IMG_5606

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)
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 starting June 10)
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 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 13 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.

My Top Picks

See my top picks for places to eat and drink all around Denver. You can filter by type of food or geographic location, as well as see my personal recommendations for each. (Note: this is currently under construction due to COVID.)

View My Top Picks

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

It’s wheels up in an hour! 🇨🇷 I’ll occas

It’s wheels up in an hour! 🇨🇷 I’ll occasionally post food here in the next 2 weeks (and the winner of the giveaway from the last post, of course) — but most stories and daily travel posts will happen on my other account: @lifeasahappyhour — so give it a follow! 😘

🍶 🍣 🎄 HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY!!! 🎄 🍣 🍶

🍶 🍣 🎄 HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY!!! 🎄 🍣 🍶
.
Sponsored by @hakutsuru.sake.usa — who makes some fantastic sake — here are the rules to win $100 to @mizudenver in LoHi (just in time for a great holiday sushi outing):
.
1️⃣ Like this post
2️⃣ Follow @colorado_bites, @mizudenver, and @hakutsuru.sake.usa
3️⃣ Comment and tag a friend (3 posts MINIMUM, but no maximum, and each post counts as an entry)
.
Winner announced Monday, November 29.
.
🍶 And don’t forget to check out some Hakutsuru sake when you’re at Mizu: my go-to is the Chika Sake Cup with the lovely cat lady (only $10), but they also have a bottle of nigori (hazy sake without all the rice filtered out) as well as the house hot sake (also from Hakutsuru). Swipe ➡️ to see some of the delicious dishes here too, like the yellowtail sashimi, spicy scallop roll, New York strip on a hot rock, and cheesecake. 🍣
.
.
.
.
.
#hakutsuru #mizudenver #lohi #lohidenver #denversushi #sake #denversake #sushidenver #denverfood #denverfoodscene #denverfoodie #denvereats #denverrestaurants #denversbest #denver #colorado #denvercolorado #coloradofoodie #coloradoeats #foodietribe #eatlocal #giveaway #denvergiveaway #coloradogiveaway #holidaygiveaway

Now that Thanksgiving is over — Christmas posts

Now that Thanksgiving is over — Christmas posts and decor can commence! 😆 And who needs a holiday pop-up when @etc.eatery.denver spent days making their restaurant look like this?! 🎄 🎁 Wrapped tables, seasonal upholstery, Christmas tree, ceiling garlands, fairy lights, nutcrackers, fireplace videos on TVs, and even a Festivus shrine. You gotta check it out! (And happy hour is Tue -Sat 4:30-6pm.)
.
.
.
.
.
#etceatery #southpearlstreet #southpearl #southpearlst #denverfoodscene #denverfoodie #denvereats #denverrestaurants #denversbest #denver #colorado #denvercolorado #coloradofoodie #coloradoeats #foodietribe #eatlocal #denverholidays #denverholidayseason #denverholidaybar #christmasindenver #denverchristmas #xmasindenver #holidaybar #holidaypopup #festivus #festivusdenver #denverhappyhour #denverhappyhours

Here’s a fun cocktail idea for the holidays! 🦃 🍹 🎄 A pomegranate or cranberry French 75 is a simple take on a classic that looks wonderfully festive. I love to use the @deviationdistilling Mountain Herb gin to add that perfect touch of wintery herbs. 🌲 Add some freshly-squeezed lemon juice, simple syrup (I make mine by boiling sugar in water), pomegranate or cranberry juice (I prefer to use @pomwonderful for the deep color and flavor), and garnishes like cranberries and rosemary.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#holidaycocktail #holidaycocktails #holidaycocktails🍹 #thanksgiving #thanksgivingcocktails #thanksgivingcocktail #christmascocktails #christmascocktail #christmascocktails🍸🍹🎄🎁 #cocktailideas #cocktailidea #cocktails #cocktail #french75 #cocktailsofinstagram #cocktailhour #cocktailrecipes #cocktailgram #cocktailtime #cocktailoftheday #cocktailrecipe #redcocktail #redcocktails #gincocktail #gincocktails #gincocktails🍹

