Late spring and early autumn are excellent seasons to do things outdoors in Denver. Besides the city's various lush green parks, there are plenty of outdoor festivals, sports, and gondola rides. (Yes, gondola rides.) In winter, the snow-peaked mountains in the distance and the crisp air on your cheeks make it the perfect time to tour Denver's famous breweries or check out the downtown arts scene.

Amusement Parks

• Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 West 104th Ave, Westminster (12 miles northwest of downtown Denver), ☎ +1 303 469-5441, [43]. 9AM-4:15PM daily. Learn about invertebrates, science and conservation through fun, interactive exhibits ideal for families with kids. All ages enjoy visiting their tropical conservatory, which is filled with 1,200 free-flying butterflies. $5-8.  edit
• Six Flags Elitch Gardens, [44]. A huge amusement park with rides and family entertainment.  edit
• Waterworld, [45]. Open last weekend in May through Labor Day. The largest water park in the nation.  edit

Sports

• Colorado Avalanche, Pepsi Center, 1000 Chopper Circle, +1 303 405-1100, [46]. National Hockey League.
• Colorado Rockies, Coors Field, 2001 Blake Street, +1 303 762-5437, [47]. Major League Baseball.
• Denver Broncos, Invesco Field at Mile High, 1701 Bryant Street, +1 720 258-3333, [48]. National Football League.
• Denver Nuggets, Pepsi Center, 1000 Chopper Circle, +1 303 405-1100, [49]. National Basketball Association.
• Colorado Mammoth, Pepsi Center, 1000 Chopper Circle, +1 303 405-1100, [50]. National Lacrosse League.
• Colorado Rapids, Dick's Sporting Goods Park, 6000 Victory Way, Commerce City +1 303 727-3500, [51]. Major League Soccer.
• Denver Barbarians Rugby Club, Dick's Sporting Goods Park, 6000 Victory Way, Commerce City [52]. United States Rugby Super League. USA Rugby.

Tours

• Coors Brewery, 17735 W 32nd Avenue, Golden, ☎ +1 303 277-2337, [53]. Coors is brewed with Rocky Mountain water, and you can taste some after you tour the original brewery in Golden. Kids are welcome, if accompanied by an adult.  edit
• Great Divide Brewing Company, 2201 Arapahoe Street, ☎ +1 303 296-9460, [54]. This celebrated local microbrewery is helping make Denver an international destination for beer-lovers. Learn firsthand how they do it. Tours happen Monday-Saturday. Free.  edit
• Venice on the Creek, Creekfront Plaza (Larimer St between Speer Blvd and 14th St), ☎ +1 303 893-0750, [55]. June-August: Th-Su 5PM-10PM. It's just like you're in Venice. Only you're in Denver. Take a relaxing ride in a punt (very similar to an Italian gondola) on Cherry Creek. Your guide will tell you about city history while navigating the shallow waters around downtown. Tours leave every 15 minutes, and reservations are recommended. $20-75.  edit

Performing Arts

• Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Denver Performing Arts Complex (Speer St and Arapahoe St), ☎ +1 303 893-4100, [56]. Spend an evening at the theater watching anything from revivals to world premieres. The center hosts a Tony Award-winning professional resident company, as well as touring productions.  edit
• Colorado Ballet, Ellie Caulkins Opera House (in the Denver Performing Arts Complex), ☎ +1 303 837-8888, [57]. September-April. Founded in 1951, this internationally acclaimed company presents classical and contemporary ballets.  edit
• Opera Colorado, Ellie Caulkins Opera House (in the Denver Performing Arts Complex), ☎ +1 303 778-1500, [58]. November-May. This young company performs classic operas in their downtown venue. $30-160.  edit

Comedy

• Bovine Metropolis Theater, 1527 Champa St, ☎ +1 303 758-4722, [59]. Nope, no cows on stage. Just exciting and surprising improv comedy shows five nights a week. All ages. $5-16.  edit
• Comedy Works, 1226 15th St (between Larimer and Lawrence in Larimer Square), ☎ +1 303 595-3637, [60]. Laugh it up with local comedians as well as big name acts. 21 and up. $10-30 tickets.  edit
• Impulse Theater, 1634 18th St, ☎ +1 303 297-2111, [61]. Th-Sa. At Denver's original improv comedy venue, no two shows are ever the same! Great for group events and appropriate for all ages. $18.  edit

Festivals & Events

• January National Western Stock Show & Rodeo, Martin Luther King Parade, Indian Market
• February Colorado Garden and Home Show, Denver Restaurant Week, Buffalo Bill's Birthday Party
• March St. Patrick's Day Parade, Denver March Powwow, Starz Global Lens Film Festival
• April Doors Open Denver, Colorado Rockies Home Opener, KBCO Kinetics
• May Cinco de Mayo, Tesoro Indian Market and Powwow, Downtown Denver Festival of the Arts, Colorado Colfax Marathon also includes Denver's Navy Week.
• June Colorado Renaissance Festival, Cherry Blossom Festival, Comcast La Piazza dell’Arte, Do At The Zoo, PrideFest, The People's Fair, Highland Street Fair
• July Cherry Creek Arts Festival, The INTERNATIONAL at Castle Pines, Colorado Irish Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Evergreen Jazz Festival
• August Rocky Mountain Balloon Festival (the website says 2009 is cancelled)
• September A Taste of Colorado, Brew At The Zoo, Annual Oktoberfest, Festival Italiano
• October Fright Fest, Great American Beer Festival, Denver Mariachi Festival, Denver Marathon
• November Starz International Film Festival, Denver International Wine Festival, Downtown Denver, Grand Illumination
• December Mile High Holidays, Blossoms of Light, Zoo Lights, 9News Parade of Lights

