The 8 Best LoDo Restaurants

LoDo is one of the busiest areas in downtown Denver. Home to bustling Union Station, LoDo is an entry point to Denver for tourists just arriving on the train from the airport and locals returning home. You’ll inevitably find yourself in LoDo around some mealtime at some point, and we’ve rounded up the nine best LoDo restaurants so you won’t be stuck wondering where you can walk for the best bite in the heart of downtown Denver.

See Also: 15 Best Restaurants in Denver

8. ChoLon

At ChoLon, you’ll find a menu that plays on interpretations of some of the traditional dishes of the Far East combined with references to Lon’s classical European training. The result is a variety of fun fusion bites along with more traditional options. Case in point are the French onion soup dumplings–the brothy bites of caramelized onions and gruyere are so satisfying on a cold winter’s day. And if you’re having a hard time narrowing down your options, ChoLon will do split orders of different dumplings so you can try a bit of everything. Don’t miss the spiced doughnuts served with Vietnamese coffee and condensed caramel drizzle for dessert. 

7. Ultreia

Located inside Union Station, Ultreia’s menu focuses on the shared plate pintxos and tapas of the Iberian peninsula countries of Spain and Portugal. While the outdoor patio is lovely, we’ll always opt for an inside table in Ultreia’s beautifully cozy and intimate dining room. The charcuterie board that’s available during happy hour (Monday through Friday, 3-6 pm) is a great way to sample multiple menu items at once. The pan con tomate, chorizo picante, manchego, and marinated olives are a delightful combination. Other menu highlights include the patatas bravas (when are these ever not a highlight when they’re on the menu?), the 4 year-aged jamón ibérico, Moorish spiced ribs, or the trout escabeche.

Read Next: 10 Best Indian Restaurants in Denver

6. Pony Up

Pony Up is first and foremost a French dip sandwich restaurant, with a recent addition of a fried chicken sandwich, plus a few snacky side options for support. The life-changing standout is a tie between the Frenchie or the Saigon, but you also can’t go wrong with the Alameda Street Classic. If you’re in the mood for a cheesy, rich sandwich, go for the Frenchie. The Saigon is perfect if you’re after something with a bit more spice and umami. Not dining alone? Order both and go halfsies. Open late (until 1 am!), Pony Up is among the best of LoDo and makes a fun late-night-out option when you’re feeling extra hungry.

5. The Kitchen

The Kitchen, located just off of 16th St Mall, is quietly serving up some of the best new American food in the city. The original Kitchen in Colorado is in Boulder, but this second location in Denver is an easy detour from shopping to go get some tasty bites at one of the best LoDo restaurants. The menu at The Kitchen ebbs and flows with the seasons, but a few highlights and staples include the grilled oysters, carrots (pictured above), hand-cut fries, and crispy cauliflower (some nice sweet-spicy play on Indian food). The nduja and rock shrimp are a mouth-watering combination found in the black spaghetti.

4. Stoic & Genuine

As a sister restaurant to Ultreia, it’s no surprise that you’re in good hands at seafood + oyster-focused restaurant Stoic & Genuine. Here at one of the best restaurants in LoDo you’ll find the freshest, most impeccably sourced seafood flown in from both east and west coast locales. Their version of happy hour is aptly named “Oyster Hour,” and from 2-5 pm daily, you’ll find a selection of oysters from both coasts to choose from in addition to a few other tasty menu choices.

Related: 12 Best Restaurants in Highlands Denver

3. Mercantile Dining & Provision

Another Union Station staple and sister restaurant to the amazing Fruition, Mercantile Dining & Provision is an all-day affair most days, serving up a farm-to-table menu experience with an elevated modern twist. There’s no one singularly great dish to order at Mercantile (you truly can’t go wrong), but the Korean fried chicken sandwich paired with fries makes an unforgettable choice, with just the right amount of spice to keep your taste buds tingling.

2. Tavernetta

Tavernetta, one of our favorite Italian restaurants in Denver, is an upscale dining experience worthy of your next special occasion celebration or just a nice night out, no excuse needed. Their modern yet warm interior has plenty of options depending on your mood–maybe a seat at the table by the fireplace. Or perhaps the table in the “eddy” right by the open kitchen (note this on your reservation if this is what you’re after). Tavernetta does do happy hour from 4-6 pm, with their full dinner offerings starting at 5 pm. A lighter offering on the HH menu includes the cacio e pepe. Surprisingly not on the dinner menu, it might just ruin any other cacio e pepe for you. Made with rigatoni to hold the sauce better, this cheesy dish ranks high on the comfort foods list and makes it worth arriving in time for happy hour. Follow it up with a seasonal veggie dish, more pasta (why not!), and be sure to end with a dolci bite or two.

1. Woodie Fisher

Located in one of the first fire stations in Denver (Woodie Fisher was the name of one of the first fire chiefs in the city) and the oldest remaining structure in the Union Station neighborhood, this old firehouse-turned-restaurant is one of the best LoDo restaurants in Denver. If you need to dine at a specific time, reservations are a good idea. However, if you can get there early enough (they open at 4 pm), there’s a good chance you’ll find a table with no problem. The main dining area is light, bright, and beautiful–skylights overhead with tall ceilings and a tree in the middle create a unique and peaceful ambiance. The menu is composed primarily of regional American dishes with notes of Mediterranean influence. With beautiful food in a beautiful atmosphere, Woodie Fisher is at the top of our guide to dining in Denver’s LoDo neighborhood.