French food in Denver is not passé. Despite the recent closures of high-profile restaurants Jacques and Noisette, the Mile High City still provides plenty of options across the culinary spectrum to indulge in your Parisian fantasies. Steak frites? Check. Moules marinières? For sure. Boeuf bourguignon? You bet. Plenty of Champagne? Double check.
From high-end fine dining at Le Bilboquet to stylish bistros and brasseries like Bistro Vendome and Brasserie Brixton to cozy cafes and bakeries like the James Beard nominated Poulette Bakeshop, the French scene is as vibrant as ever.
Le French
Le French is a modern French establishment opened by sisters Aminata and Rougui Dia, who blend traditional Parisian fare with their Senegalese heritage. For instance, you can find locally-made MouCo Camembert cheese baked and served with African baobab fruit preserves, and Senegalese fried pastries with tuna, chili, and parsley with a caramelized tomato-onion sauce.
The menu shifts seasonally but reliably features escargot, sweet and savory crêpes, French onion soup, and of course a solid steak frites. But be sure to look for standout Senegalese dishes such as the fried chicken poulet yassa sandwich during lunch, and the poutine topped with the same spiced chicken.
Both the 9+CO location and its original Belleview Station in the Denver Tech Center boast a lively, sophisticated atmosphere to create the ideal balance of accessible and elevated. Check out the striking wine wall and classic French pastries you can buy to-go. Add thoughtful cocktails, an extensive wine list, and happy-hour offerings, and Le French is an easy go-to spot for a dining experience rooted in warmth and flavor. 4901 S. Newport St., Denver (Belleview Station), and 846 Albion St., Denver (9+CO), lefrenchdenver.com
Le Bilboquet
Sitting in Cherry Creek North, Le Bilboquet Denver offers the neighborhood a true Parisian bistro feel, complete with white linens and an airy vibe. While easy going, the restaurant still exudes an elegant ambiance. That, mixed with the attentive service. make it a perfect choice for special occasions such as birthdays or anniversaries, and the menu rises to the occasion.
Expect classics like Escargots De Bourgogne, Carpaccio de Saint Jacques, and Moules Marinières, along with daily specials such as Le Carre D’agneau and Sole a la Meuniere. Yes, all classic sauces and many derivatives can be found here, as well as a surprisingly accessible French wine list leaning heavily into the prime appellations. Le Bilboquet also has offers its own brand of wine for sale, and it’s lovely.
All told, Le Bilboquet manages a delicate balance of elegance and comfort in both menu and decor that doesn’t shy away from the full French experience. 299 St. Paul St., Denver, lebilboquetdenver.com
Coohills
A LoDo staple since 2011, Coohills offers a modern take on French‑inspired cuisine set within a handsome space overlooking the Cherry Creek waterway in LoDo.
Chef Tom Coohill is the French‑trained master of the menu, boasting stints at starred establishments in both France and the U.S., while his wife Diane is the face up front. Together they deliver such stunners as a Jidori chicken sous vide, grilled lamb leg, and a daily fresh fish selection that sticks to the restaurant’s sustainability-first mindset. The chef also does nightly tasting menus, though the restaurant requests a reservation and 48-hour notice.
Inside Coohills you’ll find a separate bar and lounge away from the dining area known for its robust happy hour, which offers an inventive cocktail program and wine list. It all makes for a stylish night out just walking distance from Ball Arena. Just leave your sports jerseys at home. 1400 Wewatta St., Denver, coohills.com
Bánh & Butter Bakery Café
Owner Thoa Nguyen comes from Vietnamese restaurant royalty, at least in Denver. Her family opened New Saigon and New Saigon Bakery. The former closed, but the bakery is going strong. That’s where Nguyen first developed her love of cooking. She traveled to France to study pastry, honing her skills there and bringing them back to the Mile High.
The chef opened her Aurora cafe in 2022, brining French pastry with nods to her Vietnamese culture to the forefront of her program. Go for one of the signature Strawberry Croissants, stay for a Vietnamese Cold Cut Bánh Mi, and finish with an Ube Cupcake. 9935 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora, banhandbutter.com
Atelier by Radex
Since 2017 we have enjoyed Atelier by Radex, chef Radek Cerny’s intimate City Park venture focused on refined French-inspired cooking with European influences. It’s a somewhat higher end incarnation of the former L’Atelier in Boulder, which closed in 2019, and just the latest in the chef’s nearly four decades of bringing French cuisine to Colorado (including Boulder’s European Cafe, Le Chantecler in Niwot, and both Papillon and Radek in Denver).