Had our own little mini Thanksgiving last night — but duck style! 🦆 I’ve been wanting to do duck instead of turkey for years, and it’s just so much better y’all! 🤤
.
Here are some of the dishes I made:
.
1️⃣ Whole roasted duck and sous vide duck breast
2️⃣ Stuffing with gluten-free baguette and chopped turkey/duck giblets topped with from-scratch bone broth gravy
3️⃣ Sautéed green beans with garlic, shallots, and almonds
4️⃣ Paprika mashed potatoes
5️⃣ Cauliflower celeriac mash
6️⃣ Cranberry sauce with orange, pomegranate, and port
7️⃣ Pumpkin & squash deviled eggs with paprika and fried sage
8️⃣ Dessert: apples roasted with honey and bourbon maple syrup, amaretto-poached pears, and pecans and pistachios
9️⃣ Gravy made from overnight stewed bone broth with turkey and duck giblets
.
.
#thanksgiving #thanksgivingbird #duck #roastduck #roastedduck #duckbreast #sousvide #sousvideduck #thanksgivingtable #thanksgivingdinner #thanksgivingmeal #thanksgivingideas #thanksgivingdishes #thanksgivingdish #thanksgivingfood #foodphotography # #beautifulfood #foodiesofinstagram #thanksgiving2021 #glutenfreethanksgiving #glutenfreestuffing #glutenfreedessert #glutenfreethanksgivingdesserts

Taco Tuesday is also Nacho Tuesday, right? 😆 An

Taco Tuesday is also Nacho Tuesday, right? 😆 Anyway: I love food halls for their variety of options — and a great food hall to check out in Boulder is @rosettafoodhall. Shown here are the chicken asado nachos from @tierratacos. 🌮 🤤
.
📸 Photo by @milehighbites.
.
.
.
.
.
#boulder #tierratacos #boulderfoodhall #rosettafoodhall #bouldercolodo #boulderrestaurants #boulderfoodie #boulderfood #bouldereats #boulderfoodies #boulderfoodscene #denverfoodscene #colorado #coloradofoodie #coloradoeats #foodietribe #eatlocal #globaleats #nachos

If you’re ever up in Boulder, check out @bohemia

If you’re ever up in Boulder, check out @bohemian.biergarten and their delicious goulash and sausages!
.
Fun fact: Bohemia is a historical region of Europe that became part of Czechoslovakia after WWI (its western half, essentially). But during Soviet rule, all restaurants had to make the same food from the same official cookbooks, and so it’s taken some time for the revival of Bohemian cuisine in the Czech Republic. (You can learn more about this if you go to Prague and take a @tasteofprague tour!)
.
📸 Photos by @milehighbites.
.
.
.
.
.
#boulder #bohemianfood #bohemianbeergarden #bouldercolodo #boulderrestaurants #boulderfoodie #boulderfood #bouldereats #boulderfoodies #boulderfoodscene #denverfoodscene #colorado #coloradofoodie #coloradoeats #foodietribe #eatlocal #globaleats #sausage #goulash

Did you know buffalo fried oysters are a thing? 🦪 A great alternative for those still getting used to the texture of oysters — or people like me who just love buffalo sauce. 🌶 This is an off-menu item you can ask for at @jaxfishhouse in LoDo (don’t know about other locations).
.
.
.
.
#oysters #grilledoysters #lodo #lododenver #downtowndenver #buffalooysters #buffalofriedoysters #fishnbeer #denveroysters #oysteradenver #denverfood #denverfoodscene #denverfoodie #denvereats #denverrestaurants #denversbest #denver #colorado #coloradofoodie #coloradoeats #foodietribe #eatlocal #globaleats #dailyfoodfeed #foodphotography #foodblogger #beautifulfood #foodiesofinstagram #forkyeah #eatingfortheinsta

🚨 Newly open restaurant at the Denver Art Museu

🚨 Newly open restaurant at the Denver Art Museum! 🚨 The Ponti (@thepontidenver) is a delicious collaboration with James Beard Chef Jennifer Jasinski (@chefjenjasinski) that is now open for lunch — and dinner on Tuesdays — in the new museum building. 👏 🏆
.
Keep swiping ➡️ for photos of the beautiful space and food. For me, standouts on the menu were: 🍏 1) Parsnip & Smoked Apple Soup with buckwheat and black truffle, 🐟 2) perfectly Seared King Salmon — shown in first photo, 🐓 3) Roast Half Chicken that just falls off the bone, and 🍚 4) Coconut Sticky Rice — shown in the last photo. I’d come back for that last dessert alone, though! 🥥 🍚 🥭 And all of the above are #glutenfree! (Fun fact: “glutinous” rice does not actually contain gluten, but is a reference to its gluey texture, like sticky rice.)
.
There’s also a big focus on not just quality, local meat sourcing here (from @bucknerfamilyranch and @millerpoultry for example), but also on highlighting vegetables. Some great veggie dishes here, such as that soup, a kale and fig salad, a tempeh reuben, and of course the desserts (all shown). I hear the burger patty also has mushrooms mixed in and is a must-try. Next time!
.
Hours: 11am-2pm daily, bar 2-5pm daily, dinner 5-9pm Tuesdays only.
.
📸 All photos mine, except the photo of the interior (provided by Denver Art Museum).
.
.
.
Thank you for having me @denverartmuseum! #hosted
.
.
.
.
.
#theponti #denverartmuseum #goldentriangledenver #downtowndenver #denverfood #denverfoodscene #denverfoodie #denvereats #denverrestaurants #denversbest #denver #colorado #denvercolorado #coloradofoodie #coloradoeats #foodietribe #eatlocal #denverlunch #glutenfreedenver #glutenfreecolorado

