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Breakfast may be the most important meal of the day, but brunch is the most important happening of every weekend—and often a great idea for weekdays, too. We know Denver loves rounds of mimosas, Bloody Marys, espresso drinks, and fresh-pressed juices to go with their fancy Benedicts, pudgy green chile burritos, and waffles topped with all things sweet and savory.
So we’re not holding back. Here, 52 (that’s one for every weekend of the year) top brunch destinations in Denver and beyond.
Jump Ahead:
- Acova, LoHi
- Avanti Food & Beverage, LoHi
- Bacon Social House, multiple locations
- The Bagel Deli and Restaurant, Hampden
- The Bindery, LoHi
- Brasserie Brixton, Cole
- BurnDown, Washington Park West
- Call Your Mother Deli, multiple locations
- Centro Mexican Kitchen, Boulder
- Champagne Tiger, Uptown
- Cimera, RiNo
- City, O’ City, Capitol Hill
- Denver Biscuit Company, multiple locations
- Dos Santos, multiple locations
- Early Bird, Midtown and Westminster
- Edge Restaurant & Kitchen, Downtown
- Four Friends Kitchen, Central Park
- Fox and the Hen, LoHi
- The Hampton Social, LoHi
- Harbor Dim Sum, Athmar Park
- Hashtag, multiple locations
- HiRa Patisserie, Aurora
- Jelly Cafe, Capitol Hill and University
- Kachina Cantina, LoDo
- La Diabla Posole y Mezcal, Ballpark
- La Fillette, Montclair
- Le French, Southmoor Park and Virginia Village
- Luchador Taco and More, Whittier
- Lucile’s Creole Cafe, multiple locations
- Mimosas, Five Points
- Nest Cafe, West Highland
- Odell’s Bagel, West Highland
- Odie B’s, Cole and Sunnyside
- Olive & Finch, multiple locations
- Onefold, City Park West and LoDo
- Ototo, Platt Park
- Port Side, RiNo
- Sam’s No. 3, Downtown and Glendale
- Santos Café & Mexican Grill, East Colfax
- Sắp Sửa, Congress Park
- Sassafras American Eatery, West Highland
- Snooze A.M. Eatery, multiple locations
- Star Kitchen, Athmar Park
- Steuben’s, Uptown
- Stowaway Kitchen, RiNo
- Tangerine, multiple locations
- The Universal, Sunnyside
- Urban Egg, multiple locations
- Welton Street Cafe, Five Points
- Wilde, LoHi
- Woodie Fisher, LoDo
- Zorba’s, Congress Park
Attend 5280’s Brunch Event: Feast on savory and sweet bites from local restaurants at our annual brunch event on April 11, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., which will feature boozy and zero-proof options, a DJ, and more.
Best Brunch in Denver
Acova | LoHi
- Where: 3651 Navajo St., Denver (LoHi)
- When: Saturday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Founded in 2018 by the owners of the Hornet (another brunch favorite we lost in 2025), Acova is a great choice for families because its on-site playground is the ultimate kid-pleaser. While the kids scream and play outside, dig into the Brunch Chick inside. Buttermilk fried chicken, a pillowy biscuit, sausage gravy, potatoes, and two eggs make for one of the most comforting a.m. entrées in town. The Highland eatery’s commitment to gluten-free fare gives all gluten-averse Denverites—and those who love them—reason to celebrate.
Avanti Food & Beverage | LoHi
- Where: 3200 Pecos St., Denver (LoHi)
- When: Saturday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Variety is not only the spice of life, it’s the best way to celebrate brunch. Thankfully, Avanti’s diverse group of food purveyors teams up every weekend for a brunchtime party where you can eat your way around the globe. There’s Thai pork belly fried rice from Farang Thai Kitchen, a Venezuelan Perico arepa stuffed with scrambled eggs, cheese, guasacaca sauce, and avocado from Quiero Arepas, a North African/Mexican collision in Biker Jim’s chilaquiles shakshuka (eggs poached in spicy sauce and showered with fried tortilla strips), and peach cobbler pizza from Pizza Bandit that maybe reads a little more Naples, Florida, than Naples, Italy. Of course, Knockabout Burgers’ loaded tots, complete with a fried egg, appeal to every type of brunch fan. Add pastries, coffee drinks, and specialty cocktails from Avanti’s cafe and bar and you have a feast to keep you going all weekend.
Bacon Social House | Multiple locations
- Where: Locations in Denver (Sunnyside) and Littleton
- When: Monday, 8 a.m.–2 p.m.; Wednesday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–2 p.m.; Friday–Sunday, 8 a.m.–3 p.m.
Carnivores can revel in a menu full of meat at Bacon Social House, which serves flights of its signature slices, as well as bacon-laced Bloody Marys, BLTs, breakfast sandwiches, and salads. If you’re into French toast, this is the right place for you, since you’ll find four different kinds. On the savory side, the shrimp and grits are almost as famous as the bacon itself.
The Bagel Deli and Restaurant | Hampden
- Where: 6439 E. Hampden Ave., Denver (Hampden)
- When: Every day, 8 a.m.–3 p.m.
Kick off a weekend of relaxation with the Bagel Deli’s unfussy food, casual ambience, and warm hospitality. Open since 1967, the restaurant boasts a menu chock-full of Jewish deli delights, from the requisite bagels with a schmear to potato latkes and mile-high pastrami sandwiches. Even simple preparations like the matzo brei, similar to scrambled eggs but with the unleavened flatbread mixed in, hits home with a side of applesauce and honey. It’s fare that will warm you from the belly up.
