-Cap Hill area - Pablo's on 6th: cute coffee shop with a few outdoor tables, nice indoor seating -LoHi - Tony P's: coffee and pastries. This is right by our apartment. -Tennyson St./Sloans Lake area - Convivio Cafe: run by a Guatemalan woman and an American woman. Smaller portions but very good. -Call Your Mother - yummy bagel shop with bagels, bagel sandwiches, and pastries. Good for breakfast or a quick lunch -- not a place to linger. They have two different locations. -Novo Coffee - multiple locations. This is Kyle's favorite coffee place. -Queen City Collective - a few locations. The one on S. Santa Fe Drive is big and has lots of comfy seating.
-Uptown - TeaLee's: great for a leisurely breakfast. Small menu but everything is really fresh and made well. They also offer high tea, but for that, you need to book 1- 2 days in advance. -City Park area - Cafe Miriam: a cute spot with savory crepes and good coffee -Lucille's - Cajun-influenced brunch. They have a few locations, but our favorite is the one on S. Logan St. (lots of nice outdoor seating).
Counter service/faster lunch: -LoHi - Istanbul Cafe and Bakery: small, family-owned restaurant with very friendly service with traditional Turkish food, including savory pastries. Also a good spot for breakfast. -Quiero Arepas - Venezuelan-style stuffed corncakes. They have a location on S. Pearl St. and one in Avanti Food Hall. -Maria Empanada - empanadas, pastries, coffee, and mate. They have a few locations. Grace's favorite is the S. Broadway location because it's bigger and has more space to sit, including outdoor tables. -Illegal Pete's - local Denver twist on Chipotle. They have several locations and most have outdoor seating options. Kyle loves their Baja fish burrito.
-Avanti Food Hall - lots of options, great views from the rooftop -Blue Pan Pizza - delicious Detroit-style pizza. They have a few locations, but the one on 12th Ave. can get crowded quickly. Delivery/takeout is also a good option. City Park: -Yahya's Mediterranean Grill and Pastries: affordable, delicious Mediterranean food. Kyle recommends the chicken schawarma plate. -Bastien's: a unique steakhouse with a retro vibe -Trattoria Stella: great Italian food and nice atmosphere -Hop Alley: upscale Asian food -Vine Street: great burgers, beer, and other food options -RiNo - Barcelona: tapas restaurant with cool decor. A fancier/pricier option. -Downtown - D'Corazon - elite family-style Mexican food. Even if it looks crowded, tables turn over quickly and the food comes out fast. -La Loma - slightly upscale Mexican, several locations throughout Denver. -Fish Tail - great Nepali and Indian food. Not a ton of atmosphere, but it's never crowded.
RiNo: -Ratio: awesome atmosphere, good craft beer -Our Mutual Friend: more eclectic mix of beers -Improper City: fun atmosphere, lots of drink options, often has a food truck outside. Lots of space both inside and outside. City Park: -Thin Man - hipster bar with reasonably priced drinks and a fun vibe. A Kyle classic. -P.S. Lounge - classic dive bar, cash only LoHi: -Zuni St. - fun local brewery, often has a food truck -Recess - laid-back beer garden with really good bar food -Williams & Graham - speakeasy vibe with excellent craft cocktails Downtown: -Terminal Bar in Union Station - fun bar in the middle of Union Station -Mile Post Zero at McGregor Square - food hall with a self-serve beer wall Golden: -New Terrain: awesome scenery and even better beer. The Mirage is one of Kyle's favorite beers. -The Golden Mill: food hall with self-serve beer wall in downtown Golden Stem Ciders - there's one location in RiNo, but the location in Lafayette is great for mountain views.
If you like ice cream, you're in luck! There are lots of local ice cream places in Denver offering creative flavors and often homemade cones. RiNo - Sweet Action: There are a few other locations too, but this is near Grace's old house and also has a speakeasy inside. LoHi: -Little Man: There are a few locations throughout the city, but the main location on 16th St. is a classic Denver spot. There's often a long line, but there's also an express option with limited flavors. -Tony P's - Italian food and great desserts and pastries that you can also get to go Wash Park/south Denver: -Bonnie Brae - there is often a long line, and in Grace's opinion, it's justified! Tons of flavors, plus homemade cones.
-Mt. Falcon Park - great views of Red Rocks, some cool historical sites too. The easier version of this hike is from the west side (Idledale side). If you start on the east side, it's quite steep. -Lair of the Bear - you hike past a creek and a cool castle -Roxborough State Park - flat trails through cool rock formations -There are a lot of great trails (of varying lengths/difficulty levels) in Boulder starting from Chataqua Park or the less crowded NCAR Center.
If you want true alpine views (not just foothills), you have to head a bit farther from Denver. Here are a few ideas: -St. Mary's Glacier - great bang for your buck (in terms of effort-to-reward ratio). Just 1.7 miles - pretty steep but very well worth it. You can also go up higher if you would like. Near Idaho Springs, which is a cute little town. -Echo Lake - near Idaho Springs. You can picnic and walk around the lake right off the road, or you can hike 4 miles to Idaho Springs Reservoir or hike further to more alpine lakes. -Herman Gulch Trail - about 6 miles. It starts out pretty steep, but the end point is a beautiful alpine lake. (Keep in mind that at the time of the wedding, there will likely still be at least some snow on these trails. The temperatures will also be quite a bit cooler than Denver.)
If you're looking to get a taste of the mountains but don't want to commit to an intense hike, here are some ideas: -Drive to Evergreen (about 30-40 min. north of Denver) and walk around Evergreen Lake or have a picnic. -Drive to Echo Lake (about 1 hr north of Denver) to have a picnic. You can also explore the town of Idaho Springs, including cute shops and restaurants and Iron Hot Springs. -Boulder (45 min.-1 hr north of Denver) is much closer to the mountains than Denver is. You can enjoy great views of the Flatirons throughout the city. Chataqua Park also has a nice restaurant.
-Denver has some great urban parks, like Washington Park, Cheesman Park, and City Park. Great for a stroll, picnic, playground time, or just people-watching. -Confluence Park - just behind the main REI in the middle of downtown. Small but great people-watching. -Walkable neighborhoods/fun areas to explore - S. Pearl St. (they also have a great farmer's market on Sundays), Tennyson St., RiNo (don't miss the murals in the alleys) -Golden (a Denver suburb) is a cute town with an Old West feel. You can walk along the path on the creek and explore the town. Golden Mills is a fun brewery/food hall with seating right by the creek. New Terrain is a fun brewery in Golden (but not downtown). -Botanic Gardens - the main location is the York St. one, but there's also the Chatfield location in Littleton, just outside Denver
-MeowWolf - kind of like an interactive art museum. It's a very unique experience. It's best to buy a ticket online before going there. Note that they charge for parking. -Denver Art Museum - large museum with a lot of different exhibits -Museum of Contemporary Art - they have a great rooftop patio with a cafe -History Colorado - several rotating exhibits. Last year they had a 90s exhibit! -Molly Brown House - historical house with Titanic ties that you can tour -Celestial Seasonings Tea Factory (in Boulder) - they have a tasting room and you can take a tour, but you need to book it in advance -Lob - bocce bar in LoDo that's set up more like mini golf -The Denver Center for the Performing Arts has lots of great shows
-Denver Children's Museum - mostly indoors but there is also an outdoor section that features a giant sandbox -Denver Zoo - we have a great zoo -Tiny Town and Railroad - miniature railroad/town in Morrison (just outside Denver). Their hours are limited, so check before you go.