The Lowdown on Colorado Food & Restaurants

I'm just a girl,
standing in front of a plate of food,
asking it to please be delicious...

What’s open right now?

These are some of my favorite places that have re-opened post-COVID, which I’ll try to keep updated.

Corridor 44 (great patio on Larimer Square, M-F happy hour 3-6pm with $5 champagne cocktails and $2 oysters)
D’Corazon (my favorite Mexican place downtown serving lunch/dinner Mon-Sat)
Briar Common (great brewpub with unique beers, a rooftop patio, and surprisingly amazing food; open for dine-in Mon-Sun 11am-8pm — yes that means brunch, too)
STK (daily happy hour 2:30-6:30pm and all day Sunday)
Uchi (dine-in by reservation only, but with daily happy hour 4-6pm)
The Crawling Crab (re-opened on Kine 12th for dine-in, serving my favorite crab and crawfish boils)
African Grill & Bar (open for dine-in Mon-Sat 11am-9pm in Lakewood and Green Valley Ranch with some of my favorite unique ethnic food in town)
Celtic on Market (this Irish pub is pretty much my second home for a chill atmosphere and good people; open Sun-Thu 11am-2am, Fri-Sat 10:30am-2am, or even earlier for sporting events)

Please message me on instagram or email me if you know anyone else worth mentioning.

Corridor 44 Happy Hour

Denver Highlights

This collection of posts is regularly updated to bring you my top recommendations around Denver, so check back anytime to find the perfect spot for anything from brunch to happy hour.

The Top 13 Happy Hour around Downtown Denver

I absolutely love a good happy hour. It really is the best time of day — and Denver offers so many good options. I can usually be found somewhere downtown for happy hour at least a couple of times a week, so I guess you could call me knowledgable on the topic. Here are my top 13 downtown/LoDo favorites, which I will keep updating as places open or close.

The Top 13 Places for Brunch Around Denver

I like to tell people that aren’t from Denver that on Sundays, people here are religiously devoted to one of 3 things: church, football, or brunch. I definitely fall into the last 2 categories — so it’s a delicate juggle between my 49ers and my mimosas in the Fall. Having been all over town for that sacred weekend meal, I want to share my top favorites with you all!

The Top 14 Date Night Restaurants Around Denver

Technically, any spot can be a date night destination depending on the couple. This list is meant to be a collection of restaurants that I think would be best for most couples who are looking for that “special” romantic atmosphere. None of these spots will be cheap, save for some happy hour deals if you go early — but in my opinion, they’e also worth it.

Instagram

I add all my new content on Instagram instead of posting regular blog posts here (as I used to). I will still keep a short collection of regularly-updated posts about my favorites on this website (above), but make sure to check my Instagram for all the latest!

colorado_bites

???? Eating & drinking my way through Colorado & the world ???? Yelp Elite 10yrs
???? Ukraine>SF>LA>Denver ???? natalia@coloradobites.com

There’s one dish I’m willing to deal with the

There’s one dish I’m willing to deal with the discomfort of eating gluten for — and it’s these mini rellenos at La Loma with pork green chile. The wonton does contain wheat, but that hot melty cheese dipped into chunky pork chile is just so F’in good! 🇲🇽 🧀 🌶
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#downtowndenver #cheesepull #laloma #lalomadenver #mexicandenver #denvermexicanfood #minirellenos #rellenos #greenchile #greenchili #porkgreenchili #denvergreenchili #denvergreenchile #denvermexicanrestaurant #denverfood #mexicanfood #mexicanfoodporn #mexicanfoodlover #mexicanfoodpics #denverfoodscene #denverfoodie #denvereats #denverrestaurants #denversbest #denver #foodie #instafood #foodstagram #foodblogger #foodlover

🕯💀 Happy 13k followers to me! 💀🕯 . Had

🕯💀 Happy 13k followers to me! 💀🕯
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Had a blast celebrating with some awesome foodie friends last night at @spiritshalloween — a spooky-cool Halloween pop-up bar in @larimersquare. 🎃 👻 And also happy 50th birthday to @foodingdrinkingcolorado — a much more important occasion, to be honest! 🥳
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Thanks to all you guys who follow me, like my posts, comment, and otherwise support me. 😘 I have met so many wonderful people and made some amazing friends through the food community here in the last few years, and I’m so grateful for you all! It’s really why I do all this, even though I have a busy day job. (The food is great, too, of course — but I don’t need Colorado Bites to just keep on eating.)
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#13k #thankful #grateful #denverpopup #denverhalloween #denverhalloweenbar #larimersquare #denverbar #denverbars #denverbarscene #denversbest #denverfoodie #denverfoodscene #denverfoodies #denverfoodblog #denverfoodblogger