Denver is a vibrant city with plenty of attractions for visitors, plus a diverse collection of neighborhoods that can be attractions in themselves. Many of Denver's older areas are the perfect density for exploration; you'll find an an interesting mix of apartments and homes with flowery front gardens, wide flagstone sidewalks, bright green lawns and big, shady trees. Capitol Hill, Highlands, Baker, Berkeley, Uptown, Sloan's Lake, Cheesman, Washington, City and Congress Parks are just some of the neighborhoods bustling with people and places to see.

Denver has many beautiful parks that are full of colorful gardens, meandering paths, crystal clear lakes, abundant wildlife and recreation opportunities. The city has a rich pioneer history, and there are plenty of museums where you can learn all about it. It's also a very environmentally conscious city, with one of the nation’s first municipal “Green Fleets”, public transit vehicles using hybrid and alternative fuel and a city tree-planting initiative. Hop on a green bus, grab a bike or just walk around to discover Denver.

Museums

• Black American West Museum & Heritage Center, 3091 California St, ☎ +1 303 482-2242, [25]. September-May: Tu-Sa 10AM-2PM, June-August: Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM. Set in the home of Dr. Justina Ford, Colorado's first Black woman doctor, this museum is dedicated to the contributions of Black pioneers in the Old West. $8 adults, $7 seniors, $6 children.  edit
• Byers-Evans House Museum, 1310 Bannock St, ☎ +1 303 620-4933, [26]. Tu-Su 11AM-3PM (guided tours at 11AM, 12:30PM and 2PM). One of Denver's great historic homes, built in 1883 by Rocky Mountain News publisher Williams Byers and elegantly furnished with original turn of the (20th) century pieces. Tour the house or catch featured exhibitions in the gallery. $5 adults, $4 seniors, $3 children (children under 6 free).  edit
• Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd, ☎ +1 303 322-7009, [27]. Open every day of the year except Christmas Day. Exhibitions, planetarium and IMAX.  edit
• Children's Museum of Denver, 2121 Children's Museum Dr, ☎ +1 303 433-7444 (fax: +1 303 433-9520), [28]. This educational museum takes a fun, hands-on approach to learning.  edit
• Colorado Historical Society, 1300 Broadway, ☎ +1 303 866-3682, [29]. Home of the Colorado History Museum and the Stephen H. Hart Library. Exhibits at the museum and historical sites throughout Colorado.  edit
• Denver Art Museum, 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy, ☎ +1 720 865-5000, [30]. Tu-Th 10AM-5PM, F 10AM-10PM, Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon–5PM. Closed M and major holidays. A huge museum with art from all over the world. You'll want to give yourself several hours to properly explore the place. Free admission on the first Saturday of the month!  edit
• Denver Firefighters Museum, 1326 Tremont Place, ☎ +1 303 892-1436, [31]. M-Sa 10AM-4PM. Historical and interactive exhibits, activities and special events celebrating Denver's firefighters. $6 adults, $5 seniors, $4 children.  edit
• Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys, 1880 Gaylord St, ☎ +1 303 322-1053, [32]. W-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 1PM-4PM. Houses, trains, planes, circuses and more. Everything's tiny except the giant teddy bears! $6 adults, $5 seniors, $4 children (children under age 5 free).  edit
• Forney Transportation Museum, 4303 Brighton Blvd, ☎ +1 303 297-1113, [33]. M-Sa 9AM-5PM. $7 adults, $6 seniors, children $4.50.  edit
• Molly Brown House Museum, 1340 Pennsylvania St, [34]. This restored Victorian was once home to labor reformist, actress and Titanic survivor Margaret Brown. It now showcases that era of Colorado history through exhibits and special events.  edit
• Museo de las Americas, 861 Santa Fe Dr, ☎ +1 303 571-4401, [35]. Tu-F 10AM-5PM, Sa-Su 12PM-5PM. Denver is home to a large and growing Latino population, and this museum focuses on their art and heritage. $4 adults, $3 students/seniors, children under age 13 free.  edit
• Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, 1485 Delgany St, ☎ +1 303 298-7554, [36]. Tu–Th 10AM–6PM, F 10AM–10PM, Sa-Su 10AM–6PM. Housed in an ultra-modern building downtown, this innovative museum seeks to engage the community with workshops, films, lectures, and a relaxing, open environment. Visit the rooftop deck for 360-degree views of Denver, grab a quick bite in the cafe, and check out the functional public performance space called The Lane. $10 adults, $5 students/seniors, children under 6 free.  edit
• Denver Mint, 320 West Colfax Ave, [37]. Thanks to this place, more U.S. money is made in Denver than anywhere else in the world. Fish a coin out of your pocket and look for the "D" on the face side (usually in the bottom right quadrant). That means the money was minted in Denver. Advance registration is required for all mint tours.  edit
• Platte Valley & Western Model Railroad Club, 1701 Wynkoop (Denver's Union Station) (basement of Denver's Union Station), ☎ 303-325-5143, [38]. F 7PM-9PM. A room that was used in the 1900s as the historic station’s jail has been remodeled to house two model railroads depicting Rocky Mountain routes of the 1950s. Check the club’s website for a full schedule of dates and activities. Free.  edit

