Denver, Colorado — Food and Dining
Restaurants in Denver, Colorado
Restaurants
Expensive
Fruition Restaurant
This relaxed restaurant serves classic American dishes to an adoring public. Set in an intimate house-style venue, customers munch through dishes like certified stockyard beef culotte and organic duck breast. The restaurant has an impeccable wine list and the maitre-d is more than happy to talk you through it. Beware though, it gets booked up fast so make sure you reserve a table at weekends.
1313 East 6th Avenue
Tel: (303) 831 1962.
Website: www.fruitionrestaurant.com
Restaurant Kevin Taylor
The best restaurant in Denver? It is definitely up there among the very best. Kevin Taylor is a nationally acclaimed chef and a local living legend both as chef and restaurateur. This restaurant carrying his name is situated in the luxurious Hotel Teatro, and he has created contemporary cuisine that emphasises flavor and treads a fine line between fusion and French, the American southwest and the Asian Rim.
1106 14th Street
Tel: (303) 820 2600.
Website: www.restaurantkevintaylor.com
Moderate
Sambuca
A modern supper club, Sambuca is a popular, sensual and stylish establishment with a great bar and restaurant to match. The food, whether steak, seafood or pasta, is a flavorsome combination of American and Mediterranean influences. The venue is cool yet cosy, and is usually pretty crowded. Live jazz and blues music (often by artists of national fame) creates a great atmosphere every night of the week.
1320 15th Street
Tel: (303) 629 5299.
Website: www.sambucarestaurant.com
Sushi Den
This restaurant has been churning out top quality sushi for over twenty years. A firm favorite with locals, the restaurant serves up classic sushi and sashimi in a stylish surrounding. The owners import all their fish fresh from local Japanese markets, and the place is always packed. A must try is the deep fried green tea ice cream. Unusual but heavenly.
1487 Pearl Street
Tel: (303) 777 0826.
Website: www.sushiden.net
Cheap
Cherry Cricket
A dive bar in the upmarket Cherry Creek district may not sound like the most promising eating experience, but the burgers in this place are divine. The bar offers over 70 types of beer, and the menu allows for pretty much any variety of burger with infinite toppings. A regular winner of ‘best bar food' awards.
2641 East Second Avenue
Tel: (303) 322 4702.
Website: www.cherrycricket.com
Croc's Mexican Bar & Grill
Located in the heart of LoDo's historical district and known for excellent service, tasty authentic Mexican food and its great business lunches, Croc's is a lively place with entertaining staff and a fun atmosphere. The menu includes authentic homemade chilli, taco dishes, burgers and delicious burritos and enchiladas. A variety of margaritas are also on offer.
1630 Market Street
Tel: (303) 436 1144.
Website: www.crocsmexicangrill.com
Nightlife
Denver's nightlife is fresh and inventive, with loads of new bars and clubs opening in converted warehouses in the Lower Downtown (LoDo) area. Top spots include Denver institutions the Wynkoop Brewing Company, 1634 18th Street and Falling Rock Tap House, 1919 Blake Street, which is a no frills bar full of sublime beers. For more refined tastes, the expensive cocktail menus of Larimer Square will appeal to budding James Bond's. Try Cru, 1442 Larimer Square, for tasty premium wines or Mynt, 1428 Market Street for refreshing mojitos.
Live music tends to focus on the folk and country music scene, although Herman's Hideaway, 1578 South Broadway, plays anything from reggae to heavy metal. Fans of Jack Kerouac's ‘On The Road' will want to flock to El Chapultepec, 1962 Market Street, which is as crowded and as smoky as ever and still plays great jazz.
The top nightclub in Denver, and possibly America, is The Church, 1160 Lincoln Street. A converted church complete with stained glass windows, 70,000 watt sound system and an adoring crowd, it regularly hosts the world's top DJs. The focus is on dance music, with top acts like DJ Tiesto headlining the weekend parties.
Other clubs include Vinyl, 1082 Broadway, a popular and diverse club with a stunning rooftop patio, and La Rumba, Acoma Street, a stylish salsa club with an upmarket clientele.
The Ogden Theater, 935 East Colfax Avenue (tel: (303) 831 9448), is an old vaudeville theater and movie house that is now a venue for local and national bands. The Bluebird Theater, 3317 East Colfax Avenue (tel: (303) 322 2308), and the Fillmore Auditorium, 1510 Clarkson at Colfax Avenue, are other historic venues.
