Our two prior posts covered dining venues in the immediate Denver area; our final post shares suggestions on other eating establishments outside of Denver:
240 Union, 240 Union Boulevard, Lakewood, Colo. (www.240union.com)
If you take Route 6 to the mountains, stop by 240 Union for a perfect glass of wine, incredible service, and great food. Don’t let the strip mall location put you off – 240 Union never disappoints.
Bang!, 3472 W. 32nd Avenue (www.bangdenver.com)
In the Highlands neighborhood just west of Denver, Bang! serves up comfort food in a cozy, friendly environment. After dinner, wander up and down 32nd Ave., and check out the shops – ranging from a cheese purveyor to a Spanish language bookstore.
Briarwood Inn, 1630 8th Street, Golden, Colo. (www.thebriarwoodinn.com)
You know it is date night when you get an invitation to the Briarwood Inn for dinner! Tucked up against the foothills of the Rockies, the Briarwood delivers a memorable and delicious dining experience every time.
Cherry Cricket, 2641 E. Second Avenue (www.cherrycricket.com)
In the Cherry Creek area of Denver, the Cricket consistently wins raves for the best burgers in Denver. You’ll also find many cool boutiques and galleries in the area.
El Rancho, 29260 US Highway 40, Golden, Colo. (www.historicelrancho.com)
If you are trying to sneak in a trip to the mountains, head west on I-70, and take in the view of the Continental Divide at the historic El Rancho. Enjoy tasty drinks and a menu that sports buffalo medallions, as well as mac n’ cheese.
Flagstaff House, 1138 Flagstaff Road, Boulder, Colo. (www.flagstaffhouse.com)
If the breathtaking views of Boulder aren’t enough, the food here will blow you away. While delicious, keep in mind that it’s pretty pricey, too. A very special dining experience – complete with wildlife peering in at you through the windows.
In addition, we’ve included a list of fun things to take pleasure in when stepping outside the convention center. Can’t possibly fit in all the great restaurants, shops and other sites? Add them to a list of things to see and do when you return!
Avant-Card, 303 16th Street
Need the perfect card? You’ll probably find it at this tiny shop, tucked away in the basement of the Republic Plaza Building, just down the steps from the big Starbucks at 16th and Tremont.
Denver Mint, 320 W. Colfax Avenue
No, not a candy – a place that makes money! One of the coolest and quickest tours in Denver, and only just a couple of blocks from the convention center.
Golden City Brewery, 920 12th Street, Golden, Colo. (www.gcbrewery.com)
Aptly billed as “the 2nd largest brewery in Golden,” stop by for a seasonal brew, or one of Golden City’s award-winning Legendary Pale Ale or Clear Creek Gold beers. If you have the time, hike a few blocks west to the CSM Geology Museum to take in 50,000 minerals, fossils, gemstones, and artifacts housed in a unique setting.
Hammond’s Candies, 5735 N. Washington Street (www.hammondscandies.com)
This is the sweetest little tour in Denver. Hammond’s is famous around the world for its ribbon candy and specialty hard candies. Visit for the free tour, and grab a handful of samples. Tours every half hour, every day except Sunday.
Kirkland Museum, 1311 Pearl Street (www.vancekirkland.org)
Kirkland Museum displays 20th-century decorative arts, with more than 3,300 works on view of Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau, Gasgow Style, Wiener Werstätte, De Stijl, Bauhaus, Art Deco, Modern and Pop Art.
Pacific Mercantile Company at Sakura Square, 1925 Lawrence Street (www.pacificeastwest.com)
It is no Uwajimaya of Seattle, but the Pacific Mercantile has plenty of food and gift shopping opportunities.
Pandora Jewelry, 220 East 13th Avenue
From Freud action figures to eyebrow rings – Pandora Jewelry has it all.
Tattered Cover (www.tatteredcover.com)
With two locations downtown (LoDo, and west on Colfax), this Denver institution is legendary among bibliophiles. Visit either location to find out what everyone is talking about!
Thanks again to Dodie Ownes, editor of SLJTeen and native resident of Boulder, for allowing us to share this small guide to Denver! Do you have any other suggestions to add to our lists?