Parks and Gardens

• City Park, (between Colorado Boulevard, York Street, 26th Avenue and 17th Avenue). Enjoy the Denver sunshine at this 330-acre urban park east of downtown. Two lakes, numerous fields, playgrounds, and a golf course.  edit

• Washington Park. Beautiful and lush Denver park, with lakes, flower gardens, a recreation center, soccer fields and tennis courts.... Over 160 acres of natural beauty, surrounded by turn of the 19th Century homes. A favorite jogging destination.  edit

• Denver Botanic Gardens, 1005 York St, ☎ +1 720 865-3500, [39]. Come for the array of flowers and plants from around the world, stay for the peace and quiet (and the free WiFi!), then check out the bonus attractions. Above the gardens' bistro, you'll find Denver's first public green roof, a living example of the benefits of green design. Space and science buffs won't want to miss the OmniGlobe exhibit, a spherical simulation of the Earth from space.  edit

More

• Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St, ☎ +1 303 376-4800, [40]. Open every day of the year, hours vary by season. Denver zoo's pride is Bear Mountain, created using casts of actual Colorado rock outcroppings to simulate the bears' natural habitat. For a different way to watch the wildlife, hop on the Pioneer Train, the first train in a U.S. zoo to be powered by natural gas. Other exhibits include an indoor rainforest and the 7-acre Primate Panorama. $5-12.  edit

• Chamberlin Observatory, 2930 East Warren Ave, ☎ +1 303 871-5172, [41]. Built in 1890, this working observatory is a historic landmark and a pride of the University of Denver. Star Parties and other events are open to the public.  edit

• Colorado State Capitol, 200 East Colfax Ave, ☎ +1 303 866-2604, [42]. Stand on the step that marks the exact point where the Mile High City reaches its one-mile elevation! You can call yourself the Mile High Person.  edit

By plane

Denver International Airport [1], (IATA: DEN, ICAO: KDEN). Commonly referred to as DIA, it's about 20 miles east of downtown. Frontier Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines all maintain hubs in Concourses A, B, and C respectively. Most other major domestic carriers also have service here.

• Frontier Airlines [2]. Discount carrier with its hub at DIA's Concourse A and service to and from over 60 cities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Central America.
• United Airlines [3]. The largest carrier at the airport, with service across the nation and the world from Concourse B.
• Southwest Airlines [4]. The quintessential discount airline maintains its fastest-growing hub in Concourse C.

The airport is set amidst rolling plains, pretty far from any conceivable local destination. The public transportation service skyRide [5] offers 5 bus routes from the airport with several stops each, delivering you to many "Park and Ride" locations in the metro area for $6-$10 one way. Purchase tickets at the RTD desk in the main terminal. The airport can be crowded due to a post-9/11 security redesign that created a single central screening station, followed by a train that passengers must take to Concourses B and C. It can take up to an hour to get from the ticket line to the gate, so travelers should get to the airport at least 1.5 hours before their scheduled departure time. There are a number of airport shuttles [6] you can take from DIA to the city and beyond.

Private pilots mostly fly into Centennial Airport (ICAO: KAPA), south of town. On warm days the density altitude may make takeoffs difficult; Centennial has long runways for this reason, and to accommodate a large volume of private jet traffic. Flight visibility in the Denver area is often in excess of 100 miles; weather fronts tend to travel quickly N-S along the front range. For small planes, any direction but west is a good choice.

By car

• I-25 (north and south), I-70 (east and west), and I-76 (northeast) are the major interstates leading in and out of the city. I-225 and I-270 cross the Denver area.
• U.S. Highway 40 connects Denver to Salt Lake City to the west.
• Interstate 70 connects Denver to Summit County, the location of many major ski areas, to the west.
• Interstate 25 connects Denver to Colorado Springs in the south and Cheyenne, Wyoming in the north.
• U.S. Highway 36 connects to the northwestern suburbs and on to Boulder.
• C-470 Connects to the southern end of E-470 (also accessible from I-25) leading to the south, southwest, and western suburbs.

• Toll Roads There are a couple of major toll roads in the Denver area, and they can help you avoid some serious rush hour traffic on I-70 and I-25.

• • E-470 [7] connects the airport to the southeast, east, northeast and northwest suburbs, C-470 at its southern terminus, and the Northwest Parkway at its northern terminus, leading to Boulder. E-470 is a "cashless" toll road - there are no longer any toll plazas and no way to pay tolls except via an in-car device or a billing service. If renting a car, check to see if the rental car agency provides for proper billing; otherwise, you may be subject to billed tolls and hefty service charges. Tolls are $2-4 and without an in-car device, service charges can run to $25 or more.

