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Bone-in ribeye — Guard and Grace’s bone-in ribeye.

18 Downtown Lunch Options for Every Occasion

From the downhome to the upmarket

by Ruth Tobias and Eater Staff Updated Aug 12, 2022, 6:08pm MDT

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Guard and Grace’s bone-in ribeye.

| TAG Restaurant Group

by Ruth Tobias and Eater Staff Updated Aug 12, 2022, 6:08pm MDT

With so many standout dining destinations packed into a single square mile, downtown Denver is no place for a brown-bag lunch. Just outside those office doors awaits a little bit of everything: If time is of the essence, fast-casual spots like Onefold fill the bill, while client meetings might call for a bottle of wine at Tavernetta or a filet at Guard and Grace.

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Onefold

Where else in Denver can you find barbacoa tacos, duck fried rice, and burgers all on the same menu? That’s a trick question, because the answer doesn’t matter — this daytime-only charmer does eclecticism best, guaranteed (and in much more spacious digs than its Uptown location).

1919 19th St, Denver, CO 80202

Carne asada with rice and guacamole — Onefold’s carne asada bowl.

Also featured in:

Three Saints Revival

Copious eye candy is on the menu at this wildly decorated Mediterranean spot in the Hotel Indigo, so it’s bound to disarm even the most jaded out-of-town guest at a glance. And speaking of sweet things: While small plates, salads, and sandwiches of all kinds are the main event here, be sure to save room for the delectable dessert called coconut tocinillo del cielo.

1801 Wewatta St, Denver, CO 80202

Lamb meatballs — Lamb meatballs at Three Saints Revival.

Mercantile Dining & Provision

Though lunch at chef Alex Seidel’s contemporary Union Station destination is a more casual affair than dinner, it’s every bit as carefully executed, so by all means bring clients to share a little of everything — starting with the top-notch charcuterie and cheese board, continuing on through sandwiches like the Wagyu pastrami or perhaps fusilli with pesto and pickled chard stems, and finishing with sweets from sister bakery füdmill. Seating at the bar in the midst of the action, meanwhile, makes for a charming daytime date.

1701 Wynkoop St, Denver, CO 80202

Parker House rolls with butter — Don’t miss the Parker House rolls at Mercantile.

Also featured in:

Ultreia

Inside one of the most dazzling dining rooms in town or out on the colorful patio overlooking the comings and goings around Union Station, this Iberian-inspired “gastroteka” from the powerhouse team of Jennifer Jasinski and Beth Gruitch is sure to captivate colleagues from the get-go. The food only seals the deal: Graze on an array of tapas both classic (pan con tomate) and creative (chicken-liver mousse with pistachio dukkah, pickled mustard seeds, and cherries); split a sandwich like the superb fried trout with Basque chile aioli and curtido on a potato bun; and/or splurge on at least one imported tin of seafood, be it Portuguese sardines or Spanish squid in its own ink.

Search for reservations

Capital One Dining

Book primetime tables set aside exclusively for eligible Capital One cardholders. Capital One Dining is the presenting partner of the Eater app .

1701 Wynkoop St #125, Denver, CO 80202

Also featured in:

Tavernetta

See and be seen at this highly acclaimed — and ultra-stylish — Italian restaurant in Union Station from the Frasca Hospitality Group, where the two-course, weekday-only prix fixe ($35) includes soup or salad along with entrees such as porchetta on ciabatta with smoked ricotta and rapini or grilled prawns with escarole and fennel in citrus vinaigrette. Desserts like the signature tiramisù are a la carte but no less warranted for that (as is a primo glass of wine or two).

1889 16th St Mall, Denver, CO 80202

Italian sandwich with giardiniera and Aperol spritz — Tavernetta’s two-course lunch is perhaps best served with an Aperol spritz.

Also featured in:

Stoic & Genuine

This Union Station stunner is an oceanic oasis at the edge of the Rockies, right down to the wraparound octopus mural. Led by Jennifer Jasinski, the kitchen runs on a parallel track: classic coastal comforts such as lobster rolls, shrimp po'boys, and fish and chips on the one hand, refined seasonal dishes like scallop bruschetta and octopus “mortadella” in candied lemon vinaigrette on the other.

1701 Wynkoop St, Denver, CO 80202

Tuna melt with fries — Stoic & Genuine’s tuna melt.

