Welcome to the Eater 38, your guide to experiencing the dynamic and innovative food scene in Denver. This updated list is your key to unlocking the restaurants that truly represent Denver’s growth as a culinary destination. Since 2012, we’ve witnessed Denver transform from a city once overlooked into a vibrant hub for food lovers, earning national recognition for its energetic and inventive spirit. Denver’s culinary community is constantly evolving, and this guide is designed to keep you in the loop with what’s currently defining and redefining the dining experience here.
This curated selection spans a diverse range of cuisines, price points, and neighborhoods, focusing on the essential establishments that form the backbone of Denver’s food landscape. We highlight both long-standing cornerstones and exciting new arrivals that are pushing the boundaries of Denver’s culinary horizons. It’s important to note that this isn’t an exhaustive list – the Denver food scene is simply too rich and varied to capture every great spot. Restaurants may rotate in and out of the Eater 38, reflecting the ever-changing nature of the city’s dining scene. Their temporary absence doesn’t diminish their importance or preclude their future return.
This guide is geographically organized from north to south, occasionally including notable restaurants in Boulder. While we acknowledge and appreciate the mobile food scene, this list focuses on restaurants with fixed addresses and does not include food trucks or pop-up vendors. For those interested in Denver’s bar scene or bakeries, we have separate guides available. Furthermore, restaurants featured on the Eater Denver Heatmap, which highlights the newest and most noteworthy dining spots, are not included here. To explore the latest culinary arrivals, please refer to the Heatmap. For the most up-to-date dining insights and news, we encourage you to subscribe to Eater Denver’s newsletter.
Eater maps are editorially curated to reflect a wide spectrum of neighborhoods, cuisines, and price ranges, ensuring there’s something for every palate and budget. Learn more about our editorial process to understand how we select and update these recommendations. Please note that if you make a purchase or reservation through an Eater link, Vox Media may receive a commission. For further details, please consult our ethics policy.