The menu showcases traditional bouillabaisse, lobster ravioli, and chicken in an au poivre-like brandy pepper sauce. While there’s plenty of Italian dishes mixed in, think capellini, primavera, and caprese, overall the small, cozy, and unassuming atmosphere lets the French cuisine take center stage. There’s also a chef’s tasting menu that varies by season and whim. 2011 E. 17th Ave., Denver, atelierbyradex.com
La Forêt
Located in the lovely former Beatrice & Woodsley space on South Broadway, La Forêt presents “cocktail-forward French rustic” cuisine in an alpine-inspired, wood-filled dining room complete with all the whimsical fixtures retained from its predecessor.
Expect dishes like fried frog legs, beef bourguignon, and venison from New Zealand done au poivre style. Pair that with both classic cocktails and inventive surprises, such as the Summer In Provence drink with vodka, melon, black pepper, tarragon, and lemon. The 4 to 5 p.m. Pastis Hour really goes off the rails in the best way possible with options including the Cornichon Spritz, a combination of those tiny French pickles with thyme liqueur and cucumber tonic.
Wrap it all up in a hip Baker neighborhood vibe and you have well-crafted French cooking in a distinctive setting well worth the visit. Bonus, it’s open for Sunday brunch too. 38 S. Broadway, Denver, laforetdenver.com
Bistro Vendôme
Bistro Vendôme may be a veteran survivor of Denver’s restaurant scene, but in many ways it’s also the new kid on the block. After nearly 20 years under the watch of founding chef Jennifer Jasinski in Larimer Square, the restaurant is now under the care of chef and operating partner Tim Kuklinski and has relocated to its new Park Hill location. Amidst these changes, it retained the same no frills Parisian-style dining experience fans have come to know and love.
The menu features time-honored French classics including steak frites, mussels, escargot, and beef tartare, as well as creative spins on classics such as the Truite Poêlé, a pan-seared trout served with grilled asparagus, Bayonne ham, crispy shallot, dill, and cured egg yolk. There are plenty of classic French wines available by the glass for nearly any pairing, and the new space is cozy and authentic. 2267 Kearney St., Denver, bistrovendome.com
Bistro Barbes
Bistro Barbes bills itself as French-Middle Eastern Cuisine, and is named after a neighborhood in Paris known for its North African population. The two cultures blend to create an intimate bistro located in a softly-lit Park Hill house turned restaurant.
For $90 a person, diners get four courses showcasing the chefs’ creativity, offering an elevated yet relaxed dining vibe. The menu changes often, but could include dishes such as a confit duck leg with aleppo pepper romesco sauce; beef short rib with au poivre sauce mixed with a piquillo pepper muhammara; or a light sunchoke agnolotti with a Kashmiri cauliflower coulis.
It’s a small space, great for an intimate date night alternative to classic bistros with a distinctive, flavorful experience. 5021 E. 28th Ave., Denver, bistrobarbes.com
La Fillette Bakery
La Fillette Bakery began in 2015 when owner‑pastry chef Keturah Fleming set out to bring French‑inspired pastries with a seasonal twist to Denver’s dining scene. After years fostering a warm, community‑focused café in a cozy Hilltop storefront, La Fillette expanded in March 2023 to a larger location at 14th and Krameria Streets in the Montclair area. Here Fleming transformed her dream from a simple bake shop into a full‑service spot for breakfast, brunch, and lunch.
The fresh croissants offer both sweet and savory options, or enjoy them as the base of such dishes as the popular Benny Croissant Toast with duck confit, green chili hollandaise, and poached eggs or the Chocolate Croissant French Toast. Beyond pastries, you can get your oeuf on with a range of quiches and omelettes. And for the sweet tooth, try the ever‑rotating flavors of macarons, all baked by Fleming’s team each morning. 6217 E. 14th Ave., Denver, lafillettebakery.com
La Merise and Bon Ami Bistro & Crêperie
Owned by the same team, this pair of restaurants largely share a menu in different locations. In Washington Park, Bon Ami Bistro & Crêperie strives for cozy charm with a focus on savory and sweet crêpes, the options for which outnumber the more familiar entrees on the menu. Fillings include ratatouille, seafood, and beef tenderloin with gruyere cheese. Also add the Fisherman’s Stew to your must-try list, it comes with salmon, ahi tuna, shrimp, crab, mussels, and potatoes, all in a lightly spicy tomato base.
