The best Thai food in Denver. Period. If you’ve ever lived in Denver, you already know or you should. I’ve brought it up in random conversations across the country, and every time, it’s the same reaction: a knowing nod and a look of longing. Even in Joshua Tree, chatting with a vintage store owner who used to live in Denver, I mentioned “the best Thai food in Denver is...” and before I could finish, he goes, “U.S. Thai.” It’s that legendary. 

A coworker wrote, “what is one of your favorite restaurants in the Denver Downtown area?” on our common area whiteboard, and we sure got some responses! I, unfortunately, have not yet had the chance to visit every single one of these places so if I haven't yet been, I've provided my gut-instinct opinion from perusing Google reviews. Next time you’re trying to choose a spot, take a look at the restaurants our members near Downtown Denver would recommend:

Casa Bonita is more than just a restaurant; it’s a full-fledged experience that combines dining with entertainment, making it a unique destination in its own right. Located in Lakewood, Colorado, Casa Bonita is a massive pink stucco building that stands out with its whimsical, almost theme-park-like atmosphere. The restaurant is famous for its immersive environment, complete with cliff divers, puppet shows, arcade games, and even a haunted cave.

Casa Bonita is unlike any other restaurant in Colorado. The interior is designed to resemble a Mexican village, complete with winding paths, cave-like rooms, and a waterfall that serves as the backdrop for the cliff divers. The attention to detail in the decor creates an immersive experience that’s both kitschy and charming.

Back in Kansas, where I’m from, we take our barbeque (BBQ) very seriously. I can still remember eating ribs at KC Masterpiece, no BBQ sauce needed because I was raised that you only need the sauce if the meat isn’t what it could be. As I got older, a pulled pork sandwich from Oklahoma Joe’s, which was actually out of a gas station, was all a BBQ lover could ask for. 

Now, like Dorothy, we’re not in Kansas anymore, but having lived in Idaho Springs, Colorado for almost 4 years, Smokin’ Yards has become the place that takes, at least our taste buds, back home. 

Every year for our anniversary, my husband and I like to splurge on a fancy meal. We love to explore new places, but I was reminded this November that the Old Hickory Steakhouse is one of our favorites for a reason!

My fiancé and I moved to Colorado from Southeast Kansas in the summer of 2018. It didn’t take long for us to realize, and fall in love with, the Denver social norm that is “Brunch”. To be honest, you Coloradoans had me at “Bottomless Mimosas” and “Breakfast for Lunch.”    

Fast forward three years to 2021, and we found ourselves experienced brunch connoisseurs living in the small touristy town of Idaho Springs, which is roughly a 30-minute drive west on I-70 from Denver and has a population of just over 1,800 residents. With it being on the way to ski towns like Silverthorne and Vail, traffic is often the worst part of living here, at least during the summer and ski season. One of the best things is that downtown, home to so many amazing local shops, bars, and restaurants, is less than a mile from my front porch. Choosing which restaurant to write about from all of these amazing local places wasn’t easy, but it’s Main Street Restaurant that has taken the cake, or pancake, I should say.