🚨 NOW OPEN! 🚨 Check out the completely redon

🚨 NOW OPEN! 🚨 Check out the completely redone and fantastically bougie @bezeldenver inside the @sheratondenverdowntown! 🥂 The decor and vibe are just so cool, and the food and cocktails are delicious! Swipe ➡️ to see some photos of the new space, drinks, and food. Best bite of the night? That chocolate tart with a hazelnut macaron inside. To die for. 🍫
.
.
Thank you for having us Bezel and for the invite @b_public! #hosted
.
.
.
.
.
#bezelbar #downtowndenver #denverbar #denverbars #denverbarscene #denverfoodscene #denverfoodie #denvereats #denversbest #denver #colorado #denvercolorado #coloradofoodie #coloradoeats #foodietribe #eatlocal #globaleats #sheraton #sheratonhotel #sheratonhotels

Have you ever had Bún bò Huế — a cousin of V

Have you ever had Bún bò Huế — a cousin of Vietnamese pho? Bún bò Huế is one of my favorite things to eat in the winter — shown here with a side of tripe and tendon in extra broth at @saigonbowl in the @fareastcenter on Federal & Alameda. 🍜 🥩 Second photo is the Thai style clams in an aromatic, lemongrass-filled hot pot, and 3rd is the boba smoothies.
.
What is Bún bò Huế? Literally, it’s a combination of bún (rice vermicelli) and bò (beef) — and originates in the former imperial Vietnamese city of Huế. I fell in love with it when I went to Vietnam a few years ago, because I just think it’s way more flavorful than pho. (I even make my own version at home!) It’s similar to pho, but the broth is always beef-based, has lots of lemongrass and a bit of spice, and contains rice vermicelli noodles. Traditionally, it will have slices of beef, pork knuckles, and pig’s blood cubes — but you can usually ask for any of the meats you’d be able to get in a pho (I always get tendon and tripe).
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#bunbohue #bunbo #búnbòhuế #bunbohue🍜 #pho #saigonbowl #vietnamesefood #vietnamesecuisine #vietnamesesoup #denvervietnamesefood #fareastcenter #denverpho #denversoup #coloradosoup #denverfood #denverfoodscene #denverfoodie #denvereats #denverrestaurants #denversbest #denver #colorado #coloradofoodie #coloradoeats #foodietribe #eatlocal #globaleats #glutenfree #glufenfreedenver #glutenfreecolorado

Bar Taco (@bartacolife) opened about 6 months ago

Bar Taco (@bartacolife) opened about 6 months ago in LoHi and they have Happy Hour Mon-Fri 11am-6pm and Sun-Thu 9:30pm-close (see last slide)! 🥂 Also, they have tons of different and unique tacos you can try, including ones with fried oysters or falafel (all gluten-free)! 🌮 🧆 🦪 My favorite has got to be the crispy pork belly though. 🐷 🤤 With that tangy habañero salsa! 🌶 🤤
.
Also shown in photo: the pork pozole and the duck birria. 🐷 🦆 Followed by some cocktails (the pink one is the happy hour Paloma). 🍹 And there’s also gluten-free beer from @holidailybrew (yay!)
.
.
.
Thank you for having us @bartacolife! #hosted
.
.
.
.
.
#bartaco #bartacolife #lohi #lohidenver #tacotuesday #tacos #denverfood #denverfoodscene #denverfoodie #denvereats #denverrestaurants #denversbest #denver #colorado #denvercolorado #coloradofoodie #coloradoeats #foodietribe #eatlocal #globaleats #denvertacos #denverhappyhour #denverhappyhours #glutenfreedenver #glutenfreecolorado #eatnorthamerica

Load More... Follow on Instagram