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Tom's Diner
Tom's Diner
Tripadvisor

These 12 Denver Spots Are Real Authentic Diners

We'll take the early bird special, please.

by Jessie Levine
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Tom's Diner
| Tripadvisor
by Jessie Levine

Sometimes in a world of lines around the corner for trendy brunch destinations, bottomless mimosas, and avocado toast, it's nice to know that there are some dining fixtures that will always remain untouched by trends. In the spirit of Eater's Breakfast Week, we look into the classic Denver diners.

The classic diners of the city have been keeping coffee topped off in the same off-white coffee mugs and inquiring about your toast preferences since time immemorial, and will continue to do so into the future. Here, we honor their dogged consistency and early bird specials.

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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. Annie's Cafe & Bar

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3100 E Colfax Ave
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 355-8197
(303) 355-8197
Visit Website
Annie's is reminiscent of simpler times - the space is adorned with old school lunch boxes and the like. Enjoy a Denver sporting event on the TV's here while putting down massive amounts of green chile at the full bar.

2. Pete's Kitchen

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1962 E Colfax Ave
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 321-3139
(303) 321-3139
Visit Website
A Denver mainstay since 1942, serving breakfast and other diner staples around the clock, Pete's Kitchen has long since achieved its title of classic Denver diner. Expect plenty of Greek options and a warm and friendly atmosphere at Pete's.
Yelp

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3. Tom's Diner

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601 E Colfax Ave
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 861-7493
(303) 861-7493
Visit Website
Deliciously retro and situated in close proximity to Colfax bars and music venues, Tom's is probably the ultimate late night snack diner. The vinyl-coated swivel bar stools and shiny metallic milkshake spinner speak to Anytown, USA. 24 hours a day, Tom's spins mean milkshakes, serves greasy breakfast classics, and provides extremely colorful people-watching.
Facebook

4. Denver Diner

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740 W Colfax Ave
Denver, CO 80204
(303) 825-5443
(303) 825-5443
Denver Diner switched the neon lights back on a year hiatus caused by a fire and is better now than ever. Order a milkshake and the Denver omelette and enjoy the revamped (but still stubbornly classic) atmosphere.
Facebook

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5. Sam's No. 3

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1500 Curtis St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 534-1927
(303) 534-1927
Visit Website
Oh Sam's No. 3, where portions are offensively massive and service is snappy. The breakfast burrito is one of the most popular items at Sam's and it should last the average person about 4 full-size meals. There are multiple locations in the metro area.
Yelp

6. Moonlight Diner

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6250 Tower Rd
Denver, CO 80249
(303) 307-1750
(303) 307-1750
Visit Website
This sweet boxcar-shaped diner lives on Tower Road near Denver International Airport. Serving greasy spoon bites and local beer in a setting stuffed with old school memorbilia, the Moonlight is a funky classic.
Facebook

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7. Javier and C Diner

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3800 Tennyson Ave
Denver, CO
(303) 433-4005
(303) 433-4005
Visit Website
Javier's keeps it real on Tennyson Street with its Mexican iterations on diner food and fun patio. The mass confusion skillet is a local favorite with veggies, meat and smothered in green chile, and you can't go wrong with the colossal breakfast burrito.
Yelp

8. Hot Cakes

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1400 E 18th Ave
Denver, CO 80218
(303) 832-4351
(303) 832-4351
Visit Website
The powdery rose hued brick building on the corner of 18th contains diner glory within. The hot cakes (or pancakes, whatever) come in short stacks, tall stacks, loaded or traditional, in an unfussy setting.
Facebook

9. 20th St Cafe

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1123 20th St
Denver, CO 80202
(303)295-9041
(303)295-9041
Visit Website
Big portions are sold at ridiculously cheap price points at 20th Street Cafe, a little spot that seems to be preserving the value of Denver's simpler times in a part of town that is racing into the future. The space is quite cozy and guests will not have to compete with long lines and hours-long wait times at other brunch-y spots in the neighborhood.
20th Street Cafe

10. Breakfast King

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300 West Mississippi Avenue
Denver, CO 80223
(303) 733-0795
(303) 733-0795
Breakfast is certainly King at this south Denver, 24-hour spot. Service and food are about as all-American diner as it gets.