• • Northwest Parkway [8] connects to the north end of E-470 leading to north, northeast and northwest suburbs, and Boulder. Also accessible from I-25. Tolls are up to $3 each, and booths only accept cash. There's no attendant between 10PM and 6AM, so pay attention to the signs; though some booths still accept exact change, others require you to pay online or by mail. Visit the Parkway's website [9] for instructions.

By train

• Amtrak [10] serves Denver's Union Station (DEN). The California Zephyr [11] stops there once a day, continuing east to Chicago and west to Emeryville, California. The station is currently undergoing renovations. When they're complete, it will become the central terminal for bus, light rail, commuter rail, and Amtrak service for the region.

By bus

• Greyhound [12] The bus station is downtown at 1055 19th St, just a few blocks away from Coors Field and other central attractions. Serviced by Greyhound and skyRide buses, the station also has storage lockers which can be rented hourly.

• Numbered streets run east-west in the north half of the metro area, including suburbs. Ellsworth Avenue is the "equatorial" street. Numbered streets increase as you travel north and are generally called avenues. Avenues south of Ellsworth are named.
• Named streets run north-south. Broadway is the "meridian" street. Ordered alphabetically going up as you travel east or west away from city center. Addresses on named streets correspond to intersecting numbered streets, so "1701 Broadway" is at 17th and Broadway. North-south streets are generally called streets, not avenues.
• Downtown streets: The diagonal layout of the downtown area can be tricky, especially for first-time visitors. North of Colfax and west of Broadway, the streets are canted 45 degrees from all other streets in the city. The transition between the two systems is confusing even for locals. Southeast-northwest streets are numbered, while southwest-northeast streets are named. As this was the original grid system of Denver, some vestiges of it exist outside of downtown, creating diagonal cuts in certain parts of the city. Some of those streets include Park Avenue, Speer Boulevard and Morrison Road.

By car

Renting

With Denver's considerable sprawl, car rentals are the most convenient form of transportation for visitors. Local companies tend to offer better prices, but national chains might be more convenient as far as return policies and hours.

Rental companies include:

• Alamo Rent A Car, (toll free: +1 800 462-5266), [14].  edit
• Avis Rent A Car, (toll free: +1 800 331-1212), [15].  edit
• Budget Rent A Car, (toll free: +1 800 527-0700), [16].  edit
• Dollar Rent A Car, (toll free: +1 800 800-3665), [17].  edit
• E-Z Rent A Car, (toll free: +1 800 277-5171), [18].  edit
• Enterprise Rent A Car, (toll free: +1 800 261-7331), [19].  edit
• Hertz Car Rental, (toll free: +1 800 654-3131), [20].  edit
• Thrifty, (toll free: +1 800 847-4389), [21].  edit

Parking

Meters are free on Sunday, and run until 10PM on weekdays. In the downtown area near Coors Field, The Pepsi Center, and LoDo, there is pretty much no free parking on weekdays. In some areas a few blocks from the city center there are a few non-metered spots within reasonable walking distance of downtown. However, just because you don't see a meter doesn't mean that parking is free. Denver is increasingly using "European-style" meters, where you purchase a paper ticket from a machine somewhere on the block and place it on your dashboard.

Areas outside of the downtown core (20th St, Speer, Wynkoop St, Colfax and Broadway) usually have meters that end at 6PM and are free on weekends, so parking is much easier during those times. The area just northwest of downtown, across the train tracks from Union Station, has free 2-hour parking spots.

By public transit

The RTD (Regional Transportation District) [22] operates public transit throughout the Denver area, including buses and light rail.

In 2004, voters approved FasTracks [23], a plan to significantly expand Denver's public transportation system. However, this plan won't be completed until around 2016, so public transportation is still somewhat sparse outside the downtown area.

Denver's existing light rail [24] system, though limited, can efficiently get you from downtown to some south central and southeast suburbs. One light rail line travels parallel to I-25 from the southern part of the Denver metro area past the Tech Center, with a small spur on I-225. Another light rail line connects downtown Denver to Englewood and Littleton. Nearly all light rail lines get you to downtown Denver either through central downtown via the Convention Center or to Union Station past INVESCO Field and the Pepsi Center. Light rail tickets must be purchased (cash, Visa or MasterCard) from vending machines at the stations before boarding the trains. They cost between $2 and $4.50, depending on how far you travel.

There are also many RTD buses you can take throughout the city. Buses are $2 a trip with a free transfer that's valid for two hours. RTD runs a free shuttle along the 16th Street pedestrian mall, which is a little over a mile long and takes you close to most places downtown. More information about RTD can be found at the Market Street and Civic Center bus stations at either end of 16th street in downtown.

Districts

There are a number of shopping areas in Denver. The two most prominent are the 16th Street Mall, and the Cherry Creek Shopping District.

• The 16th Street Mall runs the near entire length of 16th St. in downtown Denver. It is home to a number of chain stores, as well as novelty shops. It is dominated by the Denver Pavilions, an "urban mall," on the southeast end of the street.