Also featured in:

BRUTØ

Though it also offers à la carte dining, the ever-changing four-course tasting menu ($55) presented during weekend-only lunch service at Kelly Whitaker’s chef’s counter in Dairy Block is the way to go for an intimate, memorable, and educational as well as epicurean experience. Building it around grains, fermentation, and chiles, Michael Diaz de Leon turns everything from tacos and huaraches to crudos and pastas — not to mention the signature piada bread — into intricate works of art that have to be seen, tasted, and appreciated.

Search for reservations

Capital One Dining

Book primetime tables set aside exclusively for eligible Capital One cardholders. Capital One Dining is the presenting partner of the Eater app .

1801 Blake St, Denver, CO 80202

Mushroom tamale — Tamal de setas with salsa verde at BRUTØ.

Also featured in:

Water Grill Denver

An extensive raw bar; saltwater tanks filled with lobster and crab; the charcoal-grilled catch of the day; stews ranging from clam chowder to cioppino; composed plates like pan-roasted halibut cheeks in brown butter–lemon sauce — the list goes on. Sheer seafood variety is what this California transplant has to offer during its just-launched lunch service.

1691 Market St, Denver, CO 80202

Nachos topped with hamachi — Water Grill’s hamachi nachos.

Also featured in:

Where to Dine Out (or Order In) in Denver for Thanksgiving

ChoLon

Lon Symensma’s swanky LoDo flagship impresses with impeccable service and creative Southeast Asian-influenced fare, including the now-iconic kaya toast and French onion soup dumplings as well as smoked tamarind–glazed spare ribs with green papaya salad and Indonesian-style fried rice with pork belly and heirloom tomatoes. (For a more casual take on the same cuisine, ChoLon sibling YumCha just around the corner dishes up seven or eight different types of dumplings at any given time along with kicky twists on old-school favorites such as crispy pig’s ear pad Thai and Wagyu beef and broccoli chow fun.)

Search for reservations

OpenTable

1555 Blake St, Denver, CO 80202

Singaporean-style kaya toast — Lon Symensma’s famous kaya toast.

Also featured in:

D'Corazon

Splitting the difference between Tex-Mex (fajitas, chimichangas) and Colo-Mex (thick green chile, burrito-like “Mexican hamburgers”), this Larimer Street joint is as busy as it is beloved for big portions, hard-to-beat prices, and the premium it puts on pure comfort, from the frozen margaritas onward.

1530 Blake St, Denver, CO 80202

Also featured in:

Where to Find Denver’s Best Mexican Food

Chez Maggy

At celeb chef Ludo Lefebvre’s French retreat in the Thompson Denver, brunch isn’t just for weekends anymore: Smoked salmon tartines and avocado croque monsieurs await side by side with onion soup gratinée and moules frites, and midday mimosas go down as easy as glasses of Chablis and Beaujolais.

Search for reservations

SevenRooms

1616 Market St, Denver, CO 80202

Array of brunch plates — Weekday brunch is served at Chez Maggy.

Also featured in:

Osteria Marco

Pasta, pizza, and panini, per favore: Frank Bonanno’s subterranean Italian joint beneath Larimer Square presents all three with pizzazz, from signature dishes like wild mushroom fusilli and eggplant parm on ciabatta to seasonal ones like the fig-and-gorgonzola pie. Do as the Romans (or at least the regulars here) do and start with the lemon-grilled artichoke.

Search for reservations

OpenTable

1453 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80202

Italian dishes seen from overhead — A typical spread at Osteria Marco.

Also featured in:

Apple Blossom

Brother-and-sister team Paul and Aileen Reilly were pioneers in the local farm-to-table movement, and they continue to carry its torch at Apple Blossom, located in the Hyatt Centric Downtown Denver. While the burger’s a banger, as are the hand-cut fries with beet ketchup, the kitchen also excels at more elegant fare, like burrata with corn, maitakes, and maple-buttermilk cornbread or the signature gumbo with duck-bourbon sausage, Carolina broken rice, and pickled kohlrabi.

822 18th St, Denver, CO 80202

Fried chicken-thigh sandwich with fries — Apple Blossom’s fried chicken-thigh sandwich.

Also featured in:

Where to Eat and Drink on a Denver Rooftop

Guard and Grace

Tuesday through Thursday, Troy Guard’s glitzy modern steakhouse is the midday hub for high rollers. Chops are tops, but there’s also a serious raw bar selection, along with more daytime-casual fare. The oak-grilled octopus is a favorite, as are the hefty bacon cheeseburger and the triple chocolate-chip cookies.

