Home to the Denver Zoo, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and a much-loved series of free summertime jazz concerts as well as countless recreational opportunities, City Park is a major hub of Mile High activity year-round. To partake in it all, you’ll require sustenance, of course. That’s where the neighborhood appropriately named for the park comes in.
Curiously enough, according to the City and County of Denver’s handy-dandy interactive map, the City Park neighborhood’s northern boundary is 23rd Avenue, which excludes City Park’s own golf course. But that’s neither here nor there for diners and drinkers, since there are no independent restaurants or bars located in the park itself.
As for the remaining area between 17th Avenue to the north, York Street to the west, Colorado Boulevard to the east, and Colfax Avenue to the south, it’s mostly residential. So technically, City Park’s dining scene is concentrated entirely along the north side of East Colfax. That’s a tight squeeze, so for the purposes of this guide, we’ve also included establishments in a portion of City Park West, from Franklin Street to York Street; the rest of that neighborhood features in our dining out guide to Uptown.
Confused yet? Not to fret. All that really matters is that there are plenty of great places in the general vicinity to frequent morning, noon, and night. Read on for our top picks, listed by section in alphabetical order.
Where to Go for Breakfast and Brunch in City Park
In addition to brewing a damn fine cup of coffee, these spots aim to start your day by taking the edge off that post-slumber hunger.
Café Miriam
This petite French-inspired hangout for breakfast and brunch is just as sunny and colorful as its owner, Touhami ElFahdi, who makes friends of his customers as ably as he makes lavender lattes and lacy, tender crepes. The Royale with Cheese, filled with prosciutto, Brie, and fig spread beneath a drizzle of balsamic glaze, gets lots of love from his regulars. However they also count on sandwiches like the Petit Dej de Sundby with smoked salmon, scrambled eggs, and avocado on a croissant for a solid nosh to complement their caramel macchiatos and leisurely conversations. The cafe’s loyalty has, in fact, allowed ElFahdi to open a second, larger location at the edge of Uptown in City Park West. 2217 E. 21st Ave., Denver, cafemiriam.com
Denver Biscuit Co.
From morning to mid-afternoon, the crowds outside Atomic Cowboy speak to the success of the breakfast-and-lunch concept housed within. In fact, it now has several locations around town, though this was the first.
That success is built on Mammoth sandwiches stacked with buttermilk-fried chicken, sausage, cheese, eggs, and more, plus other biscuit-based wake-up calls like pot pie, French toast, and cinnamon rolls. Don’t forget cocktails to cure what ails ya, including espresso martinis and vodka- and Kahlua-spiked iced lattes. All those pluses equal a first-rate nap waiting to happen. 3237 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, theatomiccowboy.com/denbisco
The Weathervane Cafe
Occupying a turn-of-the-century carriage house, this coffee shop boasts all the perks and quirks befitting of the setting. Step inside and you’ll find a lived-in aura that invites you to linger a spell, whether on the ground floor amid the bric-a-brac and the banter of the baristas, or up the creaky old stairs to the sunlit second story.
While ordering espressos, lattes, and Italian sodas with housemade syrups go without saying, the food menu is a bit of a surprise. Seek out the oatmeal with figs, almonds, crystallized ginger, and pumpkin seeds, or a sandwich of melted Brie, green chiles, and mango chutney on ciabatta. Overall the options outclass your average selection of commissary pastries by a mile. 1725 E. 17th Ave., Denver, weathervanecafe.com
Where to Go for Lunch
While most of the places included in this section are also open for dinner, they’re all ideal for the midday meal thanks to the casual, quick, and relatively cheap offerings.
Chivis Tacos
This tiny but mighty taqueria actually does it all, from breakfast burritos in the morning to munchies for nighthawks. Bonus, the shop stays open until 3 a.m. on weekends. But even with these options, it can’t be beat come lunchtime on a hectic workday, when the clock is ticking as loudly as your stomach is growling.
