Breakfast, as they say, is the most important meal of the day, so don’t waste it on boring bowls of cereal or runny eggs. Tuck into fluffy omelets and buttermilk pancakes dripping with syrup, hearty breakfast burritos jammed with meat, cheese, peppers, and jalapeños, or healthy homemade granola topped with Greek yogurt, seeds, and fresh fruit. Whether you need a quick fuel-up before work or want to enjoy a long, lazy Sunday brunch with friends, here are some of the best places to go for breakfast or brunch in Denver.
Modern Market
Modern Market is a chain of café-style eateries that offers freshly made sandwiches, salads, and pizzas and a breakfast menu of traditional morning dishes. Breakfast plates include organic eggs, all-natural, nitrite-free breakfast meats, roasted breakfast potatoes or mixed salad, and multigrain toast with gluten-free toast options available. Other options range from breakfast sandwiches, scrambles with a variety of fillings such as spinach, tofu, bacon, and kale, and wholegrain waffles with apple, pear, and cinnamon. Grab-and-go sandwiches and fresh salads, yogurt parfaits, and fresh fruit salads are also on offer, as well as is a selection of cold and hot beverages.
Address: Modern Market, 14630 West Colfax Avenue, Suite 130, Lakewood, CO 80401, Phone: 303-278-8283
Jelly Cafe
The Jelly Cafe is a peppy coffee shop and breakfast spot based on Cap Hill that offers a sweet way to start the day. Boasting bright, quirky décor, leatherette booths, and a casual breakfast bar and stools, the casual café offers a range of breakfast favorites from pancakes and eggs Benny to hashes and Bloody Marys. Other breakfast treats include a variety of buttermilk pancakes, French toast, corn flake French toast, bananas Foster French toast, eggs Benedict and scrambles, and rich and creamy biscuits and gravy. The Jelly Café has two locations in Denver, on East Evans Avenue and in Capitol Hill, both of which are open for breakfast and lunch daily.
Address: Jelly Cafe, 600 E 13th Avenue, Denver, CO 80203, Phone: 303-831-6301
Onefold
Located in Uptown Denver, Onefold is a quaint farmhouse-style eatery that serves globally inspired breakfasts and creative café fare for lunch along with freshly baked pastries, cakes and treats, and house-roasted coffee. Boasting a cozy, chic atmosphere, Onefold opens early every day for breakfast and offers a menu of classic cuisine, such as crepes with seasonal berries, Noosa yogurt, and real maple syrup, breakfast burritos, eggs and hash browns fried in rich duck fat, and breakfast congee of rice porridge cooked in chicken stock and served with poached eggs, green onions, duck confit, tamari soy sauce, salted ginger, and chili oil. Drinks include freshly squeezed orange juice, fresh coconut juice, coffee and tea, Vietnamese coffee, and mimosas.
Address: Onefold, 1420 E 18th Ave, Denver, CO 80218, Phone: 303-954-0877
Syrup - Downtown
Founded by Milwaukee native and longtime barman Tim Doherty in Cherry Creek in 2010, Syrup has grown from the humble beginnings of a classic pancake house to a popular breakfast, brunch, and lunch chain with several locations around the country. As the name suggests, Syrup has a fantastic offering of sweet and syrupy treats such as pancakes, waffles, and French toast with a variety of toppings. The menu ventures further though with a range of Benedicts, omelets, and egg sandwiches as well as breakfast classics like steak and eggs, breakfast burritos, breakfast pizza, and yogurt parfait with homemade granola and fresh fruit. Syrup serves an extensive list of libations, from coffee and tea to signature cocktails and specialty barista drinks.
Address: Syrup - Downtown, 999 18th St #105, Denver, CO 80202, Phone: 720-708-5957
The Corner Office
Modern yet retro, sophisticated yet sexy, classic yet trendy, The Corner Office combines a nostalgic martini bar with the chic style of a downtown loft, equipped with an intimate lounge area and a stylish and sophisticated bar. Serving breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner along with a full-service bar menu of drinks and light fare, The Corner Office never fails to disappoint, whether you pop in for a quick coffee or head over for a romantic dinner. Weekday breakfasts offers traditional dishes such as a range of Benedicts, omelets, breakfast burritos, homemade granola, and fresh fruit, while weekend brunches are more extended affairs with a menu of globally inspired cuisine and cocktails to choose from, such as fresh salads, sandwiches, eggs dishes, prime cuts of meat served with a variety of vegetable sides, and decadent desserts.
