Deep’s Denver Guide during the SABA-NA Conference June 19-22, 2025

LINKS:
Deep’s Guide to Denver: bit.ly/DeepDenverGuide

Google Map List (opens on Google Maps App): bit.ly/DenverSABAMapList

Annotated Denver Map (opens in Browser): bit.ly/DenverSABAMap

Download the conference app for official announcements and information. Cvent app here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cvent.mobile.eventap 

Note to City Cast friends— again this was made with a Conference in mind, so don’t judge me too much on being downtown focused! But I would LOVE feedback and thoughts!

Welcome, Disclaimers, Notes About the Guide        1

General Tips and Advice        2

Quick preview of the weekend conference events and walking/distances:        2

Coffee        3

Breakfasts        3

Lunch        4

Tacos        4

Vegan/Vegetarian        5

Black-owned businesses in honor of Juneteenth        5

LGBTQ+ Friendly Bars in honor of Pride Month        6

Dinners        6

Rooftops        7

Breweries        7

Drinks        8

Party Vibes        9

Late Night        9

Welcome, Disclaimers, Notes About the Guide

Welcome to America’s 17th best food city (allegedly) but proudly the #1 beer city (undisputed). This guide is written with love, overcommitment, and a slight caffeine buzz. Whether you're here for your first SABA conference or your tenth, I hope this guide helps you make the most of your time in the Mile High City. I’ve built this with the conference schedule in mind. It leans heavily on downtown and nearby neighborhoods because most of us won’t have time to wander far from the conference hotel. But if you stick around longer or come back for NAPABA Conference (Nov 6-8), take a detour into the mountains or the outer boroughs of Denver—I promise they’re worth it.

🗺️ Check out the map version here: https://bit.ly/DenverSABAMap

Quick Logistics
Quick note on getting around: the conference hotel sits at the Hyatt Regency on California & 14th—a comfortable walk to most downtown spots. For adventures in LoDo, RiNo, Five Points, HiLo, Capitol Hill, or beyond, plan on Uber/Lyft: ongoing construction can slow pickups. I’ve marked walkable neighborhoods on the map—take a peek.

Big Disclaimers
• This guide is tailored to limited conference days near downtown.
• If you arrive early or stay late, venture to Boulder, Golden in the metro that have amazing hikes, or mountain towns like Breckenridge and Vail—Denver is your Rockies gateway.
• The Downtown focus leaves out hidden gems: West Denver’s South Federal Blvd hosts one of the oldest Vietnamese communities (bahn mi, pho);  To the East and South of Denver, those parts are home to large diverse communities where some of the best food is found. For example, Mango House, a past winner of SABA Colorado’s award, is a shared space for refugees, asylees, y los sin papeles, is home to some of the best ethnic food in the Denver area but it’s a bit far from the Conference.

General Tips and Advice

💧 Hydrate—Denver is Mile‑High City; drink more water than you think.
🌿 Explore Denver’s official guides Check out Denver’s detailed resources on cannabis regulations, transit options, and safety tips to ensure your visit is smooth, enjoyable, and stress-free. For even more recommendations, visit VisitDenver.com..
🐻💙 Blue Bear: Don’t miss Denver's iconic 40-foot-tall Blue Bear sculpture (“I See What You Mean”) playfully peeking into the Convention Center from 14th Street. You can easily spot it through the large windows right outside the CLE rooms—it’s the perfect spot for a photo op!
🚧 16th Street: Denver’s iconic pedestrian thoroughfare lined with restaurants, shops, and street performers—currently undergoing major renovations. Expect some detours and disruptions, but still worth exploring as the heart of downtown Denver.