The Bindery | LoHi
- Where: 1817 Central St., Denver (LoHi)
- When: Saturday–Sunday, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Cradling a porcelain mug of steaming joe inside the Bindery’s bright, bustling space on Central Street is a beautiful way to greet the day. The beans come from Denver’s Queen City Coffee Collective, which has been seducing local java lovers with its artisan, direct-trade coffees since 2017. The lattes, cortados, and house chais play well with chef-owner Linda Hampsten Fox’s roster of weekend brunch specialties. Get the aptly named You’ll Never Want Another Pancake Dutch Baby with vanilla bean, rum, and Chantilly cream and a side of straw potatoes (even better than hash browns) with horseradish creme. Or try the breakfast carbonara, an eye-opener studded with bacon, pork belly, a sunny-side duck egg, and Parmesan.
Brasserie Brixton | Cole
- Where: 3701 Williams St., Denver (Cole)
- When: Sunday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Did the French invent brunch? Probably not, but they certainly perfected the omelette. If you’re in doubt, try the French omelette with fines herbes (fresh parsley, tarragon, chervil, and chives) and Boursin cheese for brunch at Brasserie Brixton, where neighbors descend on the packed space every weekend for the lively vibe and chef’s-kiss cuisine. Side your eggs with an order of duck fat tater tots with chive crème fraîche and wash it down with Brixton’s breakfast Negroni, an eye-opening blend of gin, amaro, and coffee.
BurnDown | Washington Park West
- Where: 476 S. Broadway, Denver (Washington Park West)
- When: Saturday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Three-year-old gastropub BurnDown is known for its happy hour, appetizer-centric evening menu, and after-dark good times. But every weekend, this three-story venue serves up a diverse selection of brunch bites, such as the Captain’s French Toast, which features a Cap’n Crunch crust, berry cream cheese filling, and a drizzle of berry compote. If savory is more your style, try the Old Broadway Scramble—a hearty blend of crispy potatoes, scrambled eggs, pico de gallo, avocado purée, and your preferred protein (bacon, sausage, pulled pork, or skirt steak). Complete your meal with an espresso martini.
Call Your Mother Deli | Multiple locations
- Where: Locations in Denver (Berkeley, Capitol Hill, Hilltop, RiNo, and Boulder)
- When: Hours vary location to location. Check here.
When East Coast bagel monger Call Your Mother opened its first Denver location in May 2023, crowds of carb-craving brunchers lined the 38th Avenue block of Tennyson Street for the counter-service spot’s hangover cures and Instagram-worthy appeal. So it’s no surprise that in just a few years, the self-proclaimed “Jew-ish deli” has added several Colorado outposts.
Soak up last night’s decisions with a Sun City (a choice of bacon, pastrami, or Impossible sausage paired with a bodega-style egg, melty American and cheddar cheese, and a drizzle of spicy honey on an everything bagel), or satisfy a sweet tooth with the Grand Villa (crunchy peanut butter, granola, and seasonal jam on a cinnamon raisin bagel). And don’t forget to take home a baker’s dozen (get the Everything, of course, but also try the Za’atar and Maple Salt & Pepper flavors), an eight-ounce container of flavored cream cheese, and a fresh-baked cinnamon roll babka muffin.
Centro Mexican Kitchen | Boulder
- Where: 950 Pearl St., Boulder
- When: Saturday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
If you end up in the People’s Republic on a weekend, you might be swayed to follow the masses to well-known brunch hotspots the Buff or Walnut Cafe. Nothing against those delightful mainstays, but the mid-morning menu at Pearl Street’s Centro is something to behold, with a birria breakfast burrito, carne asada and eggs, huevos rancheros, carnitas hash, and chilaquiles piled with refried beans, cotija cheese, and a fried egg. The beverage list is similarly loaded with Mexican-inspired Bloody Marias, micheladas, and coffee drinks, plus flights of tequilas, margs, and mimosas.
Champagne Tiger | Uptown
- Where: 601 E. Colfax Ave., Denver (Uptown)
- When: Saturday, 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m.; Sunday, 10:30 a.m., 12:45 p.m., and 3 p.m. drag brunch seatings
Southern charm, big-city glitz, fabulous outfits, and just a little down-and-dirty: What more could you want out of brunch? Mid-Mod restaurant and lounge Champagne Tiger covers all of that for brunch every Saturday, with caviar service (in an ashtray you get to keep), fried green tomato Benedicts, quiche Lorraine, $55 bottles of sparkling French rosé, and even Jell-O shots in seasonal flavors. And on Sundays, brunch is served with a side of camp during three drag performances (book ahead to ensure a seat). It’s a great way to fill your weekend with laughter.
Read More: Weekend Brunch Is (Everything But) a Drag at Champagne Tiger
Cimera | RiNo
- Where: 3330 Brighton Blvd., Denver (RiNo, inside the Source Hotel)
- When: Saturday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
At night, the Source Hotel’s new ninth-floor cantina offers pan-Latin American eats with a special focus on Peru. That theme carries through to weekend brunch, with a small but mighty menu. Don’t miss Peruvian classics like tacu tacu (a melange of crisped rice, house-made chorizo, smashed potatoes, plantains, and salsa criolla topped with eggs) or the papa rellena (a potato croquette stuffed with braised beef and served with rocoto chile salsa and eggs). Go green (chile verde) or red (tomato juice) with Bloody Marias, or sip sangrias made with seasonal fruits. Go early or call ahead for the best seats with sweeping views of the ever-changing RiNo below and the downtown skyline beyond.