The crew behind the counter operates at lightning speed, so you’ll be in and out the door in no time. More importantly, you’ll be raring to go after getting your fill of expertly assembled tacos, tamales, enchiladas, chiles rellenos, or pretty much any other mainstay of Mexican cuisine you’ve got in mind. Pro tip: Douse it all in any of the self-serve salsas helpfully labeled “hot.” 2101 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, chivistacos.com
Hong Kong Station 3
Not for nothing has this Chinese favorite expanded twice from its original location in Greenwood Village to the Hampden neighborhood and, as of November, City Park West. It’s consistently great at everything it does, and it does a lot. The extensive menu covers everything from the Americanized basics such as sesame chicken and Mongolian beef, to Sichuan staples including mapo tofu and la zi ji, a traditional dish of crispy chicken smothered in chili peppers and tingling with Sichuan peppercorns.
But at its core Hong Kong Station remains Cantonese, so start with dishes like scrambled eggs with shrimp, salt-and-pepper tofu, and beef brisket chow fun in black bean sauce. Or, have a field day over a Hong Kong–style feast of French toast, spaghetti, and pork chops with onions, washed down with milk tea. There’s no ambiance to speak of, but the food’s the only conversation piece you need. 2205 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, hkstationdenver.com
Mama Jo’s Biscuits & BBQ
Judging by the name, you’d expect this little mom-and-pop slice of the South to smoke up a mean plate of meat. And so it does, from Carolina-style pulled pork in vinegar sauce to Saturday-only brisket. Yet what it may deserve to be judged by above all is its shatteringly crunchy, wonderfully seasoned, and supremely juicy buttermilk-fried chicken.
Get it on a fluffy smoked-Gouda biscuit with pimento cheese, pepper jam, and pickles. Then add on a side of the slow-cooked collard greens with bacon and a dessert like the apple fritters with salted butterscotch sauce. It’s all worth it for that inevitable food coma at the end. 3525 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, mamajobiscuits.com
Yahya’s Mediterranean Grill & Pastries
Frills are nil, but friendly faces are in high supply at this family-run fixture on Colfax, and so are heaps of homey, hearty Middle Eastern fare. In addition to staples such as falafel, kabobs, gyros, and shawarma, the kitchen has a couple of house specialties in store, including grilled quail with garlic sauce and herbed lamb shank in tomato sauce. All that plus stuffed grape leaves, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh, and so on makes saving room for dessert a tricky proposition, but do it anyway, because no meal here is complete without some baklava. 2207 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, yahyasgrills.com
SAME Café
Eat well, do good: That’s a guarantee at So All May Eat, or SAME, a nonprofit kitchen run by chef Carrie Shores. Open on weekdays for lunch only, it offers an ever-changing selection of such wholesome, locally-sourced fare as lentil-tomato soup, roasted sweet potato salad, pizza with sausage and pesto, and lemon shortbread cookies.
All this can be enjoyed in exchange for a donation in the form of dollars, produce, or a half-hour of volunteer time, which ensures it can continue the mission of feeding the community in the days, months, and years to come. What a beacon of hope in the midst of turbulent times (not to mention the ongoing construction just beyond its doors). 2023 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, soallmayeat.org
Dinner in City Park
When it’s time to unwind over a round of drinks paired with plates both small and large, traditional and innovative, here are your best bets.
Atelier by Radex
This trés jolie bistro doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Helmed by veteran chef Radek Cerny in a picture-perfect space hung with copper pots beneath an antique chandelier, the kitchen is a well-oiled machine, applying its deft touch to such French classics as duck liver pâté, escargot in garlic-herb butter, and bouillabaisse. Also check out suave signatures like lobster ravioli in Champagne beurre blanc and elk tenderloin with black currant demi-glace.
