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25 Essential Denver Bars

18 Breakfasts in Denver Worth Waking Up For

The 38 Essential Restaurants in Denver

20 Places to Spot Big Spenders, Power Brokers, and More

by Andra Zeppelin
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by Andra Zeppelin

Where do they dine- the star athlete, the expense-account businesswoman, the politician, the occasional visiting movie star, the kid who invented some internet thing, the new economy entrepreneur? Where do they go to spend their dough on a meal? In honor of Whale Week, here's a mapped guide to where they like to drop some big bucks on luxurious food and drink or where they like to just hang out. Please note that these places are not ranked but grouped geographically.

Was your favorite spot to see those who want to be seen not listed? Weigh in via the comments, or drop suggestions and personal tales of excessive to the tipline email: denver@eater.com.


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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. Elway's

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2500 E 1st Ave
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 399-5353
(303) 399-5353
Visit Website
Elway's is always hot and packed with Denver's and Cherry Creek's deepest pockets. Check out the cars outside for your first clue that the whales are here.

2. Zaidy's Deli

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121 Adams St
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 333-5336
(303) 333-5336
Visit Website
Not exactly a no-brainer, but Zaidy's, a staple Jewish deli in the city, attracts everyone from bankers to politicians and entrepreneurs in the morning and at lunch-time.

3. Cherry Creek Grill

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184 Steele St.
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 322-3524
(303) 322-3524
Visit Website
Dark and not particularly adventurous in its food, Cherry Creek Grill is packed packed lunch and dinner with a wide range of customers happy to enjoy the comfortable space and top-service.

4. Second Home Kitchen & Bar

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150 Clayton Ln.
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 253-3000
(303) 253-3000
Visit Website
Located inside a hotel, Second Home is the neighborhood place for a power breakfast, but also laced with big pockets for lunch, dinner, and brunch on the weekends.

5. Pasta Pasta Pasta

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278 Fillmore St
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 377-2782
(303) 377-2782
Visit Website
In business for 27 years, this family-owned casual Italian lunch spot is a favorite with the wealthy and everyone else in the Cherry Creek area.

6. Barolo Grill

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3030 E 6th Ave
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 393-1040
(303) 393-1040
Visit Website
A staple of fine dining on 6th Avenue, Barolo Grill, a restaurant that serves authentic northern Italian food, attracts for its good food, impeccable service, and outstanding wine list.

7. Sushi Den

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1487 South Pearl Street
Denver, CO 80210
(303) 777-0826
(303) 777-0826
Visit Website
Sushi Den has grown in size and also in popularity. There is always a wait for dinner and it is always worth it for the wealthy or just the regular folks looking for a good meal.

8. Mizuna

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225 East 7th Avenue
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 832-4778
(303) 832-4778
Visit Website
From the Governor to big time movers and shakers, Frank Bonanno's flagship restaurant attracts some of Denver's most influential people who seek a superior dining experience in Capitol Hill.

9. Racine's

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650 Sherman St
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 595-0418
(303) 595-0418
Visit Website
In the middle of the city, Racine's is still a favorite of deep-pockets, politicians, movers and shakers in the metro area who seek a place to meet up for a casual meal.

10. Palettes at the Art Museum

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100 W 14th Avenue Pkwy
Denver, CO 80204
(303) 534-1455
(303) 534-1455
Visit Website
This Kevin Taylor restaurant attracts the artsier of the whales, as well as judges, city officials, and politicians in search of lunch or dinner.

11. EDGE Restaurant And Bar At Four Seasons Hotel Denver

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1111 14th St.
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 389-3000
(303) 389-3000
Visit Website
Five star service is what the Four Seasons provides and EDGE, the restaurant located inside the downtown hotel, is no exception. Chef Simon Purvis runs one of Denver's biggest kitchens that serves some of the city's biggest whales.

12. The Capital Grille

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1450 Larimer St.
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 539-2500
(303) 539-2500
Visit Website
The mother of the old-school top steakhouses, Capital Grille is the chosen power spot for lawyers, bankers, and even sports stars.

13. The Squeaky Bean

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1500 Wynkoop
Denver, CO 80209
(303) 623-2665
(303) 623-2665
Visit Website
Everyone loves the Bean, so it should not come as a surprise that those with deeper pockets that most also flock to this LoDo dining room.