City, O’ City | Capitol Hill
- Where: 206 E. 13th Ave., Denver (Capitol Hill)
- When: Saturday–Sunday, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Vegetarian and vegan Denverites need not suffer through bland tofu scrambles and butter-free toast, thanks to Cap Hill’s hipster institution, City, O’ City, where the entire a.m. menu is meatless and every dish can be made without animal products. A morning meal here looks like waffles with bourbon-brined, chicken-fried cauliflower. Or Sardou, a rendition of the Louisiana-style breakfast dish presented with two eggs or tofu, grilled artichoke hearts, creamed spinach, and toasted almonds. There’s even a full bar to sate all of your kombucha mimosa needs.
Denver Biscuit Company | Multiple locations
- Where: Locations in Denver (Baker, Berkeley, and City Park), Aurora, Centennial, Colorado Springs, and Golden
- When: Hours vary location to location. Check here.
Atomic Cowboy, the Denver-born day-to-night concept that brunch goers will encounter as Denver Biscuit Company, has expanded the reach of its oversized signature biscuits from its original East Colfax Avenue space to locations throughout the Front Range. Regardless of which of the seven Colorado locations you visit, we recommend centering your meal on the biscuit sandwich section of the menu. Fans of bold flavors should try the K-Mack, a formidable towering construction of Korean fried chicken tossed in a ginger-forward sauce, pickled daikon, sesame mayo, and shredded cabbage. Pair it with a side of crispy McHashbrowns—inspired by the spuds at the famous Golden Arches.
Dos Santos | Multiple locations
- Where: Locations in Denver (City Park West), Castle Rock, and Colorado Springs
- When: Saturday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Dos Santos has made a name for itself with its fun, Mexican-inspired cuisine, and the brunch menu follows suit. Served on weekends, it features the usual south-of-the-border favorites like chilaquiles and breakfast tacos, but we’re partial to the Donkey Tonk, a massive grilled burrito bulging with scrambled eggs, tater tots, avocado, fried leeks, and salsa. Top it off with a spicy, tangy michelada made with the house lager brewed by Denver’s Station 26.
Early Bird | Midtown and Westminster
- Where: 1675 W. 67th Ave., Suite 300, Denver (Midtown) and 11940 Bradburn Blvd., Suite 400, Westminster
- When: Every day, 7 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Early Bird owners Daniel and Kristen Cofrades are both chefs—and it shows in every bite on the menu. While the restaurants are open for breakfast every day, look for the special brunch menu for a few more options. Diehard brunchers can enjoy loaded waffles, open-face omelets, and signature breakfast sandwiches (go for the hot chicken biscuit) every day at one of two Early Bird locations.
Edge Restaurant & Bar | Downtown
- Where: 1111 14th St., Denver (Downtown)
- When: Saturday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
There’s an elevated bite that’ll please even the pickiest bruncher in your family at downtown’s Edge Restaurant & Bar inside the Four Seasons Hotel Denver. Go for the fancy croque madame made with rosemary rotisserie ham and melted Gruyère sandwiched in house-made ciabatta with a sunny-side-up egg on top. The restaurant has its own pastry program, so the croissants are fresh and warm, as are the pillowy cheddar scallion biscuits.
Four Friends Kitchen | Central Park
- Where: 2893 Roslyn St., Denver (Central Park)
- When: Every day, 6:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
This Central Park kitchen got its start in 2015 when four companions decided to create a family-friendly neighborhood eatery. More than a decade later, the cozy spot still feels like the modern version of a welcoming 1950s diner, with artwork of vintage planes, a polite and quick-moving waitstaff, and a glimpse into the bustling kitchen, where the team prepares Southern-inspired breakfast and lunch fare with a Colorado twist. Here, you can find Georgia-grown overnight grits, a Creole shrimp omelet served with a side of cornbread, or an andouille-stuffed po’boy with pickled green tomatoes. But you can also indulge in Denver favorites such as huevos rancheros or green-chile-smothered breakfast burritos. We like the chicken and waffles: a fluffy buttermilk waffle and crispy fried tender drizzled with smoked chile caramel syrup and served with fresh fruit. Whatever your pleasure, wash it down with a zesty Bloody Mary or a refreshing guava mint mimosa.
Fox and the Hen | LoHi
- Where: 2257 W. 32nd Ave., Denver (LoHi)
- When: Every day, 7 a.m.–3 p.m.
When Carrie Baird, a former Top Chef contestant known for her “fancy toasts,” and Michael Fox, owner of wholesale breakfast business Dis Burrito, came together to build a brunch restaurant in LoHi, there was no question that it’d be the stuff of champions. In fact, in 2023, Fox and the Hen became the first dedicated breakfast-lunch eatery to ever make our 25 Best Restaurants list. And though we’ve sung its praises before, it bears repeating: The dishes here embrace all the best parts of American diner fare but give them a boost with a whole lot of technical finesse. Get the animal-style hash brown and an egg dish—simple as that.
