My go-to Denver weekend: Union Station cocktails and LoDo brewpubs, RiNo murals and food halls, ice cream in LoHi, then green chile on Colfax and a show at Red Rocks. These are the spots I actually send friends to when they visit the Mile High City.
Map
I always start at Union Station, grabbing a drink in the Great Hall and people-watching under the big chandeliers.
Denver Union Station
I book Mercantile inside Union Station for a long lunch, and the market counter is great for grabbing snacks for the train.
Mercantile
Tavernetta is my special-occasion Italian spot right behind Union Station, and the handmade pastas never miss.
Tavernetta
I order a martini at the Cruise Room in the Oxford Hotel, an Art Deco bar that opened the day after Prohibition ended.
Cruise Room
I grab a pint and play pool upstairs at Wynkoop, Denver's first brewpub.
Wynkoop Brewing Company
I catch a Rockies game at Coors Field and sit near the purple row of seats that marks exactly one mile high.
Coors Field
I stroll Larimer Square at night when the string lights are glowing over Denver's oldest block.
Larimer Square
I go to Sam's No. 3 for a smothered breakfast burrito drowning in their famous green chile.
Sam's No. 3
I wait out the line at the original Snooze for a pancake flight, and it's always worth it.
Snooze, an A.M. Eatery
I order a pile of rotisserie meats and sides at Work & Class with friends and share everything.
Work & Class
I wander Denver Central Market for a coffee and a snack before walking the RiNo murals.
The Denver Central Market
Hop Alley's spicy Chinese dishes and cocktails make it one of my favorite dinners in the city.
Hop Alley
I go to Safta inside The Source for Alon Shaya's puffy wood-fired pita and hummus.
Safta
Rosenberg's makes a real New York-style bagel, and I always get a lox-loaded one to go.
Rosenberg's Bagels & Delicatessen (Five Points)
I line up at the giant milk can at Little Man for a scoop on a summer night.
Little Man Ice Cream
I eat global small plates on Linger's rooftop inside an old mortuary, with skyline views over downtown.
Linger
I love brunch at Root Down in a converted gas station with a menu full of veggie-forward dishes.
