If you like your burgers with a side of history, then you’ll want to pull up a chair at one of these classic Denver restaurants.
These are the icons of the Denver dining scene. The restaurants that have seen a thing or two hundred and keep on serving. They’ve withstood pandemics, recessions, the Atkins craze and the ‘80s. (For one spot, even the 1880s.)
Here, seven classic Denver restaurants that should be on everyone’s to-eat list.
My Brother’s Bar
You probably know My Brother’s Bar as the spot where beat poets Neal Cassady and Jack Kerouac hung out in the 1960s, but this dive’s history—it’s Denver’s oldest continuously operating watering hole—goes back even further. It originally opened in 1873 as a boarding house, rooming and feeding Italian immigrants. After some twists and turns along the way, most of which involved alcohol (even during Prohibition), the signless spot got its new moniker in the 1970s, when owners Jim and Angelo Karagas would dodge debt collectors by saying, “Don’t look at me, it’s my brother’s bar.” 2376 15th St., Denver
Cherry Cricket
There may be multiple Cherry Cricket locations now, but there’s nothing like Cherry Creek’s OG Cricket. Since 1945 they’ve been topping the city’s most iconic burgers with pretty much anything that could go on a slab of beef. Peanut butter? Easy. Corned beef? Sure, why not? A scoop of angry mac and cheese? We don’t know why you’d want that on a burger, but they’ll give it to you. Can’t decide? Throw some darts and come up with your own crazy combo. 2641 E. 2nd Ave., Denver
Columbine Steak House & Lounge
Denver may have shed its Cowtown reputation, but luckily there are still old-school steakhouses to satiate our carnivorous cravings. Columbine Steak House & Lounge might be the old schooliest of all, offering no wine list, no fancy sides or appetizers, and not much of an atmosphere either. What it’s done exceptionally well since 1961 is serve well-cooked hunks of meat at good prices, and frankly, that’s more than enough. 300 Federal Blvd., Denver
Buckhorn Exchange
This is the move for Rocky Mountain oysters, red chile-marinated rattlesnake and buffalo prime rib. But the, let’s just say different, protein options are just one of the reasons to hit this century-plus-year-old restaurant that claims to be Denver’s oldest restaurant. (The first liquor license issued by the state hangs on the wall.) The vibe at Buckhorn Exchange is pretty unique, too, full of so many stuffed jackalopes, animal heads, and ancient photos that you’ll feel like you’re at some sort of gourmet museum. 1000 Osage St., Denver
Sam’s No. 3
It’s impossible to choose a favorite dish at Sam’s No. 3; the menu reads 100+ items long after all. But it’s easy to choose this nearly 100-year-old diner for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It pleases every crowd, from the pickiest kids to foodie snobs to hangover nursers. And even though we said farewell to the Aurora Sam’s last year, the downtown pioneer serves on. 1500 Curtis St., Denver
Casa Bonita
It’s not like you can house something called Black Bart’s Cave, host cliff diving shows and serve sopaipillas by raising a flag and not be an icon. Of course a feature in a “South Park” episode and some famous new owners doesn’t hurt. Casa Bonita has been beckoning us to its Lakewood pink palace for 50 years, and while we may not exactly be going for the food, the experience is certainly unparalleled. 6715 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood
El Taco De Mexico
At just shy of 50 years old, there are older Mexican restaurants in Denver, but nothing matches the lore of El Taco De Mexico. That’s probably because deliciously porky green chile lore is the tastiest of all lores. There are no gimmicks at this little yellow restaurant, just reliably great tacos, tamales, and breakfast burritos (and yes, of course you want it drenched in that green chile). They’ve earned all their accolades, including a James Beard Classics Award, via the food coming out of the tiny kitchen, and if you haven’t stopped in over those past five decades, well, we don’t really believe you live in Denver. 714 Santa Fe Dr., Denver