The waitstaff follows suit, attentive yet discreet. So maybe the lack of hoopla is a blessing in disguise. After all, reservations are easy to come by, and scintillating conversation over a civilized meal is just as easy to have. 2011 E. 17th Ave., Denver, atelierbyradex.com
Bastien’s
Amid all the whirlwind changes on Colfax Avenue, this chophouse stands a testament to the splendor of mid-century modern architecture, the succor of a stiff martini, and the enduring lure of sugar steak. Not much has changed here since 1958, when it opened in its current incarnation, and with any luck it never will. Make a reservation, dress up a little (or a lot), and bask in the old-school vibes over a classic repast of bacon-wrapped scallops, New York strip with all the trimmings, and banana-coconut cream pie. 3503 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, bastiensrestaurant.com
Crab & Shell Cajun Seafood
Get the whole gang together at this laid-back, coastal-themed eatery, specializing in Louisiana-style seafood boils. After all, the more the merrier when it comes to passels of garlicky, buttery crab legs, crawfish, mussels, shrimp, scallops, and more, all studded with new potatoes and sliced corn on the cob. Starters and sides like fried oysters, hush puppies, and coleslaw complete the downhome smorgasbord (as do bibs, because making a bit of a glorious mess is guaranteed). 2819 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, crabandshell.com
Ma’s Kitchen Dim Sum & Noodles
Cantonese comfort and Sichuan spice coexist on the menu of this warm and welcoming (not to mention already wildly popular) newcomer to York Street. That means har gow, char siu buns, and short ribs in black pepper sauce on the one hand, wontons in chili oil, twice-cooked pork, and the mild-sounding but actually fiery boiled fish or beef on the other. But what it doesn’t mean is that you have to choose between them, and a little of each serves as a fine foray into two of China’s most celebrated culinary regions. 1514 York St., Denver, no website
Molotov Kitschen + Cocktails
Quaint as the dining room of this Bluebird District destination may be, with its floral mural and cuckoo clock display, its Eastern European–inspired cuisine is anything but. Owner Bo Porytko has long proven to be one of Denver’s most fiercely progressive chefs.
His prowess shows on a menu that, in any given season, include smoked rabbit pierogi in corn milk smetana; grilled lamb ribs encrusted in sunflower seeds and marigolds with medivka-plum gelée; buttermilk-fried, kielbasa-stuffed quail with tarragon vinegar and fennel pollen; and porcini holubtsi with wild rice, buckwheat, and green peppercorns. Don’t know what some of those words mean? Finding out is all part of the fun of dining here, capped off by a shot of horilka whenever the staff is moved to lead a toast. 3333 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, molotovdenver.com
Pho & Bar
In many ways, the appeal of this Vietnamese haunt is as straightforward as its name, from the streamlined decor to the concise repertoire of pho, bánh mì, and rice or vermicelli bowls. But a few sly twists distinguish it. Make a game of deciphering that enigmatic mural on the back wall, for instance, while sampling some of the menu’s more fusion-esque snacks and sips, including elote with Sriracha aioli, five-spice fries, Yuzu Old Fashioneds, and martinis laced with lychee and lemongrass. 1600 E. 17th Ave., Denver, phoandbar.com
Best Spots in City Park to Score a Drink
Aperitifs, nightcaps, and everything in between await at these trusty watering holes.
The Lowbeam
Replacing a bar as beloved as Middleman is no small task, but its successor has quickly risen to the challenge. The space is as chill as ever, even at its busiest, while the drink list is just as smartly balanced between the basics (think PBR with a spicy pickle shot) and cheeky originals like the Turning Japanese with pisco, corn liqueur, and miso simple syrup. Perhaps best of all, the prices are positively pre-pandemic: With one exception, not a drop breaks the $11 mark. 3401 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, thelowbeam.com
Vine Street Pub
What’s more comfy than your own living room? A living room with a brewery attached, that’s what. No wonder this easygoing longtimer has inspired such loyalty from its neighbors, who hang out for hours on end over pints of Big Krane Kölsch, XXX Strong American Pale Ale, and whatever house-specialty stout might be on tap at any given time. Classic pub grub such as pretzels, wings, and burgers is just a bonus. 1700 Vine St., Denver, mountainsunpub.getbento.com
The Thin Man
A riot of strung lights, lanterns, and religious iconography, this longtimer has been hopping since 2001, and it shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. While the backbar’s packed with everything from house-infused vodkas to copious beer taps, it’s the community the cool kids come for as much as the drinks. These relationships have been cultivated over the course of countless holiday parties, comedy and drag shows, and summertime hangs on the back patio. 2015 E. 17th Ave., Denver, no website