14. The Palm Restaurant

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1672 Lawrence St.
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 825-7256
(303) 825-7256
Visit Website
One of the original power lunch restaurants in Denver, the Palm may not blow your mind with its food, but it will certainly provide a competent meal and the chance to gawk of Denver's power players.

15. Palace Arms at Brown Palace

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321 17th St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 297-3111
(303) 297-3111
Visit Website
This restaurant, located inside the Brown Palace Hotel, brings in the politicos, lawyer-types, and power brokers who gather for dinner assured of receiving top service from the attentive staff.

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16. Fuel Cafe

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3455 Ringsby Ct.
Denver, CO 80216
(303) 296-4642
(303) 296-4642
Visit Website
Off the beaten path, but only 5 minutes away from downtown, Fuel Cafe is a power lunch destination for Denver's political leadership, as well as some of the new economy business leaders from those in tech companies to land developers.

17. Shanahan's

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5085 S. Syracuse St.
Denver, CO 80237
(303) 770-7300
(303) 770-7300
Visit Website
When former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan opened this steakhouse South of Denver, he gave the wealthy Greenwood Village crowds a a great alternative to downtown steakhouses.

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18. OAK at fourteenth

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1400 Pearl Street
Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 444-3622
(303) 444-3622
Visit Website
Boulder's entrepreneurs, tech-heads, and young venture capitalists flock to this restaurant for its cool cocktail program and innovative food prepared with the aid of an attractive wood-fired oven.

19. Frasca Food and Wine

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1738 Pearl St
Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 442-6966
(303) 442-6966
Visit Website
On its eight year, Frasca attracts and welcomes diners of all backgrounds, but its spectacular wine program, led by master sommelier Bobby Stuckey, and events like the White Truffle dinner, a mere $765 per person, tends to make it a destination for those eager to spend their dough on fine dining.

20. Flagstaff House

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Flagstaff Mountain Rd
Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 442-4640
(303) 442-4640
Visit Website
One of Boulder's oldest fancy restaurants, Flagstaff House still attracts the wealthy with its 12,000 bottle wine cellar, classic French-American cuisine, and impeccable service.

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1. Elway's

2500 E 1st Ave, Denver, CO 80206
Elway's is always hot and packed with Denver's and Cherry Creek's deepest pockets. Check out the cars outside for your first clue that the whales are here.
2500 E 1st Ave
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 399-5353
Visit Website

2. Zaidy's Deli

121 Adams St, Denver, CO 80206
Not exactly a no-brainer, but Zaidy's, a staple Jewish deli in the city, attracts everyone from bankers to politicians and entrepreneurs in the morning and at lunch-time.
121 Adams St
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 333-5336
Visit Website

3. Cherry Creek Grill

184 Steele St., Denver, CO 80206
Dark and not particularly adventurous in its food, Cherry Creek Grill is packed packed lunch and dinner with a wide range of customers happy to enjoy the comfortable space and top-service.
184 Steele St.
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 322-3524
Visit Website

4. Second Home Kitchen & Bar

150 Clayton Ln., Denver, CO 80206
Located inside a hotel, Second Home is the neighborhood place for a power breakfast, but also laced with big pockets for lunch, dinner, and brunch on the weekends.
150 Clayton Ln.
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 253-3000
Visit Website

5. Pasta Pasta Pasta

278 Fillmore St, Denver, CO 80206
In business for 27 years, this family-owned casual Italian lunch spot is a favorite with the wealthy and everyone else in the Cherry Creek area.
278 Fillmore St
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 377-2782
Visit Website

6. Barolo Grill

3030 E 6th Ave, Denver, CO 80206
A staple of fine dining on 6th Avenue, Barolo Grill, a restaurant that serves authentic northern Italian food, attracts for its good food, impeccable service, and outstanding wine list.
3030 E 6th Ave
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 393-1040
Visit Website

7. Sushi Den

1487 South Pearl Street, Denver, CO 80210
Sushi Den has grown in size and also in popularity. There is always a wait for dinner and it is always worth it for the wealthy or just the regular folks looking for a good meal.
1487 South Pearl Street
Denver, CO 80210
(303) 777-0826
Visit Website

