Jessica & Elliot
Things To Do
Denver Union Station
There are so many great spots in Union Station for a bite or a drink! Terminal Bar, in the main terminal, is a great place for happy hour. They have lots of local brews on tap if you are wanting to check out some of the local craft breweries that CO is famous for! If you are looking for a healthy bite to eat, Next Door is one of Jessica's favorite eateries. Ulteria is a great tapas spot with fantastic cocktails (Jessica loves all of their gin concoctions). Tavernetta is an Italian spot that has one of the best happy hours (according to Jess!) in the city if you are looking for some delicious pasta and bites, but it fills up quickly! Ghost Donkey is a speakeasy with fabulous mezcal cocktails. Lastly, if you are looking for something a little more high end, there is Stoic and Genuine which is a delicious seafood spot. This was where Elliot took Jessica on one of their first dates!
Uncle
Our favorite spot in Denver for dinner. If you love Ramen, this is a must! It is a twist on traditional Ramen but renowned around the country. There can sometimes be a long wait for dinner on Friday night. We like to get there early, put our name in, and then go next door to Highland Tap and Burger for a drink while we wait. There is a second location on Pennsylvania in the Washington Park neighborhood that is larger, has additional items on the menu and is just as lovely! Sometimes this second location will take reservations - always good to check online first. Takeout from here is also delicious - and doesn't have the wait.
Wynkoop Brewing Company
Location of the Welcome Happy Hour on Friday! One of the oldest breweries in Denver. Happy Hour will be on the second floor. There's a ton of pool tables so come ready to play :)
A5 Steakhouse
Funky steak house with nostalgic vibes. All of their sides are incredible (alongside the steak). They do a great HH and menu at the bar if you get in early and are looking for something on Thursday afternoon!
Cheesman Park
Jessica and Elliot's first apartment was overlooking the park. There is a lovely view of downtown and the mountains from the park. It's a great place to enjoy the good weather with a walk or bring a blanket and some snacks. The Denver Botanic Gardens is just to the east (the back entrance is attached to the park), which makes it easy to check out both!
Denver Botanic Gardens
Adjacent to Cheesman Park, this garden is a fantastic way to spend an hour or two. With a recently added coffee shop and cafe, this would make a great stop for those looking to fill a three hour block.
Curtis Park Delicatessen
Best sandwich in Denver - hands down! They stop serving when they run out of bread. Perfect item to pick up and then bring to City Park or Cheesman Park for a picnic lunch!
Rosenberg's Bagels & Delicatessen (Five Points)
Best bagels in Denver, hands down! Plus, that have a lot of Jessica's favorite Jewish foods (the spinach and cheese knish is to die for). If you plan to go during the morning rush, beware that the line could be about 30 minutes but DEFINITELY worth the wait!
Meow Wolf Denver | Convergence Station
An immersive art exhibit. The original location was in Santa Fe and they opened a second location in Denver recently. Family friendly! Plan or 1.5 to 2 hours. Highly recommend purchasing tickets a few weeks ahead of time through their website. They often sell out on weekends!
River North Art District
Fun neighborhood to spend the morning or afternoon walking around. The brewery capitol of the city. Lots of food trucks and really great coffee shops too! Some of our favorite spots include: -Improper City - huge patio, big indoor space, usually have 3 or 4 food trucks. Opens early with coffee in the morning -Honey Elixir - great cocktail bar in the alley behind Denver Central Market (which also has a fabulous cocktail bar inside!) -Epic - one of Jessica's favorite beers is here. If you go, make sure to get a Tart N Juicy (sour IPA) -Finn's Manor - Food truck park with great bars for cocktails. If Twansburger is there, do yourself a favor and try the best cheeseburger in Denver!
Larimer Square Historic District
TONS of great restaurants. Some of our favorites include: -The Green Russell (speakeasy attached to Russell's Smokehouse) - make sure you book a reservation! -Osteria Marco - fantastic Italian -Bistro Vendome - French food, fantastic Happy Hour
Avanti Food and Beverage
One of the first food halls in Denver with a great bar. There is a huge patio with one of the best views of downtown! Great place to grab a bite and enjoy a drink. Plus, there are a ton of other cute spots in the Highlands that you can explore
Forest Room 5
Very kitchy bar in the Highlands. Great spot for a late night drink, especially if you want to go somewhere you can only experience in Denver
Williams & Graham
A speakeasy with some of the best cocktails in town! Fills up quickly so we highly recommend a reservation if you want to enjoy a bite and a drink here
Illegal Pete's LoDo
Think Chipotle but with pork green chile, queso and margs! Great place for a quick lunch or happy hour.
