9 Unique Eats You Have to Try in Denver

The cultural hub of the Mountain West, Denver is a multi-dimensional metropolis and a vibrant basecamp for visitors drawn to the majesty of the Rockies. It’s a melting pot of culinary influences, which have inspired not only a vibrant food scene but a thriving network of imaginative restaurants. From unexpected menu combinations, to unique and immersive settings, these establishments are reimagining the dining experience. Watch chefs cook your meal in a live performance at Beckon, learn dessert science at The Inventing Room, or snag a booth in a former mortuary at Linger. Surprise your senses, delight your taste buds, and tap into your sense of adventure at these nine cutting-edge bars and eateries.

Beckon

Intimate dining at its finest.

One of Denver’s new Michelin starred restaurants, Beckon offers a transcendent dining experience in intimate environs. The main dining room has just 18 seats, arranged in a sweeping curve around a central counter. This is the main stage. Here, Chef Duncan Holmes—previously the mastermind behind Michelin-starred Frasca in Boulder—mesmerizes guests by preparing, cooking, and plating every dish before their eyes. It’s an immersive culinary experience that keeps food, community, and experience front and center. Holmes also takes a unique approach to menu design. All Beckon’s seasonal dishes are themed and inspired by the lunar cycle, and each quarterly eight-course menu is released on the night of the full moon.

Linger

Street food to die for.

In 1917, Buffalo Bill’s body spent about six months in Olinger Mortuaries, an imposing building in Denver’s now-trendy Highland neighborhood. Today, the famous mortuary has been repurposed into a hip, funky restaurant. Inside, quilted leather seats and a dark, curving staircase pay homage to the building’s funeral parlor past. Upstairs, a retro food truck sits atop a rooftop bar spangled in string lights. The place’s original sign has also been repurposed (and slightly edited); it now reads Linger Eatuaries.

Linger’s playful menu feels right at home amid its tongue-in-cheek decor. Inspired by street food around the world, offerings range from Asian-fusion bao buns (think Mongolian BBQ duck and Korean fried chicken), to savory kebabs charred on an 800-degree robatayaki grill. Cocktails here are a must. Order the Mortuary Margarita if you prefer a refreshing sip, or the spiced Baharat Old-Fashioned for something a little more spirit-forward.

Casa Bonita

A delicious escape from reality.

You set down your margarita to dig into a plate of green chile-drenched enchiladas when—Splash!—a professional cliff diver sails right past your table and vanishes into the turquoise pond below. That’s par for the course at Casa Bonita. Made famous by the animated sitcom South Park—and purchased by the show’s founders in 2021— Casa Bonita lives up to its reputation as a charmingly fantastical refuge from real life. Visitors can wander through a system of pirate-themed caverns and dine beneath faux palm trees. You’ll find the menu stacked with classic Mexican-American dishes, many of which were reimagined and elevated when the new owners brought on James Beard Award-nominated executive chef Dana Rodriguez in 2021. The mole, carnitas, and ceviche all rely on hearty traditional recipes, and the sopapillas are likely to take up a recurring role in your dreams for weeks to come. Still, take care to look up from your plate every once and a while; the cliff divers aren’t the only entertainment here. Puppet shows, Wild West-style gunfights, live music, and a costumed gorilla all make regular appearances.

FlyteCo Tower

Tavern fare and lawn games.

Founded by pilots, FlyteCo Brewing has always had a soft spot for aviation. So, when Denver’s former Stapleton International Airport Control Tower became available for purchase in 2022, FlyteCo jumped on the chance to transform the space into a lively brewpub. Today, FlyteCo Tower serves as a treasured gathering place for aviation professionals, locals, and families alike. The renovated airport building houses six bowling lanes, 18 holes of mini golf, and a full arcade. You can also climb the 142-foot tower, where climbers are rewarded with 360-degree views of Denver and the distant Rockies.

Back on the bottom floor, FlyteCo’s bustling restaurant specializes in classic bar food with an elevated twist. Grab a seat on the expansive patio and start with the wonton-wrapped fried pickles and a bowl of FlyteCo’s signature Beer Cheese Soup. Also be sure to order a flight, a name which has never been more apt; the glasses are served on an airplane-shaped tray.

The Inventing Room

Denver’s Wonka-inspired dessert lab.

