12 Fun & Unique Restaurants in Denver, Colorado

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Looking for the most unique restaurants in Denver? As someone who’s traveled to 70 countries, I can confidently say that Denver’s food scene is one of a kind. Set against the stunning Rocky Mountains, this city offers creative dining experiences that go beyond just good food.

From historic spots that celebrate Denver’s rich past to trendy eateries pushing culinary boundaries, this guide will take you through the best places to eat in Denver. Whether you’re craving a classic with a twist or something totally unexpected, these 12 unique restaurants will make your visit unforgettable.

• 👉 Pro Tip: I HIGHLY recommend doing this Downtown Denver foodie tour. You’ll walk through the lively LoDo district, sampling 5 of the city’s best local restaurants. From Neapolitan pizza and authentic Argentinian empanadas to green chili and house-made dessert, each stop showcases a different side of Denver’s dining culture. You’ll also learn about Denver’s Wild West past, iconic landmarks like Union Station and Coors Field, and hidden gems in town. This tour is an absolute must-do on a Denver itinerary in my opinion.

Unique Restaurants in Denver, Colorado: 12 Incredible Denver Eateries

Are you ready to discover the most unique restaurants in Denver? As mentioned earlier, there’s a wide variety of places to eat in Denver that will please everyone. Keep reading to find out where to eat in Denver, Colorado for a unique dining experience.

Are you looking for wood-fired pizzas with a twist? Or would you prefer a dessert that doubles as a theatrical performance? Whatever your palate desires, Denver can accommodate your needs. Here’s your in-depth guide to the most unique restaurants in Denver.

1. The Buckhorn Exchange

• 📍 Location: Lincoln Park
• 💲 Price range: $30 – $60+ per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Old West Steakhouse / Wild Game / Historic
• 🔥 Standout Features: Denver’s oldest restaurant, extensive taxidermy, Colorado Liquor License No. 1.
• 🎯 Perfect For: History buffs, adventurous meat eaters, and unique Old West dining.

Step into a living piece of Denver history at The Buckhorn Exchange, the city’s oldest continuously operating restaurant, slinging steaks and stories since 1893! This place is a veritable museum of the Old West, with hundreds of taxidermy mounts adorning the walls and Colorado’s first liquor license proudly displayed.

A meal here is an invitation to try something adventurous, like their famous Rocky Mountain Oysters (if you dare!), or stick to classic hearty fare such as a perfectly cooked bison steak or tender elk medallions. The rattlesnake and pheasant sausage is another unique offering.

2. Linger

• 📍 Location: LoHi
• 💲 Price range: $30 – $60 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Global Street Food / Small Plates / Eclectic
• 🔥 Standout Features: Former mortuary setting, eclectic decor, rooftop lounge.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Adventurous diners, unique themed experiences, and trendy group outings.

Dine with a playful nod to the dearly departed at Linger, ingeniously housed in the former Olinger Mortuary in Denver’s LoHi neighborhood! This spot embraces its history with a quirky, eclectic, and subtly macabre-chic decor – think water served in formaldehyde-style bottles.

You’ll be thrilled by their globally inspired street food small plates, perfect for sharing. Consider trying the Devils on Horseback, their inventive bao buns with pork belly, or the flavorful crispy cheese wontons. It’s a place that sparks conversation.

• 👉 Personal Recommendation: Experience why Denver is hailed as the “Napa Valley of Craft Beer” on this fun and social walking tour through Lower Downtown (LoDo). You’ll visit four of the city’s top breweries, sampling over 10 unique beers—from West Coast IPAs to chili-infused brews and German pilsners. This 2.5-hour tour is great for solo travelers, couples, or friends looking for a local experience beyond the taproom.

3. Root Down

• 📍 Location: LoHi
• 💲 Price range: $30 – $60 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Modern American / Global / Vegetarian-Friendly
• 🔥 Standout Features: Converted gas station, eclectic design, innovative/dietary-friendly menu.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Health-conscious foodies, adventurous flavor seekers, and trendy dining.