Address: 1401 Curtis Street, Denver, CO 80202, Phone: 303-825-6500
Four Friends Kitchen
The Four Friends Kitchen is a friendly Stapleton stop that attracts consistent crowds who come to enjoy a variety of Southern-tinged delights with several variations on the standard grits dishes. The restaurant has a bright and modern dining room and a lovely rooftop patio for spring and summertime dining and presents a menu of home-kitchen favorites and breakfast staples such as smoked brisket hash and eggs, biscuits and gravy, and scratch buttermilk pancakes with fresh whipped butter and warm maple syrup. Other delights include berries and cream French toast and a Southwestern breakfast burrito with scrambled eggs, chorizo, blended cheese, refried beans, BBQ house potatoes, and red chili ranchero sauce.
Address: Four Friends Kitchen, 2893 Roslyn Street, Denver, CO 80202, Phone: 303-388-8299
City O' City
Located in Denver's Capitol Hill neighborhood, City O' City is a Bohemian café that serves a creative menu of traditional and vegetarian cuisine for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night dining. Classic breakfast dishes in the menu range from the Sardou, a Louisiana classic of two eggs or tofu and grilled artichoke hearts served with potatoes or quinoa, to the kimchi pancakes, which are topped with spicy kimchi, pickled carrots, and sweet soy sauce. City O' City also has a full-service bar that serves craft beers, signature cocktails, fine wines from around the world, and a selection of specialty coffees, both hot and iced.
Address: City O' City, 206 E 13th Ave, Denver, CO 80203, Phone: 303-831-6443
Lucile’s Creole Cafe
Originally founded in a beautiful pale-yellow Victorian house off Pearl Street in Boulder, Lucile’s Creole Cafe has been bringing delicious Southern Creole cooking to Denver for the past 38 years. The quaint eatery attracts loyal crowds for their delightful breakfast specialties and mouthwateringly warm beignets, which can be enjoyed in the homey interior or out on the lovely porch and patio, which boasts breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains. The menu features creative takes on traditional dishes such as New Orleans praline waffles with pecans, fruit, and fresh whipped cream; eggs Sardou served with creamed spinach, fresh Gulf shrimp, poached eggs, and hollandaise sauce; and blackened Atlantic salmon cooked Cajun style and served with two eggs, grits or potatoes, and a buttermilk biscuit. A cozy lounge next to the dining room is a comfortable spot for sipping Bloody Marys while you wait for a table.
Address: Lucile’s Creole Cafe, 275 S Logan Street, Denver, CO 80209, Phone: 303-282-6258
Moonlight Diner
Located on Tower Road, the Moonlight Diner is an authentic boxcar-shaped diner adorned with old-time memorabilia that serves a menu of classic diner food. The charming eatery takes customers back in time with a selection of traditional breakfast dishes, such as homemade meatloaf and corned beef hash, liver and onions, chicken-fried steak and eggs, breakfast burritos, and biscuits with sausage and gravy. Sweet treats on the menu include banana bread French toast, banana walnut, blueberry pancakes, and stacks of syrupy waffles as well as three-egg omelets and skillets for hungry diners. The delicious cuisine is accompanied by freshly roasted and brewed coffee, which can be enjoyed in-house or on the go, a variety of tea blends, fresh fruit juices, and sodas.
Address: Moonlight Diner, 6703, 6250 Tower Rd, Denver, CO 80249, Phone: 303-307-1750
Delectable Egg
The Delectable Egg has been proudly serving the greater Denver metropolitan area with comfort fare for early bird breakfast and lunch since 1982. There are several locations around the city, with some offering artists the opportunity to showcase their talent and others providing loyalty reward programs that offer free meals. The menu features favorite breakfast and brunch dishes, ranging from omelets, frittatas, breakfast sandwiches, and skillets packed with various fillings to sweeter plates such as stacks of syrupy pancakes, thick waffles smothered in cream, eggy French toast, and French-inspired crepes filled with sweet and savory selections.
