Just south of downtown, the Golden Triangle neighborhood encompasses numerous art and cultural institutions, like the Denver Art Museum and the History Colorado Center. Whether you're exploring the area on foot or seeking out a dining destination, there are several restaurant options worth a try. From authentic cuisine at Cuba Cuba to a plate of fresh pasta at DiFranco's, here are 13 places to eat in the Golden Triangle.
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With several museums in the Golden Triangle neighborhood, it’s no surprise to find a full-service restaurant at one of them. Housed in the Denver Art Museum, chef Kevin Taylor’s modern American spot frequently offers special tasting menus to complement exhibits at the museum. Lunch is served on weekdays, dinner is only available on Fridays, and a weekend champagne brunch rounds out the schedule.
It has been around for more than 20 years, with its self-proclaimed largest selection of single malt whisky on this side of the Atlantic. Pints Pub also brews traditional British cask-conditioned ales, which are served from hand pumps. To soak up all the boozy offerings, choose from British pub favorites like wimpys (burgers), bangers and mash, or a healthier take on fish and chips: broiled salmon filet with green salad and fresh-cut chips.
Located in a pair of aqua-blue houses, Cuba Cuba is known for its mojitos and authentic cuisine. Soak up a taste of Havana and Miami with various plantain preparations or vaca frita—a mojo-marinated flank steak seared crispy and served with rice and black beans. There are also offshoots of fast-casual concept Cuba Cuba Sandwicheria in Boulder and Glendale.
Though low-key and casual, complete with counter service, the menu emphasizes local and organic ingredients. Most items are made in house, including fresh pasta—think hand-rolled spaghetti carbonara. Check out date night on Wednesdays, when $45 gets you two salads, two entrees, two cannoli, and a bottle of wine.
Charcoal turns out European-style fare by utilizing a custom-designed Bincho grill, often identified with Japanese cuisine. Don’t miss brunch, when the menu skews Scandinavian, featuring dishes like Swedish meatballs with lingonberries and short rib hash "pytt i panna," complete with a sunnyside egg, pickled beets, and mustard sauce.
This brewpub in a 14,000-square-foot space has a beer lineup that spans from hoppy IPAs to Belgian white ale to milk stout, with 16 taps total, though normally not all are in use at one time. The kitchen offerings are also diverse; you can find salads, sandwiches, pizza and more, with almost everything made in house.
Grab a Neapolitan-style pizza that’s ready in just minutes at this quick-serve spot, the result of a collaboration between Frasca’s Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson and Bobby Stuckey, and Chipotle. Build your own pie or choose from options like traditional margherita or the bianca, topped with mozzarella, sausage, broccolini, garlic, and chili flakes. For dessert, the butterscotch pudding with chocolate and caramel topping is irresistible.
This Italian establishment is an offshoot of a family-owned restaurant that's been around in Portofino for more than 160 years. On our continent, family recipes take shape in the form of risotto, lasagna al pesto, veal scaloppine, and more.
From fresh juices and smoothies to salads, sandwiches, and soups, Parsley has you covered for lunch. A heavy emphasis is also placed on organic produce and sustainability efforts like composting and recycling.
The menu here spans Vietnamese, Korean, and Thai cuisines for lunch and dinner. Choose from dishes like spring rolls, tom kha gai, and stir-fry noodles.
A followup to City Bakery, this cafe serves as a casual breakfast and lunch spot. Tuck into egg sandwiches, soups, panini, and—of course—baked goods like pastries and bread, which you can grab and take to-go.
Known for its "farm to tray" approach, BurgerFi is a fast-casual burger slinger that originated in Florida. Get your fill of all-natural Angus beef, hot dogs, fries, and frozen custards.
As a jazz club there's plenty of live music happening, but the Sunday brunch is also a big draw and served buffet-style. Dinner, happy hour, and Friday lunch are also part of the program.
With several museums in the Golden Triangle neighborhood, it’s no surprise to find a full-service restaurant at one of them. Housed in the Denver Art Museum, chef Kevin Taylor’s modern American spot frequently offers special tasting menus to complement exhibits at the museum. Lunch is served on weekdays, dinner is only available on Fridays, and a weekend champagne brunch rounds out the schedule.
It has been around for more than 20 years, with its self-proclaimed largest selection of single malt whisky on this side of the Atlantic. Pints Pub also brews traditional British cask-conditioned ales, which are served from hand pumps. To soak up all the boozy offerings, choose from British pub favorites like wimpys (burgers), bangers and mash, or a healthier take on fish and chips: broiled salmon filet with green salad and fresh-cut chips.
Located in a pair of aqua-blue houses, Cuba Cuba is known for its mojitos and authentic cuisine. Soak up a taste of Havana and Miami with various plantain preparations or vaca frita—a mojo-marinated flank steak seared crispy and served with rice and black beans. There are also offshoots of fast-casual concept Cuba Cuba Sandwicheria in Boulder and Glendale.
Though low-key and casual, complete with counter service, the menu emphasizes local and organic ingredients. Most items are made in house, including fresh pasta—think hand-rolled spaghetti carbonara. Check out date night on Wednesdays, when $45 gets you two salads, two entrees, two cannoli, and a bottle of wine.
Charcoal turns out European-style fare by utilizing a custom-designed Bincho grill, often identified with Japanese cuisine. Don’t miss brunch, when the menu skews Scandinavian, featuring dishes like Swedish meatballs with lingonberries and short rib hash "pytt i panna," complete with a sunnyside egg, pickled beets, and mustard sauce.
This brewpub in a 14,000-square-foot space has a beer lineup that spans from hoppy IPAs to Belgian white ale to milk stout, with 16 taps total, though normally not all are in use at one time. The kitchen offerings are also diverse; you can find salads, sandwiches, pizza and more, with almost everything made in house.
Grab a Neapolitan-style pizza that’s ready in just minutes at this quick-serve spot, the result of a collaboration between Frasca’s Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson and Bobby Stuckey, and Chipotle. Build your own pie or choose from options like traditional margherita or the bianca, topped with mozzarella, sausage, broccolini, garlic, and chili flakes. For dessert, the butterscotch pudding with chocolate and caramel topping is irresistible.
This Italian establishment is an offshoot of a family-owned restaurant that's been around in Portofino for more than 160 years. On our continent, family recipes take shape in the form of risotto, lasagna al pesto, veal scaloppine, and more.
From fresh juices and smoothies to salads, sandwiches, and soups, Parsley has you covered for lunch. A heavy emphasis is also placed on organic produce and sustainability efforts like composting and recycling.
The menu here spans Vietnamese, Korean, and Thai cuisines for lunch and dinner. Choose from dishes like spring rolls, tom kha gai, and stir-fry noodles.
A followup to City Bakery, this cafe serves as a casual breakfast and lunch spot. Tuck into egg sandwiches, soups, panini, and—of course—baked goods like pastries and bread, which you can grab and take to-go.
Known for its "farm to tray" approach, BurgerFi is a fast-casual burger slinger that originated in Florida. Get your fill of all-natural Angus beef, hot dogs, fries, and frozen custards.
As a jazz club there's plenty of live music happening, but the Sunday brunch is also a big draw and served buffet-style. Dinner, happy hour, and Friday lunch are also part of the program.
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