Denver has a vibrant culinary scene, with 27 restaurants currently recognized by the Michelin Guide for their great food and masterful cooking techniques. From high-end dining to low-key boutique eateries, Denver’s restaurants offer food lovers a never-ending selection of delicious cuisine. While in Denver, two unique spots to grab a bite are the historic Union Station and Larimer Square (the oldest block in Denver), both located in Lower Downtown (LoDo). These sites offer high-end dining, trendy restaurants, coffee and ice cream shops, and elegant bars and lounges. As a bonus, they are also great places to do some shopping! Another nice area to dine and drink is Hangar 2 in the Lowry neighborhood. Here, visitors can find restaurants, cafés, and a beer garden.
My visit to Denver was short, so I did not have much opportunity to explore the city’s culinary scene. During my trip, I stopped by Officers Club Lowry at Hangar 2 and The Thirsty Lion Gastropub in LoDo for two of my meals, enjoyed lunches at the Denver Botanic Garden and Denver Art Museum, had a hotel picnic with food from Snarf’s Sandwiches, and savored some delicious ice cream at Union Station.
Officers Club Lowry
My first dinner in Denver was at the Officers Club Lowry, which is located right next to the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. I selected this restaurant based on its location, reviews, and menu. The Officers Club Lowry is a low-key restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere, indoor and outdoor dining space, and live music several times a week.
I ordered the Daily Fresh Fish, which is served with fingerling potatoes and haricot verts, as the fish of the day was salmon. The dish hit some high notes with the delicious and well-prepared potatoes and greens, but sadly, the salmon was rather salty. At a price point of $37, I was a bit disappointed that the salmon was not better prepared. Overall, the service was great, and my waiter was very attentive. The Officers Club Lowry does have good reviews, so maybe I caught them on an off day!
The Hive Garden Bistro
The Hive Garden Bistro is one of two restaurants located inside Denver’s Botanic Garden. I decided to stop by this bistro while exploring the gardens, as I was starving and also needed a reprieve from the hot afternoon sun. The Hive Garden Bistro is a counter-service eatery with only outdoor dining space and a menu offering vegetarian and gluten-free options. I grabbed a table near a water feature and had a special visitor during my meal!
I got the Pollinator Salad, and it was amazing!! It had a very interesting flavor profile and was very fresh overall. It looks a bit small in the pictures, but the serving size was generous. The highlights of the salad were the honey-smoked salmon, candied pecan, avocado, and honey lavender vinaigrette. For a drink, I grabbed a cold, refreshing lemonade.
If you visit the Botanic Gardens, I recommend the Hive Garden Bistro for a meal. The food was delicious, and customer service was great. Note that this bistro can be a bit pricey; my meal (food, drink, and tip) totaled $28.29.
Snarf’s Sandwiches
After a long day trip to the Rocky Mountain National Park, I was quite tired, so I opted for a hotel room picnic. The front desk at the hotel highly recommended Snarf’s Sandwiches, and as they delivered via DoorDash, I went ahead and placed a dinner order. Wow, the food was amazing! The tuna salad with raspberry vinaigrette was very good, and the loaf of bread was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. To finish the meal, I made some coffee to enjoy with the white chocolate chip macadamia cookies.
If you are looking for an inexpensive, quick meal in Denver, I highly recommend Snarf’s Sandwiches. The meal totaled $22.28, but keep in mind that DoorDash does mark up prices, plus there is a delivery fee, service fee, and tip.
Café Gio
Café Gio is one of two eateries located in the Denver Art Museum. This café is counter-service, with meals brought to your table. While the iced coffee was great, the meal definitely fell short of expectations. I ordered a slice of sourdough topped with smoked salmon, avocado, and an egg. The café was out of avocados, so they used mixed greens instead (I was informed of this after I placed my order). Much to my dismay, the meal was not good; it was very dry, with the bread over-toasted and the egg overcooked. The smoked salmon was good but not enough to save the dish.
The meal (drink, food, and tip) totaled $19.91. Café Gio updates its menu on a regular basis, and this dish is currently not being offered. I would recommend this eatery for the coffee and pastries, which looked really good, but not the food.
Thirsty Lion Gastropub
Thirsty Lion Gastropub was plan B after I discovered that Mercantile at Union Station, a restaurant recommended by a friend, was closed for the Labor Day Holiday. I’m glad I had the opportunity to visit this restaurant because the food was delicious, the customer service was great, and the atmosphere was fun and laid-back. I ordered grilled salmon, jasmine cilantro rice, and grilled vegetables. Every component of the dish was well prepared and well seasoned. The raspberry lemonade was also really good.
I highly recommend the Thirsty Lion Gastropub as a must-try when visiting Denver. For those interested in sports, the restaurant has several large-screen TVs near the bar. In total, this dinner (with tip) was about $46, which is not too bad for a delicious seafood meal and a restaurant with a great vibe!
Milkbox Ice Creamery
Milkbox Ice Creamery was a sweet end to my time in Denver. This local ice cream shop is found in one of the best-preserved spaces inside the historic Union Station. I bought one scoop of the coffee ice cream; it was heavenly, very creamy and flavorful!
A 5% fee is added to all orders (3% Union Station Historic Preservation and 2% Fair Wage).
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