Quick preview of the weekend conference events and walking/distances:

Coffee

• Huckleberry Roasters (walkable) Larimer Square, 9‑min walk, Local roaster with a cool mission.
• Novo Coffee (walkable) (between Hyatt & Grand Hyatt): Perfect pit stop.
• Vibe Coffee (walkable) (large seating area).
• Little Owl inside Populus (walkable). Inside the Populus hotel which looks like an aspen tree and is "the first carbon positive hotel in America”
• Roostercat

• This isn’t close to the hotel, so no reason you would find yourself there. But this is the strongest cold brew I’ve ever had in my life. It had me hearing colors and seeing sounds. So if you really need a pick-me-up… there you go.

Breakfasts

• Sams No. 3 (walkable)

• Neighborhood diner on steroids—huge menu & portions. Classic Denver diner.

• Snooze (walkable-ish, 0.9 miles)

• Originally started in Denver but now is everywhere. Has a location in Union Station which may be a good place to grab breakfast on the way in or out from the airport.

• Jelly (walkable-ish, 1 mile)

• My local breakfast joint that I enjoy

• Rosenbergs (5 Points)

• Denver is not known for our bagels. But these ones do alright according to my friends in NYC

• Call Your Mother (multiple locations)

• DC based bagel place that has a couple locations

• Denver Biscuit Company (multiple locations)

• Listen, IDK how, but this is a fantastic biscuit and amazing sandwiches. It would be a good Sunday brunch place. Make sure you get on the waitlist ahead of time.

Lunch

• La Loma (walkable)

• Over two summers in law school, I had lunch here at least 25 times—it's a staple for local attorneys. Fun legal fact-- its famous green chile is so coveted that ex-spouses literally shared custody of the recipe in divorce proceedings!

• Leven Deli Co. (walkable-ish, 15mins, 0.6 miles)

• Some of my favorite sandwiches I’ve ever had. Creative, piled-high sandwiches on fresh bread—perfect for a midday refuel.

• Guard and Grace (walkable)

• Sleek steakhouse. Ideal for a polished business lunch with top-notch service. Good for dinner too.

• Snarfs (walkable)

• Originally a Boulder place, now beloved for its generously stuffed subs and laid-back vibe.

• Cheba Hut (multiple locations)

• Ironically, it started in Arizona but I think it’s very Colorado themed and now we have the most stores here. Great late night sandwiches too IMO

• Mercantile (walkable-ish) (Union station)

• Chef-driven market plates featuring seasonal ingredients. Good place when going to or fron the airport.

• Lazo Empandas (walkable) 303 16th Street Mall

• Started by an immigrant family from Argentina. Great Empanadas.

• Bubu Republic (walkable)

• Healthy bowls and quick lunch. Was my a go-to lunch spot of mine when I worked in Republic Plaza.

• NADC Burger (walkable)

• If you’re a big foodie and like to do these types of things, then go for it. TBH, it’s a good burger, but IDK if it’s worth the price or hype. Not a Damn Chance Burger is a wagyu cheeseburger collaboration between Professional Skateboarder Neen Williams and Michelin Starred Chef Phillip Frankland Lee. It’s in Austin, Chicago, NYC, DFW and now Denver.

• Domo Japanese Country Food (walkable-ish, 21 mins, 0.9 miles)

• Easy, one of the coolest places to eat in Denver. Amazing Zen-Garden and great food. Good for dinner or lunch.

Tacos

• Kike's Red Tacos (Highlands)

• A family-run place that is delicious with amazing options. If for some reason you’re in the highlands and need a great taco, this is the place.

• El Taco de Mexico (Santa Fe)

• Highly acclaimed with plenty of awards but it’s a low-key hole in the wall styled place Favorite among locals and food critics.

• La Loteria Taqueria (South Broadway)

• Some of my personal favorite tacos.

• Cabrón Carbón- Taquería & Galería (Broadway)

• Fantastic tacos and drinks with dope art on the walls

Vegan/Vegetarian

• Mora Pizza

• Vegan pizza that actually tastes great.

• City O City (walkable-ish, 19 mins 0.7 miles)

• I eat here at least once a week during the legislative session. There seitan wings are amazing with vegan ranch

• Watercourse

• I’m less hyped about it, but others love it.

