Denver's Best Brunch Restaurants
Breakfast At Eleven Or Lunch At Ten?
Weekend brunch: let's call it the best meal of the week. Finally it's a chance to say, “This is two meals in one. I can eat myself sick!” Gorge on sweet pastries, down cups of coffee, eat eggs in any form imaginable. A great brunch restaurant just can't be beat and these are some of our city's best.
1. Lucile's Creole Cafe
A Creole brunch restaurant isn't exactly what you'd expect to see in our city, but the location just blocks off South Broadway makes more sense. It's a little taste of the unusual right by a neighborhood known for its off-the-wall style. Start your New Orleans-inspired brunch with an order of beignets, a pastry similar to a donut, best eaten dipped in coffee or smeared with jam. For a main course, be bold and try something you don't see every day in the Mile High City: the Shrimp and Grits, for example, or maybe Eggs New Orleans?
2. Bump & Grind
After a late night out on the town, you'll probably be craving the delicious greasy spoon-style food that a good diner offers. When this day comes and if you're in good enough shape to deal with the exuberant, raunchy humor and behavior of the cross-dressing waitresses, you'll have a great brunch experience at Bump & Grind. Expect sassy attitudes and plenty of ribaldry from these lovely ladies whose stubble and askew wigs are a funny contradiction to the miniskirts and high heels they wear. If you have to wait for a table, be patient and hold out instead of moving to quicker dining pastures. The restaurant is well worth it, for the food as well as the entertainment.
3. Gaia Bistro
Featuring a dish often forgotten in the states, Gaia Bistro's best and most popular brunch meals are its crepes. Sweet or savory, it doesn't matter what you're feeling, there are crepes to satisfy both cravings. If eggs or sandwiches are more your style, Gaia still has you covered with a surprisingly expansive breakfast and lunch menu. Located along South Pearl in a quaint old house, the bistro is simply a relaxing and slightly romantic place to have a meal with family or close friends. Like every place on this list, the restaurant's busiest hours are around midmorning and midday on the weekends. Show up early or be prepared for a wait before you get a table. At least you'll be on a lovely street so you can wander for a while.
4. Snooze
Only recently has Snooze seen the leap in popularity that has made it one of the favorite, and hardest to get a seat at, brunch restaurants of our city. If you show up during the rush, usually starting around 9 on weekends, at least you can stave off the hunger with free coffee or a (not free) Bloody Mary from the bar. Once you get seated, make sure you order the pineapple upside down pancakes and split them with your group. Work off the meal with a walk around the LoDo neighborhood, where day traffic should just be starting to pick up when you finish your meal.
5. Under the Umbrella Café & Bakery
Getting a great breakfast doesn't have to mean a long wait, or even sitting down in the restaurant. At Under the Umbrella you can get the caffeine you need to start the day with a full espresso bar along with great sweet pastries and savory dishes. For a surprisingly low price you can order an egg and cheese bagel or a hummus plate, a hot sandwich or a salad. If you've got the time and the weather's nice, grab a table outside and enjoy the Congress Park neighborhood. Should you be in a rush, you can also get their food to go.
Check out our featured review of Under the Umbrella on the spotlighted restaurant page.
