Brunch is more than just a meal, it’s a social activity that builds on that conventional nutritional wisdom and turns it into an experience that’s good for the soul,too. It’s a time to gather with friends or family, linger through the late morning hours into the early afternoon, and let the conversation and bottomless mimosas flow.
Start with a shared plate, maybe something sweet like powdered sugar–dusted beignets or something savory like a flight of glazed bacon. Next move on to a main course that satisfies, whether it’s fluffy omelets, loaded avocado toast, or fried chicken and waffles drenched in a housemade syrup. With those dishes in mind, here are 30 great spots around Denver and Boulder where brunch is done right.
Safta’s Israeli Brunch Buffet
Inside The Source Hotel and Market Hall in RiNo, Safta rolls out an impressive Israeli brunch spread each Saturday and Sunday. Create your own bagel and lox combination, whether it’s a traditional mix of smoked salmon, dill, and capers or a riff like whitefish, whipped feta and cucumber. The brunch ($50 per person) also includes dishes like babaganoush, charred peppers with feta, roasted lamb shoulder, latkes, and cast iron skillets of shashouka bubbling in tomato-red pepper sauce. The pastry table is well stocked, too, with treats like apricot turmeric scones. 3330 Brighton Blvd. #201, Denver, eatwithsafta.com
La Fillette’s Delightful French-inspired Brunch
Start brunch off right at La Fillette by ordering a couple of Röstis for the table. These crispy fried hash potatoes come with a rich Gruyère fondue. From there, go sweet with the decadent chocolate croissant French toast, or keep heading down the savory route with something like a wedge of Quiche Lorraine baked with leeks and ham.
This charming French-inspired bakery in the Mayfair neighborhood is as much about what you take home as what you eat in. With that in mind, leave with a few pastries like the Kouign-Amann (a carmelized croissant) or a flavor-of-the-month pop tart to make your at home breakfasts feel more café worthy. 6217 E. 14th Ave., Denver, lafillettebakery.com
La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal’s Chilaquiles and Concha French Toast
Chef Jose Avila’s Michelin Bib Gourmand-recognized pozole restaurant serves brunch Thursday through Saturday. In addition to the hearty Mexican stews, brunch options at La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal include concha French Toast and chilaquiles that the Michelin Guide praises as “worth an early wake-up call.” Tacos, omelets and more are on the brunch menu, too. Wash it all down with a Bloody Mario (a mezcal Bloody Mary) or a Michelada with a chicharron rim. 2233 Larimer St., Denver, ladiabladenver.com
River and Woods’ Leveled-Up Comfort Classics
Set in a miner’s cabin on the east end of Pearl Street, River and Woods is known for its comfort food. On the weekend brunch menu that translates to dishes like baked-to-order pancakes drizzled in bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup, giant breakfast burritos with Colorado green chili, and steak and eggs starring Snake River Farms wagyu. Get a taste for what’s in season with the Boulder County Farmers Market plate that showcases the greens, veggies, roots and fruit growing at local farms with a supporting cast of goat cheese, honey poppyseed vinaigrette and croutons made from chickpea fries. 2328 Pearl St., Boulder, riverandwoodsboulder.com
Tamayo’s Bottomless Brunch
On Larimer Square, Richard Sandoval’s modern Mexican restaurant Tamayo serves up a bottomless brunch every Saturday and Sunday. Guests are treated to a steady parade of dishes brought right to the table. Think bright, citrusy mahi-mahi, crispy taquitos, hearty huevos rancheros, and French toast-inspired churros.
While many brunch spots offer bottomless mimosas, Tamayo sets itself apart with an extra perk for tequila lovers in the form of unlimited Margaritas or Blood Marias. Of course, classic brunch cocktails like zesty Bloody Marys and Mimosas are also available. Bottomless brunch is $55 per person, or $40 without alcohol. 1400 Larimer St., Denver, tamayodenver.com
The Post’s Chicken-Centric Brunch Menu
How does a place known for crispy and juicy fried chicken do brunch? There isn’t a singular answer: In addition to breaking eggs for breakfast classics, The Post dishes up fried chicken biscuits, fried chicken huevos rancheros, chicken and waffles drizzled with a peppery syrup, buttermilk breaded “thigh fries” and more.
