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Food tours in Denver: what to eat and which tour to book
Denver's food is Mountain West and Mexican-American at its core: green chile stew poured over almost everything, smothered breakfast burritos, bison and Colorado lamb, and a very large craft-beer scene. Federal Boulevard and the west side have some of the best Mexican and Vietnamese food in the region, while RiNo, LoHi and Union Station hold the food halls and newer restaurants. In summer, Palisade peaches and Rocky Ford melons from elsewhere in Colorado turn up at farmers' markets across the city.
Use this page to know what to order and where, with rough 2026 prices in US dollars before tax and tip. The tours shown are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked; confirm the price and meeting point on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Denver
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green chile green chile (stew or smothered) | Pork stew with roasted green chiles (often Pueblo chiles in Colorado), thicker than the New Mexico style, eaten in a bowl or poured over burritos, fries and eggs ('smothered'). | Mexican diners and breakfast spots across the city, especially along Federal Boulevard and on the west side. | roughly $8–14 a bowl |
| Breakfast burrito | Flour tortilla filled with eggs, potato, cheese and bacon, sausage or chorizo, eaten handheld or smothered in green chile. | Breakfast counters, Mexican diners and food trucks; many sell them from early morning. | roughly $8–15 |
| Bison burger | Burger made from leaner bison meat, a regional speciality you will find on many menus. | Pubs, brewpubs and burger restaurants in LoDo and around Union Station. | roughly $16–24 |
| Rocky Mountain oysters | Breaded and fried bull testicles, served with a dipping sauce. A ranch-country novelty, more for curiosity than daily eating. | Old-school Western restaurants and steakhouses, and stadium concessions at some sports venues. | roughly $12–20 as a starter |
| Denver omelette Denver (Western) omelette | Omelette filled with diced ham, onion and green pepper, usually with cheese and hash browns. | Diners and breakfast restaurants citywide. | roughly $12–18 |
| Colorado lamb and steak Colorado lamb | Lamb from Colorado ranches and beef from the plains, served from casual grills to steakhouses. | Steakhouses downtown and mid-range to upmarket restaurants in LoHi, Highlands and Cherry Creek. | roughly $35–70 for a main |
| Pho and Vietnamese food phở, bánh mì | Denver has a large Vietnamese community; beef noodle soup and bánh mì sandwiches are everyday cheap eats. | Along South Federal Boulevard, especially around Alameda Avenue. | roughly $12–17 for pho; $7–10 for a bánh mì |
| Craft beer | Denver and the Front Range have one of the densest brewery scenes in the US; taprooms often host food trucks. | RiNo (River North Art District), Highlands, Baker and the area around Coors Field. | roughly $7–9 a pint |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Union Station
The restored 1914 railway station is a central meeting point with restaurants, bars and a coffee counter inside, close to LoDo's brewpubs and Larimer Square.
RiNo (River North Art District)
Former warehouse district north of downtown with food halls (including Denver Central Market and Zeppelin Station), breweries, street art and new restaurants.
Federal Boulevard
Long road on the west side lined with Mexican taquerias, Vietnamese pho shops and Asian supermarkets, used mainly by locals. You need a car or a ride-hail between stops.
LoHi and the Highlands
Across the pedestrian bridges from downtown, with restaurants and the Avanti food hall with rooftop seating, plus brunch spots and bars on 32nd Avenue and Tennyson Street.
Farmers' markets
Seasonal outdoor markets such as the large Cherry Creek Fresh Market sell Colorado produce, including Palisade peaches (roughly late July to September), Pueblo chiles roasted on site in late summer, and prepared food.
Food tours in Denver compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Food Tour with Tastings in Historic Lower Downtown | 3 hours | from €98 per person | — | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| Denver: Downtown Small-Group Food Tasting Tour | 3 hours | from €71 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Red Rocks Amphitheatre Walking Tour: Nature, Music & Legends | 2 hours | from €26 per person | private | Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them. | Check dates |
| Denver: RiNo Arts District Walking Food Tour | 3 hours | from €70 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Denver: Downtown Dinner Food and Drink Tour | 2.5 hours | from €120 per person | max 10 | Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark. | Check dates |
| Denver: Downtown 16th Street Food Tour with Local Guide | 2.5 hours | from €70 per person | — | First-timers on a budget who want to try many cheap dishes in one go. | Check dates |
Denver Food Tour with Tastings in Historic Lower Downtown
On GetYourGuide · run by Secret Food Tours
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €98 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 4 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Colorado Elk Smoked Sausage DinnerIcon Pork Green Chili DinnerIcon Traditional Cannoli w/Ricotta Cheese and Pistachios DinnerIcon Our Delicious Secret Dish Gratuities for the guide, highly appreciated
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
- Starts
- Billy’s Gourmet Hot Dogs
Denver: Downtown Small-Group Food Tasting Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by Delicious Denver Food Tours
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €71 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 152 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Marco's Coal Fired | Ballpark
Red Rocks Amphitheatre Walking Tour: Nature, Music & Legends
On GetYourGuide · run by Intrepid Urban Adventures
- Length
- 2 hours
- Price
- from €26 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 34 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- private
- Included
- Guided walking tour of Red Rocks Amphitheatre and surrounding trails Local English-speaking guide Visit to the Spirit Statue of John Denver Geology lesson on local rock formations and dinosaur history Learn about the…
- Suits
- Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them.