Fuel up on fresh, globally inspired flavors at Root Down, cleverly located in a stylishly converted 1950s gas station in LoHi! This spot is all about innovative, modern American cuisine with a strong commitment to sustainability and catering to various dietary needs.

A visit here is an invitation to explore their creative menu, perhaps starting with the Country Fried Tofu for a surprising delight. The Diver Scallops with risotto or their flavorful Lamb T-Bones are also highly rated. It’s a place that feels both vibrant and conscious.

4. Avanti F&B

• 📍 Location: LoHi & Boulder
• 💲 Price range: $15 – $30+ per person (Varies by vendor)
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Food Hall / Multiple Vendors / International
• 🔥 Standout Features: Modern food hall, rotating food stalls, rooftop patio.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Groups with diverse tastes, trying new food, and casual dining.

Embark on a culinary choose-your-own-adventure at Avanti F&B, a collective eatery! This modern food hall concept features a rotating lineup of diverse food incubator stalls, offering everything from artisanal pizza and gourmet burgers to global street food like arepas.

It’s the perfect spot to go with a group when no one can agree on what to eat. Everyone can grab something different; popular choices include pizzas from Gorlami Pizza, arepas from Quiero Arepas, or burgers from Knockabout Burgers.

5. El Five

• 📍 Location: LoHi
• 💲 Price range: $40 – $70 per person (Tapas style)
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Mediterranean Tapas / Spanish / Middle Eastern
• 🔥 Standout Features: Fifth-floor panoramic views, vibrant decor, Mediterranean tapas.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Impressive date nights, group celebrations, and sunset skyline views.

Prepare for a feast for your eyes and your palate at El Five in LoHi! Perched on the fifth floor, this vibrant spot offers absolutely jaw-dropping, uninterrupted panoramic views of the Denver skyline and the majestic Rocky Mountains – it’s a “wow” moment.

You absolutely have to share a selection of their incredible tapas, like the unique Matzah Ball Soup Dumplings or a classic Paella. Their Spiced Lamb Ribs and inventive gin tonics are also legendary. For a meal with an epic backdrop, this is the place.

6. Work & Class

• 📍 Location: RiNo
• 💲 Price range: $25 – $50 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Latin American / American Comfort Food / “Square Meal” Concept
• 🔥 Standout Features: Shipping container building, “square meal” concept, lively/no-reservations.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Casual comfort food, Latin flavor fans, and unpretentious dining.

Get ready for some seriously good, no-nonsense food in a uniquely cool setting at Work & Class in Denver’s RiNo district! Housed in a cleverly converted shipping container, this spot serves up a delicious fusion of Latin American and American comfort food.

A meal here requires you to try their amazing Rotisserie Chicken or perhaps some flavorful braised lamb. Their fried sweet plantains, chickpea croquettes, and the cochinita pibil (slow-roasted pork) are also fantastic sides and mains.

7. The Bindery

• 📍 Location: LoHi
• 💲 Price range: $30 – $60 per person (Dinner); $15-$30 (Bakery/Cafe)
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: European-Inspired / Bakery & Market / All-Day Dining
• 🔥 Standout Features: All-day eatery, in-house bakery, seasonal/artisanal dishes.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Stylish brunches/lunches, artisanal baked goods, and sophisticated dining.

Experience a taste of European elegance and artisanal craftsmanship at The Bindery in LoHi. This beautifully designed, all-day eatery is part bakery, part market, and part sophisticated restaurant, offering a delightful menu inspired by European traditions.

You’ll be delighted by their exquisite pastries for breakfast, a perfectly composed salad or sandwich like the Bindery Cubano for lunch. For dinner, the duck confit or fresh pasta dishes such as the rigatoni are excellent.

8. Little Man Ice Cream

• 📍 Location: LoHi & other locations
• 💲 Price range: $5 – $10 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Ice Cream Parlor / Homemade Ice Cream
• 🔥 Standout Features: Iconic milk can building, homemade ice cream, long lines.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Ice cream fanatics, family treats, and an iconic Denver experience.