Start the feast with an order of powdered sugar donuts with jam, deviled eggs or slabs of spicy honey-glazed bacon. For a brunchable coffee cocktail, try the Espresso Martini that departs with the norm with tequila and a cherry liqueur, which you can get as a bottomless option at the Boulder location. The Post has five locations in Lafayette, Longmont, Denver, Estes Park, and Boulder. thepostcolorado.com
The Bindery’s Crowd-Please Dutch Babies
Beet-cured salmon latkes, duck hash, build-your-own omelets and more are served Tuesday through Sunday at The Bindery. But when brunch rolls around on the weekends, this light-filled Highlands hotspot puts its puffy Dutch baby pancake on the menu and, based on how many come flying out of the kitchen, it’s a clear winner with the brunch crowd. Options include a sweet one with vanilla bean and rum chantilly or a savory one with jack cheese, River Bear ham and mustard gelato. 1817 Central St., Denver, thebinderydenver.com
Federales’ Mexican Brunch Dishes
No need to set an early alarm for Federales, an energetic RiNo bar and restaurant. It serves brunch until 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. So roll on in when you’re ready for thick cut pork belly with a maple glaze, flan French toast with a mezcal anglaise, or a chorizo breakfast torta. In addition to the brunch-centric dishes, Federales’ full menu is also available, so tacos, fajitas and the like are all options on the table, too, ready to pair with flavored margaritas. 2901 Larimer St., Denver, federalesdenver.com
Corsica’s Leisurely Brunch
For a brunch with a convivial happy hour vibe, enjoy a leisurely meal at Corsica, which is named after a French island. The RiNo restaurant is known for its deep wine list, and rustic French dishes as well as plates influenced by Spain and Mediterranean cuisine. Bring enough friends to share the citrusy Morning Glory punch bowl (gin, elderflower, barcava, lemon, and orange blossom). The move here is to fill the table with a bunch of delectable dishes to pass around, like fritelli (warm donuts with lemon creme fraiche), beef bavette, and a gemelli cacio e pepe. 2801 Walnut St Suite 100, Denver, corsicawinebar.com
Snooze, a Denver Classic Known for Pancakes and More
Denver-born breakfast chain Snooze has long appeased brunch lovers with fan favorites like pineapple upside-down pancakes and strawberry shortcake stacks. But this summer, loyal Snoozers will spot some new arrivals on the menu. Additions include a creamy almond butter coconut porridge and a burrata toast, layered with balsamic date spread, basil pesto, roasted tomatoes, and a drizzle of Mike’s Hot Honey. With 14 locations across Colorado, Snooze remains a weekend hotspot, but you can dodge the lines by brunching during the week. Multiple locations, snoozeeatery.com
Luciles’ New Orleans-Style Breakfast Dishes
Lucile’s is known for bringing a taste of the Big Easy to Colorado. The Creole cafe, which has seven locations around the state from Fort Collins to Littleton, serves puffy beignets as well as New Orleans classics like pain perdu with a buttery praline syrup, shrimp and grits with andouille sausage and a Cajun breakfast plated with red beans, poached eggs, hollandaise, grits or potatoes and a buttermilk biscuit. Bartenders entrusted with a secret family recipe make a mean Bloody Mary that’s garnished with a skewer of pickled okra, shrimp, and an olive. Multiple locations, luciles.com
Le French’s Pastries and French Brunch Dishes
Level up your weekend with a brunch at Le French, where you can enjoy a delicious treat like a Crepe Suzette made with a citrus marmalade, mascarpone chantilly and a splash of Grand Marnier. The menu also features beloved French staples such as French onion soup and the Croque Monsieur, a sandwich layered with ham, cheese, and rich béchamel sauce. Bring home treats like eclairs, an espresso macaron, or a berry tarte.
Founded by Senegalese-French sisters Aminata and Rougui Dia, Le French has locations in the Denver Tech Center and at the 9+CO development off of Colorado Boulevard and 9th Avenue. 4901 S. Newport St., Denver (Belleview Station), and 846 Albion St., Denver (9+CO), lefrenchdenver.com
Señor Bear’s Latin Breakfast Hits
Toast to the weekend with a bottomless Aperol spritz, seasonal margarita flight, or a cold brew martini at Señor Bear’s vibey brunch. Breakfast dishes at this cheery Latin restaurant in Highland run the gamut from Cachapas (Venezuelan corn cakes), breakfast empanadas, and chilaquiles, to avocado toast on a grilled sourdough, housemade guac, and queso fundido with chorizo. 3301 Tejon St., Denver, senorbeardenver.com