• Bang Up to The Elephant

• Interesting fusion between Indo-Caribbean dishes that are all plant based in a vibrant place.

Black-owned businesses in honor of Juneteenth

• Spangalang (Five Points)

• Super lively vibes and good beers. A homage to the incredible neighborhood we find ourselves in, Denver's Historic Five Points. A spangalang is the bread and butter jazz cymbal rhythm. Black owned and usually helps put on the Juneteenth Festival in Five Points.

• Be A Good Person (RiNo)

• Local merch shop celebrating Black artists,great for unique souvenirs.

• The Shop at MATTER (walkable-ish, 1 mile)

• Design-focused bookstore featuring works by Black and allied creators.

• Welton Street Cafe (5 Points)

• A true Denver staple and delight. Family-run purveyor of Southern, soul, and Caribbean food. For over two decades, it had been a neighborhood fixture, dishing up fried chicken and catfish, meat pies (pates) and frybread, hush puppies and sweet potato pie with smiles and hugs.

• Whittier Cafe (Whittier)

• Denver’s only African espresso bar,perfect for a bold pick‑me‑up.

• The Jerk Pit Smokehouse (Highlands)

• Caribbean-inspired smokehouse with authentic jerk flavors. Fun fact, we had dinner here last week with Rep. Ilhan Omar on her first visit to Colorado. This was her first stop!

LGBTQ+ Friendly Bars in honor of Pride Month

• Tracks Nightclub (Upper RiNo)

• Massive venue and always super lively and fun.

• Tight End Sports Bar (Capitol Hill)
• X Bar (Capitol Hill)
• Hamburger Mary’s Denver (Capitol Hill)

• Drag Brunch on Sunday if you’re sticking around!

Dinners

• Bao Brewhouse (walkable)

• Larimer Square, very cool and unique atmosphere with good drinks and food. Highly recommend it if you have a group looking for dinner after the Welcome Reception.

• A5 Steakhouse (walkable)

• Sophisticated steakhouse & bar in a stylish setting serving steaks, seafood, salads & cocktails. It’s a smaller place than most steakhouses, but it’s a more hip vibe and the food is great.

• Rioja (walkable)

• Frequent spot for our date-nights. Longstanding favorite for inventive Mediterranean-inspired cuisine and polished service.

• Ajax Downtown (walkable)

• Stylish space with a patio, focusing on wood-fired cooking, craft beers, and cocktails. Originally in Aspen as an Apres Ski thing.

• La Diable Pozole y Mezcal (walkable-ish)

• Some of the best damn Pozole and Tacos you can get. I highly highly recommend it.

• Alma Fonda Fina (Highlands)

• Some of the best food I’ve ever had. Recent Michelin Star Winner. Its contemporary Mexican fare pays homage to his culturally rich heritage and decades of storied experiences.

• Temaki Den (RiNo)

• My favorite sushi spot in Denver and honestly some of the best I’ve had in the USA.

• Tavernetta (walkable-ish, 20 mins, 0.9 miles)

• Everyone loves this place. Personally, I think it’s alright. But maybe I’m missing something because everyone else can’t shut up about it. It brings la dolce vita style to Denver's bustling Union Station neighborhood with fresh handmade pastas.

• Cuba Cuba (walkable, 15 mins, 0.7 miles)

• Love this place. Large patio, amazing drinks, good food. Festive setting for traditional Cuban sandwiches, plus mojitos, caipirinhas & more from the bar.

• Work & Class

• It’s smaller and has community tables, so hard with larger groups. It serves homestyle Southern & Latin American cuisine, plus cocktails. From star chef Dana Rodriguez who has several places around town that are all great.

• Hop Alley (RiNo)

• Great and amazing Chinese place. Great for groups. If you go here, then you’re close to other places like the Rook Rooftop or Sorry Gorgeous or the breweries in RiNo.

• MAKfam (South Broadway)

• Some of the best Asian dishes I’ve ever had. Their service can be quick but they usually have a wait.

