FRONTIER AIRLINES
Need a change in scenery or looking for a quick weekend getaway from Dallas? You can fly round trip from DFW to Denver for under $79! We found this amazing price deal to Denver from DFW on Frontier Airlines and now are giving you the 101 to Denver so you can complete your itinerary! Thank you to Frontier for sponsoring this post.
THINGS TO DO
Hike Rocky Mountain National Park.
Visit the iconic Red Rocks. (Pictured)
Walk around historic Union Station.
Enjoy the flavors of the week from Little Man Ice Cream.
Shop, drink, and dine in Dairy Block.
Walk through the Denver Botanic Gardens.
Visit the Denver Zoo.
Shop in Larimer Square.
Explore The Source Market Hall.
Wander the Tattered Cover Book Store.
See the murals of the RiNo district.
WHERE TO EAT
Photo courtesy of Happy Camper Denver
Avanti F&B
This modern food hall is located in the popular LoHi neighborhood, and has a great rooftop with views of the city! It's a great option for groups, with large tables scattered throughout, and multiple food options so there's something for everyone. Explore seven unique restaurants featuring different cuisines like burgers, pizza, tacos, sandwiches, pho, healthy bowls, and even Venezuelan-style arepas!
Beckon Denver
Grab a seat at the chef's counter to enjoy a fine-dining multi-course menu! This upscale spot received one Michelin star and was called "captivating" and "ambitious" by the Michelin team. Their menu is exactly that and changes with each season, so you never know what you're going to get! The best part? They send you a questionnaire before your meal so they can best accommodate your tastes and dietary restrictions! Pro tip: they are prepaid reservation only, so book ahead, and plan to spend at least two-and-a-half hours there.
Cherry Cricket
Step back in time at this iconic spot for burgers and brews! Since 1945, Cherry Cricket has been a go-to for locals and out-of-towners alike. The casual restaurant features a wood-paneled bar, retro arcade games, walls lined with beer memorabilia, and a quaint patio. Burgers are the focus of the menu, and they even offer a build-your-own burger, with over 40 toppings to choose from. You'll find all the classic toppings, of course, along with several more outlandish choices like peanut butter, chile relleno, Cheetos, and more!
Happy Camper
This colorful patio is known for its pizzas and party atmosphere! The lively space is filled with disco balls and neon lights, making every corner of the restaurant a photo op. Their menu offers elevated takes on American bar fare like pizza, nachos, calzones, and tons of shareables which make it a great spot for groups. The must-try here is the over-the-top cocktails -- they even have some with pizza and donuts on top! (Pictured)
El Five
Head to this trendy tapas bar for amazing city views, moody vibes, and an extensive wine list! The tapas here are truly one-of-a-kind, drawing inspiration from Gibraltar, a small British-owned country at the bottom tip of Spain, close to Africa. The result? Meditteranean-fusion eats that draw in flavors from a variety of cultures! Our faves from the menu are the goat cheese croquettas, Tunisian couscous, burrata di Puglia, and the paella!
My Neighbor Felix
The way to our hearts is cute decor and delicious Mexican food -- and My Neighbor Felic has both! This casual yet lively brunch and dinner spot is decked out in greenery and neon lights, with a stunning bar too. Their most popular item is their tacos, which come with fillings like tequila shrimp, short rib, Impossible meat, and more. Wash it all down with a Megarita, a 56-ounce marg to share!
Safta
Find the stylish Safta restaurant on the second floor of The Source Hotel in the trendy RiNo District! They're known for modern Middle Eastern and Mediterranean eats that celebrate a variety of cultures. The menu features dishes from Israel, Bulgaria, Yemen, Syria, Morocco, Turkey, Palestine and Greece! You'll want to dip just about everything with the pita bread, which you can watch be wood-fired while you eat!
Sushi Den
Escape to Japan via this cozy sushi spot! Sushi Den takes their ingredients seriously, with fish flown in from Tokyo daily, and a rotating specials list based on what fresh ingredients are available. When you take a seat, you'll be presented with a slip of paper with the menu options, featuring signature rolls, nigiri, and more. Fill out your card with what you'd like, watch the chefs create it in the bustling open kitchen, and enjoy!
Tocabe
If you're looking for unique eats in Denver, put Tocabe at the top of your list. This fast-casual spot is American-Indian-owned and aims to honor Native American culture through their recipes and Indigenous-sourced ingredients. You can even check where all their produce comes from on their website! Build your own tacos or Posu bowl with fillings like bison, hominy, and elderberry vinegarette, and don't skip the fry bread!