Search for reservations

OpenTable

1801 California St, Denver, CO 80202

Filet mignon — Filet mignon at Guard and Grace.

Also featured in:

Sam's No. 3 Downtown

For a crowd with mixed tastes, there’s nothing better than a classic diner. This one fills the bill with a colossal menu offering everything from all-day breakfast (think pecan waffles, corned beef hash and eggs, and bison skillets) to Greek and Mexican eats (think souvlaki, burritos, and souvlaki-stuffed burritos) to burgers, chili dogs, fish and chips, and so on. Wash it all down with loaded Bloodies or monster milkshakes.

1500 Curtis Street, Denver, CO 80202

Tablescape with sandwiches, salads, pancakes, fries, and more — Get a little of everything at Sam’s No. 3.

Mint Indian Restaurant and Lounge

The downtown crowd has come to rely on this Indian kitchen’s ample lunch buffet, but if it’s a quiet day at the office, there’s some time to order off the regular menu. A wide variety of regional curries spans the subcontinent, while uncommon specialties include pani puri and chicken Shahjahani; Mint is also strong on vegetarian dishes like the baigare baigan (eggplant in tamarind gravy) and mushroom mutter.

1531 Stout St #130, Denver, CO 80202

Chole bhature — Chicken chettinad curry at Mint.

Also featured in:

9 Flavorful Indian and South Asian Restaurants in Denver

Liang's Thai Food

The wait at this stall on the 16th Street Mall can last as long as the lunch hour itself, but anyone in line will swear up and down that the cooked-to-order noodles, curries, and stir-fries are worth every minute. Word to the uninitiated: Medium feels hot.

California St &, 16th St Mall, Denver, CO 80202

Chicken pad Thai — Liang’s chicken pad Thai.

Also featured in:

Denver’s 14 Essential Thai Restaurants Right Now

Kealoha's BBQ

Spam musubi, loco moco, lilikoi ribs, macaroni salad, and all, this tiny 16th Street Mall kiosk delivers a taste of the islands to landlocked downtown, making for a lunchtime luau in the good old cubicle.

500 16th Street Mall Space 1 (between bus lanes fronting H&M and 3 Margaritas Corner of Glenarm and, 16th St Mall, Denver, CO 80202

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Onefold

1919 19th St, Denver, CO 80202

Where else in Denver can you find barbacoa tacos, duck fried rice, and burgers all on the same menu? That’s a trick question, because the answer doesn’t matter — this daytime-only charmer does eclecticism best, guaranteed (and in much more spacious digs than its Uptown location).

1919 19th St, Denver, CO 80202

Visit Website

Carne asada with rice and guacamole — Onefold’s carne asada bowl.

Three Saints Revival

1801 Wewatta St, Denver, CO 80202

Copious eye candy is on the menu at this wildly decorated Mediterranean spot in the Hotel Indigo, so it’s bound to disarm even the most jaded out-of-town guest at a glance. And speaking of sweet things: While small plates, salads, and sandwiches of all kinds are the main event here, be sure to save room for the delectable dessert called coconut tocinillo del cielo.

1801 Wewatta St, Denver, CO 80202

Visit Website

Lamb meatballs — Lamb meatballs at Three Saints Revival.

Mercantile Dining & Provision

1701 Wynkoop St, Denver, CO 80202

Though lunch at chef Alex Seidel’s contemporary Union Station destination is a more casual affair than dinner, it’s every bit as carefully executed, so by all means bring clients to share a little of everything — starting with the top-notch charcuterie and cheese board, continuing on through sandwiches like the Wagyu pastrami or perhaps fusilli with pesto and pickled chard stems, and finishing with sweets from sister bakery füdmill. Seating at the bar in the midst of the action, meanwhile, makes for a charming daytime date.

1701 Wynkoop St, Denver, CO 80202

Visit Website

Parker House rolls with butter — Don’t miss the Parker House rolls at Mercantile.