Address: Delectable Egg, 1625 Court Place, Denver, CO 80202, Phone: 303-892-5720
Pete’s Kitchen
Pete’s Kitchen is a comfortable, reliable, and unpretentious café that is open 24/7 and serves simple comfort food throughout the day and night. The classic Greek family-owned and operated diner has been a staple in the community for decades, with traditional dishes like breakfast burritos, enormous sandwiches, wraps and gyros, burgers, chicken-fried steak and fries, fish and chips, shrimp baskets, and chicken kabobs, along with a range of sides such as tortillas, hash browns, dolmades, onion rings, salsa, corned beef hash, and golden fries. Pete’s makes its own hot sauces, which pair perfectly with creamy breakfast potatoes or juicy hamburgers, and beverages range from hot coffee and tea to fresh fruit juices and sodas.
Address: Pete’s Kitchen, 1962 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206, Phone: 303-321-3139
Root Down
Root Down is a friendly café that aims to bring the neighborhood together through fantastic food and a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The converted filling station boasts bright and quirky décor with comfortable seating and artful pieces on the walls and offers a colorful menu of globally influenced seasonal cuisine with a focus on organic, natural, and locally sourced ingredients. Tuck into hearty brunches of eggs Benedict, fried chicken and goats cheese biscuit, open-faced smoked brisket sandwich, mushroom and herb omelet, and Vietnamese almond pancakes. Root Down features an extensive wine list, thoughtful beer offerings, and specialty cocktails, including bottomless mimosas.
Address: Root Down, 1600 W 33rd Ave, Denver, CO 80211, Phone: 303-993-4200
Sam's No. 3
Sam's No. 3 is a classic diner dating back to the early 1920s that features kitsch décor, leatherette booths, family-friendly menus, and a warm and welcoming ambiance. In true all-American diner style, the eatery serves up huge helpings of comfort food from breakfast through dinner, with over 100 mouthwatering items from which to choose. Weekday early-bird specials range from breakfast burritos, country-fried steak and eggs, Denver omelets, and pork chops and eggs to breakfast specials such as apple chicken sausage and eggs, fried trout and eggs, hand-rolled chili rellenos, gyros, souvlaki, and grilled ham steaks. A wide range of coffees is available, along with fresh fruit juices, sodas, mimosas, and Bloody Marys.
Address: Sam's No. 3, 1500 Curtis Street, Denver, CO 80202, Phone: 303-534-1927
Denver Biscuit Company
Growing from the humble beginnings of a food truck known as the Biscuit Bus, the Denver Biscuit Company has expanded into one of the favorite breakfast spots in town. Now with several locations around the city, the Denver Biscuit Company serves a range of buttermilk biscuit sandwiches, including the Cordon Bleu, which features fried chicken, ham, cheese, and local Colorado honey butter, and the Sherman, which is stacked with iceberg lettuce, bacon, tomato, and an egg. The menu also features a variety of biscuit plates, such as shrimp and grits, French toast, biscuits and gravy, and giant biscuit cinnamon rolls.
Address: Denver Biscuit Company, 3237 E Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO 80206, Phone: 303-377-7900
Snooze
Founded by brothers Jon and Adam Schlegel in 2006, Snooze offers an early morning dining experience like no other. Boasting several locations around the country, the family-friendly eateries have stylish décor with comfortable seating, eclectic and energetic vibes, outstanding cuisine for all tastes, and warm and welcoming service with a smile. The menu features regular favorites such as plenty of eggs dishes, from scrambles to Benedicts, breakfast burritos, sandwiches, and tacos and wraps along with shining stars such as the pineapple upside-down cake pancakes, Nana’s Hot Cocoa Pancakes, and the OMG French toast. Lighter and healthier bites include egg white frittatas, quinoa breakfast bowls, house-made granola with Greek yogurt, and a fresh fall harvest salad.
Address: Snooze, 700 Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO 80206, Phone: 303-736-6200
Ellyngton’s
Located in an elegant corner of the Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, Ellyngton’s is a stylishly appointed and beautifully decorated restaurant that serves power breakfasts, business lunches, and a legendary Dom Perignon Sunday Brunch, at which the champagne flows untapped. Serving a brunch buffet spread that is just as sumptuous as the surroundings, Ellyngton’s features made-to-order omelet and waffle stations, pastry stations overflowing with freshly baked, mouthwatering pastries, cakes, and other sweet treats, carvery sections heaving with prime cut meats and vegetables, and fresh seafood tables of sushi and salads. The award-winning cuisine is served with a selection of fresh fruit juices, mimosas, Champagne, and house-roasted coffee varieties.
Address: Ellyngton’s, 321 17th St, Denver, CO 80202, Phone: 303-297-3111