The Plimoth
Wonderful spot for fine dining in Denver for over 20 years! If you are looking for a nicer dinner and wanting to enjoy one of the best chef's in Denver, we highly recommend getting a reservation here! Added bonus, its only a few blocks from our house, so we love it!
Rivers and Roads Coffee - City Park
There are two locations in Denver. The one on Bruce Randolph is right near Jessica and Elliot's home. The one in Curtis Park is brand new! Locally owned, fabulous food. Everything is gluten free and you would have NO idea!
Hudson Hill
Coffee shop in the morning turned cocktail bar in the evening!
Three Saints Revival
Restaurant in the Hotel Indigo. Fabulous for lunch, brunch or dinner! They have really delicious small plates if you like tapas style dining!
Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre
For those looking for the opportunity to simply get some steps in and burn some calories, while also getting great views and a little bit of history, a trip to Red Rocks would be my #1 recommendation. It is a short drive from downtown Denver, there is an interesting museum below, several adjacent nature trails through the foothills, and even just walking up and down the stands to soak in the general feel of what is consistently hte #1 concert venue in North America will give most people a workout. There are a few well known restaurants in Morrison as well as nearby Golden. Fun fact, Red Rocks is on great display from the Manor House (weather permitting)!
City Park
Just a few blocks from Jessica and Elliot's home, this is a favorite place to walk Ruby or just take a stroll. The adjacent Natural Science museum is worth the visit if one has the time, as is the onsite Zoo if one is so inclined. There are several "institution" restaurants several blocks north of the park on Colfax Ave, Bastien's Steakhouse and Atomic Cowboy being some of their favorites.
Urban Farmer Denver
A Denver Steak House but in Jessica's opinion, their brunch is better than dinner. We recommend making a reservation for Sunday morning! If you like mushrooms... they grow all of them on site. You can see where they grow them while enjoying your meal
Bacon Social House - Sunnyside
Fabulous brunch spot and the Bacon flight is not to be missed! (It's in the name afterall...) Reservations tend to fill up in advance so we recommend making a Sunday reservation in advance
Chautauqua Park
Very accessible and approachable park offering hikes that being in prairies with fantastic views of the iconic "Flatiron" rock formations that provide the background of Boulder, CO. This college town is predictably filled with unique and delicious restaurants and breweries. Jessica and Elliot particularly love the Avery Brewing Co for its open patio, delicious food, and plethora of tasty beers to sample, located slightly east in the town of Gunbarrel. There are numerous hikes in the foothills above Boulder, but they can quickly become quite difficult. Buyer beware.
Golden Gate Canyon State Park
Although a bit of a stretch for a day hike, this state park offers a variety of trails both in length and difficulty, but all offer breathtaking scenery, with several offering gorgeous views of the front range. The nearby town of Golden offers a picturesque and walkable downtown with plenty of tasty restaurants and coffee shops to bide time in. The Clear Creek runs through town not only provides the water that Coors uses to brew all of their beer distributed across the country, but also offers numerous places to sit and watch others raft or tube their way through the rapids.
Table Top Mountain
A very popular day hike, overlooking the fun town of Golden. The views are fabulous and it is relatively easy for all levels. Please note - there is NO SHADE so this can be very warm on a sunny day! There is a fabulous brewery (New Terrain Brewing) near the bottom if you are looking for a beverage after or a patio to enjoy!
Mount Sanitas Trailhead
Fabulous Day Hike near Boulder. Please note - there is a bit of incline so I would not recommend this for beginners. Great views at the top of Boulder! Close to town so parking can be tricky during the middle of the day on weekends
Museum of Contemporary Art Denver
While neither Jessica or Elliot have been, they have heard nothing but fabulous things! There is a rooftop bar that is supposed to have a fabulous view of the city. WE do believe that this bar takes reservations so please check the website!
Cherry Creek State Park
One of Jessica's favorite places in Denver, she LOVES to take Ruby to the DOLA (dog off leash area) and let her run around. Great for running, nature walks and biking. There is a lake as well. Depending on the weather you can rent or launch paddle boards and kayaks