🍣 🐙 🍸 One of my favorite spots for sushi,

🍣 🐙 🍸 One of my favorite spots for sushi, Japanese bites, wine, and cocktails downtown is @foraged_restaurant (at @denvermilkmarket / @dairyblock).
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It’s a beautiful 2-level space with a spectacular chandelier made from 370,000 handwoven crystals changing colors. The focus is on local seasonal ingredients, and Executive Chef Duy Pham even brings ingredients from home — like the quail eggs from the quails he keeps there. He has put together a phenomenal sushi menu, and it’s totally worth reserving an omakase tasting.
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I came here last night for a sampling of their menu: nigiri, sushi rolls, shumai, pork belly bao buns, and ginger creme brûlée for dessert. We also got a tase of the delicious wines made exclusively for For(a)ged by celebrity winemaker Jesse Katz, founder of @devil_proof VIneyards and @aperturecellars. 🍣 🍱 🥟
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I also can’t help including some of my past photos from dinners here: those famous quail eggs, sashimi specials, as well as the grilled baby octopus. Next on my to-try list here is the miso black cod! 🥚 🐠 🐙
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Photos:
1️⃣ 🍱 Sushi assortment
2️⃣ 🥟 Shrimp+pork shumai
3️⃣ 🐷 Pork belly bao buns
4️⃣ 🥚 Quail eggs
5️⃣ 🐠 Sashimi
6️⃣ 🐙 Me crushing some baby octopus
7️⃣ 🍮 Ginger creme brûlée
8️⃣ 🍹 Spicy watermelon margarita
9️⃣ 🍷 Wines by Jesse Katz
🔟 🥂 The beautiful chandelier
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#hosted Thank you to @foraged_restaurant, @chefloganmason, and @dphamblades for having us �— and @b_public for the invite!
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#denvermilkmarket #denverdairyblock #lodo #lododenver #downtowndenver #denverfood #denverfoodscene #denverfoodie #denvereats #denverrestaurants #denversbest #denver #colorado #coloradofoodie #coloradoeats #denversushi #coloradosushi #japanesefood #foodietribe #eatlocal #globaleats #dailyfoodfeed #foodphotography #foodblogger #beautifulfood #foodiesofinstagram #forkyeah #eeeeeats

Brunch at @eatstk has an awesome seasonal option n

Brunch at @eatstk has an awesome seasonal option now— and also some spooktacular decor!
1️⃣ 🎃 Pumpkin oatmeal pancakes with pecans and maple syrup — a must try this fall if you can eat gluten. (I wish these could be done with buckwheat and gluten-free, but I had to eat a few bites anyway because it was just so good!)
2️⃣ 🐷 Pork belly benedict — which can be done #glutenfree by subbing crispy potatoes for the English muffin — and honestly, it’s better this way!
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#HOSTED - thank you to STK for having us!
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#stk #denverbrunch #brunchdenver #pumpkinpancakes #fallbrunch #porkbellybenedict #coloradobrunch #lodo #lododenver #downtowndenver #denverfood #denverfoodscene #denverfoodie #denvereats #denverrestaurants #denversbest #denver #brunchtime #glutenfreedenver #glutenfreecolorado #glutenfreebrunch #pancakes #pancakesforbreakfast #pancakeslover #pancakesunday #pancakes🥞 #pancakestack

What’s your favorite sushi/sashimi? 🍣 . I alw

What’s your favorite sushi/sashimi? 🍣
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I always go for uni (sea urchin), ikura (red caviar), scallop, and some variation of tuna, yellowtail, or escolar (walu). Pictured is a box of some of those from @bluesushisakegrill. 🍱
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Also, don’t miss their amazing happy hour Mon-Sat 2-5:40pm or ALL DAY SUNDAY (that’s today y’all)!
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#sushi #bluesushi #sashimi #denversushi #coloradosushi #denverunionstation #lodo #lododenver #downtowndenver #denverfood #denverfoodscene #denverfoodie #denvereats #denverrestaurants #denversbest #denver #foodporn #foodie #instafood #foodstagram #foodies #foodgram #foodiesofinstagram #colorado #ikura #sushibox #uni #scallops

