When I need to hole up and get stuff done, I head to KJ’s Coffee Bar, an under-the-radar coffeeshop on the corner of Gilpin Street and 25th Avenue. The friendly north City Park spot pours locally brewed Coda Coffee and dishes up eats like mini pizzas and inventive baked goods like the tasty sweet-potato cinnamon roll and the beet brownie.

The year-old shop is quiet enough to be conducive to buckling down, but not so empty that it’s a ghost town. There are games and books for well-behaved kids, a sunny patio for nice days, and Boulder Ice Cream when you’ve hit the java limit.

Bonus: As of a month ago, KJ’s was awarded a liquor license. They celebrate daily with an afternoon happy hour (4 to 8 p.m.), when beer—from Dale’s Pale Ale to Corona Light—outsells coffee.

1710 E. 25th Ave., 303-495-2020

Amanda M. Faison
Amanda M. Faison
Freelance writer Amanda M. Faison spent 20 years at 5280 Magazine, 12 of those as Food Editor.