• Uchi Denver (RiNo)

• There’s other locations in other states, but folks swear by this sushi. Personally, I like Temaki Den and Sushi Den better.

• Domo Japanese Country Food (walkable-ish, 21 mins, 0.9 miles)

• Easy, one of the coolest places to eat in Denver. Amazing Zen-Garden and great food. Good for dinner or lunch.

Rooftops

The weather will be fantastic in the late-afternoons and evenings. Definitely get yourself to one of these if you get a chance.

• Note on rooftops-- the ones I list here are not the rowdy and crazy rooftops. There’s a bunch of those in Lower Downtown (LoDo) but they are for the younger, rowdy crowd IMO. These ones are better for a more mature crowd, conservations and good vibes.
• Stellar Jay - (walkable)

• On the rooftop of the new Populus Hotel, only 3 blocks away from the Hyatt Regency
• Very nice vibes and very beautiful. Definitely check it out if you can. Pricey, but worth it for food and beverages

• 54Thirty (walkable, across the street)

• Rooftop of Le Meridien. Great place to also see the sunset. Can get crowded and limited seats

• The Garden --(RiNo)

• 2nd floor of Death & Co. Small and low-key, but good vibes. Great cocktails.

• Sorry Gorgeous -- (Upper Rino)

• Great view of Denver from upper rino. Cool vibes.

• Rook Rooftop on top of the CatBird (Upper Rino)

• Very large rooftop, good for large groups if you’re in that area.

• El Five (Highlands)

• It can be hard to get reservations at the last minute to eat, but generally you can walk into the bar area or ask to be on the waitlist. Views of the skyline are great and the food is good too.

• Avanti (Highlands)

• Some people may suggest Avanti for food… it’s really for drinks, vibes and their patio/rooftop. Good for large groups.

Breweries

• Wynkoop Brewing Company (walkable-ish, 1 mile, 20 mins)

• Colorado's first brewpub offers craft beers and New American pub grub in a pool hall/bar setting. Was part of Denver’s rejuvenation
• It was owned by Hickenlooper who was Denver’s Mayor, Colorado Governor and now U.S. Senator.

• Westbound & Down (walkable-ish, 1 mile, 20 mins)

• Located in Diary Block which has a very cool vibe. The alley and the patio is a super cool place to hang.

• Wood Boss (walkable, 15 mins, 0.7 mins)

• Closer to the Grand Hyatt. They have 24 taps with 20 craft beers brewed in-house and a gluten-free option as well as root beer and kombucha.

• Ratio Beerworks (RiNo)

• Ratio focuses on meticulously crafted beer. The brewery’s portfolio includes a wide variety of traditional styles with a modern twist.

• Our Mutual Friend (RiNo)

• Varied beers brewed & served on draft at a hip facility with art-covered walls, a store & a patio.

• Odell Brewing (RiNo)

• Based out of Fort Collins but they have a brewhouse and taproom in RiNo. If you’re a fan of their beer, it's worth checking out.

• Spangalang Brewery (5 Points)

• Super lively vibes and good beers. A homage to the incredible neighborhood we find ourselves in, Denver's Historic Five Points. A spangalang is the bread and butter jazz cymbal rhythm. Black owned and usually helps put on the Juneteenth Festival in 5 Points.

• Denver Beer Company (South Platte River)

• Large patio and garage doors. Can be great afternoon and evening vibes

• Great Divide (walkable-ish, 1 mile, 20 mins)

• One of Denver’s oldest breweries. Has some interesting experimental beers every now and then

• Raices (Near Mile High)

• Latin American Brewery with some amazing pours and a great large place and patio.

Drinks

• Peak’s Lounge (walkable,  the Hyatt, 27th floor!)

• Fun fact: Harshy and I’s first date started off watching the sunset at Peak’s Lounge before we walked over for a meal at Larimer Square.
• LISTEN-- these drinks are unimpressive. You will not get a good cocktail here be warned and it will be pricey. But you’re here for the views, vibes and convenience. The beer list is even pretty meh. A cool gathering and hanging spot, but don’t expect to be impressed by the menu.