Fox and The Hen’s Fancy Toasts and More
If breakfast is your favorite meal of the day, you’re probably already familiar with Fox and The Hen, where the cheerful decor is guaranteed to start your morning right. This all-day brunch spot (open daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.) is led by chef Carrie Baird, whose pork green chile huevos rancheros famously beat Bobby Flay on the Food Network competition show and are available for Denverites to devour. The menu also features a playful “fancy toast” section, with options like a classic tuna melt or a sweet-and-savory combo of almond butter and the daily jam, plus granola and banana slices on griddled sourdough. Sip your way through a mimosa flight featuring unique combinations like cucumber-kiwi, lavender-lemon, beet-orange, and a rotating seasonal flavor. 2257 W. 32nd Ave., Denver, foxandthehen.com
Ototo’s Japanese Dishes and Boozy Brunch Drinks
Your Sunday gameplan: Shop the South Pearl Street Farmers Market early and then settle in for a brunch at Ototo, a sunlit restaurant right in the middle of the vendors. Owned by Toshi and Yasu Kizaki’s Den Corner Restaurants, the parent company for Sushi Den and Izakaya Den, this Platt Park establishment serves a Japanese brunch, but only once a week. Order sashimi or rolls from the raw bar or go with something like karaage chicken and matcha waffles, French toast with Japanese milk bread drizzled in a bright yuzu syrup. Drinks include sake sangria or a Bloody Mary made with shochu and garnished with a shishito pepper. 1501 S. Pearl St., Denver, ototoden.com
Steubens’ Comfort Brunch Dishes
Uptown’s beloved upscale diner does a weekend brunch for those who wake up hungry. On the menu you’ll find biscuits and gravy, chicken and waffles, steak and eggs, and classic lobster rolls that are either mayo-dressed or drenched in warm butter. Steubens’ pull-apart monkey bread is also a hit, baked with the diner’s scratchmade biscuits and brown sugar and rotates with the seasons. 523 E. 17th Ave., Denver, steubens.com
Zorbas’ All-Day Breakfast
Brunch any time of the day at Zorba’s, a Congress Park diner where the all-day breakfast menu means you can dig into fluffy stacks of buttermilk pancakes or a green chile-smothered burrito whenever the craving hits. Prefer something with a Mediterranean twist? Try a gyro omelette packed with onions, green peppers, and feta. Start your meal, or finish it off, with a few shareable Greek bites like spicy feta with warm pita, hummus, or dolmathes, which are grape leaves stuffed with fragrant spiced rice. 2626 E. 12th Ave., Denver, chefzorbas.com
Champagne Tiger’s Sunday Drag Brunch
Come on a Sunday when Champagne Tiger hosts a dazzling Drag Brunch (10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.), featuring some of the city’s most vivacious performers. Taking over the iconic Googie-style building on Colfax Avenue that once housed Tom’s Diner, Champagne Tiger turns brunch into a celebration. It’s part party (seasonal jello shots!) and part bougie indulgence (do you want caviar bumps with your oysters?) The playful menu includes the Caviar Ashtray, which features tater tots with crème fraîche on a brand new, keepsake “ashtray.” Also order coffee cake topped with sweet orange icing, alongside French-leaning dishes like a buttery Quiche Lorraine. 601 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, champagnetiger.com
HashTAG’s Boozy Brunch
If brunch isn’t brunch without a cocktail, HashTAG has you covered with its drinks menu that includes Colorado-style Bloody Marys with a green chile kick, maple bacon Old Fashioneds, and big-batch brunch punch made for sharing. Specializing in a.m. fare, the menu has something for every palate, such as giant cinnamon rolls served hot in cast iron, stacked breakfast sandwiches with piles of hashbrowns, benedicts, omelets, hot cakes, and more.
Owned by chef Troy Guard, this breakfast hot spot has three Colorado locations in Central Park, Highlands Ranch, and a new downtown Denver restaurant featuring a rooftop, lunch menu, and happy hour. Multiple locations, hashtag-restaurant.com
Odie B’s Craveable Breakfast Sandwiches
Odie B’s breakfast sandwiches (with respectable vegan options available) pretty much have a separate fan club at this point. Formerly known as Bodega, Odie B’s steadily gained its fandom at its original location in Sunnyside, where hip hop thumps and regulars pop in for hulking sandwiches like The Boujee, made with herby cheese scrambled eggs, house greens, muhammara and za’atar on focaccia and an option to add bacon, pork belly or impossible sausage.
