5280's 10 Best Eat & Drink Stories of 2021

Casa Bonita Names Dana Rodriguez as New Executive Chef

By Allyson Reedy | November 2021

The culinary mind behind Work & Class and Super Mega Bien will revitalize the menu with scratch-made Mexican fare.

The Best 45 Dishes to Eat in Denver Right Now

By Patricia Kaowthumrong | October 2021

Photo by Joni Schrantz

We spent months brunching, lunching, and indulging in elaborate multicourse dinner feasts to bring you this guide to the most delectable meals in the Mile High City.

The 9 Best Barbecue Joints in Colorado, According to Denver’s Soul Food Scholar

By Sarah Kuta | May 2021

A meaty spread at Owlbear Barbecue. Photo by Adrian Miller

Adrian Miller, author of Black Smoke: African Americans and the United States of Barbecue, dishes on his favorite spots to get fire-kissed fare.

Meet the Three Sisters Behind Colorado’s First Vietnamese Coffee Shop

By Jordan Cutler-Tietjen | August 2021

The treats at Tí Cafe—flan floats, lychee soda, egg coffee, mooncakes, and more—are traditional and idiosyncratic all at once.

From left: Sashaline, Shominic, and Shasitie Nguyen, owners of Tí Cafe. Photo by Sarah Banks

A Local’s Guide to Eating and Drinking in Littleton

By Riane Menardi Morrison | October 2021

Lamb shanks at Littleton’s Cafe Terracotta. Photo by Riane Menardi Morrison

We rounded up 32 of the best spots to eat and drink in one of Denver’s most well-known suburbs.

17 of Denver’s Best Coffee Shops

By Callie Sumlin | December 2021

Sweet Bloom in Westminster, one of the shop’s three locations. Photo courtesy of Sweet Bloom

Our destination-worthy picks for great beans, well-made drinks, friendly baristas, and cozy vibes in the Mile High City and surrounding ’burbs.

Behind the Scenes of Yakitori Night at Uncle

By Fiona Murphy | December 2021

Yakitori at Uncle in Wash Park. Photo by Fiona Murphy.

Producing succulent chicken skewers may sound simple enough. But watch 5280’s video to learn about the technical brilliance required to make the Japanese street food.

A Running List of Restaurants and Bars Closed in the Denver Metro Area

By Denise Mickelsen, Patricia Kaowthumrong, and Riane Menardi Morrison | Ongoing

Lola Coastal Mexican. Photo by Calvin Baines

Award-winning Acorn and beloved Lola and Brass Tacks have shuttered since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020. Here’s a living list of closures—both permanent and temporary.