Our Favorite Food, Coffee, + Sights in Denver, Colorado

I've recently received multiple emails requesting food/coffee/things-to-do-in-Denver suggestions and after responding to them I though heck, why not share this information with everyone! So voila, here it is. 

Denver will always be one of our favorite places. Although our time there was short-lived, we enjoyed it so much. When we first moved there we tried to do any and everything that we possibly could. Not because we weren't certain how long we would be there, (we thought it was for the long-haul), but because we couldn't contain our excitement. Every moment we had available was dedicated to exploring this new city of ours, so I assure you, this guide, although only based on living there for 6-months, is well researched and our favorites were not chosen lightly. I might have went a little overboard and added a few too many coffee suggestions, but there were too many too choose from and can you really ever have too much coffee? #priorities (Also, it's a super cheap way to get yourself to explore the neighborhoods in a city, $2 for a cup of coffee + 2 hours exploring the surrounding area = travel hack). 

This guide should keep you busy, but ff you need more suggestions I would be more than happy to send them your way. Happy travels! 

Food

Tacos, Tequila, and Whiskey (a.k.a Pinche Tacos) - Street tacos that you'll probably be left dreaming about. The Pollo Agave is my favorite! Go between 3-6pm to hit up happy hour and you can snag some nachos and Pinche Soda for $5 each. 

Kaos Pizza - Amazing woodfire pizzas on the cutest patio!  

Avanti - a food court style restaurant that has everything from pizza to sushi. 

Cherry Cricket - Seriously the best burger I think I've ever had! Go with any of them and you are set. 

Modern Market - A fresh, Panera-esque fast casual place that Josiah and I frequented often. We lived less than a block from one and always used it as our oops-I-forgot-to-make-dinner alternative. Their pizzas are fantastic and their salads are to-die-for! 

North - Some of the best Italian I have ever had! It's the perfect place for a date night. Fancy, but not TOO fancy. 

City O' City - An innovative vegetarian restaurant that serves up some amazing waffles, salads, pastas, and cocktails. So a little bit of everything, but trust me, it's good. 

Denver Biscuit Company - If you're a biscuit fan, like seriously who isn't, this is a must. The Dahlia is my favorite! But be warned, the wait on the weekends is generally an hour and a half plus. 

Snooze - The place to go for brunch. Know you'll likely have to wait at least an hour for a table unless you get there before 8AM. But I promise, it's totally worth it! If you can swing a weekday we've always had good luck going around 1pm. I highly recommend the huevos rancheros, breakfast tacos, and any and every pancake! 

Voodoo - Located on Colfax, it's more than doughnuts, it's an experience. As hipster-grunge as it gets when it comes to donuts! They have one doughnut that is topped with Oreos that is amaaaaazing and another one that has a maple glaze that I still dream about. 

Sweet Cow - The best chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, EVER! Get it in a pretzel cone and your life will be complete. 

Stowaway Coffee + Kitchen - If you like light fares that are innovative, fresh, and delicious -- this is your place. It's such a bright space and everything I've eaten here is delicious! It's the perfect brunch, light lunch, or coffee meet-up location. Ashlae introduced me to it and I fell head over heels immediately.   

Coffee

Aviano - A swanky coffee bar located in the Cherry Creek neighborhood. Stop by the Cherry Creek Mall, walk around the Cherry Creek North shopping district, and then grab yourself a pour over at this must-see shop. Continue walking north on Detroit and you can enjoy dreaming of owning one of the many gorgeous homes in the surrounding residential area. 

Steam Espresso Bar -  My favorite coffee shop in all of Denver. They have a super cute patio where you can enjoy a cold brew (with cream + honey, please!) during a hot summer day, but it's just as great a place to relax with a latte or cup of tea during the winter. 

Novo - My favorite cold brew, ever! Go to their Highlands location and walk up and down 32nd to see some cute shops. 

Allegro - I love the vibe that this place has. It's super minimalistic and Scandinavian. And their coffee is pretty fantastic too. 

Black Eye Coffee - The Cap Hill location is swanky and the perfect place to work for the afternoon. Their cortado is on point! And their regular coffee is also pure perfection! I probably would have to say that it's my favorite cup in the whole city. So it's a must visit, for sure! 

Corvus Coffee - I love visiting this one because you can watch them roast and package their coffee in the back! And their coffee is pretty amazing too. 

Crema - As hipster grunge as it gets, but we love, love, love it. 

Sights

Red Rocks Amphitheater - If you get a chance to see a show here, do it! We saw Brandi Carlisle here and it was seriously one of the best shows. The sun sets right behind the stage and the views are gorgeous! If you can't get here for a show at least go by and see the stage. During the day it's open to the public, but check their website before you go because sometimes it closes in the early afternoon to allow time to prep for shows. 

Celestial Seasonings Tea Tour - Call me dorky, but I absolutely love this tea tour! I've gone on it twice and find it super interesting. It's free and just a quick drive from Denver. 

Botanic Gardens - a fun way to spend the afternoon. 

Washington Park - We lived super close to this park and it quickly became our go-to for running, walking, or lounging next to one of the ponds. 

Rocky Mountain National Park - If hiking and mountains are your thing and you have the time to make the 2-hour drive north, this place is totally worth the look. 

Lookout Mountain - If you want to see some views, but don't have time to make the drive to Rocky Mountain this is the place to go. 

Manitou Incline - A mile-hike essentially into the sky. It's a physical challenge that is so difficult to describe, but if you're up for it, this place is so worth it. 

Rockies Game - The Rockies aren't known for being super great, but if you're a fan of spending the day at the ballpark you can snag tickets for cheap. 

Antique Row - Possibly one of my favorite ways to spend a Saturday afternoon. You can spend anywhere from 30 minutes to 6 hours browsing through a variety of antique shops.  

South Pearl Street Farmer's Market - If you have the pleasure of being in Denver when the Farmer's Market season is still on, GO. It's the best! The quality is phenomenal and the selections are many! It's the place to be on a Sunday morning/early afternoon. Bonus: The last Sunday of every month it's also a flea market.