Countless restaurants tolerate the presence of children, but far fewer welcome them with open arms (and age-appropriate menus). Denver is lucky, then, to have these 17 places as a refuge for parents — and their kids. Listed geographically from north to south, they make dining out with little ones not merely easy, but pleasurable.
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Where to Eat With Kids Around Denver
There’s something for everyone at these family-oriented establishments

Acreage
Assuming parents are able to drag their youngsters away from the playground on the expansive lawn (where games like cornhole also await), this Stem Ciders–branded eatery does offer a kids’ menu to supplement its array of adult comfort food and ciders: Think chicken tenders and mac and cheese, plus cider doughnuts for dessert and apple juice to wash it down.
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Lucky Pie Pizza & Taphouse
From booster seats and crayons for coloring to kid’s-size pizzas and a big lawn for playing, this Louisville pizzeria is as family-friendly as they come — and the fact that it sits next door to ice-cream parlor Sweet Cow is the cherry on top.
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Sushi-Rama Broomfield
Like its four popular siblings, the newest location of Jeff Osaka’s colorful sushi spot boasts a conveyor belt laden with rolls and nigiri that’s sure to mesmerize little ones. If they’re less enthused by the dishes themselves, note that there’s plenty more to the menu: Where raw fish fails, edamame, gyoza, bacon fried rice, and mochi ice cream should do the trick.
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Moonlight Diner
Housed in an old chrome boxcar just minutes from DIA, this blast from the past is covered in 1950s memorabilia to occupy curious kiddos while offering a menu just for them, ranging from chocolate-chip pancakes to buttered noodles. Adults, meanwhile, have their own extensive selection of classic diner fare to choose from like all-day breakfasts, chicken-fried steak, chili burgers, BLTs, and more.
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HashTAG
Troy Guard’s bright and sunny daytime joint in Central Park is a sure bet for all ages: While grown-ups tuck into the likes of smoked salmon avocado toast, huevos rancheros, “hangover pho,” and breakfast margaritas, kids can dig into appropriately sized portions of dishes like pancakes and waffles, which come complete with hash browns, fruit, and juice or milk.
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The Denver Central Market
For families with mixed tastes, food halls are a godsend. This one, in RiNo, houses 11 vendors dishing up everything from grilled cheese sandwiches and meatball subs to poke and pizza to pastries, chocolates, and ice cream. A coffee stand and a full bar deliver the potable goods to parents in need of caffeine or something even stronger.
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Four Friends Kitchen
The wait for a table is made less painful at this cheerful, Southern-inspired daytime eatery that keeps Etch-a-Sketch pads and other toys up front to entertain the kiddos. Once seated, kids are treated to a special menu that features peanut butter–and–jelly waffles, chocolate-chip pancakes, and more. Adults, meanwhile, have fried green tomatoes, smoked brisket hash and eggs, and several different types of mimosa to look forward to.
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Maria Empanada
With a gymnastics studio, playground, toy store, and much more to bounce around between, the Stanley Marketplace is a one-stop activity shop for families, made all the better by numerous dining options. One of the tops for tots is this empanada shop, which dishes up a wealth of hand pies both savory and sweet. Even picky eaters are sure to love the ham-and-cheese and the banana-and-Nutella versions.
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D Bar Denver
Any restaurant whose menu is centered around desserts galore is bound to be kid-approved — but rest assured this Uptown favorite was built for adults too, complete with a full bar and grown-up eats like crispy brussels sprouts with honey-Sriracha glaze and butternut squash–roasted mushroom risotto.
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Ace Eat Serve
This combination pan-Asian eatery and ping-pong parlor serves up plenty of fun for families: A few rounds of table tennis help work up an appetite for a kids’ menu that includes peanut butter–and–jelly bao and stir-fried noodles, as well as free ice cream or sorbet. Play another round afterward to burn off extra energy before bedtime.
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Chop Shop Casual Urban Eatery Colfax
Created as a welcome alternative to fast food for families on the go, this comfy, quick-casual spot turns out entrees like bacon-wrapped meatloaf with whipped potatoes and fried, teriyaki-glazed tofu with jasmine rice while offering similarly composed, relatively healthy plates for the little ones. Desserts like the chocolate-chip brownie with caramel and whipped cream have the whole family’s name written all over them.
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The Cherry Cricket
People of all ages likes burgers, fries, and shakes, so this beloved Cherry Creek fixture would be a favorite for families even if it didn’t have a separate kids’ menu — but it does, complete with hot dogs, chicken tenders, and cheese quesadillas as well as burgers sized for small fries.
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Olive & Finch
Like the Uptown original and its newest sibling downtown, Little Finch, this all-day cafe and bakery in Cherry Creek has something — a lot of things, in fact — for everyone. While adults relax over shakshuka or Niçoise salad paired with iced Vietnamese coffee or sparkling Sangria, youngsters can snack on yogurt parfait or a grilled cheese sandwich and sip fresh-squeezed juice; then the whole crew can go on a sugar spree involving mini–birthday cakes, oatmeal cream pies, cinnamon rolls, and other goodies from the pastry and dessert case.
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Zaidy's Deli & Bakery
Who doesn’t love an old-school deli? Now in its new home off of Leetsdale in Washington Virginia Vale, this local institution loves kids back with a special menu that includes challah French toast and bagels with a Nutella schmear — but honestly, there’s plenty on the regular menu to appeal to younger palates, from cheese blintzes to latkes with applesauce.
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Nonna's Chicago Bistro
Speaking of old-school joints, this cozy Italian longtimer is a win-win, in that it manages to welcome kids while maintaining a serene environment. For the little ones, there’s a dedicated menu that includes chicken fingers, bowtie pasta with butter sauce, and more, all of which comes with a cookie. For the parents, there’s stuffed mushrooms, lobster ravioli, eggplant parm, and so on, plus a full bar lauded for its martinis.
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Esters Virginia Village
This three-branch pizza pub is known for sophisticated toppings like figs, Brussels sprouts, and arugula pesto as well as its solid selection of craft beers. But it’s also appreciated for a kids’ menu of smaller, simpler pies — not least because they come free with the purchase of an adult meal on Tuesday nights (except at the Park Hill location, which offers the special on Mondays).
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The Post Chicken & Beer
Feeding the whole household is a snap at this chicken shack (and its siblings across the metro area): Its Family Meal packages include one to two whole fried birds, a choice of sides, and biscuits for three to eight people. Whoopie pies are the (à la carte) icing on the cake.
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