8. Mizuna

225 East 7th Avenue, Denver, CO 80203
From the Governor to big time movers and shakers, Frank Bonanno's flagship restaurant attracts some of Denver's most influential people who seek a superior dining experience in Capitol Hill.
225 East 7th Avenue
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 832-4778
Visit Website

9. Racine's

650 Sherman St, Denver, CO 80203
In the middle of the city, Racine's is still a favorite of deep-pockets, politicians, movers and shakers in the metro area who seek a place to meet up for a casual meal.
650 Sherman St
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 595-0418
Visit Website

10. Palettes at the Art Museum

100 W 14th Avenue Pkwy, Denver, CO 80204
This Kevin Taylor restaurant attracts the artsier of the whales, as well as judges, city officials, and politicians in search of lunch or dinner.
100 W 14th Avenue Pkwy
Denver, CO 80204
(303) 534-1455
Visit Website

11. EDGE Restaurant And Bar At Four Seasons Hotel Denver

1111 14th St., Denver, CO 80202
Five star service is what the Four Seasons provides and EDGE, the restaurant located inside the downtown hotel, is no exception. Chef Simon Purvis runs one of Denver's biggest kitchens that serves some of the city's biggest whales.
1111 14th St.
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 389-3000
Visit Website

12. The Capital Grille

1450 Larimer St., Denver, CO 80202
The mother of the old-school top steakhouses, Capital Grille is the chosen power spot for lawyers, bankers, and even sports stars.
1450 Larimer St.
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 539-2500
Visit Website

13. The Squeaky Bean

1500 Wynkoop, Denver, CO 80209
Everyone loves the Bean, so it should not come as a surprise that those with deeper pockets that most also flock to this LoDo dining room.
1500 Wynkoop
Denver, CO 80209
(303) 623-2665
Visit Website

14. The Palm Restaurant

1672 Lawrence St., Denver, CO 80202
One of the original power lunch restaurants in Denver, the Palm may not blow your mind with its food, but it will certainly provide a competent meal and the chance to gawk of Denver's power players.
1672 Lawrence St.
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 825-7256
Visit Website

15. Palace Arms at Brown Palace

321 17th St, Denver, CO 80202
This restaurant, located inside the Brown Palace Hotel, brings in the politicos, lawyer-types, and power brokers who gather for dinner assured of receiving top service from the attentive staff.
321 17th St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 297-3111
Visit Website

Related Maps

16. Fuel Cafe

3455 Ringsby Ct., Denver, CO 80216
Off the beaten path, but only 5 minutes away from downtown, Fuel Cafe is a power lunch destination for Denver's political leadership, as well as some of the new economy business leaders from those in tech companies to land developers.
3455 Ringsby Ct.
Denver, CO 80216
(303) 296-4642
Visit Website

17. Shanahan's

5085 S. Syracuse St., Denver, CO 80237
When former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan opened this steakhouse South of Denver, he gave the wealthy Greenwood Village crowds a a great alternative to downtown steakhouses.
5085 S. Syracuse St.
Denver, CO 80237
(303) 770-7300
Visit Website

18. OAK at fourteenth

1400 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302
Boulder's entrepreneurs, tech-heads, and young venture capitalists flock to this restaurant for its cool cocktail program and innovative food prepared with the aid of an attractive wood-fired oven.
1400 Pearl Street
Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 444-3622
Visit Website

19. Frasca Food and Wine

1738 Pearl St, Boulder, CO 80302
On its eight year, Frasca attracts and welcomes diners of all backgrounds, but its spectacular wine program, led by master sommelier Bobby Stuckey, and events like the White Truffle dinner, a mere $765 per person, tends to make it a destination for those eager to spend their dough on fine dining.
1738 Pearl St
Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 442-6966
Visit Website

20. Flagstaff House

Flagstaff Mountain Rd, Boulder, CO 80302
One of Boulder's oldest fancy restaurants, Flagstaff House still attracts the wealthy with its 12,000 bottle wine cellar, classic French-American cuisine, and impeccable service.
Flagstaff Mountain Rd
Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 442-4640
Visit Website

Related Maps