.jpg "Denver Guide: Where to Eat, Stay, and Visit in the Colorado Capital")
For a delicious journey through Israel’s expansive cuisine, Safta is the right choice. The menu draws inspiration from traditional dishes through a modern lens. The cheese bourekas, duck matzo ball soup, and pomegranate braised lamb shank are a few of the fan favorites. If you can’t stop by for dinner, make sure to snag a brunch reservation.
Not even a year old, Molotov has quickly become one of the hardest reservations to get in town. While the hearty Eastern European dishes with modern twists tend to draw big appetites, the intimate dining experience adds to the constant buzz around this hot spot.
After nine years at a different location in town, this icon of Italian cuisine reopened in 2017 right in the heart of RiNo, acting as a vote of confidence for the neighborhood’s culinary potential. Chef and owner Andrea Frizzi made sure to keep with the area’s artistic roots—the impressive marble bar is from the same quarry as Michaelangelo’s David, and the largest Bocci chandelier in the world illuminates the space.
The menu here is globally-influenced and locally sourced—it consistently tops local critics’ hit lists. Mouthwatering snacks include salt and vinegar popcorn, burrata with gooseberries, and a potato rosti with sweet corn, peach, and chamomile pistou. It’s hard to go wrong here, especially if you opt for the seven-course tasting menu, which at just $50 per person comes at a steal.
James Beard Award semifinalist Dana Rodriguez has generated national buzz for her unique blend of American and Latin flavors. Make sure to try the “peppers five ways”—bacon-wrapped jalapeños with candied almonds, Fresno peppers, grilled shishitos, mixed pickled peppers, and pepper jam.
Where To Drink
Inspired by the legendary 1920s socialite Milly Parker, this upscale cocktail bar is not your average speakeasy. The plush banquettes, hand-painted De Gournay wallpaper, and highly curated local art collection are a feast for the eyes, while the rotating menu offers guests innovative craft cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Situated just a stone’s throw from Lower Highlands, this is the perfect spot to grab a drink before exploring LoHi.
The little sister to Boulder’s Michelin-starred Frasca Food and Wine, Sunday Vinyl doesn’t fall short of meeting every (high!) expectation. The eclectic collection of records spins on a state-of-the-art, three-turntable sound system, and the expansive wine selection is equally exciting. Make sure to save room for a few of the fancy light bites like lobster and smoked salmon canapés, wagyu beef tartare, and truffle butter risotto.
This subterranean watering hole is Dairy Block’s best-kept secret. From seasonal cocktails to vintage spirits, this cozy cocktail lair serves creative concoctions in an understated setting. Pop by for a pre-dinner drink or a nightcap with friends.
Midnight is the best time to check out this lively jazz bar nestled in a beautifully restored warehouse. There’s live music every single night, in addition to one of the area’s more creative cocktail lists—with such newfangled offerings as the “Dreaming Dangerously,” a potent blend of rum, Manzanilla sherry, walnut liqueur, maple syrup, oat milk, and fig.
Breweries
It wouldn’t be a trip to Colorado without a brewery crawl through some of the city’s exceptional craft brew hotspots, and luckily RiNo has them in spades. Some of the best include Black Shirt Brewing, Ratio Beerworks, and Great Divide Brewing Company.
What To Do
Denver Botanical Gardens
During the warmer months, the botanical gardens are an exceptional escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. With exhibits including a zen Japanese garden, tropical greenhouse, and oversized lily pond, the 24-acre property is overflowing with local and global plant species. When the snow starts to fall, the gardens turn into a winter wonderland outfitted in holiday lights and festive displays that keep spirits bright until spring.
If you’re looking for a taste of contemporary art, this museum will do the trick. Home to paintings by Andy Warhol and chairs designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, this salon-style collection showcases world-renowned artists. Named after Colorado’s very own Vance Kirkland, the artist’s studio sits nearby for guests to get a closer look at his abstract and dot paintings.
There is something special about the otherworldly rocks that make up this natural amphitheater. Red Rocks is more than just an outdoor concert venue; it’s a must-see landmark for wellness enthusiasts and music lovers alike. In the morning, you’ll find yoga classes on the rocks and a slew of hikers winding through the short but worthwhile Trading Post trail. At night, the incomparable acoustics and sunset views of downtown Denver in the distance are pitch and picture-perfect.
Art Galleries
You could fill a whole day just walking through the galleries in RiNo: Plinth Gallery for contemporary ceramics, which make perfect gifts to bring home; RedLine, a unique live-work space with exhibitions on the first floor, and resident artists living upstairs; and Ironton Studios, a metalworks factory-turned-distillery now home to the Colorado Photographic Arts Center.