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Tom's Diner
Tom's Diner
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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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Annie's Cafe & Bar

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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
(303) 355-8197

Pete's Kitchen

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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
(303) 321-3139
Yelp

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Tom's Diner

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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
(303) 861-7493
Facebook

Denver Diner

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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
(303) 825-5443
Facebook

Sam's No. 3

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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
(303) 534-1927
Yelp

Moonlight Diner

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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
(303) 307-1750
Facebook

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Javier and C Diner

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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
(303) 433-4005
Yelp

Hot Cakes

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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
(303) 832-4351
Facebook

20th St Cafe

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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
(303)295-9041
20th Street Cafe

Breakfast King

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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
(303) 733-0795

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Kyle's Kitchen

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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
(303) 477-5625
Facebook

Red Rooster Cafe

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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
(303) 292-3880
Yelp

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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
(303) 355-8197

Pete's Kitchen

1962 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206
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
(303) 321-3139
Yelp

Tom's Diner

601 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80203
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
(303) 861-7493
Facebook

Denver Diner

740 W Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80204
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
(303) 825-5443
Facebook

Sam's No. 3

1500 Curtis St, Denver, CO 80202
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
(303) 534-1927
Yelp

Moonlight Diner

6250 Tower Rd, Denver, CO 80249
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
(303) 307-1750
Facebook

Javier and C Diner

3800 Tennyson Ave, Denver, CO
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
(303) 433-4005
Yelp

Hot Cakes

1400 E 18th Ave, Denver, CO 80218
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
(303) 832-4351
Facebook

20th St Cafe

1123 20th St, Denver, CO 80202
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
(303)295-9041
20th Street Cafe

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
(303) 733-0795

Kyle's Kitchen

4018 Tennyson St, Denver, CO 80212
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
(303) 477-5625
Facebook

Red Rooster Cafe

5761 Washington St, Denver, CO 80216
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
(303) 292-3880
Yelp

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