The 5 Best Food Halls To Eat Like A Local In Denver, According To Reviews

Although it is sometimes overlooked by travelers using it as a jumping-off point for the luxury resorts of Aspen and the splendor of the Rocky Mountains, Denver is a popular western winter destination in its own right. The Mile High City has plenty going for it, praised for its laid-back atmosphere, crisp air, sunny weather, lively cultural scene, and emerging as one of the best cities to live in the United States thanks to its high quality of life. It is a great place to explore as one of the most walkable cities in the nation, and its culinary delights have grabbed nationwide attention in recent years.

Denver locals are treated to a diverse and interesting array of places to eat, ranging from acclaimed upscale restaurants to pop-up vendors and trendy food halls. Sources like WalletHub and the Cookie Rookie have ranked it as one of the best foodie cities in the nation, with the latter crowning it number one over usual suspects like New Orleans, New York City, and Chicago. But it is one thing treating yourself to a high-end tasting menu in a Michelin-starred restaurant (Denver currently has four) and quite another chowing down in the kind of places where Denverites like to eat. For that, one of your best options is seeking out the city's outstanding food halls where you can sample the best craft beers, gourmet coffee, and the latest trends in flavor all under one roof. Here are five of the best.

The River North Art District (RiNo) was formerly the industrial heart of the city but it is now one of Denver's trendiest neighborhoods, turned into a cultural hub by up-and-coming artists and entrepreneurs. The Source Hotel + Market Hall, situated in a strikingly re-developed 19th-century iron foundry, was the first of Denver's new wave of modern food halls when it opened in 2013. Several others have followed but the Source still remains at the forefront of the city's culinary scene, with two market halls covering 45,000 square feet providing a home for some must-try hotspots.

Fans of Asian cuisine should seek out Temaki Den, a sleek modern sushi restaurant considered one of the best in the city rated 4.8 by Google reviewers. Moving to the Middle East, Safta is a welcoming Israeli eatery hat showcases signature dishes like labneh, duck matzo ball soup, and pomegranate braised lamb shank. Run by award-winning chef Alon Shaya, Eater has ranked it as one of the best 38 restaurants in Denver.

Visitors with a hankering for more traditional American fare will have their plates full at Smōk. Austin native Bill Espiricueta fires up the smoker and delivers quality BBQ delights like brisket, ribs, homemade sausage, and a standout Nashville hot chicken sandwich. Once you're done in the halls, head up to the rooftop terrace where The Woods serves unpretentious eats, craft beers, and cocktails with stunning views across the Denver skyline to the Rocky Mountains.

Much like the Source, Avanti Food & Beverage leans into its industrial roots. Located in an old printing warehouse in Denver's Lower Highland (LoHi) district, this food hall houses a collection of start-up eateries in converted shipping containers arranged around two bustling dining areas and a very happening rooftop terrace. The emphasis is on global street food-style dishes and one of the stars of the show is Quiero Arepas, regarded as one of the top food trucks in Denver. This Venezuelan outlet specializes in traditional arepa flatbreads absolutely crammed with fillings like shredded beef, plantains, avocado, and black beans. No plates or cutlery necessary, just get your face in there and enjoy!

Other highlights at Avanti F&B include Pho King Rapidos, serving Vietnamese cuisine with a few New York and Denver influences thrown in. The family-run outlet offers big bowls, banh mi sandwiches, egg rolls, and sharers. Gorlami Pizza cooks up delicious wood-fired Neapolitan-style pies while Knockabout Burgers delivers hunky patties and crispy Colorado fried chicken with a healthy conscience — their meat is sourced from pasture-grazed cows and birds raised the organic way. Amá Modern Mexican is also highly recommended (4.8 on Google Reviews), serving handcrafted tacos, quesadillas, and brisket birria tacos. Wash it all down with a cocktail or cold beer on the terrace bar, which comes with more skyline views and an infectious buzz when the party gets started at the weekend.

Denver Union Station has been Mile High City's central transport hub since 1881, receiving a modern upgrade with a space-aged new train hall in 2014. When doors re-opened after the development, people came for a variety of other reasons than catching a train: Now the landmark building is also home to the Tattered Cover Book Store, the plush Crawford Hotel, and a choice of great cafes, restaurants, and bars. 

