a guide to denver
my home away from home <3
If there is one place that I can consistently go and it feels like home every time I land, it’s Denver.
It helps that I lived in Boulder for four years and then moved down to Denver for two (with a brief intermission in NYC), but I have a big emotional attachment to Denver. Colorado was the first place I moved right out of high school. I made many of my close friends there, created unforgettable memories and discovered a lot of who I was there.
There are a lot of reasons to fall in love with Colorado. The 300 days of sunshine, the people, the mountains, the health-forward culture, you get my point. When I moved there, I finally felt comfortable and seen in my granola, almond-mom tendencies. 10 years ago, back in Ohio, the healthiest place to eat lunch was Panera. Or Chipotle…depending on what your order was. So I’m sure you can understand my enthusiasm for the culture.
That is to say that Denver has some gems outside of the healthy granola places to eat. I haven’t lived there since 2021, so I’m sure there is more to what I am about to list out and would love to know your recommendations down in the comments - because seriously, I find myself there often.
However, here are my favorite places to eat, get coffee, and places to shop while in the Mile High City. :)
FOOD
Japanese food that hits every time. They have an insulated garden on their rooftop that they source all of their produce from, and it shows. The quality of the fish is incredible. The atmosphere and service are awesome. A do-not-miss.
This is a little bit of a hot take, but I LOVE Safta. Their pita bread is some of the best I’ve had. They also make this lamb with some kind of fig sauce? I honestly never know how they make it, except for the fact that it falls off the bone when you eat it. They somehow turn The Source Hotel into your mediterranean grandma’s kitchen. You’ll know exactly what I mean when you eat there. <3
Some of the best ramen I’ve ever had tbh. There is always a line to get in, and it’s pretty impossible to get a reservation. Once you get the Spicy Chicken Ramen and Pork Belly Bao Buns - you’ll absolutely understand why.
Sushi. Nobu’s sister restaurant. Get the fried crunchy tuna bites. It’s sceney but it’s worth it. I might get some hate for even listing this but, know your audience people.
BRUNCH / LUNCH / COFFEE
I literally don’t go to Denver without going to Stowaway. Their Colorful Colorado breakfast is literally my favorite ever. I think the guy that owns this spot is Australian, so you know it has *~the vibes*~. It’s in the RiNo area, be warned that the parking kinda sucks over there.
Speaking of Australian, this place could not be more of it. It’s a David Bowie inspired vegan restaurant. Great for brunch, they also serve dinner. It’s kind of in the middle of nowhere, but it’s worth the drive. Great for people who are veg.
Another vegetarian restaurant that a meat enthusiast would be stoked to eat at. The atmosphere in there is very divey. Located in Cap Hill.
The best smoothies, bliss balls, avocado toast (they even do avocado toast on sweet potato), great coffee with house made nut milk. If I lived in Denver, I would be coming here on the reg to get smoothies and work from home.
I personally haven’t gotten anything from Reunion, but I’ve heard it’s some of the best in the city. Located in The Source Hotel. They also pop up at farmer’s markets.
My favorite coffee shop!!! The vibes are just the best in there. They also have great breakfast burritos.
The best coffee in Cherry Creek. Also a little nostalgic. I used to go there basically every day when I was teaching for SOUL in Denver.
Specifically the five points location. Go for an outdoor moment in the summer. Definitely a little too intimate to go and do work there. They’re surrounded by some cute shops on Damen though, so consider this spot a weekend coffee + chill vibe.
I’ve only been during the day for coffee, but I’m pretty sure that this spot turns into a bar at night. They’re also right across the street from a really cute record store. Located in Cap Hill. A great spot to go and do work from.
THINGS TO DO / SHOP
If you’re down for a market-style dinner, this is a cute place if you’re just visiting. It’s essentially an elevated food hall.
An open-concept market hall that is more on the casual side. Great for a Sunday football moment. They have lots of seating and TV’s in there, bespoke grocery finds, and a great butcher. If you traveling to Denver with a group of people, there’s something to eat for everyone here.
In the summer, the line is always wrapped around the corner. They have this chocolate vegan flavor that is second to none. However, their flavors rotate on a pretty regular basis.
Do I need to elaborate on this one?
Decent restaurant, great rooftop for drinks. I’m pretty sure this spot used to be a mortuary? Lol. Great first date spot if you ask me.
Sexy bar on Larimer in the Ramble Hotel, yes, the same guy who has a location in NYC. Great first date spot.
Cute shopping for vintage home goods and novelties. I almost always find something to get when I go in here. If you’re local to Denver, this is a perfect spot to find cute decor for your place.
The witchiest shop you ever did find yourself in. Not really ‘in Denver’ but more on the outskirts. Worth the drive. Their plant and crystal collection is insane. They also have a ton of stuff for casting spells and shit like that. A whole wall of different tarot cards. It’s a witches heaven.
Vibey + witchy home goods store. They also put together beautiful and bespoke floral arrangements. They have a bunch of pieces from Strange Dirt, one of my favorite Denver based artists. If you ever need to get someone a birthday gift, this is your spot.
My favorite place to practice yoga in Denver. All of their locations are really beautiful and teachers are great. I think some of their classes are heated and some aren’t if I can remember correctly. Their OG location is in Golden Triangle, I remember liking that studio the best.
If you’re ever in the Tennyson area. This is your spot for yoga. Honestly, I would drive out of my way to take yoga here. Alyssa is the owner, and she is an INCREDIBLE teacher.
If you know of any spots that I forgot to add that are newer to Denver, let me know so I can try ‘em out next time I’m out West. I feel like the city is growing sooo fast and can’t even keep up these days.
Sending love over to you,
Jenny