The suburbs can get a bad rap for being havens of chain restaurants and homogeneity. But Littleton is so much more, and home to travel-worthy independent and family-owned eateries.
Littleton resides roughly 20 minutes southwest of Denver, bordered by Englewood, Centennial, and Highlands Ranch. It started as an agricultural community in the 1870s with a flour mill and a rail depot.
The suburb is also my hometown, and I’ve been lucky enough to see the restaurant scene come to fruition over the past few years. Now we share that bounty with readers, exploring the city in three parts. First up, the Historic Downtown Littleton district, lovingly known as Old Town.
The whole historic neighborhood spans just a few blocks, starting when you cross Santa Fe Drive from Bowles Avenue. Loop around to the right and it becomes Alamo Street before becoming the two-way Littleton Boulevard once you cross Court Street. Main Street (a one way street heading west) runs parallel to Alamo. The South Platte River runs parallel to Santa Fe Drive, surrounded by green space and peppered with restaurants and residences.
While this isn’t a comprehensive list, these are some of my family’s favorite places in the area to eat around Old Town. Let us know if you have other suggestions, we are always looking for great places to eat at.
Tacos and Margaritas at Cencalli Taqueria
The word cencalli means “family” in Nahuatl, the ancient language of the Aztecs, and that’s the vibe husband and wife team Andres Venalonzo and Zoe Romero embrace at their taqueria. Romero graduated with a degree in tourism resource management from the University of Guanajuato and came to Colorado to work at the Little Nell in Aspen. At the time Venalonzo managed and opened restaurants for Chipotle.
For guests, that translates into a well-run operation that offers a top-notch experience. Highlights include authentic street tacos such as quesabirria, al pastor, carnitas, and tacos dorados among the choices (Taco plates run $16.99). The Margarita menu (starting at $13) is just as varied, and favorites include ginger, and cantaloupe. Cancalli also has an avocado version of the drink and the award-winning Belladonna Coconut Lavender. 2389 Main St., Littleton cencallitaqueria.com
Fuel Up at DIRT Coffee
There’s nothing run-of-the-mill about the coffee shop DIRT (Divergent Inclusive Representation Transforms). For starters, it offers job training and meaningful, equitable employment opportunities to neurodivergent folks. Here customers can order coffee made with Huckleberry Roasters, a local farm-to-cup operation.
Menu offerings include the standard espresso drinks, plus teas, and other drinks featuring house-made syrups. The food menu includes panini, loaded oatmeal, a variety of pastries, and tasty breakfast burritos stuffed with potatoes, eggs, green chile, and cheese. 5767 S. Rapp St., Littleton, dirtcoffee.org
History With Every Meal at Cafe Terracotta
Charles Louthan was an early Littleton resident who helped build Fort Logan, Loretto Heights College, many local homes, and eventually became mayor. Now his former family home sports a darling eatery, which settled wonderfully into the 1902 Queen Anne house almost 20 years ago.
Over the years Cafe Terracotta remains a local go-to for weekend brunch, lunch, and dinner. From the open kitchen comes casual American classics including a BLT ($17) and Steak and Frites ($22). Dinners here prove more upscale with entrees such as Wild Mushroom Risotto ($27) or Scallops ($42). For brunch, best enjoyed on the patio if possible, the menu ranges from a classic Croque Madame ($16) to hearty Huevos Rancheros ($16). 5649 S. Curtice St., Littleton, cafe-terracotta.com
Bike, Music, and Eat at Platte River Bar & Grill
For decades the Platte River Bar & Grill has been a fixture on South Santa Fe Drive, drawing both bikers that ride asphalt and bikers that ride the trail along the river. Just don’t let its slightly divey roadhouse atmosphere deter you.
The patio is the local place to see live music riverside in the summer, all while enjoying an ice cold mug of beer or a salt-rimmed Margarita. With a menu of hearty bar fare featuring loaded Platte Nachos ($13.99), the jalapeño cream cheese topped Popper Burger ($18.99), and smothered Chiles Relleno Plate ($18.99), a visit to the Platte River Bar & Grill is both filling and entertaining. 5995 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton, theplatteriverbarandgrill.com
Agave Spirits at Palenque Cocina y Agaveria
The southside sister to Adelitas Cocina y Cantina, Palenque Cocina y Agaveria takes its name from the common word for a mezcal distillery. As you might expect, the restaurant is a local hub for agave spirits, featuring margaritas in a rainbow of flavors from classic lime to prickly pear, and craft cocktails made with lesser-known spirits such as sotol and bacanora.
The dining menu features traditional favorites from central Mexico. Think rich chocolatey mole over chicken ($17.95), regular and vegan pozole (starting at $7.95 for a half bowl), and a variety of molcajetes (starting at $26.95), which is a mix of meat and vegetables in broth that’s served bubbling hot in a volcanic rock bowl. 2609 Main St., Littleton, palenquecya.com
Angelo’s Taverna and Carboy Winery in Littleton
In 2013, restaurateurs Craig Jones and Eric Hyatt revived the beloved Angelo’s Taverna on 6th Avenue, which originally opened in 1974. A few years later the team opened a mega-sized version of Angelo’s, adding a winery next door to house Carboy.
The larger and newer version of the Italian restaurant features a lot of crowd favorites, including the famous happy hour, which boasts fresh oysters for $1.25 each, Angelo’s signature chargrilled oysters for $2.50, and $2 off Carboy’s own wines on tap. Follow the deal meal with a doughy pizza, house-made pasta, or an Italian-American classic like lasagna or eggplant parmesan. 6885 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton, angeloslittleton.com
Farm House at Breckenridge Brewery
Breckenridge Brewery’s 2015 expansion brought the beer behemoth to a 12-acre property right off the South Platte River bike trail. The farm-inspired outpost features a 100-barrel brewhouse and barrel-aging room and a spacious outdoor beer garden with picnic tables, cornhole, bocce ball, and live music. What’s better than a leisurely ride followed by a craft brew, it is an ideal Colorado summer activity.
Of course, it’s not just about the beer, the onsite restaurant Farm House offers a menu of apps you’ll want to share with your cycling buddies, refreshing salads, sandwiches like pulled-pork and fried chicken, burgers, and Sunday supper favorites like meatloaf, mac and cheese and pot roast. For bargain hunters, Breck’s weekday happy hour has several beers for $3 each, and burgers for almost half price. 2920 Brewery Lane, Littleton, breckbrew.com
