For a little more than a decade, Paperboy has been serving up delicious breakfast and lunch fare in Austin, Texas. Now, the popular restaurant is heading north.
Paperboy is now open in Denver’s West Highland neighborhood, its first expansion outside of Texas and its third location overall.
The concept dates back to 2016, when founder Ryan Harms launched a food truck on Austin’s east side. Paperboy proved so popular that he opened the first brick-and-mortar version of the eatery in 2020. After getting “Best Brunch” nods from both Austin Monthly and The Austin Chronicle, Paperboy opened a second Austin location in the summer of 2025.
The new location will be led by executive chef Pat Jackson, who helped shape Paperboy’s culinary identity in Austin and has relocated to Denver to take the helm. Harms and Jackson met more than 10 years ago while opening The Lark with Acme Hospitality in Santa Barbara, and later teamed back up to bring the Paperboy to life in Texas. Together, they formed Daybreak Hospitality, the company that’s also behind the Texas restaurant concept Loudmouth.
“Colorado has always felt like a second home—I’ve spent years snowboarding in Breckenridge and enjoying the outdoor recreation,” says Jackson. “Now, being able to share that lifestyle with my family while opening Paperboy’s location here in Denver is a dream come true. I’m incredibly excited to put down roots in Denver, not just as a chef, but as an active member of this inspiring food and beverage community, collaborating with local chefs, supporting neighborhood events and finding ways to give back to the purveyors that make this city so special.”
Jackson is joined by longtime business partner Robert Brown, who has lived in Denver for nearly a decade. The team believes breakfast, lunch, coffee and cocktails deserve the same care and creativity as any fine dining experience—just without all the fuss. That approach will undoubtedly resonate in Denver, a city known for its casual, laid-back nature.
“We love this neighborhood because it’s still close to downtown but has its own unique and relaxed vibe,” says Brown. “People know their neighbors, they show up to community events, they’re invested in this place in a way that feels increasingly rare. That sense of connection is something Paperboy has always tried to foster, and we’re honored to be a part of it here in Denver.”
In West Highland, Paperboy occupies a sun-drenched, 3,000-square-foot space with 75 indoor seats and 20-seat patio. The restaurant was designed by Kempt Studio, which combined natural textures, lush greenery and curated artwork with Paperboy’s signature blue and butter-yellow palette.
The menu features Paperboy brunch staples, including the Chicken & Biscuit drizzled with spicy honey, the Texas Hash made with roasted pork, sweet potato, onion, kale, poached egg and pecan mole and the Paperboy Pancake, a cake-forward cornmeal pancake that still manages to be impossibly fluffy.
These fan-favorite dishes are complemented by shareables like the Chorizo & Potato Empanada and seasonal Pop Tarts, as well as sandwiches like the B.E.C.—smoked bacon, house-made pimento cheese, jalapeño jam, arugula and a sunny egg. Meanwhile, rotating specials highlight local producers and seasonal ingredients.
Another highlight: the Cinnamon Toast, a sophisticated twist on the beloved cereal.
“Cinnamon toast was the breakfast of my childhood, and this is my ode to it,” says Jackson. “We’ve taken that familiar comfort and elevated it with whipped mascarpone icing, walnut streusel and flaky salt—sweet, decadent and deeply satisfying.”
The beverage program includes specialty coffee drinks and espresso beverages, local beers, fresh-squeezed juices and a variety of cocktails. Highlights include the Paperboy Paloma and Uncle Jesse, a rum-forward pour with orange, pineapple, orgeat and Crème de Banana.
For those skipping the booze, the restaurant also offers an array of mocktails. The Strawberry Patch is a blend of strawberry basil shrub and sparkling water, while the Lost & Found features Pathfinder N/A spirit, apple cider vinegar, basil, lemon, ginger beer, strawberry and cucumber.
“Our mission at Paperboy has always been to create meaningful connections by making great food and taking good care of people,” says Harms. “West Highland feels like the perfect fit for Paperboy—it’s not only adjacent to downtown but it also embodies the tight-knit sense of community that inspired our journey from the very beginning.”
