If you ever have the opportunity to visit Denver, CO consider yourself lucky. This place is beautiful and even if you have a heck of a time at the rental car place near the airport driving looking at those mountains as your backdrop will calm you the heck down. (too specific? lol)

I’m certain there are many more precious gems of places to eat, drink, and visit here, but from my own experiences thus far, I’ve collected a brief city guide which will serve as a solid jumping-off point.

I think our love of food, art, exploration and my hubby’s affinity for craft beer make this a very well-rounded guide.

Explore Denver:

Denver Botanic Gardens

At just $12.50 for adults and $9 for kids 3-15, this is an inexpensive way to get out and learn something while still enjoying the fresh air. Learn about plants native to the Rocky Mountain region and take in Nature. Enjoy the beautiful Chihuly glass sculpture that beautifully mimics Fall foliage (if you happen to be visiting that time of year). I’m sure it’s beautiful year-round since even in October there was plenty to see. Hours fluctuate by season, so make sure to visit their site to plan your trip!

Denver Zoo

The Denver zoo is an accredited zoo meaning that it has been evaluated by the AZA (Association of Zoos & Aquariums) to ensure it meets certain standards for animal management and care, including living environments, social groupings, health, and nutrition and even the way the animals are acquired. One of my friends happens to be a primate keeper here. I was fascinated learning more about what a zoo-keeper really does behind-the-scenes. From food prep to feedings, keeping notes on mating and other behavior, and even changing around the habitat and toys for the animals to keep them mentally stimulated. The Denver zoo even has a handy app that you can download for free to avoid wasting paper with a physical map plus daily activities and schedules right at your fingertips! Adults are $15 and children 3-11 are $10.

Big Sweep by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen

Denver Art Museum

If the weather is less than pleasant, this is a great way to explore Denver a bit while remaining indoors. This excellently curated museum offers a wonderful mix of temporary and permanent exhibits. If you read my city guide to Marfa, you know already I’m a big Claes Oldenburg fan. One of his collaborations with Coosje van Bruggen, titled Big Sweep sits just outside the museum for easy viewing by the public. Admission to the museum is free on the first Saturday of every month (but the museum is therefor more crowded on these days) Adults are otherwise $13 and children up to 18 years are free!

Red Rocks Ampitheatre

Red Rocks Ampitheatre is LEGENDARY. If you have the opportunity to go it is an absolute must. The energy is different here. I think it has to do with the steep slope of the seats so the performers can really see their audience getting into it and it makes them want to give it their all. It becomes frenetic. Palpable. The acoustics don’t suck either. You and the entertainers feed off each other for an unforgettable experience. Btw, NO ONE warned me that this is an actual hike to get from event parking into the venue. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water. At least there are spectacular views as a reward! My hubby and I got to go and see some of my fave reggae-inspired bands: The Movement, Iration, and Dirty Heads. It honestly couldn’t have been a more perfect fit.

Union Station

This 100-year-old historic building in the heart of downtown Denver is home to many amazing shops and eateries. Grab a boozy milkshake from Milkbox Ice Creamery or a coffee from Pigtrain Coffee and take in the architecture of this beautiful building. (It’s particularly gorgeous when lit up at night!) Step just across the street to Tattered Cover Book store. This massive independently-owned bookstore sells new and used books, and features cozy reading nooks and frequently hosts events with authors throughout the year.

Garden of the Gods (Colorado Springs)

A girlfriend of mine from high school lives literally just down the street from this beautiful park. About an hour and fifteen minutes from Denver, this is certainly worth the drive down! (It’s located in Colorado Springs, which is worth exploring in it’s own right!). Whether you want a scenic drive, bike ride, or hike, Garden of the Gods will offer beautiful scenic vistas for everyone. Make sure to stop by the Visitor’s Center and check their events calendar to make the most out of your visit, if you don’t have a local to guide you. ;) Unlike many of the other popular hiking destinations that surround Denver, admission to the visitor’s center and the park itself is FREE!

Eat/Drink Denver:

Urban Farmer

Just a few blocks away from Union Station, this place is pricey but well well worth it. The coolest thing about this place? The mushrooms they grow in the basement. No, this isn’t the beginning of a story about a college party gone wrong. Urban Farmer lives up to it’s name by cultivating their own mushrooms which can be ordered table-side for delicious entertainment served alongside your food. To see the varieties currently growing, a quick trip downstairs to visit the restroom will take you past their grow-space. They also keep their own bees on the roof from which they cultivate their own honey used in cocktails, cheese boards, and other various dishes. Their beautifully appointed bar serves up classics (like one of my favorites a Blood & Sand) or old favorites with a twist like the Butter Pecan Old Fashioned. The Lamb Chop is pricey but oh-so-worth it, and frankly everything is good from the Brussels Sprouts to their Twice-Baked Fingerling Potato Tart. If you’re really into beer, take a stroll after dinner a few blocks down to Falling Rock.

Falling Rock Tap House

Featuring a large street-level patio as well as indoor seating and billiards, this tap house is a beer nerd’s dream; Offering an unparalleled selection of taps featuring beers from craft breweries all over the country and a carefully curated assortment of vintage bottles that are difficult to find anywhere else. Denver is crawling with craft beer at every turn, so this is a great way to sample a myriad of its offerings in just one place.