Over in Cherry Creek, La Merise borrows several of the same crepe options during brunch. But during dinner the menu leans more toward French-American cuisine featuring what it calls “French home-style meals.” Highlights include the Warm Smoked Duck Salad, Beef Bourguignon, and Lamb Chops Provençale, all classic dishes with a few surprises mixed in like Trout Grenobloise and Chicken Croquettes. Bon Ami, 295 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Denver, bonamidenver.com; Le Merise, 2700 E. 3rd Ave., Denver, lamerisedenver.com
Chez Maggy
Helmed by French celebrity chef Ludo Lefebvre, Chez Maggy puts its stamp on the Denver French scene with a classic bistro-chic menu and decor. Located in LoDo’s Thompson hotel, now with an outdoor terrace overlooking the newly remodeled 16th Street, it’s a hotel restaurant that transports you out of the city. Named after the chef’s wife’s late mother, Chez Maggy aims to translate French culinary traditions to American audiences with such dishes as beef or tuna tartare, a classic country terrine, Trout Almondine, Chicken Cordon Bleu, and a signature pasta bolognese.
In addition to a focused and accessible wine list. It’s also a handy place to eat before heading to the theater or a game since diners can enjoy the $75 Theater Prix Fix. It features four courses and is served from 5 to 7 p.m. 1616 Market St., Denver, chezmaggydenver.com
Poulette Bakeshop
You can’t think of a bakery in Colorado, let alone a French bakery, without putting the Poulette Bakeshop top of your list. The New York Times named it one of the 22 best bakeries in the country. It’s been nominated by the James Beard Foundation multiple times. And based on the long lines awaiting the doors to open every morning, the locals like it a lot too. Recently, the team made a move to a bigger space nearby.
Now in its new home, you can enjoy plenty of artisanal baguettes, croissants, tarts, cookies, and cakes, all French in presentation. Owners Alen Ramos and Carolyn Nugent met while working for chef Joel Robuchon, and worked in restaurants across Europe, including the famed El Bulli, before bringing their craft to Colorado. 19865 Mainstreet #130, Parker, poulettebakeshop.com
Brasserie Brixton
Brasserie Brixton offers a modern, upbeat take on French classic staples as well as introducing new and playful dishes that break the mold. Sure, there’s the staple steak frites, but also Hamachi Crudo in cantalope aqua chili. Overall, the hip RiNo spot is chef Nick Dalton’s love letter to French food, but with the coolness of being in a modern city with global influences. If you like your duck cooked French with a sauce made Asian, then this place will continue to surprise and delight. Add to it a craft cocktail menu and an equally irreverent wine list that brings the pet nat to the table alongside the Burgundy and pinot noir. 3701 N. Williams St., Denver, brasseriebrixton.com
Katherine’s French Bakery & Café
Katherine’s is a small, community-oriented café and bakery in Bonnie Brae offering not only homemade baked goods, but also quiches, crêpes, croissant sandwiches, and more. Known for fresh, flavorful baked goods and comforting café fare, it draws many of its ingredients from its own kitchen garden, where it also composts all kitchen scraps.
With a pleasing local charm and friendly atmosphere, Katherine’s stands out as a neighborhood staple perfect for those looking for authentic, delicious French-style bakery offerings without fanfare. 728 S. University Blvd., Denver, katherines.org
Trompeau Bakery
Trompeau Bakery has been churning out French-style baked goods since 2000. The family owned bakery is known for French‑style pastries such as croissants, macarons, quiches, and danishes. It also has a robust bread program featuring the obligatory baguette, as well as buttery brioche, ciabatta, and batards often flavored with herbs such as rosemary, garlic, and more. In 2024, the shop added a storefront called Café Croissant on 16th Street downtown. 2050 S. Broadway, Englewood; and 934 16th St., Denver, trompeau-bakery.com
Gateaux Pastries
Gateaux Pastries was born in 1999 in Denver’s Golden Triangle neighborhood by pastry chef Kathleen Kenny Davia, formerly of the Brown Palace Hotel. In 2020, longtime employee Michelle Rasuel and her sister Danielle Bush bought the business and expanded it while maintaining its commitment to elegant pastries.
The menu features exquisitely crafted tortes, custom cakes, colorful petit fours, buttery tea cookies, and fresh breakfast pastries. Customer favorites include key-lime tarts, sour-cream pound cake, and the signature shortbread tea cookies, which have developed a loyal following. The Denver shop is closed Sunday and Monday, and only open for pick up Tuesday through Thursday. Customers can still stop into the shop on Friday and Saturday. 1160 Speer Blvd., Denver, gateauxpastries.com
