The Mile High City is known for its no-frills diners where the coffee is steaming, the food is homemade and the service is friendly. In addition to the long-running local favorites, there are also some great newcomers that put a novel spin on the classics.
Downtown
Steuben’s
Created by the team behind Ace Eat Serve, Steuben's is a neighborhood restaurant serving innovative spins on classic American comfort food. Signature items include the lobster roll, deviled eggs, Cubano sandwich, fried chicken and waffles and the green chili cheeseburger. Come see what Bon Appétit, The New York Times and 5280 have all been raving about.
Sam's No. 3 Diner and Bar
Serving some of Denver's favorite comfort food since 1927, Sam’s No. 3 Diner and Bar is located just steps away from the 16th Street Mall, the Denver Performing Arts Complex and the Colorado Convention Center. Where else but Sam's No. 3 can you find a full coffee and espresso bar, breakfast, lunch, dinner and Denver's famous “Hammer Bar”?
Snooze an A.M. Eatery
Start your day with seasonal, from-scratch menu items in a mid-century modern diner setting. Enjoy breakfast classics with a twist, from Benedicts to Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes, at numerous locations, including Snooze Ballpark and Snooze Union Station. This homegrown chain has restaurants up and down the Front Range.
River North Art District (RiNo)
Butcher Block Cafe
Family-owned for more than 40 years, the trio of Butcher Block Cafes serve small-town diner fare in Denver. They do it all early, too, as the house-specialty cinnamon rolls (and smothered breakfast burritos, steak n’ eggs and everything else) are available mornings beginning at 5 a.m.
East Colfax
Pete's Kitchen
This legendary Colfax greasy spoon is great for a quick bite, whether you want a burger, a stack of pancakes, a gyro or just a cup of coffee. Bonus: The burners are on 24 hours on the weekends.
South Denver
Spanky's Roadhouse
This retro-urban diner near the University of Denver serves up elevated comfort food for lunch and dinner. Guests also flock to Spanky's weekend brunch, featuring a bottomless mimosa bar and a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar.
Chef Zorba's
This classic diner with a Greek twist has been Congress Park’s go-to for fluffy pancakes and shaved-off-the-spit-to-order gyros since 1979. Grab a seat at the lunch counter to watch all the action, or settle into a comfy booth with a steaming cup of coffee or glass of cold beer. Like any good diner, breakfast is available anytime.
Near Denver
Great Scotts Eatery
Happy days are here again! Great Scotts Eatery is an American burger restaurant whose motif pays homage to the beloved American diners of the 1940s and 1950s. The diner’s vintage decor includes jukeboxes, chrome accents, red-and-white vinyl seats, custom artwork and period memorabilia—and the wait staff is dressed the part, too.
Davies' Chuck Wagon Diner
Saddle up for a short ride to Lakewood—it’s worth the trip just to see this piece of Americana, with its apron-clad cowboy sign and the larger-than-life horse statue above the entryway. On the menu, you’ll find standard diner fare like burgers and fries along with specialties such as chicken-fried steak.
Pictured: Steuben's