💀 🇲🇽 From Oct 5 to Nov 2, Richard Sandova

Making pasta at home has been one of my biggest st

Making pasta at home has been one of my biggest struggles since I went gluten-free — so I’m super pumped that @taste_republic now carries gluten-free pastas in 600+ @walmart stores west of the Mississippi! 🍝
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One of my favorite things to do with pasta is to make bolognese sauce for it! 🐗 🐮 This one was made from a mix of beef and wild boar and has been simmering all day! (See the recipe video in my reels.) 🍽 Also, this staging was totally inspired by @daniela_dish — check out some of her amazing photos and recipes that are way next level!
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I used the Taste Republic gluten-free fettuccine, but they also have gluten-free cheese tortelloni and spinach & cheese ravioli. You can find these on the refrigerated shelves by the deli section at Walmart. Visit the online store locator at @taste_republic to see participating local stores. They can also ship and have grain-free and vegan options.
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Disclaimer: this is a paid post, but I totally volunteered for it because I wanted this pasta!
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#tasterepublicglutenfree #tasterepublic #tasterepublicatwalmart #walmart #glutenfree #glutenfreedenver #glutenfreecolorado #glutenfreeliving #glutenfreepasta #glutenfreefood #glutenfreelife #glutenfreeeats #glutenfreerecipes #glutenfreerecipe #glutenfreecooking #glutenfreemeals #glutenfreefoodie #glutenfreelifestyle #glutenfreefoods #glutenfreedinner #glutenfreeblogger #bolognese #bolognesesauce #bolognesepasta #bologneserecipe

After Margarita Monday comes #tacotuesday! 😆 🌮 These are also from @federalesdenver. My favorite is honestly the Gringo Taco — which is a fresh version of the Taco Bell taco: seasoned ground beef, iceberg, tomato, sour cream, cheddar, house taco sauce, hard shell corn tortilla. Super delicious, but won’t make you feel awful after! 😆
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#tacos #rino #rinodenver #federalesdenver #taco #tacotaco #tacosarelife #denverfood #denverfoodscene #denverfoodie #denvereats #denverrestaurants #denversbest #denver #foodporn #foodie #instafood #foodstagram #foodphotography #foodblogger #foodlover #foodgasm #foodpics #foodpic #foodies #foodgram #foodiesofinstagram #forkyeah #eeeeeats

Happy #MargaritaMonday y’all! 🍹Well, admitted

Happy #MargaritaMonday y’all! 🍹Well, admittedly it’s a Paloma in the photo, but close enough? 😆 It’s the Pinche Paloma from @federalesdenver: 100oz in an upside-down cowboy hat (made with @owensmixers). I’m told that’s 12 shots in there — and sometimes those are needed on a Monday.
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#federalesdenver #paloma #palomacocktail #rino #rinodenver #denverfoodscene #denverfoodie #denversbest #denver #cocktail #funcocktails #denverbars #denverbar #denverbarscene #denvercocktails #instadrink #drinkstagram #cocktails #cocktailsofinstagram #cocktailgram #cocktailtime #cocktailtime🍹

I came to @antlerkitchenbar last time I was in Tor

I came to @antlerkitchenbar last time I was in Toronto, and I decided to come back again to this lovely spot. 🇨🇦 I have a thing for game meats after all. 🐗 🦌 Shown: the delicious duck heart yakitori appetizer (the scallop crudo and mushroom lobster bisque were also awesome). 🦆 🦞 For a main, check out their wild boar pasta.
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#toronto #torontofood #torontofoodie #torontofoodies #torontofoods #torontofoodphoto #torontofoodlovers #torontofoodporn #torontoeats #torontoeat #torontochinatown #torontochinesefood #torontorestaurant #torontorestaurants #foodporn #foodie #instafood #foodstagram #foodphotography #foodblogger #foodlover #foodgasm #foodpics #foodpic #foodies #foodgram #foodiesofinstagram

I love a good Chinese beef noodle soup — and las

I love a good Chinese beef noodle soup — and last time I had an amazing one was in Vegas. So I was super happy to discover this spot in Chinatown in Toronto! 🇨🇦 🍜 Added a side of tripe and I was a happy camper. (And it’s easy to get rice noodles for my gluten free peeps.) Also worth a try: the clams in black bean sauce.
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#toronto #torontofood #torontofoodie #torontofoodies #torontofoods #torontofoodphoto #torontofoodlovers #torontofoodporn #torontoeats #torontoeat #torontochinatown #torontochinesefood #torontorestaurant #torontorestaurants #foodporn #foodie #instafood #foodstagram #foodphotography #foodblogger #foodlover #foodgasm #foodpics #foodpic #foodies #foodgram #foodiesofinstagram

My last post covered the new Tex-Mex spot in the f

My last post covered the new Tex-Mex spot in the former Tavern space (@eltejanodenver) — so you might be wondering what’s going on with the adjacent space where Cowboy Lounge used to be (and where I spent many a Thursday Lady’s Night in my younger days). 😆 🤠
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Welcome @loadedlodo! 👏 🤗 Loaded pays homage to Sunset Strip party bars with a “beautifully brash, 80’s-style rock and roll bar serving up cheap drinks, music theme nights and throwback vinyl.” It will even have karaoke with a live band! 🎉 🎤
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Thank you @eltejanodenver and @hoeshelman / @pmg_pr for having me!
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#loadeddenver #denverclubs #denverclub #denverbars #denverbar #denverkaraoke #denverdanceclub #lodo #lododenver #downtowndenver #denverfoodscene #denversbest #denver #coorsfield #colorado #denvernightlife #denvernightclubs #denvernightclub

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