- Starts
- Red Rocks Trading Post
Denver: RiNo Arts District Walking Food Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by Delicious Denver Food Tours
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €70 per person
- Rating
- 4.7 ★ from 17 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Chicken Leg Taco with Fuego Takis and Guajillo Ranch Slaw Specialty NY Sourdough Pizza Slice Smoked German Sausage with Mustard and Sauerkraut Ricotta Gnocchi with Tomato Sugo Kouign-amann Pastry Tastings are subject…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Guides wear orange "Delicious Denver Food Tours" buttons.
Denver: Downtown Dinner Food and Drink Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by Delicious Denver Food Tours
- Length
- 2.5 hours
- Price
- from €120 per person
- Group size
- max 10
- Suits
- Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark.
- Starts
- 1701 Wynkoop St, Denver, CO 80202, USA
Denver: Downtown 16th Street Food Tour with Local Guide
On GetYourGuide · run by Delicious Denver Food Tours
- Length
- 2.5 hours
- Price
- from €70 per person
- Suits
- First-timers on a budget who want to try many cheap dishes in one go.
- Starts
- The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, Autograph Collection
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Street food means taco trucks and taquerias on the west side, food trucks parked at breweries and food-hall counters in RiNo. Late summer is chile-roasting season, when you can smell roasting drums outside markets and grocery stores.
Sit-down meals
Sit-down dining is casual: brewpubs, Mexican diners and modern American restaurants. Weekend brunch is a big ritual and queues are common. Many Denver restaurants add a service or 'kitchen' fee to the bill on top of tax, so read the menu footer.
Cooking classes
Cooking classes in Denver are usually evening sessions at cooking schools or kitchen stores, covering cuisines from Mexican to Italian. Check whether the class is hands-on or demonstration-style, and whether drinks are included.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | $40–60, about €35–52 (breakfast burrito, taqueria or pho lunch, food-hall dinner) |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | $80–120, about €70–105 (brunch, casual lunch and a sit-down dinner with a beer) |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | $170+, about €145+ (steakhouse or tasting menu with drinks) |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Easy: Denver is a health-conscious city and most restaurants list vegetarian and vegan dishes. Traditional green chile is made with pork, so ask for vegetarian green chile, which many places offer.
Halal: Halal options exist but are spread out, mostly at Middle Eastern, East African and South Asian restaurants and some halal food carts, particularly east along Colfax and in Aurora. Mainstream restaurants are not halal.
Gluten-free: Very good awareness: gluten-free menus and dedicated gluten-free bakeries exist, and corn tortillas make Mexican food relatively easy. Fried items, flour tortillas and beer are the main things to check; gluten-free beers and ciders are widely available.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Surprise service or 'kitchen' fees of a few percent added to the bill, on top of sales tax and the expected tip. Read the bottom of the menu or ask before ordering; if a service charge is already included, adjust your tip.
- Underestimating alcohol at altitude: at 1,600 m (one mile up) many visitors feel drinks more quickly, and strong craft beers are common. Drink water between beers, check the ABV on the tap list and take it slowly on your first day.
- Cannabis edibles, which are legal for adults 21+ in Colorado, being much stronger than expected. Start with a very small dose, wait at least two hours before taking more, never mix with alcohol, and don't consume in public places or bring them across state lines.
Top tours & activities in Denver
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
How much should I tip in Denver?
Tipping is expected in the US: about 18–22% of the pre-tax bill for table service, $1–2 per drink at a bar, and a few dollars or 10–15% at counter-service places if you wish. Check for automatic service charges before adding a tip. A tip for a good food-tour guide is customary, roughly 15–20% of the tour price.
What is Denver green chile and how is it different from New Mexico's?
Colorado green chile is usually a thicker pork-based stew, often made with Pueblo chiles, and it is served as a sauce poured over burritos, eggs and fries as well as in a bowl. New Mexico style is often thinner and more chile-forward. Ask for 'smothered' if you want it on your dish, and ask how hot it is.
Is the food more expensive than the menu says?
Yes: menu prices exclude sales tax (roughly 9% for restaurant food in Denver), and many restaurants add a service or kitchen fee on top. Then comes the tip. A $20 main often ends up around $26–28 in total. Food halls and taquerias are the cheapest way to eat well.
Does altitude affect eating and drinking?
Denver is about 1,600 m above sea level. Many visitors feel alcohol faster and get dehydrated more easily, especially on the first day. Drink plenty of water, go easy on strong beers and expect to feel fuller sooner. Tap water in Denver is safe and good to drink.
When are farmers' markets and chile season?
Most outdoor farmers' markets run roughly from May to October, with the biggest ones at weekends; check current dates. Palisade peaches usually arrive from late July to September, and green chile roasting outside stores and markets is a late-summer event, roughly August to September.
Do I need a car to eat well in Denver?
Not for downtown, Union Station, LoDo, RiNo and LoHi, which are walkable or connected by light rail and buses. For Federal Boulevard and the best of the Mexican and Vietnamese restaurants on the west side, a car or ride-hailing app is much easier, as places are spread out along a busy road.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.