Brunchy drinks include horchata, which you can order boozy as a Horchata White Russian, and a Tang or Kool-Aid mimosa. Earlier this year, Odie B’s opened a second location in the Novel RiNo building. 2651 W. 38th Ave., Denver and 1350 40th St., Suite 180, Denver, odie-bs.com
Denver Biscuit Co’s Biscuit Sandwiches
Biscuits are the name of the breakfast game here. The lineup features The Lola, a sweet-and-savory sammy with honey-buttered biscuits cradling buttermilk fried chicken and bacon with syrup. Or, go for the Cubano, a garlic butter grilled biscuit holding together pulled pork, ham, swiss cheese and fixings. Pot pies, cinnamon rolls, and strawberry shortcake are also menu hits. Multiple locations; theatomiccowboy.com/denbisco
Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse’s Brunch in Beautiful Setting
A gift from Boulder’s sister city, Dushanbe, Tajikistan, the tea house stands as an artistic symbol of international friendship. Its hand-carved, hand-painted ceilings, and colorful ceramic panels create a stunning visual dining experience, making it the most unique and beautiful place in town to enjoy brunch. Tea traditions spill over into the brunch menu with chai pancakes and the Lapsang Souchong Benedict, with a poached egg, sausage, and green tea hollandaise. 1770 13th St., Boulder, boulderteahouse.com
Leaf Vegetarian’s Plant-Based Breakfast Dishes
With a gorgeous, light-filled bibliophilic design, Leaf Vegetarian makes over breakfast classics with a plant-based twist. Flaky biscuits are drenched in savory rosemary-mushroom gravy, smothered burritos come packed with tofu and rich cashew queso, and the hearty brunch burger features a house-made patty of walnut, quinoa, and portobello mushrooms. Much of the organic produce, herbs, and even free-range eggs come straight from its sister property, Three Leaf Farm in Lafayette, grounding every dish in fresh, local flavor. 1710 Pearl St., Boulder, leafvegetarianrestaurant.com
Spruce Farm & Fish’s Historic Ambiance
While nearly every hotel in town offers a brunch, Spruce Farm & Fish, tucked inside the historic Hotel Boulderado, is a standout and draws in-the-know locals in addition to vacationers. The inviting ambiance is part of the charm: arched windows, replica stained-glass panels, original brick walls in the porch room, warm lighting, and century-old floor tiles. Standout menu items include Quiche du Jour, bananas foster waffles topped with rum-sautéed banana sauce and a crown of whipped cream, plus a variety of omelettes and scrambles. 2115 13th St., Boulder, spruceboulderado.com
Bacon House Social’s Bacon-Focused Menu
Just like the name promises, the brunch menu prominently favors bacon. Go hog wild with a signature bacon flight that showcases a half dozen flavors such as barbecue, French toast, chile lime. Regulars can stay on top of what’s new with the rotating bacon of the month. Garden omelets, bacon shrimp and grits, chocolate chip pancakes with a bacon crumble, hearty breakfast sandwiches, and more also highlight the menu. Don’t miss the Bloody Marys, with some featuring bacon-infused vodka. Multiple locations, baconsocialhouse.com
Sassafras’ Southern-Style Eats
Southern-style eats at Sassafras include beignets served with a triple berry jam, po’ boys (including a breakfast one with eggs and sausage gravy), and a green tomato benedict. This is another must-visit spot for Bloody Mary enthusiasts, as there’s nine on the menu including the house favorite built with garlic dill-infused vodka, roasted red peppers, Cajun spice and housemade hot sauce. 3927 W. 32nd Ave., Denver, sassafrasamericaneatery.com
Church & Union’s Over-the-Top Breakfasts
We’d never suggest visiting a brunch spot solely for an Instagram photo, but this eye-catching spot definitely deserves a few snaps. The ceiling features 13,500 words from Sun Tzu’s “Art of War” patiently handpainted on the ceiling. The menu is equally as interesting: The Holy $h!t Breakfast requires a 2 person minimum and is piled with fried chicken, eggs, bacon, housemade donuts, biscuits and homemade jam and comes with either a Mimosa or Bloody Mary. Shrimp and grits, brioche French toast with whipped maple mascarpone, and the croissant breakfast sandwich are other favorites. 1433 17th St., Denver, churchandunion.com
Quality Italian’s Bottomless Bellini Brunch
During weekend brunch at Quality Italian (10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays) in Cherry Creek, a Bellini cart makes the rounds, stocked with chilled Prosecco and a lineup of housemade juices and purées such as white peach, cucumber lime, grapefruit, and pomegranate. For $20, brunch-goers can enjoy bottomless Bellinis mixed tableside. The brunch menu skews savory and substantial, featuring standout dishes like the massive, shareable chicken parm pizza, spicy lobster rigatoni alla vodka, and a hearty hanger steak and eggs. 241 Columbine St., Denver, qualityitaliandenver.com
Stowaway Kitchen’s Globally Influenced Brunch Dishes
Open, airy and inviting, Stowaway Kitchen has been a staple of the RiNo neighborhood since 2015. Dishes at the daytime cafe are influenced by a “trove of recipes collected from various nooks and crannies of the world.” For example, the Oyako-Don, a Japanese bowl with chicken, onion, and soft-scrambled egg cooked in broth. Other delightful dishes include seasonal Cherry Panzanella Salad, Cardamom Apricot Waffles, and fresh-baked goodies. 2528 Walnut St., stowawaydenver.com
Urban Egg, a Denver Classic
Urban Egg got its start in Colorado back in 2012, and the daytime restaurant is preparing to open its third spot near Union Station this summer. Signature dishes include thick-sliced Billion $$$ Bourbon Bacon with a sweet and spiced bourbon glaze. There’s also fancy pancakes like the Hawaiian with pineapple and toasted coconut, strawberry cheesecake, and blueberry streusel. Top off the meal with the Maui Waui Mimosa with pineapple-infused vodka. Multiple locations, urbanegg.com