Start the day with the range of benedicts, sandwiches, and breakfast plates at Snooze (4.5 on Tripadvisor), where you can also invigorate yourself with some morning-appropriate cocktails. Showcase nibbles with Iberian flavors are found at Ultreia, a cozy gastroteka where James Beard Award-winning chef Jennifer Jasinski presents enticing tapas, pinxtos, and pesticos, all washed down with quality libations.  Another acclaimed chef, Alex Seidel, is behind the stylish modern American cuisine at Mercantile Dining & Provision, a welcoming dining space where the emphasis is on the best seasonal ingredients.

Denver Union Station is also a great place to gather for food and drinks in the evening. You can kick back with a classic cocktail and a few light bites in the Cooper Lounge, an elegant historic bar that conjures up images of vintage train travel; or cozy up in Terminal Bar, a smart spot serving a range of craft brews to go along with the menu of nicely-presented comfort food.

Another part of Denver's past has been converted into a thriving venue for food, drinks, and cultural events at Denver Milk Market in the Lower Downtown (LoDo) district. This food hall is situated in Dairy Block, once home to the city's finest purveyors of fresh milk and dairy produce. Now it has been stylishly refurbished and brought fully into the 21st century as a vibrant space that attracts a hip crowd with boutique shops, concept dining, and regular wallet-friendly "happenings"  — look out for lunch specials and deals like $3 taco Tuesdays.

Food-wise, Lou's Hot & Naked is a diner that does Southern-style comfort food like spicy and crispy hot chicken sandwiches, Bikers & Bakers specialist hot dogs (pork and ostrich, anyone?), and pancakes on Saturdays. You can get poke bowls at Mopoke, lobster rolls and blackened shrimp po' boys at Albina by the Sea, and double-patty burgers stacked with extras like onion rings and applewood smoked bacon at Bos Butcher & Deli. 

Denver Milk Market is also a great place to hang out, with ubiquitous craft ales and signature cocktails at Moo Bar and plenty of fun to be had with Skee-ball and shuffleboard in the free arcade. On Sundays, things get fabulous at the Drag Queen Bingo Brunch between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. where you can fill up on biscuits and gravy or steak and eggs with bottomless mimosas while being thoroughly entertained (and maybe a little roasted) by the resident queens.

Lastly, we circle back to upwardly-mobile River North Art District (RiNo) where you will also the Denver Central Market, an epic 14,000-square-foot food hall that has received glowing reviews from the likes of Bon Appetit and the New York Times. It's a big old space housing shops selling quality food items alongside a range of buzzy spots serving tasty treats. 

Vero Italian, as the name might suggest, offers wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas and freshly handmade pasta every day, as well a small store where you can pick up a few ingredients for your cupboard back home. Its pies, from classic Margherita to fiery diavola, have gained the restaurant an enviable reputation as one of the best places for pizza in Denver. If you would prefer fruits of the sea, Tammen's Fish Market not only supplies shoppers and local restaurants but also delights its customers with a sit-down menu including marine delights such as calamari, shrimp tacos, and fish and chips. LunchBoxx has earned plaudits for its fun selection of sharable global cuisine like Sticky Icky Popcorn Chicken and a mezze platter plus build-your-own takeaway meal boxes. 

As with pretty much all the other food halls in the city, the Denver Central Market wouldn't be complete without a few decent places to grab a cold one or an expertly-blended cocktail. In that respect, Curio Bar does the job quite nicely, with a range of house and classic mixed drinks, wines, and draft beers.

As with any "best of" list, top picks are very subjective and we have drawn from a variety of sources to compile this article. These range from local guides like Denver.org and Uncover Colorado to reputable foodie websites like Eater. We also take individual opinions into account and have drawn from highly-rated spots on Google reviews and tips and photos from Instagram users. Ultimately, this list is intended to whet your appetite and offer a jumping-off point for your culinary exploration of Denver's superb food halls. There is no shortage of brilliant vendors out there and Denver deserves its burgeoning reputation as one of the best U.S. foodie cities to add to your bucket list. Enjoy!