The Hampton Social | LoHi
- Where: 2501 16th St., Denver (LoHi)
- When: Saturday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
If yacht rock is your jam, the Hampton Social should be your next brunch stop. The nautical-themed bar with 14 locations in six states dives deep into coastal cuisine with lobster rolls (and crab and shrimp rolls, too), crunchy calamari served with tempura veggies, and a raw bar—because oysters are even better before noon. On the sweet side, the monkey bread combines the best elements of croissants, beignets, and cinnamon rolls with layers of airy pastry and gooey glaze. Kick back and enjoy the LoHi view with a Resort Water, like a Ranch Water with mint and cucumber.
Harbor Dim Sum | Athmar Park
- Where: 2200 W. Alameda Ave., Denver (Athmar Park)
- When: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. daily
Rally a big group and say yes to everything served from Harbor’s dim sum carts as they circle your table. You’ll find classic dumplings like translucent har gow, open-topped siu mai, and juicy xiao long bao, plus crispy turnip cakes, bundles of steamed rice wrapped in lotus leaves, savory pork buns, and sweet sesame balls, to name just a few. For larger specialties, order the clay pot rice or pork belly with preserved mustard greens. Tea is a must, but beer and wine are also available. You’ll never walk away hungry from this Hong Kong–sytle brunch.
Hashtag | Multiple locations
- Where: Locations in Denver (Central Park and Downtown) and Highlands Ranch
- When: Hours vary location to location. Check here.
Whichever location of Hashtag you’re visiting—the original Central Park eatery, the Highlands Ranch outpost that opened November 2023, or the newest branch in downtown Denver—you’ll be treated to a wide-ranging selection of creative brunch fare from prolific chef-restaurateur Troy Guard. Highlights of the food menu include the pork hash featuring tender adobo-seasoned pork shoulder and the hot cakes, which are available in blueberry, sea salt, or caramel apple variations. Boozy libations, such as the kombucha-spiked Fruity Cougar, are also must-orders.
HiRa Patisserie | Aurora
- Where: 10782 E. Iliff Ave., Aurora
- When: Every day, 7:30 a.m.–7 p.m.
Ethiopian native Hiwot Solomon debuted HiRa Cafe & Patisserie in 2019, introducing Denverites to the cake-and-coffee culture—and tasty breakfast dishes—of her homeland. At the small, light-filled spot, patrons can pair Solomon’s house-baked cakes with single-origin Ethiopian coffee, a tradition in cafes Solomon frequented in Addis Ababa, the country’s capital. But for a heartier early-day meal, we recommend the breakfast combo. The entrée comes with enkulal firfir, scrambled eggs cooked with diced jalapeño, tomato, and onion; chechebsa, pieces of flatbread seasoned with fragrant berbere, garlic, and fenugreek and drizzled with honey; and quanta firfir, morsels of torn injera soaked in a berbere-zinged sauce and mixed with bits of beef. The shareable dish is a symphony of flavors and textures worth adding to your brunch repertoire.
Jelly Cafe | Capitol Hill and University
- Where: 600 E. 13th Ave., Denver (Capitol Hill) and 1700 E. Evans Ave., Denver (University)
- When: Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–2 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday, 7 a.m.–3 p.m.
This charming breakfast-all-day restaurant is a local brunch classic for myriad reasons: from-scratch jams and jellies, strong coffee, and vintage-cereal-box-chic decor. But if we’re being honest, it’s Jelly’s doughnut bites we love most. Made to order and available in eight flavors—including crème anglaise, lemon-filled, maple bacon, and cinnamon sugar—each morsel is an ode to breakfast’s sweet side. Bonus: Gluten-free doughnut bites are also available.
Kachina Cantina | LoDo
- Where: 1890 Wazee St., Denver (LoDo)
- When: Saturday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Surround yourself with colorful murals and resort-style decor at this nine-year-old staple inside the Dairy Block’s Maven Hotel. Kachina blurs the lines between Southwestern and Mexican cuisines, which means appetizers like queso fundido spiked with Hatch green chiles, and bison meatballs (albondigas on the menu) smothered in tomato broth and served with fry bread (which you can also order as a side). From there move on to classics like huevos rancheros and smothered breakfast burritos bursting with tater tots, or house specials like build-your-own churro waffles (go sweet with berries and mascarpone or savory with chicken and peppery gravy) and a surprisingly light chile relleno filled with quinoa, black beans, and charred corn. Can’t decide on a drink? The frozen margarita flight lets you sample traditional, strawberry, sangria swirl, and pomegranate versions.
La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal | Ballpark
- Where: 2239 Larimer St., Denver (Ballpark)
- When: Thursday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
You certainly can’t go wrong with a mid-morning bowl of pozole at chef Jose Avila’s Michelin Bib Gourmand–awarded Mexican cantina, given that he’s proud enough of his soup to put it in the name of the restaurant. And it comes in five styles—rojo, verde, blanco, negro, and vegan—to give you multiple options for exploration. For egg-based dishes, we recommend the huarache con papas, a thick, sandal-shaped tortilla topped with potatoes, eggs, spicy black beans, cheese, salsa, and a choice of six proteins, from chicken to birria. Beyond the food, La Diabla’s commitment to brunch is evident in its Thursday and Friday hours, because sometimes you just need to start your weekend early.
La Fillette | Montclair
- Where: 6217 E. 14th Ave., Denver (Montclair)
- When: Wednesday–Friday, 7 a.m.–2 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday, 8 a.m.–2 p.m.