Ultreia

1701 Wynkoop St #125, Denver, CO 80202

Inside one of the most dazzling dining rooms in town or out on the colorful patio overlooking the comings and goings around Union Station, this Iberian-inspired “gastroteka” from the powerhouse team of Jennifer Jasinski and Beth Gruitch is sure to captivate colleagues from the get-go. The food only seals the deal: Graze on an array of tapas both classic (pan con tomate) and creative (chicken-liver mousse with pistachio dukkah, pickled mustard seeds, and cherries); split a sandwich like the superb fried trout with Basque chile aioli and curtido on a potato bun; and/or splurge on at least one imported tin of seafood, be it Portuguese sardines or Spanish squid in its own ink.

1701 Wynkoop St #125, Denver, CO 80202

Visit Website

Tavernetta

1889 16th St Mall, Denver, CO 80202

See and be seen at this highly acclaimed — and ultra-stylish — Italian restaurant in Union Station from the Frasca Hospitality Group, where the two-course, weekday-only prix fixe ($35) includes soup or salad along with entrees such as porchetta on ciabatta with smoked ricotta and rapini or grilled prawns with escarole and fennel in citrus vinaigrette. Desserts like the signature tiramisù are a la carte but no less warranted for that (as is a primo glass of wine or two).

1889 16th St Mall, Denver, CO 80202

Visit Website

Italian sandwich with giardiniera and Aperol spritz — Tavernetta’s two-course lunch is perhaps best served with an Aperol spritz.

Stoic & Genuine

1701 Wynkoop St, Denver, CO 80202

This Union Station stunner is an oceanic oasis at the edge of the Rockies, right down to the wraparound octopus mural. Led by Jennifer Jasinski, the kitchen runs on a parallel track: classic coastal comforts such as lobster rolls, shrimp po'boys, and fish and chips on the one hand, refined seasonal dishes like scallop bruschetta and octopus “mortadella” in candied lemon vinaigrette on the other.

1701 Wynkoop St, Denver, CO 80202

Visit Website

Tuna melt with fries — Stoic & Genuine’s tuna melt.

BRUTØ

1801 Blake St, Denver, CO 80202

Though it also offers à la carte dining, the ever-changing four-course tasting menu ($55) presented during weekend-only lunch service at Kelly Whitaker’s chef’s counter in Dairy Block is the way to go for an intimate, memorable, and educational as well as epicurean experience. Building it around grains, fermentation, and chiles, Michael Diaz de Leon turns everything from tacos and huaraches to crudos and pastas — not to mention the signature piada bread — into intricate works of art that have to be seen, tasted, and appreciated.

Open in Google Maps

1801 Blake St, Denver, CO 80202

Visit Website

Mushroom tamale — Tamal de setas with salsa verde at BRUTØ.

Water Grill Denver

1691 Market St, Denver, CO 80202

An extensive raw bar; saltwater tanks filled with lobster and crab; the charcoal-grilled catch of the day; stews ranging from clam chowder to cioppino; composed plates like pan-roasted halibut cheeks in brown butter–lemon sauce — the list goes on. Sheer seafood variety is what this California transplant has to offer during its just-launched lunch service.

1691 Market St, Denver, CO 80202

Visit Website

Nachos topped with hamachi — Water Grill’s hamachi nachos.

ChoLon

1555 Blake St, Denver, CO 80202

Lon Symensma’s swanky LoDo flagship impresses with impeccable service and creative Southeast Asian-influenced fare, including the now-iconic kaya toast and French onion soup dumplings as well as smoked tamarind–glazed spare ribs with green papaya salad and Indonesian-style fried rice with pork belly and heirloom tomatoes. (For a more casual take on the same cuisine, ChoLon sibling YumCha just around the corner dishes up seven or eight different types of dumplings at any given time along with kicky twists on old-school favorites such as crispy pig’s ear pad Thai and Wagyu beef and broccoli chow fun.)

1555 Blake St, Denver, CO 80202

Visit Website

Singaporean-style kaya toast — Lon Symensma’s famous kaya toast.

D'Corazon

1530 Blake St, Denver, CO 80202

Splitting the difference between Tex-Mex (fajitas, chimichangas) and Colo-Mex (thick green chile, burrito-like “Mexican hamburgers”), this Larimer Street joint is as busy as it is beloved for big portions, hard-to-beat prices, and the premium it puts on pure comfort, from the frozen margaritas onward.

1530 Blake St, Denver, CO 80202

Visit Website

Chez Maggy

1616 Market St, Denver, CO 80202

At celeb chef Ludo Lefebvre’s French retreat in the Thompson Denver, brunch isn’t just for weekends anymore: Smoked salmon tartines and avocado croque monsieurs await side by side with onion soup gratinée and moules frites, and midday mimosas go down as easy as glasses of Chablis and Beaujolais.

