BEST Brunch Spots In Denver For Food Lovers In 2024
Amazing Brunch Around Denver
I’ve lived in Denver, Colorado for over 13 years and spent that time eating my way through the city, and I believe this list showcases the absolute best brunch in Denver.
For me, brunch is a meal that combines breakfast and lunch items making them available for the whole afternoon. Some restaurants offer brunch only on the weekends, and others every day.
In this article, I review my favorite brunch spots in the Mile High City. Please note, that I have eaten at every one of these restaurants and think they are the absolute best.
1. Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox
Once a prominent 1900s brothel, Ophelia’s turned into an eclectic restaurant and music venue serving one of the most lively brunches in Denver. Walking into Ophelia’s feels like an event on its own with peepshow themed decor, fanciful lighting, and a balcony that opens to their center stage.
I LOVE Chicken and Waffles and Ophelia’s created a brilliant version where the ultra crispy chicken thigh and buttermilk waffle soaked up the apple butter and harissa honey for a life changing savory/sweet duo. The harissa honey elevated the dish with a unique flare that added another layer to the whole flavor profile.
Because it was so tempting, I decided on the Chicken Biscuits and Gravy, a buttermilk biscuit topped with a fried chicken thigh, sunny side egg, and smothered with chorizo gravy. Is your mouth drooling yet? This is by far one of the BEST dishes I’ve ever eaten.
The creole seasoned chicken crunched nicely while the chorizo gravy worked its magic with the runny egg yolk creating a sauce of the gods that covered everything in creamy bliss.
Ophelia’s is perfect for every type of person and ideal for a group brunch wanting boozy, bottomless mimosas, but expect a louder atmosphere with a distinct party vibe to create the perfect weekend.
Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox 1215 20th St, Denver, CO 80202
2. Duo
Partnering with Colorado farmers, Duo is a farm to table restaurant with seasonally changing menus that highlight the produce and ingredients. Nestled on Zuni Street on the west side of I25 in the LoHi neighborhood, walking into Duo felt like a small neighborhood restaurant with enough seating to feel popular but small enough to feel like Denver’s best kept secret.
French toast is a brunch staple, and I can confidently say that Duo’s Bananas Foster French Toast is my favorite French Toast in Denver.
The first bites surprised me with a strong hit of cinnamon that was quickly mellowed out by the creamy rich sauces. By utilizing banana bread, each bite sang with deliciousness that kept my taste buds interested without fatigue.
The final round brought the Fried Chicken Sandwich to the table, leaving me immensely happy as being one of the best chicken sandwiches I’ve ever tried. They used a chicken thigh in place of the more common breast to give extra flavor in all the right places.
The cole slaw, pimento cheese, and pickled jalapeños brought their own party to the sandwich with hits of acid, spice, and creaminess. Every bite rattled my brain with an intense crunch leaving a dopy smile on my face as I chomped down on each hefty bite.
The coup de grace came from the sunny side egg that added enough character to make this an epic sandwich.
Duo 2413 W 32nd Ave, Denver, CO 80211
3. Super Star Asian Cuisine
I’ve frequented Super Star Asian Cuisine for years for the best dim sum in Denver. Traditionally, dim sum falls only on weekends becoming the Chinese equivalent of typical brunch fare.
Most Chinese restaurants that serve dim sum in Denver stick to the weekend tradition, but Super Star serves these freshly steamed treats every afternoon.
I always go for a few important staples: Har Gow, Sui Mai, and BBQ Pork Buns.
The Har Gow are shrimp dumplings wrapped in rice paper and steamed to delicious perfection, resulting in a delicate texture with a beautifully subtle flavor. I get so excited about these dumplings that I usually order an extra basket so I can suck these down all by myself. No sharing!
The Sui Mai are pork and shrimp dumplings usually mixed with mushrooms or other fillers then put in a wrapper and steamed. These dumplings burst with juice on the first bite, so I restrain myself from shoving the whole thing in my mouth. The pork and shrimp make a delicious combo that always tempts me to order more.
First timers to Super Star’s dim sum may be a little intimidated by the different approach to ordering food and all the unique dishes available, but I say lean into the adventure and try a few new foods.