• The Cherry Creek Shopping District [71] sits southeast of downtown Denver, and hosts some of the most expensive stores in the metropolitan area. The Cherry Creek Shopping Mall is the epicenter of this district.

• Larimer Square offers some of the best shopping districts in the city and was one of the first urban shopping concept, dating back to the 1960's. The area is full of all kinds of stuff from clothing to furniture. Check out the district's rich history, as well. It is a nice place because almost everything is very architecturally eye-pleasing, which is nice when shopping. Check the area between 14th Street and 16th.

• Colfax Avenue and Capitol Hill offer some of the most eclectic retailers including Hollywood Posters [72], Capitol Hill Books [73], and Independent Records [74].

Specific retailers

• The Tattered Cover, 2526 East Colfax Ave, ☎ +1 303 322-7727, [75]. The area's largest and best-known bookstore, selling new books. The bookstore hosts author readings and other educational programs.  edit
• Colorado Mills Mall, 14500 W. Colfax Avenue, Lakewood (I-70 and Colfax Avenue), ☎ +1 303 384-3000, [76]. Large outlet mall.  edit

Mexican food is abundant and satisfying and takes a local Denver flavor. Green Chili is the order of the day: a brown, chunky and spicy sauce made from pork and Pueblo or Hatch green chilies that works well on everything from chorizo and eggs to tamales. Denver is also known for "western" food using ingredients such as angus beef, buffalo, rattlesnake, cutthroat trout and Rocky Mountain oysters. The city also embraces its cultural diversity with a wide-range of ethnic restaurants. Southeast Asian restaurants are especially abundant with a multitude of Thai and Vietnamese restaurants in every style and price range. Denver has most types of cuisine as other large cities and has several restaurants recently noted in top food publications. A recently passed bill had outlawed smoking in bars and restaurants statewide. However, some places with outdoor patios still allow smoking there.

The restaurant section of the weekly independent newspaper Westword [77] (available for free every Thursday at newsstands and locations across the city) is a good place to find the food your interested in for your price-range and location. Below is a sampling of some consistently good choices.

Budget

• Benny Blanco's Slice of the Bronx, 616 E. 13th Ave., +1 303-831-1346. Benny Blanco's is a classic hole-in-the-wall pizza joint, and in this case the phrase is literal. There's no seating, but big, New York-style slices fresh from the oven can be had for as little as $2 a slice.
• Blue Bonnet, 457 S Broadway, +1 303-778-0147. A noisy bar featuring southwest/Tex-Mex in Denver with most items under $10. There is patio seating and two separate dining rooms that are a bit quieter than the main bar. Consistently rated a "Best Of" in various local polls.
• Breakfast King, 300 W Mississippi, +1 303-733-0795. The Breakfast King is a late night staple of Denver, and one of the best greasy spoons. Open 24 hours and it's also walking distance from the Broadway LR station.
• Buenos Aires Pizzeria, 1319 22nd St., +1 303-296-6710. An Argentinean-style pizza joint with unusual topping choices and plenty of $2 empanada (small savory turnovers) offerings.
• Casa Bonita, 6715 W. Colfax, +1 303-232-5115. A gargantuan (52,000 sq. ft.) Mexican restaurant in Lakewood known more for the entertainment than for the food. An inexpensive place to bring the family, the kids will love the cliff divers, trained "gorilla", video arcade and other entertainment.
• Clancy's Irish Pub, Located a wee bit west o' Kipling and 38th Ave. Daily 11AM-10PM. Clancy's serves a variety of Anglo-Irish and domestic favorites, including Corned Beef and Cabbage, Fish n' Chips, (listed by Westword as the best in town.) Shepard's Pie, Rueben sandwitches and pint after pint Guinness Stout on tap.
• El Taco de Mexico, 714 Santa Fe Dr., +1 303-623-3926 [78]. This small Mexican lunch-counter offers many delicious food choices for the adventurous palate.
• Heaven Dragon 16255 W 64th Ave, +1 720-898-9909. Though not in Denver proper (rather, it's in the suburb of Arvada) this often-overlooked Chinese restaurant may be among the best in the entire state of Colorado. With prices that will feed even a large family for under $40, its food is consistently ranked by reviewers as spectacular, to the point where visiting politicians (congressmen, governors, even President George W. Bush) often go out of their way to stop there. The atmosphere is superb--very formal and elegant, despite the low prices. A bit of a hike from the city, however--20 or 30 minutes from downtown on a good day.
• Illegal Pete's 1530 16th St. #101, +1 303-623-2169, [79]. A local favorite hangout with great, cheap burritos! Its patio is located directly on the 16th St Mall, making it a great place to people watch.
• Jerusalem, 1890 E Evans Ave., +1 303-777-8828. Open until 3AM, and within walking distance of the University of Denver, this small but excellent Middle Eastern restaurant offers great no-frills food in a laid-back and hip atmosphere.
• Far East Center, on Federal Boulevard between Alameda and Mississippi. Several southeast Asian restaurants located in this area offer a wide variety of pho, noodle houses, upscale Vietnamese, dim sum and other Asian cuisines. Pho 95, Pho Duy, Super Star Asian and Saigon Bowl are a few of the places to try in this diverse and delicious culinary corridor.
• Leela European Cafe, 820 15th St., +1 303-534-2255. Leela's is a combination bar/coffeehouse/cafe which is a favorite among the college crowd. There's good Italian coffee, great music (live on some nights), and great panini sandwiches. Leela's is open 24 hours as well, and free wireless internet is available, so you can be productive (or not) while waiting for your friends to arrive.
• Pete's Kitchen, 1962 E. Colfax Avenue, +1 303-321-3139. [80] This combination Greek restaurant and short-order diner is open 24 hours a day and has a great Greek salad and French toast. It's a favorite of local celebrities as well.
• Taqueria Patzcuaro, 2616 West 32nd, +1 303-455-4389. This neighborhood favorite has the most amazing tacos and green chili.
• Tommy's Thai, 3410 East Colfax, +1 303-377-4244.
• Two-Fisted Mario's Pizza, Market and 16th, +1 303-623-3523. Two-Fisted Mario's has excellent East-coast style pizza on the cheap ($2 a slice, and it's a big slice), and is open until 3AM, so you can grab a pie after drinking microbrews into the wee hours of the morning.
• Bump n' Grind, 439 E 17th Ave, ☎ +1 303 861-4841. Tu 7AM-11:30AM, W 7AM-2:30PM, Th-F 7AM-11PM, Sa 10AM-11PM, Su 10AM-2:30PM. The fabulous and famous spot for Petticoat Brunch, where waiters become "waitresses" every weekend. The food is fresh and delicious western fare: generously portioned, creatively named, and served on kitschy dishes. The place is alive with bright colors, interestingly positioned Barbie Dolls and surprise lap dances. No drag on weekdays and evenings, but still a very fun place to be. $5-15.  edit

