The brick-warehouse historic district between Union Station and 20th Street, the city's denser dining corridor with Tavernetta, Rioja, Tamayo and the Cooper Lounge stacked along Larimer and 17th.
Tavernetta in Denver is Bobby Stuckey and Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson's regional Italian dining room in Union Station's Crawford Hotel, the sister.
Signature: Hand-cut pastas, Wood-grilled lamb, Tagliatelle al ragu
Order: The tagliatelle al ragu and any whole-fish course.
Tip: Book the chef's counter for a view of the pasta station. The Italian-only wine list runs deep on Friuli and Piemonte growers.
Mercantile Dining and Provision in Denver is Alex Seidel's farm-to-table dining room and provisions counter in Union Station, sourced from his Fruition Farms.
Signature: Roasted Colorado trout, Pork loin with sweetbreads, Charcuterie board
Order: The Colorado trout from the live-fire hearth and the house-made charcuterie board.
Tip: The market counter sells the kitchen's bread, charcuterie and produce; the morning espresso bar is the city's best Union Station coffee.
Denver Food and Wine Festival runs a mid-September weekend with Colorado wine producers, chef demonstrations and a Larimer Square grand tasting event.
Tip: Tickets sell out by August for the Grand Tasting; the seminar series runs cheaper and pairs well with the Frasca Food and Wine evening.
Run For The Roses sits underground at the Dairy Block in LoDo. Enter the alley off Blake under the red Cocktails sign, ride one floor down to a jewel-toned room with a card-deck menu.
Tip: Tuesday through Sunday from 17:00, walk-in only. Closed Mondays. The seasonal classic-driven menu is presented as a deck of cards.
The Cruise Room inside The Oxford Hotel opened the day after Prohibition repeal in 1933. The Art Deco bar runs reddish-pink lighting under bas-relief panels of toasts from twelve countries.
Tip: Open evenings only, smart-casual room with classic martinis the standard order. Walk-ins fine on weeknights; weekends fill from 19:00.
The Cooper Lounge runs the mezzanine above Denver Union Station with 28-foot cast-iron windows, an Art Deco cocktail program from culinary director Kevin McCormick and small plates until 21:30.
Tip: Sunday through Wednesday closes at 22:00; Thursday through Saturday runs to midnight. Reserve via Tock for the window seats.