La Fillette is far more than a French bakery, as the cafe’s morning menu proves. Yes, the croissants are buttery and beautiful, but the kitchen shows equal skill with a traditional—meaning deep-dish—quiche Lorraine (that’s Gruyere, leeks, and ham, in case you’ve never Lorrained), and with duck confit that graces both the eggs Benedict and ingredients list for the build-your-own breakfast sandwich. But please don’t deprive yourself of the baked goods, especially when they’re worked into dishes like the chocolate croissant French toast or a decadent scramble egg sandwich built on a ham-and-cheese croissant piled with more shaved ham and cheese.
Le French | Southmoor Park and Virginia Village
- Where: 4901 S. Newport St., Denver (Southmoor Park) and 846 Albion St., Denver (Virginia Village)
- When: Hours vary location to location. Check here.
At this Parisian-inspired bakery and cafe, Senegalese-French sisters Aminata and Rougui Dia dish out brunch comforts like perfect omelets, quiches, and tartines, and the can’t-miss fried chicken with yassa sauce (a Senegalese preparation of slow-cooked onion and lemon) over French toast. But when only a melt-in-your-mouth crêpes will do, turn to the array of sweet and savory styles, all made with gluten-free flour. We like the Poulet Pistou—a bright, springy rendition stuffed with tarragon roasted chicken, plump cherry tomatoes, wilted baby spinach, basil pistou (a French pesto), and gooey Gruyère cheese.
Read More: The Best Things at Le French Aren’t French at All
Luchador Taco and More | Whittier
- Where: 2030 E. 28th Ave., Denver (Whittier)
- When: Sunday, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Chef Zurisadai Resendiz’s boisterous neighborhood eatery landed on our 2025 list of the 25 best restaurants in Denver, and since then, he’s added a brunch that’s just as good as dinner. Order a house margarita made with reposado tequila, lime, Cointreau, mint, and cilantro, while you check out the menu, which is short enough that you can try nearly everything in one visit. Our picks? The tres leches French toast (topped with tres leches mousse rather than dripping with it), breakfast tacos, and tomatillo-salsa-smothered chilaquiles.
Lucile’s Creole Cafe | Multiple locations
- Where: Locations in Denver (Platt Park and Speer), Boulder, Erie, Fort Collins, Littleton, and Longmont
- When: Hours vary location to location. Check here.
Outposts of this iconic Big Easy–inspired restaurant reach from Fort Collins to Littleton, with its newest location opening last year in downtown Erie. Regardless of which storefront you enter, though, you’ll always feel at home. Pair New Orleans classics like beignets and chicory coffee for a quick and easy brunch. Or dive into the heartier shrimp and grits made with andouille sausage and red pepper, and upgrade to the jalapeño cheese grits for an extra kick.
Mimosas | Five Points
- Where: 2752 Welton St., Denver (Five Points)
- When: Tuesday–Sunday, 8 a.m.–3 p.m.
Even on a weekday, this cheery, orange-accented Five Points mainstay is buzzing with guests communing over Southern comforts. Those include biscuits and gravy, chicken and waffles, bourbon maple sticky buns—and mimosas, of course, which come in nine house varieties. From the Marg Mosa (featuring a splash of tequila) to the Boujee (grapefruit juice, sparkling rosé, and a brown sugar rim), there is a mimosa for every palate. When you’re ready for food, start with fried green tomatoes atop a bed of bright pesto and accompanied by Cajun ranch for dipping. For something bigger, fill up on shrimp and stone-ground grits with andouille and a dousing of beurre blanc. Just save room for beignets piled high with powdered sugar for a truly Southern sweet ending.
Read More: At Mimosas, Cooking and Community Come From the Heart
Nest Cafe | West Highland
- Where: 2949 Federal Blvd., Denver (West Highland)
- When: Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–6:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday; 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Whether you’re battling a cold or a hangover, Nest Cafe’s lineup of beverages will fix what ails you. Choose from options such as the Root to Rise with carrots, fresh turmeric root, raw honey, coconut cream, banana, and an array of supplements, and the Superfood Steamer with collagen, blue spirulina, butterfly pea powder, vanilla bean, and monk fruit. If you’re hankering for something heartier, though, turn your attention to the food menu, which sports bites such as the Eggy Mess, a soft egg scramble, arugula, roasted garlic tomato aïoli, and microgreens on top of fresh sourdough from Denver’s own Hearth bakery.
Odell’s Bagel | West Highland
- Where: 3200 Irving St., Denver (West Highland)
- When: Thursday–Monday, 7:30 a.m.–2 p.m.
Brunch doesn’t always mean a sit-down affair. Sure, you’ll find a four-top and a few counter seats at Odell’s Bagel, but this corner spot is more about grab-and-go for those who want to brunch at home, sans dishes. The concise menu belies the attention to detail behind every item: Ordering a bagel and schmear? That bagel is hand-rolled, and the flavored cream cheese (including scallion and chili-garlic versions) is mixed in-house. But perhaps our top reason for making repeat visits is the option to mix-and-match open-faced sandwiches. That means we don’t have to choose between pastrami-cured lox and zingy orange marmalade—we can enjoy one of each. Just don’t expect the same menu on every visit: Chef-owner Miles Odell is committed to seasonality and local ingredients, so that tomato sandwich you loved in the fall won’t be back for a few more months. Pro tip: If it’s Friday, grab a fresh-baked challah—perfect for making French toast for your next at-home brunch.