Mid-range

• D Bar Desserts, 1475 E. 17th Avenue, "+1" 303-861-4710. Dessert is the main course at d Bar, especially with celebrity chef Keegan Gerhard making the delectable desserts. The menu does includes savory items as well as Allegro Coffee to go with your sweets.
• Racine's, 650 Sherman St ., +1 303-595-0418. THE restaurant for both Denver's power brokers and proletariats with its simple yet elegant American menu and casual yet sophisticated decor.
• Jack n Grill, 2524 Federal Blvd., +1 303-964-9544. Excellent New Mexico-style food with heaping portions usually soaked in your choice of a green or red chili or for the indecisive, both.
• New Saigon, 630 S Federal Blvd., +1 303-936-4954, [81]. Denver is home to a sizable Southeast Asian population that shows off its unique culinary talents at this great Vietnamese community institution.
• Empress Seafood, 2825 W Alameda Av., +1 303-922-2822. Empress has long been the queen of dim-sum and affordable yet flavorful seafood selections from all over Asia.
• Le Central, 112 E. 8th Ave., +1 303-863-8094. A surprisingly affordable French restaurant in central Denver offers Provence-style French food such as moules et frites (mussels and fries). A great choice for the fancy dinner without the fancy check.
• Imperial Chinese, 431 S. Broadway. +1 303-698-2800, [82]. Simply put, The Imperial is Denver's premier Chinese restaurant and has been for the over 20 years it's been in existence. Dinner entrées range from $10-$30, with all but the Peking Duck and various specials under $22.
• Purple Ginger Asian Fusion, 2610 Youngfield St., Lakewood, ☎ +1 303 237-1133, [83]. A gluten free menu and vegan friendly. Live music on Friday and Saturday. Serves a variety of Asian food, and they also have table side cooking.  edit

Splurge

• 1515 Restaurant, 1515 Market St., +1 303 571-0011‎. Fine dining. Reservations are recommended.
• The 9th Door, 1808 Blake Street, +1 303 293-2111, [84] Spanish tapas and wine, desserts and atmosphere.
• Barolo Grill, 3030 E 6th Av., +1 303-393-1040. Decadent Italian.
• The Black Pearl, 1529 S Pearl St, +1 303-777-0500, [85]
• Buckhorn Exchange, 1000 Osage Street, +1 303-534-9505, [86] The oldest continuously operating restaurant in Denver, noted for its "western" menu and decor. Right next to the 10th and Osage light rail stop. Famous for offering game meat such as elk, bison, and venison.
• The Fort, 19192 Highway 8, Morrison. Though a bit of a drive, The Fort is possibly Denver's most famous restaurant. It sits just on the edge of suburban Denver and is perhaps most famous for hosting a dinner during the G7 conference in 1997. Reservations highly recommended.
• Lime Restaurant, 1416 Larimer St # C, +1 303 893-5463‎. A favorite for Mexican and margaritas.
• Luca d'Italia, 711 Grant St., +1 303-832-6600, [87]
• Mizuna, 225 E 7th Av., +1 303-832-4778, [88]
• Strings, 1700 Humboldt St. Near the heart of downtown Strings is a fantastic restaurant with entrée prices ranging from $12-40 or so, and an excellent wine list. Reservations highly recommended.
• Sushi Den, 1487 S Pearl St, +1 303-777-0826, [89]
• Venice Ristorante Italiano, 1700 Wynkoop St. Amazing, authentic Italian. Very expensive. Very romantic. Very Good. Reservations highly recommended.
• Vesta Dipping Grill, 1822 Blake St., LoDo, +1 303-296-1970, [90] Each menu item at this hip LoDo restaurant comes with your choice of three dipping sauces for a unique and interactive meal.
• Zengo Restaurant, 1610 Little Raven St, +1 720 904-0965‎, [91]. Fusion dining in a trendy establishment.

