Three weeks old, The Denver Central Market is settling into a groove and drawing guests eager to discover the eleven vendors that are part of the collective market hall. When you go, here's what you should try at each of the businesses.
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Crema Bodega offers some of the best coffee drinks in town plus a variety of well-curated convenience store items but also eight taps featuring cold brew coffee and kombucha. Give the kombucha a shot and you won't be disappointed.
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Head on over to High Point Creamery and live a little with the Kouign Aman ice cream sandwich. The decadent pastry comes from neighbor Izzio's.
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If breakfast is on your mind (and why shouldn't it be?), the bakery set inside the market, Izzio's, is the place to go. Order the Shaksuka, a dish that features eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, chili peppers, and onions.
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Chef Jon Robbins of Temper Chocolates, who also owns Bistro Barbès and Souk Shawarma, creates a variety of chocolates with fresh ingredients and you should explore them all, but if you had to choose one, let it be the Banana Stand made with banana ganache and roasted peanut filling.
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Back to the savory side of things, Silva's Fish Market offers fresh oysters, clams, and fish, but also dishes that can be enjoyed inside the space like the ceviche de la casa.
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You can get fresh meats, poultry, and sausages at the Local Butcher or you can leave the cooking to the pros and go to town on one of the best meatball sandwiches in town.
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Health-conscious guests ready to boost up their immune system with some fruits and veggies are in luck at Greenseed, where produce to go abounds, salads make for a good lunch option, and the Vampiro Juice (pictured above) is a real winner.
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Chef Sean Kelly, who owns SK Provisions and also Desmonds (in Park Hill), promised a killer porchetta and that is exactly what he delivered. You can get it by the pound or you can opt for the sandwich. The rotisserie chicken is also a major hit.
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A contender for the best pizza in town, Vero Italian, brainchild of chef Andrea Frizzi of Il Posto, offers authentic pies with classic and creative toppings. The must-have is the Frizzi, a pizza that riffs on the Margherita with the addition of arugula and prosciutto.
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As the weather continues to cool down, the kid in you will jump for joy when discovering the grilled cheese with tomato soup combo at Culture, the meat and cheese shop.
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Curio, the bar that serves the market, offers a wide selection of beer, wine, and cocktails, but if we had to just choose one, that would be the Jamaican Sour, a tiki-inspired beverage.
The Denver Central Market is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The bar is open Sunday through Thursday until 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday until 12 a.m.