Read More: Will Odell’s Bagel Be Denver’s Hottest New Breakfast Spot?
Odie B’s | Cole and Sunnyside
- Where: 1350 40th St., Suite 180, Denver (Cole) and 2651 W. 38th Ave., Denver (Sunnyside)
- When: Hours vary by location. Check here.
Whether you choose the original Sunnyside Odie B’s, whose hearty sandwiches and cheerful ambience earned it a spot on 5280’s Best Restaurants list in 2024, or the newer street-art-bedecked outpost in the Novel RiNo Building, you can order items from the breakfast, brunch, and lunch menus every day. Come hungry for Odie B’s morning version of a chopped cheese, a delicious mess of house-made breakfast sausage, lettuce, fancy sauce, everything bagel seasoning, American cheese, and pickled accoutrements on hoagie. Or get the less decadent Basic, a poppyseed roll layered with bacon, scrambled eggs, a hash brown patty, and American cheese. And like any good brunch, there are also coffee drinks, teas, cocktails, and nonalcoholic beverages.
Olive & Finch | Multiple locations
- Where: Multiple locations (Uptown, Cherry Creek, Union Station, downtown)
- When: Hours vary by location. Check here.
Chef-restaurateur Mary Nguyen’s string of sunny eateries covers a wide range of breakfast and lunch options, from house-baked pastries to tartines to hearty, globally influenced bowls and hashes. Our go-to order is the croque madame tartine with ham, Swiss cheese, béchamel, dijonnaise, and eggs on rosemary sourdough bread. For drinks, choose from espresso drinks like the smoked sea salt caramel latte, wellness shots (to get your antioxidants), and blueberry-lemonade mimosas. Watch for the newest Golden Triangle Olive & Finch opening in April at 1140 Bannock Street.
Onefold | City Park West and LoDo
- Where: Denver (City Park West and LoDo) and Greenwood Village
- When: Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–3 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday, 8 a.m.–3 p.m.
Until Onefold debuted its first location in Uptown eight years ago, fried rice wasn’t the first, or even second, thing we thought about when we contemplated a big, brunch-y bowl. But then we devoured a heaping serving of Onefold’s spectacular fried rice with lap cheong (Chinese sausage), and everything changed. The rice is fried in duck fat—which the kitchen also uses to cook eggs and crispy hash browns—then seasoned with garlic, scallions, soy sauce, and a touch of chile oil. Garnished with sautéed slices of sweet, meaty lap cheong (or your choice of duck, ham, or bacon) and two fried eggs, it’s a satisfying surprise that we intend to eat on repeat.
Ototo | Platt Park
- Where: 1501 S. Pearl St., Denver (Platt Park)
- When: Sunday, 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
This Platt Park haunt, part of brothers Toshi and Yasu Kizaki’s revered Japanese restaurant empire, is the only place in town where you can order French toast for brunch with a side of sashimi. Score a reservation so you can feast on French toast made with fluffy milk bread, yuzu maple syrup, fresh fruit, and Chantilly cream or warming root-veggie curry topped with crispy fried pork katsu. Round out your meal with a Bloody Mary made with Kinjo Shiro shochu, vodka, and a house-made spicy tomato mix and some picks from the raw bar. You can’t go wrong with the nine-piece taste of sashimi, much of it flown in from Japan.
Read More: Newly Reopened Ototo Is Demanding Attention in Platt Park
Port Side | RiNo
- Where: 2500 Larimer St., Denver (RiNo)
- When: Wednesday–Friday, 8 a.m.–2 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday, 8 a.m.–1 p.m.
Brunch doesn’t need to be an all-morning affair with overloaded plates and mimosas by the gallon. A visit to Port Side offers a quieter experience, but with enough drink options and weekend-only specials to hit that special brunch-and-chill vibe. Follow our lead and get a cortado first, followed by a mezcal sunrise. To eat, the Duke has been a longstanding favorite since the cafe opened back in 2016. It’s a breakfast sandwich built on a potato bun and stacked with eggs, pulled pork, pickles, arugula, sharp cheddar, and—of course—Duke’s mayonnaise. Saturdays bring cheesy green chile grits (with an optional jalapeño cheddar bratwurst), and Sundays offer buttermilk biscuits with sausage gravy.
Sam’s No. 3 | Downtown and Glendale
- Where: 1500 Curtis St., Denver (Downtown) and 435 S. Cherry St., Glendale
- When: Hours vary location to location. Check here.
Since 1927, Sam’s No. 3 has slung straightforward American, Greek, and Mexican staples that are always fast, hot—and in massive portions. For example, the Kitchen Sink omelet is a twist on the fan-fave burrito—a giant packed with bacon, ham, sausage, gyro meat, onion, bell pepper, tomato, mushrooms, and cheddar cheese and served alongside a heaping bowl of the diner’s famous pork green chile. Pair it with hash browns and a Sam’s 3 Alarm Bloody—a 20-ouncer made with the diner’s “top secret” Bloody Mary mix, Sriracha, and two kinds of Sam’s hot sauces. If you’re into the simpler things, the all-day joint serves a killer Denver omelet that comes with a triple stack of pancakes. Or take a swing at one of 26 breakfast burritos. Our go-to is the Colorado bison burrito, which is loaded with perfectly cooked protein, bacon, fresh jalapeños, and two kinds of cheeses.
