16. Jonesy’s Eat Bar
City: Denver, CO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (303) 863-7473
Address: 400 E. 20th Ave.
Description: Located in a row of once-dilapidated storefronts, Jonesy’s is a key player in the gentrification process of an urban area now known as Uptown. Jonesy’s serves upscale gastropub fare, with beers and wines as prominent on the menu as salads, sliders, appetizers, and entrees such as shredded lamb and green onion gnocchi. Open daily for dinner and on Saturday and Sunday for brunch.
17. Linger
City: Denver, CO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (303) 993-3120
Address: 2030 W. 30th Ave.
Description: Linger celebrates the culinary art of street food—freshly prepared regional cuisine served from street carts throughout Asia and the Americas. Here, the cuisine is offered as small plates perfect for sampling and sharing with friends. Diners enjoy an excellent view of the Denver skyline. Linger is a sister restaurant of Root Down. Closed Sunday and Monday.
18. LoDo’s Bar & Grill
City: Denver, CO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (303) 293-8555
Address: 1946 Market St.
Description: The rooftop deck of the original downtown location near the home-plate entrance to Coors Field is legendary, letting you drink in the view while enjoying your meal. Meanwhile, the Highlands Ranch south location (8545 S. Quebec St.; 303-346-2930) offers its own rooftop deck with stunning views of the Denver skyline and the mountains, including Pikes Peak. The newest location in Westminster (3053 W. 104h Ave.; 303-635-8025) is perched on a bluff that overlooks the northern suburbs and has western views of Longs Peak. All three properties have big-screen TVs for watching sports, 24 beers on tap, and eats that include fish-and-chips, shrimp, fajitas, pasta, sandwiches, and salads. Lunch and dinner are served daily at all locations.
19. Marlowe’s
City: Denver, CO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (303) 595-3700
Description: First opened in the 1980s, Marlowe’s remains a popular gathering spot for lunch, dinner, or after work. The restaurant serves steaks, chops, seafood, salads, pasta, and fresh Maine lobster. Marlowe’s features an extensive martini list as well as daily happy hour specials. Located across from Denver Pavilions, it boasts a nice patio on the 16th Street Mall with prime people-watching. Lunch and dinner are served daily, and breakfast is served Saturday and Sunday.
City: Denver, CO
Category: Restaurants
Address: 2199 California St.
21. Mustard’s Last Stand II
City: Denver, CO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (303) 722-7936
Address: 2081 S. University Blvd.
Description: You can’t get more American than hot dogs, french fries, and root beer floats, all of which this plain little joint does to perfection. Its location near the University of Denver guarantees a steady clientele, but older folks sneak over for the Polish sausage, too. The original Mustard’s Last Stand is at 1719 Broadway in Boulder (303-444-5841). It’s open daily; credit cards not accepted.
22. My Brother’s Bar
City: Denver, CO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (303) 455-9991
Description: The entrance to this corner tavern looks less than inviting, but everyone is welcome behind the inauspicious doors. An eclectic crowd gathers in this historic watering hole for burgers (a tasty vegetarian version is available) and beers. The pleasantly shaded patio out back is a hidden delight. It’s a good place to keep in mind when you’re hungry late at night, as they serve past midnight. It’s closed on Sunday.
23. Palace Arms
City: Denver, CO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (303) 297-3111
Description: The poshest of the Brown Palace’s four restaurants, the Palace Arms is one of the very few places in Denver where jackets are suggested (although optional) for gentlemen. The setting and service are superb, holdovers from a more formal era. The room is decorated with antiques dating from the 18th century, including a pair of dueling pistols said to have belonged to Napoleon. The fare is contemporary regional cuisine, and the award-winning wine list features close to 1,000 options. Reservations are recommended. Open Tuesday through Saturday for dinner.
24. The Palm
City: Denver, CO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (303) 825-7256
Description: The downtown Westin provides the backdrop for this top-notch restaurant, where Denver’s business set devours thick slabs of dry-aged beef, lobster, and Italian cuisine while discussing mergers and acquisitions. Caricatures of Denver’s noted and notorious hang on the wall. Serves lunch and dinner Monday through Friday; dinner only on weekends. Reservations are recommended.
25. Paramount Cafe
City: Denver, CO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (303) 893-2000
Description: A favorite for people-watching, the Paramount’s outdoor seating area extends into the 16th Street pedestrian mall. This casual lunch or dinner spot serves burgers, sandwiches, and Tex-Mex food at low prices in a setting reminiscent of a ’50s diner. Happy hour after work is a lively scene. Lunch and dinner are served daily.
26. Potager Restaurant and Wine Bar
City: Denver, CO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (303) 832-5788
Address: 1109 Ogden St.
Description: Potager is everything a great restaurant should be: intimate, friendly, and unpretentious, plus the food is sublime. Potager opened in 1997 in the heart of Capitol Hill and draws raves from everyone who discovers its elegant yet cozy space. Chef Teri Rippeto is creative and bold in her choices. She specializes in fresh, local, seasonal food and changes the menu monthly. The decor is stark yet soft, with natural wood and nearly bare walls. Dinner is served Tuesday through Saturday. Checks are not accepted.
27. Racines
City: Denver, CO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (303) 595-0418
Address: 650 Sherman St.
Description: Racines is a large, laid-back Golden Triangle landmark that is busy from breakfast through the last dinner, which on weekends is nearly 11 p.m. People love it for the urbane decor, the hip staff, and the variety of entrees. The menu has something for everyone, from sandwiches to pastas to a selection of Mexican entrees. An in-house bakery makes carrot cake, muffins, and Racines’s locally famous brownies—all ready to be packaged up and taken home. The weekend late-night scene can be colorful.
28. Reiver’s
City: Denver, CO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (303) 733-8856
Address: 1085 S. Gaylord St.
Description: A popular watering hole in the Washington Park neighborhood, Reiver’s is best known for its burgers and casual atmosphere. Among the house specialties are shepherd’s pie and chicken-fried steak, although the appetizer and salad menus are deep and varied. After your meal, stroll around the neighborhood and window-shop. Lunch and dinner are served every day. Free valet parking is offered Tuesday through Saturday after 5 p.m.
29. Rialto Cafe
City: Denver, CO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (303) 893-2233
Description: Housed on the ground floor of a Courtyard by Marriott on Denver’s busy 16th Street pedestrian mall, this great-looking restaurant features dark woods, a pressed-tin ceiling, and motifs from the ’20s and ’30s. The food is New American cuisine and includes Colorado-inspired dishes such as buffalo meat loaf and Colorado bison burger. Friday and Saturday evenings are good for martinis and people-watching. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner served daily.
30. Root Down
City: Denver, CO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (303) 993-4200
Address: 1600 W. 33rd Ave.
Insider Pick:
Description: Embracing the farm-to-table concept of eating, Root Down uses local ingredients whenever possible, resulting in one of the city’s best dining experiences. Entrees are inspired by global cuisine, and the menu changes seasonally. The wait can be long, especially on weekends, but most diners concur the food is worth it. This is the sister restaurant to Linger.