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11. Kyle's Kitchen

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4018 Tennyson St
Denver, CO 80212
(303) 477-5625
(303) 477-5625
Visit Website
Kyle's Kitchen is just plain cute, serving breakfast staples in a quaint setting for years now. The funky antique glassware decorations, sunny service, banana nut waffles and breakfast burritos at Kyle's are charmers.
Facebook

12. Red Rooster Cafe

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5761 Washington St
Denver, CO 80216
(303) 292-3880
(303) 292-3880
A no-frills diner serving diner staples with Mexican and Greek flair, Red Rooster is a great pick for super fast service and filling food in the Globeville neighborhood.
Yelp

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1. Annie's Cafe & Bar

3100 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206
Annie's is reminiscent of simpler times - the space is adorned with old school lunch boxes and the like. Enjoy a Denver sporting event on the TV's here while putting down massive amounts of green chile at the full bar.
3100 E Colfax Ave
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 355-8197
Visit Website

2. Pete's Kitchen

1962 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206
Yelp
A Denver mainstay since 1942, serving breakfast and other diner staples around the clock, Pete's Kitchen has long since achieved its title of classic Denver diner. Expect plenty of Greek options and a warm and friendly atmosphere at Pete's.
1962 E Colfax Ave
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 321-3139
Visit Website

3. Tom's Diner

601 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80203
Facebook
Deliciously retro and situated in close proximity to Colfax bars and music venues, Tom's is probably the ultimate late night snack diner. The vinyl-coated swivel bar stools and shiny metallic milkshake spinner speak to Anytown, USA. 24 hours a day, Tom's spins mean milkshakes, serves greasy breakfast classics, and provides extremely colorful people-watching.
601 E Colfax Ave
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 861-7493
Visit Website

4. Denver Diner

740 W Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80204
Facebook
Denver Diner switched the neon lights back on a year hiatus caused by a fire and is better now than ever. Order a milkshake and the Denver omelette and enjoy the revamped (but still stubbornly classic) atmosphere.
740 W Colfax Ave
Denver, CO 80204
(303) 825-5443

5. Sam's No. 3

1500 Curtis St, Denver, CO 80202
Yelp
Oh Sam's No. 3, where portions are offensively massive and service is snappy. The breakfast burrito is one of the most popular items at Sam's and it should last the average person about 4 full-size meals. There are multiple locations in the metro area.
1500 Curtis St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 534-1927
Visit Website

6. Moonlight Diner

6250 Tower Rd, Denver, CO 80249
Facebook
This sweet boxcar-shaped diner lives on Tower Road near Denver International Airport. Serving greasy spoon bites and local beer in a setting stuffed with old school memorbilia, the Moonlight is a funky classic.
6250 Tower Rd
Denver, CO 80249
(303) 307-1750
Visit Website

7. Javier and C Diner

3800 Tennyson Ave, Denver, CO
Yelp
Javier's keeps it real on Tennyson Street with its Mexican iterations on diner food and fun patio. The mass confusion skillet is a local favorite with veggies, meat and smothered in green chile, and you can't go wrong with the colossal breakfast burrito.
3800 Tennyson Ave
Denver, CO
(303) 433-4005
Visit Website

8. Hot Cakes

1400 E 18th Ave, Denver, CO 80218
Facebook
The powdery rose hued brick building on the corner of 18th contains diner glory within. The hot cakes (or pancakes, whatever) come in short stacks, tall stacks, loaded or traditional, in an unfussy setting.
1400 E 18th Ave
Denver, CO 80218
(303) 832-4351
Visit Website

9. 20th St Cafe

1123 20th St, Denver, CO 80202
20th Street Cafe
Big portions are sold at ridiculously cheap price points at 20th Street Cafe, a little spot that seems to be preserving the value of Denver's simpler times in a part of town that is racing into the future. The space is quite cozy and guests will not have to compete with long lines and hours-long wait times at other brunch-y spots in the neighborhood.
1123 20th St
Denver, CO 80202
(303)295-9041
Visit Website

10. Breakfast King

300 West Mississippi Avenue, Denver, CO 80223
Breakfast is certainly King at this south Denver, 24-hour spot. Service and food are about as all-American diner as it gets.
300 West Mississippi Avenue
Denver, CO 80223
(303) 733-0795

11. Kyle's Kitchen

4018 Tennyson St, Denver, CO 80212
Facebook
Kyle's Kitchen is just plain cute, serving breakfast staples in a quaint setting for years now. The funky antique glassware decorations, sunny service, banana nut waffles and breakfast burritos at Kyle's are charmers.
4018 Tennyson St
Denver, CO 80212
(303) 477-5625
Visit Website

12. Red Rooster Cafe

5761 Washington St, Denver, CO 80216
Yelp
A no-frills diner serving diner staples with Mexican and Greek flair, Red Rooster is a great pick for super fast service and filling food in the Globeville neighborhood.
5761 Washington St
Denver, CO 80216
(303) 292-3880

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