Get your licks in at Little Man Ice Cream, an iconic Denver institution easily recognizable by its giant, 28-foot-tall milk can building in LoHi! This beloved spot serves up incredible, homemade ice cream in a delightful array of classic and creative flavors.

A visit here is an invitation to try a scoop (or two!) of their famous salted oreo or a seasonal special like peach cobbler. The Mexican chocolate and vegan options are also fantastic. It’s a sweet treat and a Denver landmark all in one!

9. The Source

• 📍 Location: RiNo
• 💲 Price range: $15 – $50+ per person (Varies by vendor)
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Food Hall / Multiple Vendors / International & Local
• 🔥 Standout Features: Upscale market hall, historic foundry, artisan vendors, brewery.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Foodie exploration, trying multiple concepts, and a chic RiNo outing.

Immerse yourself in a vibrant culinary collective at The Source, an acclaimed market hall housed in a beautifully renovated 1880s iron foundry in Denver’s RiNo Art District! This place is a haven for foodies, featuring a curated collection of artisan food vendors.

You can wander from a renowned bakery to an artisan cheese shop. Grab some incredible wood-fired pizza from Grabowski’s, or fresh oysters from The Marigold. The Smoked Salmon Tartine from Reunion Bread is another popular pick.

10. Cart-Driver

• 📍 Location: RiNo & LoHi
• 💲 Price range: $20 – $40 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Italian / Wood-Fired Pizza / Oysters & Small Plates
• 🔥 Standout Features: Shipping container restaurant, Neapolitan pizza, oysters, prosecco on tap.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Pizza purists, oyster lovers, and trendy Italian meals.

Get ready for some seriously good, authentic Neapolitan-style pizza in a uniquely cool setting at Cart-Driver! With locations including a cleverly converted shipping container in RiNo, this spot is all about high-quality ingredients and traditional Italian techniques.

You absolutely must try one of their amazing wood-fired pizzas, like the classic Margherita or the spicy Daisy. The Cart-Driver Pizza with sausage and kale, and their selection of fresh oysters, make for the perfect start to your meal.

11. Hop Alley

• 📍 Location: RiNo
• 💲 Price range: $30 – $60 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Modern Chinese / Regional Sichuan Influences
• 🔥 Standout Features: Hip Chinese eatery, bold Sichuan flavors, shareable plates, creative cocktails.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Modern Chinese food fans, spice lovers, trendy group dinners, and adventurous palates.

Prepare for a flavor explosion at Hop Alley, a hip and buzzy spot in RiNo serving modern Chinese cuisine with a focus on bold, regional flavors, particularly from Sichuan. This isn’t your standard takeout; it’s inventive, shareable, and incredibly delicious.

You’ll definitely want to share a few plates here. The La Zi Ji (fried chicken with Facing Heaven chiles) is a fiery favorite. The Bone Marrow Fried Rice and the Turnip Cakes with XO sauce are also highly acclaimed. Their creative cocktails perfectly complement the spicy fare.

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12. The Inventing Room Dessert Shop

• 📍 Location: West Highland
• 💲 Price range: $10 – $20 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Molecular Gastronomy Desserts / Ice Cream
• 🔥 Standout Features: Liquid nitrogen ice cream, Willy Wonka creations, theatrical dessert show.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Dessert adventurers, unique sweet treats, and a fun science-y show.

Prepare for a dessert experience that’s pure Willy Wonka magic at The Inventing Room Dessert Shop! This isn’t your average ice cream parlor; it’s a full-blown dessert laboratory where sweet treats are created with a theatrical flair using liquid nitrogen.

You’ll certainly want to try one of their amazing liquid nitrogen ice cream creations with all sorts of crazy toppings, or perhaps an exploding whipped cream dessert. The Space Foam and the “Really, Really Cold Cheetos” are other fun, interactive options.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Most Unique Restaurants in Denver, CO

Are you searching for more information about where to eat in Denver? Here are some common questions (and answers) I get asked a lot about Denver’s most unique restaurants.