BREWERIES
Cervecería
Dos cervezas, por favor! This Mexican-inspired brewery uses traditional ingredients and flavors from Mexico to create delicious beers like Churro Stout, Mango Rico Tropical IPA, and more. Not only are their beers delicious, but they're brewed with sustainability and community in mind. Their brewery is 100% solar-powered, and they compost any waste they can! Plus, check out their "Cervezas for Causes” happy hours where 20% of proceeds go to charity.
Denver Beer Co.
With multiple taprooms in Denver, it's clear that Denver Beer Co. is a local favorite! They're known for fun and innovative flavors like the Princess Yum Yum Raspberry Kolsch, which is their most popular brew. All their locations have a warehouse-meets-patio vibe, making it the perfect spot for a casual drink. When you stop by, be on the lookout for their ever-changing seasonal flavors too!
First Draft
Whether you're an avid beer drinker, new to the brewery world, or don't like beer at all, First Draft is the spot for you! They offer dozens of sips to try including beer, wine, cider, and kombucha, on their pour-your-own beer wall. It makes the drinking experience fully personalized and interactive -- plus it's a great way to sample new sips without committing to a full pint!
Great Divide
You can find Great Divide at five locations in Colorado -- including one at the Denver airport! In the city, you can find them in the artsy River North area, or in the Ballpark District. They offer a variety of craft brews ranging from hoppy and hazy to dark and robust, along with a few hard seltzers!
Odell Brewing Company
Visit Odell's Sloan's Lake Brewhouse for cold beer and hot pizza, plus mountain vibes and views! With a rooftop patio overlooking Sloan's Lake, it's the perfect place to soak up the sun while you sip. Enjoy a creative scratch-made pizza like the Bison Birria or the Truffle Shuffle, and wash it all down with your choice of 16 different brews. Plus, they often have live music, and the patio is dog-friendly!
Our Mutual Friend Brewing
Adorned with a colorful mural covering the building, this brewery is hard to miss! The welcoming space in the Five Points neighborhood serves up unique, sustainably crafted beers that you won't find anywhere else -- they're big on taproom-only releases! The patio is dog-friendly, and kids under 10 are welcome until 6pm.
Ratio Beerworks
Founded by a punk rock group, Ratio Beer is proudly different, serving up meticulously crafted microbrews in a funky space! You'll find everything from classic lagers to crazy flavors like the award-winning 'King of Carrot Flowers'. The colorful patio has plenty of seating, string lights to set the vibe, and awesome murals covering the building walls. Check out their awesome merch too while you're there!
Spangalang Brewery
Inspired by jazz music, this microbrewery is black-owned and has live music every Friday! Their goal is to create quality beer that merges modern urban culture with the brewing industry. All the names of their beers are a nod to music and culture in some way! Plus, they have an amazing Crowler Club, where you can get four 32-ounce crowlers every month for just $39.99!
Zuni Street Brewery
This adorable beer garden gives us all the summertime vibes, from the plants hanging around the bar to the yard games on the patio! They serve over 15 different brews, ranging from stouts and sours to IPAs and barrel-aged beers. If you want some food to pair with your drinks, they have food trucks almost daily -- check their rotating food truck calendar to see what will be available. You can also catch live music two to three times a week!
WHERE TO STAY
Photo courtesy of Rally Hotel
Brown Palace
This stunning luxury hotel has been since 1892, and has hosted pop stars and presidents over the years! It's located at the heart of the city in Downtown Denver, and is absolutely stunning with all its original architecture and finishes. You'll feel like you stepped back in time! Fun fact: as part of their sustainability efforts, they have beekeepers on the property, and they use the honey for their spa products. (Pictured)
Halcyon Cherry Creek
If you're not sure what part of Denver to stay in, we highly recommend the adorable Cherry Creek neighborhood! The walkable area is full of shopping and dining, which you'll be close to staying at the Halcyon Cherry Creek. This sleek luxury hotel is super modern and features an amazing rooftop pool with mountain views!
Rally Hotel
Located right across from Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies, you'll find the highly-rated Rally Hotel! It's a baseball fanatic's dream, featuring a baseball theme and memorabilia throughout the building's 182 rooms. Before you head to a game, stop by their onsite bar, Call Me Pearl, for oysters and craft cocktails! (Pictured)
The Crawford Hotel
Get a taste of Colorado history at The Crawford Hotel, located in the iconic Union Station! The building was originally used as a train station, built in the late 1800s. Over the years, it has evolved, survived a fire, and transformed into the luxury hotel it is today! Throughout the hotel, you'll find nods to the building's past through art and artifacts everywhere you look!