Colorado produces more beer by volume than any other state and Denver ranks first for US cities. In fact, Denver mayor John Hickenlooper was a microbrewer before running for office. Notable breweries in Denver and environs include:

• Coors Brewery [92]
• Great Divide Brewing Co. [93]
• Flying Dog [94]
• Breckenridge Brewery [95]
• Wynkoop Brewing Company [96]
• Bull & Bush [97].
• New Belgium [98], maker of the very popular Fat Tire, is based to the north in Fort Collins.
• Rock Bottom [99], a national chain of brewpubs, is based in Louisville (near Boulder).

One should keep in mind that the effects of alcohol are magnified at higher elevations, so people may find themselves inebriated more quickly and with greater effect than they would at lower altitudes. Moderation is probably a good idea until you understand your body's reaction to alcohol and can acclimatize to its effects at higher elevations.

That said, the following are some of the best bar-hopping locales in the city:

Bars in Lower Downtown (LoDo)

LoDo is the name Colorado locals have given the Lower Downtown district of Denver. It's a great place for meals, entertainment, and nightlife, where restored Victorian buildings now house more than 90 sports bars, brew pubs, jazz clubs, and restaurants.

• My Brother's Bar (Brother's), 2376 15th St, +1 303-455-9991. Brother's is the oldest bar in Denver and steeped in the history of the Beat movement; Jack Kerouac was a regular here during his years in Denver. Massive selection of premium choices and a fantastic single-malt scotch selection. Classical music plays, but don't expect to hear it on a really busy night. Good food, including the JCB: a cheeseburger featuring Jalapeno Cream Cheese. There's no sign on the bar so don't look for one, but it's right on the southeast corner of 15th and Platte streets. This is where the locals go and regulars abound.
• The Cruise Room, 1600 17th St, +1 303-825-1107, [100]. 1930's Art Deco Martini Bar inside the Oxford Hotel. Best Martinis in Denver! You can also order fresh seafood from McCormick's Fish House.
• Double Daughter's Salotto, 1632 Market St, +1 303-623-3505. A modern and slightly goth bar for all the cool kids to hang out. The bar features some of the oddest and best ambiance in the city and is connected to Two Fisted Mario's, a pizza place that is open late so you can grab some grub after the bars close.
• Fado Irish Pub, 1735 19th St, +1 303-297-0066, [101].
• Falling Rock Tap House, 1919 Blake St, +1 303-293-8338. The Falling Rock is a beer snob's dream, with over 70 excellent beers on tap. The selection changes from week to week, too, keeping the locals entertained and tipsy off of fine Belgians and microbrews. It gets crowded after Rockies games, but during the offseason, it's a great place to eacape from the cold and warm up with a well-poured Belgian trippel.
• Jet Bar, 1612 Wazee Street, +1303-572-3300, [102]. The Lobby (main bar) is a retro and contemporary design of lighting, shag rugs, and comfortable lounge seating, and Club Twenty is Jet Hotel's private club.
• Lodo's Bar & Grill, 1946 Market St, +1 303-293-8555
• Nallen's Irish Pub, 1429 Market St, +1 303-572-0667. A little piece of the Old Country in Denver, Nallen's has great nightly drink specials, authentic Irish ambience and a great Tuesday night pub quiz.
• Pour House Pub, 1435 Market St, +1 303-623-7687
• Sing Sing, 1735 19th St, +1 303-291-0880
• Wynkoop Brewery, 1634 18th St, +1 303-297-2700, [103]. Fresh brews, billiard tables, and excellent food. Banquets and private parties. Historically significant architecture.

Bars in Capitol Hill & Other Neighborhoods

• Capitol Hill is the neighborhood directly east and south of the Colorado State Capitol, located on Colfax Avenue and Grant Street. It has long held as place for young people, sub-cultures and the gay and lesbian community. Currently, it rivals LoDo as the place to party, no matter what your scene is.
• Bender's Tavern, 314 E. 13th Ave. +1 303-361-7070, [104].
• Charlie Brown's Bar & Grill, 980 Grant Street, +1 303-860-1655. Charlie Brown's in another beat era hangout located at a hotel where Ginsburg and the gang used to stay. Has great happy-hours, a mostly local crowd, good food, and an agile piano player belting out tunes while you drink.
• City O City, E. 13th Ave. You will find a changing handful of unusual brews on tap. Grab a blueberry muffin or the vegan buffalo wings (which are excellent - and you can eat them without having to worry about a bone!) and people watch.
• Funky Buddha Lounge, 776 Lincoln St, +1 303-832-5075.
• Govnr's Park Restaurant & Tavern, 672 Logan St, +1 303-831-8605. Practically the after work bar for all of the state workers and lobbyists at the capitol, this comfortable place has great happy-hour specials and tasty food.
• Park Tavern, 931 11th Ave.
• Cricket on the Hill 1209 E. 13th Ave, +1 303-830-9020. Denver's preeminent punk bar/club offers almost nightly live music, great specials and some of the best clientele to people watch in the city.
• The Church, 1160 Lincoln St., +1 303-832-2383, part of the "SoCo" (South of Colfax) club district, the Church is one of the most popular dance clubs in the city, and as its name suggests, is housed in a former Episcopalian church. That however, does not prevent hundreds if not thousands of people from descending on the dancefloor every night to shake what God has given them.