Uncle

This popular LoHi eatery does not accept reservations, so be forewarned: the line can get crazy long very fast. If you’re dining alone, a spot usually will be available quickly at the bar, but be prepared for the glares from other patrons as you’re seated before them. I loved sitting at the bar both times I’ve been—the atmosphere is busy but upbeat and friendly, with the cooks making a little small talk (but never intrusively). I was fascinated with the sky high honey lemon foam on the “Modern Whiskey” cocktail. It’s otherwise a no frills drink with the only other ingredient being Buffalo Trace. The Colorado Wagyu Beef is beyond tender and seasoned to perfection. The buns (also commonly referred to as “Bao”) were great too. We tried a pretty classic version— the Pork Belly— with Hoisin and perfectly paired with the fresh lightness of cucumber and scallions atop a pillowy steamed bun. The Duck Ramen is my favorite because it is so different. The slightly spicy broth paired with the bright acidity of the gala apple matchsticks and a very runny egg— not “jammy”— runny. so much so that the yolk mixes beautifully with the broth to create additional richness. After you finish your meal, take a walk to American Cultures a few blocks over.

American Cultures

I’m not so into beer. This is my kind of tap room! First of all, major kudos to the cute punny name. Get it? American cultures? because of the live probiotics in the kombucha!? They also have a cute quaint decor with chairs that are my favorite color and jars on each table with fresh flowers. I couldn’t decide on just one flight of four so I had to have two flights. I’m glad I did because I really enjoyed them all! You can also just order a glass of your favorite to enjoy there or have a growler filled to take with you. One of the most unusual (and delicious!) ‘booches I wound up tasting was one called Black Magic by Mortal Kombucha which gets its color from activated charcoal. Definitely a great place to try if you’re going to Denver for the full experience.

Officer’s Club Lowry

If you have the opportunity to experience Officer’s Club Lowry, located near Lowry Air Force base, you’ll inevitably end p with one of their 10 varieties of Old Fashioned in your hand. My favorite was the “Burnt & Smoked” made with Buffalo Trace, burnt sugar simple syrup, & chocolate bitters, which is then infused with Cherrywood smoke and garnished with an Orange twist. Watching the bartender prepare this drink is truly mesmerizing as it is poured into a glass bottle with the smoke inside to truly infuse it with loads of flavor. You’d be plenty entertained just watching them craft these drinks for a few hours. That smokey flavor will punch you in the face with this one—which I loved—but if that’s not your jam, there are plenty of others to choose from including one with Maple and another with both honey and Lavendar. Oh yeah, the food is pretty good here, too. ;-)

Yak & Yeti

This Indian and Nepalese restaurant is true to Denver with a brewpub on-site as well! The decor is a beautiful experience in and of itself with traditional decor. If you’re new to this type of cuisine (or just can’t choose!) the unique buffet allows for you to sample a variety of foods inexpensively. Some not to miss include the samosas, the Makhani Chicken (AKA Butter Chicken) the Korma and Masala. The Garlic Naan is swoon-worthy and an order is HUGE. If you’ve never had a Lassi before, (a traditional yogurt-based fruit drink) trust me and get one here available in either Mango or Rose.

Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox

Not far from the Botanic Gardens, this is a great way to refuel (or fuel before you go?). Do yourself a favor and skip Snooze for Brunch and go here instead. (IMO—-which may be unpopular—-Snooze was not worth the wait and was jut OK) Ophelia’s brunch, however, is a full sensory experience. With a menu this good, how does one choose?! Let me fill you in on a little secret: one doesn’t. The key here is to convince all of your companions to order something different so you can have a bite (or two), and then order the creme brûlée french toast as “dessert” to share (it’s honestly too decadent to tackle as a meal on your own anyway). Top on my list? The BBQ Shrimp & Cheese grits, the Chicken and Waffle, the Arepas Benedict, and the Loco Moco Poutine. Wipe that drool off your chin, already! If you like a little boozy beverage with your brunch, the Dirk Diggler was a creative gin drink, or you can’t go wrong with an Old Fashioned! Remember how I said this was a full sensory experience? The food is out-of-this-world exceptional. But that’s not why you come here. It’s the vibe. This huge venue is self-described as a “gastro-brothel” featuring a stage for live music and a huge projection screen which plays an Indie film all while you dine. Be sure to check their Facebook Page for a listing of events.

The Source

The Source is an interesting compound featuring a hotel and Market Hall. There is a lot to discover within these walls, but the most notable IMO are Acorn— a beautiful farm-to-table concept restaurant, and Crooked Stave- one of my husband’s favorite craft breweries.

Acorn

This seasonally-changing menu features fresh local fare thoughtfully prepared in small, medium, and large plates for sharing or tasting solo. It’s hard to recommend a dish here because the menu so often changes, but every time I have visited the selection is always full of unexpected combinations packed full of flavor with prices ranging from moderate to very expensive. This was a fun experience dining solo at the bar where I made a single-serving friend-turned actual friend, to a large group with passed plates. I also love that they have a drink menu conveniently categorized into “booze free” to “low booze” and “high booze”

Crooked Stave

One of my hubby’s favorite craft breweries. Rated one of the top 5 best breweries in America, when I asked him what makes them special he simply replied, “they just make really good beer”. When prodded, he elaborated that they feature the most extensive range of sour beers you can find anywhere. Tasting options are a popular choice here for this reason, so you can try multiple brews. Bottles, cans, and growlers are available to take with you.

TRVE

Another of my husband’s favorites, this is one of very few in America to focus on packing a lot of favor into low ABV (alcohol by volume) sessionable beers. The cherry on top for him, is that it makes his metal-music heart happy since they are a self described “heavy metal brewery” and frequently have his kinda music playing (loudly) in their taproom. While there are certainly plenty of other places to check out in Denver if you love beer, there are so many to choose from in Denver, it’s tough to know what’s worth it and what isn’t. According to my hubs (and likely confirmed by our many similarly-afflicted beer-loving friends) TRVE, Crooked Stave, and Falling Rock are the top 3 places to start.