1616 Market St, Denver, CO 80202

Visit Website

Array of brunch plates — Weekday brunch is served at Chez Maggy.

Osteria Marco

1453 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80202

Pasta, pizza, and panini, per favore: Frank Bonanno’s subterranean Italian joint beneath Larimer Square presents all three with pizzazz, from signature dishes like wild mushroom fusilli and eggplant parm on ciabatta to seasonal ones like the fig-and-gorgonzola pie. Do as the Romans (or at least the regulars here) do and start with the lemon-grilled artichoke.

1453 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80202

Visit Website

Italian dishes seen from overhead — A typical spread at Osteria Marco.

Apple Blossom

822 18th St, Denver, CO 80202

Brother-and-sister team Paul and Aileen Reilly were pioneers in the local farm-to-table movement, and they continue to carry its torch at Apple Blossom, located in the Hyatt Centric Downtown Denver. While the burger’s a banger, as are the hand-cut fries with beet ketchup, the kitchen also excels at more elegant fare, like burrata with corn, maitakes, and maple-buttermilk cornbread or the signature gumbo with duck-bourbon sausage, Carolina broken rice, and pickled kohlrabi.

822 18th St, Denver, CO 80202

Visit Website

Fried chicken-thigh sandwich with fries — Apple Blossom’s fried chicken-thigh sandwich.

Guard and Grace

1801 California St, Denver, CO 80202

Tuesday through Thursday, Troy Guard’s glitzy modern steakhouse is the midday hub for high rollers. Chops are tops, but there’s also a serious raw bar selection, along with more daytime-casual fare. The oak-grilled octopus is a favorite, as are the hefty bacon cheeseburger and the triple chocolate-chip cookies.

1801 California St, Denver, CO 80202

Visit Website

Filet mignon — Filet mignon at Guard and Grace.

Sam's No. 3 Downtown

1500 Curtis Street, Denver, CO 80202

For a crowd with mixed tastes, there’s nothing better than a classic diner. This one fills the bill with a colossal menu offering everything from all-day breakfast (think pecan waffles, corned beef hash and eggs, and bison skillets) to Greek and Mexican eats (think souvlaki, burritos, and souvlaki-stuffed burritos) to burgers, chili dogs, fish and chips, and so on. Wash it all down with loaded Bloodies or monster milkshakes.

1500 Curtis Street, Denver, CO 80202

Visit Website

Tablescape with sandwiches, salads, pancakes, fries, and more — Get a little of everything at Sam’s No. 3.

Related Maps

Mint Indian Restaurant and Lounge

1531 Stout St #130, Denver, CO 80202

The downtown crowd has come to rely on this Indian kitchen’s ample lunch buffet, but if it’s a quiet day at the office, there’s some time to order off the regular menu. A wide variety of regional curries spans the subcontinent, while uncommon specialties include pani puri and chicken Shahjahani; Mint is also strong on vegetarian dishes like the baigare baigan (eggplant in tamarind gravy) and mushroom mutter.

1531 Stout St #130, Denver, CO 80202

Visit Website

Chole bhature — Chicken chettinad curry at Mint.

Liang's Thai Food

California St &, 16th St Mall, Denver, CO 80202

The wait at this stall on the 16th Street Mall can last as long as the lunch hour itself, but anyone in line will swear up and down that the cooked-to-order noodles, curries, and stir-fries are worth every minute. Word to the uninitiated: Medium feels hot.

Open in Google Maps

California St &, 16th St Mall, Denver, CO 80202

Chicken pad Thai — Liang’s chicken pad Thai.

Kealoha's BBQ

500 16th Street Mall Space 1 (between bus lanes fronting H&M and 3 Margaritas Corner of Glenarm and, 16th St Mall, Denver, CO 80202

Spam musubi, loco moco, lilikoi ribs, macaroni salad, and all, this tiny 16th Street Mall kiosk delivers a taste of the islands to landlocked downtown, making for a lunchtime luau in the good old cubicle.

Open in Google Maps

500 16th Street Mall Space 1 (between bus lanes fronting H&M and 3 Margaritas Corner of Glenarm and, 16th St Mall, Denver, CO 80202

Visit Website

Related Maps