• Honor Farm + Hell or High Water Tiki Bar (walkable)

• The front of the house is a haunted-halloween themed bar year around. The upstairs… well it’s a Tiki Themed bar… with some surprises. Definitely worth stopping by if you’re into themed bars and fun and interesting drinks.

• Done Deal (walkable)

• In the lobby of the Republic Plaza -- it has some great Espresso Martini’s and “Teeny Martinis” which are half the size.

• Front Porch (walkable)

• Usually packed and active crowd. Has a fun gimmick -- if your name is on the calendar, you drink free! In hindsight, I should have asked them to put a few South Asian names during that week, but if you’re on it, that’s nice! Also on Wednesday they do a flip night - order a drink(s), flip a coin, if you guess correctly, it’s free.

• Union Lodge No. 1 (walkable)

• A speakeasy of sorts. Great drinks, heavy pours.

• Schoolyard Beer Garden (walkable, 19mins, 0.8 miles)

• A newly renovated school from the 1800s that now serves up amazing beer with a great patio and food. Good for large groups.

• Cruise Room (walkable-ish)

• The Cruise Room (Located within the Oxford Hotel), is one of the most fun cocktail bars we have in the city. One of Denver's longest-running bar. This iconic spot will transport you back to the 1930s with its dark and moody ambiance. The classic decor and red lighting make it truly unique.

• Dazzle (walkable)

• Vibes: live jazz music, usually has a cover

• Death & Co (RiNo)

• Good cocktails, good vibes. Like its New York flagship, though with a completely new and unique menu, Death & Co Denver offers warm hospitality, attentive, full-table service, knowledgeable staff, and uncompromising quality in all offerings within a grand lobby setting.

• Forget Me Not (Cherry Creek)

• This is the only bar I’ve put in from the Cherry Creek list, but that’s just because it’s definitely one of the “attorney” bars in Denver b/c of its location. The bars downtown can skew to tourists, younger and rowdy crowds. Forget Me Not is typically packed on the weekends but it’s an older and more mature crowd.

• My Brother’s Bar (South Platte River)

• Oldest bar in Denver. Laid back, good burgers, good beers.

Party Vibes

• Denver is notably not that much of a party city. You will probably find more people running around parks at dawn than at 1am around downtown. In fact, I can promise you that more people will be at Yoga at Red Rocks at 7am on a Saturday than around some parts of town. That being said, if you’re looking to dance or party, here’s what I recommend:
• RiNo

• Will typically be pretty lively and fun if the weather is nice. People will be hopping around on Larimer Street between 26th to 30th. Places like Federales, Beacon, Meadowlark, Larimer Lounge, American Bonded, Lustre Pearl, usually are popping and have a variety of music at each space. In between all these places are breweries, restaurants, dive bars, etc.  

• Lower Downtown (aka LoDo) (avoid-IMO)

Late Night

• Gaia Masala & Burger - Blake Street - open till 3am

• Fusion Indian food and an extensive menu. I mostly eat this after a night out so the results are skewed--- but I think the food slaps.
• Also has a location in Capitol Hill open till 3am

• Tikka & Grill 2 - Capitol Hill - open till 3am

• This is walking distance from my house, so I’m biased but they do an alright job.

• Samosa Shop - 1am

• Star Chef Dave Hadley’s place is located in Honor Farm. He is also  catering the SABA Foundation Benefit on Friday. His food always slaps. I highly recommend it.

• Little India - 24 hours

• Listen, it’s not good and I don’t recommend it. But it’s 24 hours so that’s something.

• I know I just listed 4 Indian places, and I partly did that to just point out how weird it is that Denver has multiple late-night indian food spots. All these only started late night in the last 1-3 years, so just in time!
• Cheba Hut

• Ironically, it started in Arizona but I think it’s very Colorado themed and now we have the most stores here. Great late night sandwiches too IMO