Santos Café & Mexican Grill | East Colfax
- Where: 1141 Syracuse St., Denver (East Colfax)
- When: Monday–Saturday, 7 a.m.–3 p.m.
We love this diner near the Denver-Aurora border for its rib-sticking Mexican fare and its reasonable prices. Everything from the tamales to the pancakes to the chilaquiles (which you should order with carnitas and a combination of red and green chile) hits the spot without breaking the bank. The specialty lattes—think: dulce de leche or strawberries and cream—are also worth a try. If you’ve gathered a crowd, tackle the giant concha and hot cocoa you might’ve seen on local foodies’ social media feeds, but be warned: It easily serves more than 10 people.
Sắp Sửa | Congress Park
- Where: 2550 E. Colfax Ave., Denver (Congress Park)
- When: Saturday, 8 a.m.–12 p.m.
Brunch at Ni and Anna Nguyen’s top-caliber Vietnamese restaurant turns the front bar into an inviting pastry counter with a wide array (sometimes as many as 15) of house-baked goods from pastry chef Korinna Mahan. Order a box and nibble on one or two with a Vietnamese coffee (Sắp Sửa uses beans from Seattle’s Hello Em Việt Coffee & Roastery) before you take the rest home. Regular offerings include apple fritters, oxtail hand pies (with tender meat from the restaurant’s dinner menu), apple cider cake doughnuts, and dirty chai sticky buns.
Sassafras American Eatery | West Highland
- Where: 3927 W. 32nd Ave., Denver (West Highland)
- When: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–2 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday, 8 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Nestled inside two joint Victorian houses in the Highlands, 13-year-old Sassafras charms with brick-lined walls and intimate dining nooks straight out of Gilmore Girls. But it’s the comfort-driven menu that keeps regulars coming back. Indulge in the Deep South Benedict—pulled pork and collard greens stacked atop crispy cornbread—or the breakfast po’ boy, packed with bacon, eggs, and arugula on a warm French roll with dipping gravy on the side. In the warmer months, grab a seat on one of the patios or the rooftop and sip your way through the sprawling Bloody Mary menu, featuring Cajun-spiced options that pair perfectly with the hearty fare.
Snooze A.M. Eatery | Multiple locations
- Where: Locations in Denver (literally everywhere), Arvada, Boulder, Centennial, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Lone Tree, and Westminster
- When: Hours vary location to location. Check here.
From stacked Bennys and decadent pancakes to boozy cocktails, this Denver-born chain has all of the greatest hits of early-day fare. Plus, because Snooze is also committed to sustainability practices like earth-friendly packaging, carbon sequestering, and waste reduction, diners can indulge in the house-mascarpone-laden OMG French Toast and breakfast tacos with green chile hollandaise while feeling a little less guilty about their impact on the planet.
Star Kitchen | Athmar Park
- Where: 2917 W. Mississippi Ave., Denver (Athmar Park)
- When: Monday–Tuesday and Thursday–Friday, 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Star Kitchen on Mississippi Avenue has some of the best dim sum in town. You’ll wait for a table on weekend mornings (brunch is served every day but Wednesday), but the pan-fried turnip cake with XO sauce, shrimp-stuffed eggplant, and congee with pork and preserved egg are worth it. Plus, Star Kitchen has a liquor license—should you need something stronger than tea. Too hungry to wait? The Chinese restaurant’s menu is also available for takeout, so you can pick up barbecue-pork-stuffed buns, egg custard tarts, and other popular dishes to enjoy at home.
Steuben’s | Uptown
- Where: 523 E. 17th Ave., Denver (Uptown)
- When: Saturday–Sunday, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
When Uptown’s Steuben’s debuted in 2006, the retro decor and nod to vintage East Coast diners felt hip edgy. But at 20 years old, the eatery has become a neighborhood classic, exuding the same spirit of those old-school joints it originally paid tribute to. If you’re stumbling in on a Sunday to shake off what’s left of Saturday night, an order of Steubie Snacks (powdered-sugar-coated hunks of crispy pork) and a fried-chicken-stuffed biscuit smothered in gravy should get you back on track.
Stowaway Kitchen | RiNo
- Where: 2528 Walnut St., Suite 104, Denver (RiNo)
- When: Thursday–Monday, 8 a.m.–2 p.m.
Stowaway Kitchen’s rotating menu is always a thoughtful nod to the best of the seasons and the creativity of its chefs. Our past favorite dishes include the Japanese asa-gohan (traditional breakfast), grilled salted salmon served with rice, a poached egg, avocado, toasted nori, and a carrot and ginger slaw, and a freshly milled wild-grain waffle with salted caramel apples and an oat and almond crisp. Don’t forget to grab a gluten-free cookie or brownie on your way out the door.
Tangerine | Multiple locations
- Where: Locations in Boulder, Lafayette, and Longmont
- When: Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday, 7:30 a.m.–2 p.m.
Since chef Alec Schuler opened Tangerine in north Boulder in 2011, the restaurant has expanded its breakfast empire to Lafayette and Longmont. The generously portioned corned beef hash—peppered with giant chunks of the tangy brisket, bacon bits, strands of caramelized onion, and crispy, gently charred potatoes—is a staple at all three locations. Brimming with salty, fatty, and starchy flavors, it’s rib-sticking sustenance at its best.
