, Colorado
Before we get stuck into Denver’s best restaurants, a quick glossary note. As I understand it, the Denverites like to abbreviate their neighbourhoods’ names. So in the interview that follows, “RiNo” stands for River North, while “LoHi” stands for Lower Highlands. A lot of Michael’s Denver restaurant recommendations cluster around River North, but there are some Denver downtown restaurant tips too, as well as some a little further out of the city centre.
Heretík
“In RiNo – an abandoned industrial area that was recently reclaimed as an arts district –newcomer Heretík is my insider, chef‑driven spot. It’s a Basque/French concept from James Beard Award-nominated chef Theo Adley that’s a little edgy, and every plate feels more layered than the menu suggests. The small plates change week to week, depending on the produce available: think vibrant cauliflower romesco or creamy Basque cheesecake. For reasons related to a sister venture, they only serve one entrée: rotisserie chicken – but it’s amazing!”
Michael adds: “I also appreciate the fact that Heretík carries forward some of the spirit of The Populist, which was one of my first Denver food favourites before it closed. You still get that sense that the room and the community matter as much as the food.”
Hey Kiddo
“Up in Berkeley, Hey Kiddo is one of the sexiest restaurants in the city: third floor, moody, looking out over Tennyson Street. The food is very modern American with Asian influences, really playful and shareable, but with a lot of technique behind it. Try the Korean BBQ popcorn chicken: it’s their signature dish and it’s exceptional – sweet, spicy and deeply flavoured. Afterwards, stop by their speakeasy bar, Ok Yeah.” (There’s more on that cocktail bar towards the bottom of this article!)
Alma Fonda Fina / Mezcalería Alma
“In LoHi, Alma Fonda Fina has a huge, devoted following and has earned its awards – their creative menu is beautiful and absolutely deserves the recognition. Within that same group, my personal favourite is actually Mezcalería Alma. I love the focus on agave spirits and how the food and mezcal play off one another. It’s more relaxed but still top quality – a place to explore mezcal, have a great conversation, and still feel that high standard. The menu is very fish-forward but with a Mexican twist: I loved the tuna crudo with corn and charred avocado. It went down a treat with their corn sour: essentially a take on a whiskey sour, but with corn whiskey and elote mezcal, which was pretty inspired.”
Point Easy
“Over in the Whittier and City Park West area, Point Easy is my neighbourhood comfort restaurant. It’s seasonal and pasta‑based, grounded in Colorado produce, so the menu feels like it’s in conversation with the weather. They do an excellent Bolognese, but in other ways the pasta is very local – don’t go expecting old-school Italian. Point Easy’s sommelier, Chris Oakley, sets the tone for the night: really thoughtful wine pairings, but with this very relaxed, unpretentious hospitality that makes the wine list feel super approachable.”
Nocturne
“Back in the RiNo neighbourhood, Nocturne is where my love of food, wine and music all converge. It’s a modern jazz club with a surprisingly thoughtful, creative menu. Scott Mattison is a fantastic sommelier, and his business partner and wife, Nicole, runs the front of house – they create this very warm, curated experience. You get great jazz, a serious but welcoming wine programme, and food that’s much more ambitious than you expect from a music venue, so it feels like a true night out rather than just ‘dinner and a show.’ The menu is heavily French influenced – the duck confit is to die for – and the whole experience has a real New Orleans vibe.”
Michael adds: “I’m especially excited that Scott and Nicole are working on opening a Champagne bar next door, scheduled to open later this summer. Denver needs more truly fine‑wine spots, and I love that they’re helping push that side of the scene forward.”
Beckon
“And then at the top of the list for me is Michelin-star winning Beckon. It’s a chef’s‑counter, tasting‑menu restaurant: small, intimate, everyone facing the open kitchen, so it feels like you’re inside a performance. Chef Duncan Holmes runs the kitchen, and his wife, Allison, leads the front of house; their partnership is clear in how considered and precise the hospitality feels. There’s no menu and you never know what you’re going to get – although they’ll seamlessly modify dishes to accommodate any dietary requirements. The cooking is highly seasonal but you also taste a lot of Nordic influence: they fly in ingredients like Norwegian salmon that you just wouldn’t find anywhere else. Beckon is pricey, but absolutely worth it – in fact, I went there last week to celebrate my birthday!”
Major Tom
“Through the same tucked-away wooden archway as Beckon, you’ll find their sister restaurant, Major Tom, in a little cottage. It’s smaller and more low-key than Beckon, with an à la carte menu of small plates and seafood plus a great wine list. Think fun little sibling: you can get that same sensibility and quality as Beckon but in a more relaxed setting.”
Best Bars in Denver, Colorado
Denver has a large and well-known craft beer scene, but Michael is all about the wine and cocktails. So I asked him for a few extra recommendations for the best bars in Colorado: places that mix a mean cocktail.
Lady Jane
“Lady Jane in LoHi is my cocktail crush: low‑lit, beautifully designed, 1950s vibe, with drinks that layer herbal, bitter, and floral notes in really creative but balanced ways. The menu is categorised in three parts: one part very traditional, one part creative, and one part frankly bizarro. (Caesar salad martini, anyone?!) It’s where I send people if they want to understand Denver’s cocktail scene in a single stop.”
Ok Yeah
“Before or after dinner at Hey Kiddo (see Denver restaurants above), you can slip into their hidden cocktail bar, Ok Yeah. There’s no menu and the bartender just riffs based on what you’re in the mood for. It only seats around 15 people and it has that real speakeasy energy.”
Sorry Gorgeous
“Downtown, near the Ballpark area, I love Sorry Gorgeous, which is a rooftop bar that makes you feel like you’re on vacation without leaving Denver. It’s all about the sweeping views of the Rocky Mountains, while sipping bright, fun cocktails – my ideal golden‑hour stop before dinner.”
Planning your visit to Denver, Colorado
Before you start planning your Colorato-Mex itinerary, here are a few trip essentials:
- Getting there: Denver International Airport is well connected to Europe, with direct flights operated by British Airways from London, Lufthansa from Frankfurt and Munich, United Airlines from Frankfurt, Munich and London, and Air France from Paris). For the widest comparison of times and prices, try Expedia or Omio.
- Getting from the airport: The University of Colorado A Line train runs directly from Denver International Airport to Union Station downtown in around 37 minutes – cheap, easy and no traffic to worry about.
- Getting around: Denver is a walkable city once you’re in the centre, and most of the restaurants in this guide are clustered in a handful of neighbourhoods (RiNo, LoHi, downtown) that are easy to move between. RTD runs buses and light rail across the city, or use a rideshare for late-night bar-hopping.
- Where to stay: Downtown and RiNo are the most convenient bases for the restaurants in this guide. Browse hotels and apartments on Booking.com.
- Tours & experiences: A food tour is a great way to get your bearings; find options on Viator or GetYourGuide.
- Further reading: Planning a wider US food trip? I’ve also written guides to Chicago’s essential eats, the best places to eat in St Augustine, Florida, and my favourite restaurants in Knoxville and East Tennessee.