Bars On Colfax

Colfax Avenue, described by Playboy Magazine as the "longest, wickedest, street in America," stretches 26 miles through Denver and its suburbs. Colfax has long had a "gritty" reputation for being home to prostitution and drug peddlers. However, through much urban development work, Colfax has shed its past and emerged hipper, cleaner and more popular than ever. The many bars, restaurants and nightspots along the street give it a 24/7 ambience.

• The Bank Bar & Grill, 2239E Colfax Ave, +1 303-320-9494 Check out their 2 for 1 drink special daily from 10PM til close. Bear Fights!!!!!
• Charlie's, 900 E. Colfax Ave. +1 303-839-8890. Charlie's is simultaneously a gay bar and cultural landmark catering to the old west spirit and/or disco diva in all of us. Charlie's has a friendly clientele, a mix of country, pop, and dance music, and inexpensive drinks.
• Goosetown Tavern, 3320 E Colfax Ave, +1 303-399-9703, [105].
• Irish Snug Restaurant & Pub, 1201 E Colfax Ave # 100, +1 303-839-1394. The Snug (to the locals) is the best place in Denver to down a pint of Guinness with your mates. Excellent fish and chips will fill you up (if the Guinness doesn't first).
• Lion's Lair, 2022 E Colfax Ave, +1 303-320-9200.
• Mezcal, 3230 E Colfax Ave, +1 303-322-5219, Mezcal is a hip Mexican-themed bar/restaurant serveing excellent and cheap Mexican food along with its plentiful selection of great drinks, particularly tequilas.
• Sancho's Broken Arrow, 741 E Colfax, +1 303-832-5288. One of the four Don Quixote themed bars in Denver, Sacho's is the best place in Denver to relive your old days with its Grateful Dead come alive decor and live rock and roll every Monday.
• Streets of London Pub, 1502 E Colfax Ave, +1 303-861-9103. The closest thing to England you can get without a 10 hour flight, Streets of London has an abundant selection of ales, draughts and other favourites.
• The Squire Lounge, 1800 E Colfax Ave, +1 303-333-9106.

Downtown Coffee

• Pablo's Coffee [106] , sw corner of 6th and Washington. Fresh roasted coffee roasted in the store, excellent barristas and a nice patio, no wi-fi so the number of student "campers" is a minimum, a great place for people looking for a great cup of coffee.
• The Market, at Larimer Square. THE place for coffee shop people watching in Denver. Outstanding pastries, hot from the oven every day at 6:30AM. Also a great full service deli. Wifi/Laptop friendly.
• St. Mark's, 17th and Race (20 blocks east of Broadway). Quintessential coffeehouse ambience. House made pastries. Lovely neighborhood block with a nice collection of restaurants.
• Fluid, 19th and Pennsylvania. Modern. Gourmets: order an Artisan coffee made with the Clover machine. Light pre-packaged eats available. Wifi/Laptop friendly.
• Daz Bog, 9th and Downing. Formerly Diedrich's. Lovely tree lined street. Nice selection of pastries and light bites. Significant portion of patrons are gay. Wifi/Laptop friendly.
• Common Grounds Downtown, 17th and Wazee. An old mainstay in Denver. Between Union Station and Market Street RTD station. Wifi/Laptop friendly.
• Metropolis, 11th and Cherokee and 17th and Champa. Modern. Wifi/Laptop friendly.

Music Venues

• 15th St. Tavern, 623 15th St, +1 303-572-0822, [107]
• Bender's Tavern, 314 E. 13th Ave. +1 303-361-7070, [108]
• Bluebird Theater, 3317 E Colfax Ave, +1 303-322-2308, [109]
• Climax Lounge, 2217 Welton St., [110]
• Denver Coliseum, 4600 Humboldt St., [111]
• Fillmore Auditorium, 1510 Clarkson St.
• Gothic Theater, 3263 South Broadway, Englewood, [112].
• Hi-Dive, 7 S Broadway (Cross Streets: Ellsworth & Broadway), [113]
• Invesco Field at Mile High, 1701 Bryant St., [114]
• Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St, +1 303-291-1007, [115].
• Lion's Lair, 3317 E Colfax Ave, +1 303-322-2308, [116]
• Ogden Theatre, 935 E. Colfax Ave, [117]
• Oriental Theater, 4335 W 44th Ave, +1 303-455-2124, [118]
• Red Rocks Amphitheater 16352 County Rd. # 93, Morrison, [119]