What is the most famous food in Denver?

Denver’s diverse food offerings earn it renown, but one dish that stands out is the Denver Omelette. This hearty breakfast dish, packed with bell peppers, onions, ham, and cheese, has become a staple in many breakfast spots across the city. Additionally, with the city’s growth, dishes like gourmet burgers, craft beers, and green chili have also gained popularity.

What is the official state dish of Colorado?

The official state dish of Colorado is the Rocky Mountain Oysters. Contrary to the name, they’re not seafood. They are, in fact, deep-fried bull testicles, and they’re a delicacy in many parts of the state. Restaurants frequently serve them as appetizers alongside a side of cocktail sauce.

How many Michelin star restaurants does Denver have?

Currently, Denver does not have any Michelin-starred restaurants. The Michelin Guide, which awards stars to exceptional dining establishments, has not yet covered the city of Denver. The guide is limited to certain cities and regions, primarily in Europe, Asia, and select cities in the United States like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington D.C.

However, Denver does have a vibrant food scene with many restaurants that are highly rated by other organizations and publications. From farm-to-table eateries to high-end steakhouses and a variety of international cuisines, the city offers a rich culinary landscape that is worth exploring even without the Michelin recognition.

Where can I find unique places to eat in Denver?

There’s a wide array of unique restaurants in Denver. From eateries set in repurposed spaces like The Source and Beatrice & Woodsley to culinary adventures like The Inventing Room Dessert Shop, there’s no shortage of distinctive experiences. Exploring neighborhoods like LoHi and RiNo will also lead you to some hidden gems.

Are there affordable yet unique places in Denver to eat?

Absolutely! Denver offers a range of dining options that cater to various budgets. Places like Cart-Driver offer gourmet experiences without the hefty price tag. The city is also home to numerous food trucks and markets that serve delicious and unique dishes at wallet-friendly prices.

What’s the best way to explore Denver’s best restaurants?

One of the joys of Denver’s culinary scene is its diversity. Joining a food tour can be a great starting point. However, exploring on foot, especially in food-centric neighborhoods, and seeking local recommendations can lead you to some unforgettable dining spots.

Is Denver known for any particular type of cuisine?

While embracing a wide range of cuisines, Denver particularly stands out for its New American and Southwestern dishes. The city’s location allows for a fusion of flavors from the Midwest and the West, resulting in a unique culinary identity. Green chili, for instance, is a beloved staple in many local dishes.

Are there any themed or uniquely designed restaurants in Denver?

Yes, there are! Denver is home to several restaurants that offer not just great food but also a unique ambiance. The Inventing Room Dessert Shop is a prime example, where desserts come to life in a theatrical display of culinary science. Another standout is Beatrice & Woodsley, which transports diners to a fairy-tale forest setting right in the heart of the city. These establishments, among others, make dining in Denver a visually and gastronomically delightful experience.

Wrapping up Denver’s Unique Restaurants

Denver is a city that never ceases to amaze, especially when it comes to its culinary delights. From the bustling streets of LoHi to the artistic corners of RiNo, every neighborhood offers a taste of something extraordinary. It’s a place where food isn’t just sustenance; it’s an experience, a story, and sometimes, even a magical journey.

Whether you’re a local or a traveler passing through, the Mile High City promises a dining adventure that’s hard to forget. Dive into the world of molecular gastronomy at The Inventing Room Dessert Shop, or relish the rustic charm of Beatrice & Woodsley. And let’s not forget the myriad of flavors waiting to be explored, from classic Denver Omelettes to innovative global dishes.

So, the next time you find yourself wandering the streets of Denver, let your appetite lead the way. With a plethora of unique restaurants in Denver, every meal becomes a cherished memory. Here’s to delicious discoveries and the joy of exploring Denver’s vibrant food scene!