Denver Travel Guide: What to Eat and How to Burn it Off

The ultimate Denver travel guide: I’ll tell you where to stay, what to eat and how to burn it off! 

While this wasn’t my first visit to Denver, I had so much fun returning to the mile high city to feature Colorado in my wellness travel series, What to Eat & How to Burn it Off. In case you’ve lost count, Denver marks the TENTH installation, preceded by Charleston, Tucson, New Orleans, Grand Rapids, San Diego, Vail, Miami, Utah and Banff.

Denver has so much to offer, it was almost too difficult narrowing down what to share with all of you but you know I always love a good challenge.

First up: let’s talk hotels! My first recommendation is Hotel Teatro, the city’s original boutique property located downtown within walking distance to endless restaurants, shops and attractions. Think: historic hotel with modern charm.

My second hotel recommendation in downtown Denver is The Maven, a brand new property located in the historic dairy block. Literally steps away from LoDo, a thriving retail and dining district of Denver, I was immediately enamored with this hotel.

If you’re a sucker for a beautiful hotel lobby like I am, The Maven is definitely for you.

For breakfast, the most important meal of the day, I have three great choices. My first suggestion is The Nickel located inside the lobby of Hotel Teatro. Fun Fact: The Nickel pays homage to the space that was once used to collect fare from customers riding its resident streetcars: a nickel.

If you’re craving a lighter start to the day, head to Prosper Oats. Think: Chipotle style fast-casual featuring bowls of oats, acai, quinoa or yogurt.

My bowl of choice? Oats with nut butter, berries and flaxseed – YUM! The perfect fuel for our workout at Red Rocks Amphitheater. (More on that in a bit!)

Brunch more your speed? Lola Coastal Mexican is your spot for everything from micheladas (tomato juice and beer) to juicy burgers to table-side guacamole. The ultimate feast after a late night.

If you’re craving seafood, I have two incredible recommendations starting with Stoic and Genuine. Offering a wide variety of both modern and traditional dishes, I highly recommend the fresh oysters, whole cooked fish and ahi tuna.

Equally modern, upscale and full of fresh flavors, if you love seafood you also won’t want to miss Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar. Do yourself a favor and order a side of the garlic Kennebec fries – so dang good!

My final dining recommendation in Denver is not to be missed: Avelina located in the LoDo district. Their menu boasts New American cuisine with an emphasis on farm to table. A few of my favorite bites included the Banh Mi Flatbread, Grilled Octopus and Dill Pickle Brined Fried Chicken. Needless to say, it’s a good thing we kept active because Denver’s food scene is off the charts!

Before we head into the How to Burn it Off portion of the story, I want to give a shout out to View House, a super fun multi-level rooftop bar and eatery. The views of Denver can’t be beat and the energy was on point – highly recommend.

Now let’s head into the good stuff: How to Burn it Off! Fortunately, there are no shortage of opportunities to stay moving in Denver which is one of the many reasons I love visiting Colorado so much!

First up: take your workout outdoors and head to Red Rocks Amphitheater! Featuring rows and rows of stairs and spellbinding views, it’s no wonder on any given day you’ll see hundreds of other people with the same great idea.

Lucky for me, my girl Lauren is a Denver local and was sweet enough to join me for a little workout at Red Rocks. If you’re a fan of yoga, check out Yoga on the Rocks. It looks like such a blast!

My second recommendation for How to Burn it Off is to take advantage of the Bike & Brew package conveniently located at Hotel Teatro. The package includes a custom charcuterie board in your room, a bike, a brewery map and a $40 breakfast credit.

Lauren joined me once again, as well as my friend Rachael, and we ventured off to hit up several local breweries.

We had so much fun exploring the city on two wheels, and the best part is that no one had to be the designated driver.

Don’t worry, we’re all responsible adults and drank plenty of water in between beers to stay safe on those bikes.

My third and final recommendation for How to Burn it Off was definitely a lot harder than biking around and drinking beer: City Surf Fitness! This was my first time ever taking a fitness class entirely on a surf board but it was truly a blast. If you’re looking for a challenge, this is the workout for you.

What are your favorite spots in Denver? I’ll definitely be back to let me know what I missed! Want to see another city featured in the series? Leave a comment below – I’m all ears.

Disclosure: The businesses featured covered my meals, activities and accommodations during my stay. Photography by Alejandro Photography. I was not compensated to write this post. All thoughts are my own. 

Check out my Pinterest board to see more cities I’ve traveled to!