Super Star Asian Cuisine 2200 W Alameda Ave, Denver, CO 80223
4. Bodega
Somehow, the loud 90s hip hop and the graffiti style artwork pushed me into the eating mood. Practically a millennial paradise, Bodega offers amazing breakfast and lunch sandwiches in a laid back atmosphere that serves food way too amazing for a fast casual restaurant.
The Double Cheeseburger came to the table in pristine style like it was cut right out of a food magazine. The beautiful crust on double smashed patties crunched nicely and the caramelized onions added a nice hint of needed sweet contrast to bring the whole burger together. In my opinion, this is probably one of the best burgers in Denver.
The Basic became one of my favorite sandwiches and an ultimate brunch contender. Eggs are scrambled with chunks of bacon, then flopped onto a bun sized, crispy hash brown and served on a poppyseed Kaiser roll.
A classic NYC bodega sandwich taken to delectable perfection, the Basic tasted like an expertly curated breakfast but pieced together on a single, hand held bun. If you are hung over from a night out, then the Basic is the only suitable cure.
For me, Bodega is more than just breakfast sandwiches and I consider it to be one of the best places in Denver for lunch. No matter when you go, Bodega is always a great choice.
Bodega 2651 W 38th Ave, Denver, CO 80211
5. Sassafras American Eatery
For a Southern kick, Sassafras cooks up a delicious brunch available every day of the week. I stumbled upon Sassafras ten years ago when it was still located at the historic Dunwoody House, but has since moved to a roomier location in the Highlands.
The house turned restaurant feels cozy and quaint with patterned cloth napkins, dark wood floors, and eclectic salt and pepper shakers that change from table to table. From the first bite, I was hooked and I consider Sassafras my absolute favorite restaurant in Denver.
I don’t care what time you start eating at Sassafrass, the Beignets are a favorite, fried to order, dusted with powdered sugar, and served with triple berry jam.
For today’s visit, the Country Fried Steak felt like the right move. A large portion of ribeye cap, batter, and deep fried to golden brown perfection and smothered with duck fat gravy. I’ve eaten my fair share of country fried steaks, but Sassafrass elevates theirs to a whole new level.
The steak is uber tender and actually cooked to medium doneness, so inside and out, the whole steak tastes a step above the traditional version. Paired with the collard greens, jalapeño cornbread, and potato casserole, my wife and I plowed through the hefty serving but still left plenty for boxed up leftovers.
For our other entree, we decided on the Chicken Pimento Biscuit, which hit all the levels I needed for this morning’s meal. I enjoyed the crispiness of the chicken thighs and how the buttermilk biscuit soaked up all that delicious duck fat gravy.
The pimento cheese surprised me, adding a delicious peppery undertone to every bite and the slices of garlic dill pickle added a touch of acid to help offset all the heavier components. A completely phenomenal dish that I could easily order every time I visit.
Sassafras American Eatery 3927 W 32nd Ave, Denver, CO 80212
6. Bar Dough
An Italian restaurant gone rogue, Bar Dough is a Highlands neighborhood favorite serving elevated Italian cuisine and an unforgettable weekend brunch.
These aren’t your casual Biscuits and Gravy you find at the corner diner. No, these herb biscuits with sausage gravy tasted heavy from a plethora of herbs and spices, invigorating my palate to only keep eating. The fried egg, although a usual basic brunch component, came perfectly fried sunny side with a nice crispy bottom with golden edges.
My wife and I took bites of the Dutch Baby throughout the meal, giving us a sweet break from the heavy hitting entrees. The slices of bruleed banana and peanut butter mousse tasted like Nutter Butter cookies blended with a banana smoothie.
Unexpectedly, my favorite part of the meal came from our side of Hash Browns, mimicking the fast-food breakfast staple in the best possible way. These hash browns shattered with a delicate crunch from the freshly fried exterior but gave way to a soft fluffy interior. Tempted to order more, I remained composed and saved my stomach from total overload.
Bar Dough 2227 W 32nd Ave, Denver, CO 80211
7. Butcher Block Cafe – Best Cheap Brunch In Denver
If you are looking for the classic, hole in the wall diner experience, The Butcher Block Cafe serves up traditional American breakfast and lunch options all day with just about everything on the menu priced under $12.
