When the air turns crisp in Denver, nothing warms the spirit quite like a mug of cocoa or a glass of crisp cider.
Luckily, cozy corners abound in the Mile High City, with local purveyors creating new and traditional takes on fall’s most comforting drinks. Whether you’re craving an old-fashioned hot chocolate, a steamy toddy or a cold sip of hard apple cider, these seven local spots can soothe the soul.
The Chocolate Therapist
This charming Littleton chocolate shop was founded by certified nutrition educator and chocolate lover Julie Nygard, who built the Chocolate Therapist on the belief that good chocolate can be good for you. Inside the cozy shop, you’ll find small-batch, all-natural confections made on-site, along with rich sipping chocolate, espresso drinks and even a self-serve wine bar where guests can pair reds and whites with handcrafted truffles. Stop in for a steaming cup of hot chocolate, pick up a few bars to take home and toast to the sweetest kind of self-care.
Part family legacy, part neighborhood refuge, Waldschänke Ciders brings a taste of Swiss hospitality to Denver’s Sunnyside neighborhood. Founded by the Dufresne family and inspired by their grandfather’s woodland tavern in Romanshorn, Switzerland, this cidery and coffeehouse is the rare spot where you can start your day with a locally roasted espresso and end it with a hot spiced cider or crisp European-style pour. The cozy taproom and café serve Alpine-inspired fare—from rösti and flatbreads to breakfast sandwiches—and their rotating ciders are dry, fruit-forward and deeply personal.
Stella’s Coffee Haus
Tucked along charming South Pearl Street, Stella’s Coffee Haus has been a beloved neighborhood gathering spot since 1991. This family-run café feels like home the moment you step inside—or better yet, when you settle onto the patio beside one of the fire pits with a steaming mug of cocoa in hand. The vibe is casual and welcoming; the kind of place where baristas remember your name and order. Walk in for a cozy afternoon of work or conversation, and you might just find yourself becoming a regular.
Haykin Family Cider
Founded by husband-and-wife team Talia and Daniel Haykin, this small-batch cidery transforms handpicked apples from family-run orchards across the country into elegant, effervescent ciders reminiscent of sparkling wine. Each pour—whether the crisp Pink Lady, silky Yarlington Mill or the lush Golden Russet—celebrates the apple’s character and terroir. Stop by the Aurora tasting room to sample a curated flight or a pour of their celebrated Methode Ancestrale Gravenstein—a dry cider made with a multi-century heirloom apple from Denmark that carries notes of white grapes, lemon and gooseberries.
Maria Empanada
At Maria Empanada, every bite—and every sip—tells a story. Founder Lorena Cantarovici built her beloved Argentinian bakery from just $300 and a dream, channeling generations of Marías in her family who taught her to cook. The café is best known for its flaky, hand-folded empanadas, but when the weather turns chilly, pair your pastry with a submarino de chocolate—a traditional Argentine treat where drinkers sink a bar of dark chocolate into a glass of steaming milk, stirring until the chocolate melts into a rich and velvety hot cocoa. It’s comfort in its purest form.
More than a café, Table Public House is a gathering place where good food and good company go hand in hand. Owned and operated by the Table Urban Farm—a nonprofit micro-farm that grows fresh produce across shared plots in south Denver—this hub serves nourishment and community in equal measure. Stop by for a rich cup of hot chocolate or locally roasted coffee in the morning, then return later for craft cider, beer or wine on tap. With every sip, 100 percent of proceeds support the Table’s mission to build authentic community and expand access to healthy food.
Pull up a stool at Aurora’s newest cider taphouse and a love letter to the untamed spirit (and apples) of the old west. Small-batch ciders range from crisp and classic to boldly inventive—think Palisade peach, blueberry jalapeno or maple bourbon. The vibe is lively, with a long community table that regularly hosts live music, trivia nights and craft nights. Cozy up with the Spark, a cider hot toddy made with cider, chai tea, bourbon and vanilla, or sip your way through a seasonal flight of creative pours.