If the Inventing Room looks like something straight out of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, that’s because it is. Inspired by the 1971 film, this whimsical dessert lab produces an array of magical treats—from glow-in-the-dark cotton candy to liquid-nitrogen ice cream sundaes—right in front of its visitors. Each interactive demonstration is led by The Inventing Room’s founder, chef, and food-science wizard Ian Kleinman, who draws much of his inspiration from beloved games, toys, and candies from his childhood. The result is a wonderland of taste-bud-dazzling nostalgia.

Though it may be famous for its sweets, The Inventing Room takes its experimental approach well beyond dessert. Order the Saffron Crepe—a delicate dish bedecked with shishito crème, lobster, salt water bubbles, and black truffle caviar—for a symphonic ensemble of textures and flavors. And the Nitro Apple Bourbon, served over smoked ice cubes, offers a sweet-and-smoky draught with just the right amount of bite.

Leven Deli

A Jewish deli with a twist.

A perfect cross between a classic Jewish deli and a bright Mediterranean bistro, Leven is a celebration of Old-World flavor. It starts the day as a breakfast joint, serving up delicate pastries and tender lox on toasted sourdough. By lunch, the deli’s signature sandwiches emerge as the stars of the menu. The traditional rye bread is baked in-house, and the deli’s celebrated pastrami is made the old-fashioned way—rubbed with savory herbs and spices, cured for 12 days, and then smoked to perfect tenderness. After lunch, when the sun begins to set, the deli transforms yet again; equipped with a full bar and a respectable wine list, Leven hosts a top-notch happy hour. To do it right, order a glass of red with olives, dolmas, and a saucer of whipped feta.

Bierstadt Lagerhaus

Serious brews and wild entertainment.

Located in Denver’s vibrant RiNo neighborhood, the Bierstadt Lagerhaus takes as much pride in its traditional German brewing as it does in its wild after-hours entertainment. Bring a crew and order a round of the Slow-Pour Pils—a crisp, golden beer that takes about five minutes to pour—and Das Feast, a hearty platter of soft pretzels, savory sausages, schnitzel, and other traditional German fare. Then, head deeper into the Bierhalle for a game of giant cornhole (and we mean giant—think about tossing a bean bag chair through a first-story window and you’ll have the right idea). On select days, comedy, trivia, and live music add an extra electricity to the atmosphere. Target Thursdays and Saturdays for local bands and Fridays for the famed Bierhalle Brawl—a series of Rocky Mountain Pro Wrestling matches held live in the beer hall.

Woodie Fisher

An ode to Denver’s heritage.

Housed within an 1880s volunteer fire station, Woodie Fisher pays homage to the proud heritage and down-to-earth character of its Union Station neighborhood. (Even the name pays homage to one of Denver’s first fire foremen, Redwood “Woodie” Fisher.) But while the red-brick exterior looks much the same as it has for the last 100 years, both the interior and the fare served within have been dramatically elevated since the firehouse days. Elegant leather chairs and intimate booths now occupy the engine bays, and antique fire hoses have been repurposed into modern ceiling art.

All this is presided over by Chef Franco Ruiz, an internationally trained visionary with a Michelin-starred pedigree. Called a “Restaurant Star on the Rise” by both FSR Magazine and The Denver Post, Ruiz has an uncanny ability to innovate without losing the traditional character of the food he serves. To sample some of his best work, try the Seared Duck Breast (served with huckleberry, roasted onion bread pudding, and gruyere fondue) or the Fungi Pie, a rich, flavorful pizza with perfectly crisp crust.

Honey Elixir Bar

Swanky juice bar meets speakeasy.

At once elegant and whimsical, the Honey Elixir Bar feels like a Gatsby-era Bohemian lounge. The place glitters with gold accents and bee-themed décor, and velvet cushions soften the buzz of voices into a gentle murmur. But the real focus of the place is its approach to cocktails. Honey Elixir’s mixologists strive to create drinks that replenish and rejuvenate rather than deplete. To that end, they utilize energizing ingredients like honey, cacao, organic herbs, and jun, a honey-fed fermented beverage similar to kombucha. The result is a menu packed with unexpected flavor combinations. Here, each beverage is as much a wellness tincture as it is an indulgence.

The bar also serves an extensive menu of non-alcoholic drinks, dubbed “potions,” which are every bit as complex and well-balanced as their boozy counterparts. Because Honey Elixir doesn’t use non-alcoholic liquors, these drinks rely solely on botanicals, flower essences, and fermented ingredients for their punch and flavor.