The Universal | Sunnyside
- Where: 2911 W. 38th Ave., Denver (Sunnyside)
- When: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–2 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday, 7:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
If you think grits are a mushy, bland breakfast filler, you clearly haven’t eaten at the Universal. The nearly 13-year-old, early-day staple puts a Colorado spin on the Southern porridge with its pork green chile version, which also stars two eggs, avocado, sour cream, greens, and pico de gallo. The daily grits specials get even more inventive toppings: pork belly, Thai coconut curry, barbacoa, teriyaki salmon with pineapple salsa. Even the breakfast burrito swaps out potatoes for al dente organic heirloom Anson Mills grits. The weekend brunch menu contains plenty more savory options, including cornbread rancheros and the HIBL (poached eggs, homemade pork sausage, and hollandaise on a biscuit). Whatever you order—and whether you eat inside the industrial-chic space or score a table on the small patio—add a thick, fluffy, plate-size blueberry pancake for dessert.
Urban Egg | Multiple locations
- Where: Locations in Denver (Cherry Creek, LoDo, and Southmoor Park), Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, and Johnstown
- When: Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–2 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday, 7 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (and 2:30 p.m. on the weekends), this daytime eatery offers a sunny atmosphere for early birds. The sweet-and-savory corned beef hash made with shredded potatoes, peppers, and a jalapeño bacon chutney is the perfect canvas for a runny yolk. Larger appetites can take on the massive avocado-and-cheddar chicken melt, stacked high with avocado, cheese, bacon, tomato, onion, and basil pesto aïoli. Wash it all down with a glass of the Cure juice: Depending on your hangover preferences, enjoy the vitamins from the pineapple, orange juice, and coconut water straight up, or add a shot of in-house pineapple-infused vodka for some hair of the dog, rightfully dubbed “the Cause.”
Welton Street Cafe | Five Points
- Where: 2883 Welton St., Denver (Five Points)
- When: Saturday–Sunday, starting at 11 a.m.
After a nearly three-year hiatus, Welton Street Cafe reopened in late 2024 in spacious new digs with double dining capacity two blocks away from the establishment’s previous home at 2736 Welton Street. The storied restaurant, which Flynn and Mona Dickerson opened in 1986 and is now operated by four of their six children, is one of the only longstanding Black-owned restaurants remaining in historic Five Points. With help from the local community, including more than $117,000 raised via GoFundMe, the Dickersons are back to serving the soul food and Caribbean staples that nourished Denverites for more than 35 years, including their famous fried chicken, smothered pork chops, and pates (island-style pastries). Welton Street also now offers a small selection of brunch options; don’t miss the shrimp and grits or the chicken and waffles.
Read More: Welton Street Cafe is Five Points’ Soul Survivor
Wilde | LoHi
- Where: 3618 Tejon St., Denver (LoHi)
- When: Thursday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Despite Wilde’s moniker, this beach-chic, light-drenched hangout in the quiet northwest corner of LoHi generally isn’t filled with rowdy brunchers (although it does offer bottomless mimosas). Instead, pink and aqua decor sets a serene scene for eats inspired by chef-owner Lydie Lovett’s native San Diego. Pull up a velvet-covered chair—and, if you’re working, pull out your laptop—to enjoy her french-fry-stuffed Baja breakfast burrito or the Caliquiles, a take on chilaquiles with house-made corn chips. Both pair delightfully with the Champagne Coast’s blend of blood orange juice, bubbly, tequila, and lime juice. Fans of Lovett’s Chicken Rebel concept, which formerly occupied the space, will be happy to see its signature sous vide, shatteringly crisp fried bird, in a few menu items, too.
Woodie Fisher | LoDo
- Where: 1999 Chestnut Pl., Denver (LoDo)
- When: Saturday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
One of Denver’s oldest standing buildings (which housed the city’s first volunteer fire department in the late 1800s) turned out to be the perfect space for a restaurant. High, arched windows and vaulted skylights let the Colorado sunshine in, making for a bright and relaxing brunchtime venue. That’s why Woodie Fisher’s lighter fare appeals to us when we visit. Smoked salmon with a toasted bagel and all the traditional trimmings, house-made granola with Greek yogurt, and mushroom and spinach frittatas are great examples, but you can also go bigger with a bacon and pepper jack patty melt or a version of a Denver omelette with caramelized onions. Make sure you’re weekend calendar is clear though, because once you’re there you won’t want to leave.
Zorba’s | Congress Park
- Where: 2626 E. 12th. Ave., Denver (Congress Park)
- When: Every day, 7 a.m.–8 p.m.
When hospitality veteran Karen LuKanic took over ownership of Zorba’s in Congress Park in 2018, she was dedicated to preserving the all-day diner’s homey atmosphere and menu of casual Greek and American fare. Since then, LuKanic—only the restaurant’s third owner since it turned on its griddles in 1979—weathered the pandemic by installing a takeout window and giving the dining room a social-distancing-friendly facelift. Despite Zorba’s polished new interior, furnished with black-and-white images of Congress Park and the restaurant over the decades, the menu remains as comforting as ever. Pro tip: Slather your pancakes or waffles with an order of the creamy banana pudding, rightfully lauded as some of the best in town. Or if you’re craving something savory, LuKanic is a big fan of the gyro melt and huevos rancheros.
Attend 5280’s Brunch Event: Feast on savory and sweet bites from local restaurants at our annual brunch event on April 11, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., which will feature boozy and zero-proof options, a DJ, and more.