The Chicken Fried Steak came crispy, smothered in gravy with eggs over easy and perfectly caramelized hash browns. Comfort food at its finest, I can’t imagine anything more beautiful than this meal right now.
I enjoyed the crunch of the chicken fried steak with elaborate flavors melting together with the bacon infused country gravy. The popped egg yolks added more decadence and the hash browns helped bind everything together. A pure brunch bliss that’s always available and always satisfying.
If you are new to Colorado, then trying green chile is a must. I chose the Smothered Breakfast Burrito which came stuffed with eggs, hash browns, bacon, and cheese, all smothered with green chili.
So much bacon! A fork and knife were a must, and I could barely cut through the burrito with a thick layer of crispy bacon fortifying the center. The burrito tasted phenomenal with all the fillings mixing nicely with the slightly spicy green chili.
Butcher Block Cafe 1701 38th St, Denver, CO 80216
8. Rosenberg’s Bagels – Best Bagels In Denver
Bagels, to me, remain one of the quintessential brunch foods, creating the ability to make sandwiches or to be simply enjoyed with cream cheese on the go. At Rosenberg’s Bagels, they make the closest thing to New York style bagels you can find outside NYC, satisfying the cravings of any home sick New Yorker looking for that classic delicatessen fix.
If you need more convincing, the bagels gained national recognition by ranking on Food And Wine’s list of The Best Bagels In America, making it the de facto spot for bagels in Denver.
I started with the Ruben made from house cured corned beef, melted Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, Russian dressing served on a pumpernickel bagel. Oh my goodness. Yes, these flavors hit home, transporting me back to my deli days as a teenager.
The house cured corned beef stole the show with thicker than usual slices that tasted like some of the best corned beef I’ve ever eaten. I enjoyed the tangy sauerkraut with the wonderfully melty Swiss cheese. A classic Ruben done right with a thick pumpernickel bagel to bring everything together.
We also ordered the Heart Attack, an everything bagel stuffed with a killer amount of bacon, eggs, ham, cheddar, and American cheese. Unhinging my jaw, I took a bite and enjoyed the mouthful of meat with an uncontrollable smile (as one should) growing across my face.
Despite the layer meat approach, I still noticed the nuances from every layer of the bagel. From the smokiness of the bacon to the herby sausage, everything felt right at home.
Rosenberg’s Bagels 725 E 26th Ave, Denver, CO 80205
9. Rooted Craft American Kitchen – Best Steak And Eggs In Denver
My wife and I happened to visit Rooted Craft American Kitchen on probably the most beautiful Saturday afternoon of the whole summer with the giant sliding windows pulled all the way up as a gentle breeze blew across the dining room, allowing us to enjoy a meal to the fullest extent.
The Steak And Eggs became my instant favorite with a perfectly grilled steak, two eggs over easy topped with a truffle tomatillo salsa sitting on two extra crispy hash browns.
ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS.
The proteins came expertly cooked but the show-stopper was the salsa. Savory, acidic, and immensely addictive, I couldn’t imagine a better topping. The salsa worked so well with the crunchy hash browns that I was tempted to ask for more.
Although they may look ordinary, the Soufflé Pancakes brought a lightyet unctuous tone to the brunch table. The super fluffy pancakes tasted phenomenal with the candied walnuts and fresh cuts of banana.
I’m guessing the sourdough gave the pancakes an irresistible characteristic that kept my fork busy cutting off bite after bite making me almost forget the rest of the meal!
Although I wish I could dive into more details about their other cocktails or their outstanding French Toast, you will have to visit and taste everything yourself!
Rooted Craft American Kitchen 3940 W 32nd Ave, Denver, CO 80212
You Should Be Brunching In Denver
From delectable waffles to Chinese dim sum, these restaurants serve amazing brunch options all around Denver. Yes, you can drink yourself into an afternoon stupor, but the best brunch in Denver consists of more than the basic benedict.
From my thirteen years living in Denver, I ate my fair share of delicious brunches but this list consists of my absolute favorites. No matter the time of year or if you want a classic Sunday Brunch or a weekday fix, amazing food awaits you in Denver, Colorado.
Chris Kretzer has traveled the world visiting over 35 countries and eating his way through every city. With his wife Tiarra, they explore different food cultures and create food guides, podcasts, and travel articles helping everyone experience the world through food.