Yes, Safta gets plenty of the old-money Cherry Creekers navigating their E-classes through Brighton Boulevard’s never-ending construction, but it also gets 20- and 30-somethings taking a ride share over from Larimer Street. Both sets would travel anywhere for Safta’s pillowy pitas, best eaten with a swoosh of creamy hummus with spicy lamb, or harissa-spiked chicken and honeyed cheese borekas. There’s plenty of room for everyone in the bright, industrial-cozy space that anchors The Source Hotel.

Perhaps the best description of the vibe at this Latin/American spot is that it’s the kind of place that has five beer-and-a-shot deals. So yes, things get loud, but there’s a lot of concrete for all that noise to bounce off of. You’re here for a casual meal made up of one (or more) of their meats sold by the quarter, half, and full pound. Go with the slow-braised achiote-tinged cochinita pibil (if they have it), but don’t overlook the not-so-basic lemon pepper brown butter rotisserie chicken.

Even though it opened in 2015, this Chinese restaurant is still the cool kid in RiNo. Hop Alley is named after Denver’s 19th-century Chinatown, but it’s also a conversation starter and tongue-in-cheek wink at the neighborhood’s history. Located in a former soy sauce factory, the place serves up plates like tongue-numbing la zi ji and char siu beets that will convert even non-beet people. They recently expanded into a neighboring business, which means you might actually be able to snag a table.

Cart-Driver sets the standard for pizza in Denver. The wood-fired, Neapolitan-style pies have turned the heads of locals and snobby New York transplants alike, proving yes, there actually is good pizza in Denver. The perfectly crunchy, chewy, cheesy pies are loaded up with toppings like wood-roasted chanterelles, littleneck clams, and spicy calabrian honey. Head out to the attached patio to escape the cramped shipping container space (seriously, the whole restaurant is 640 square feet).

You’re not going to want to share any dish on The Greenwich’s menu. But since you probably aren’t capable of finishing roasted clams, a few sourdough-crusted pizzas, a plate covered in lemongrass hamachi tiradito, thrice-cooked potatoes, and a lemon roasted chicken all on your own, you should probably bring friends to help. And if for some reason you can only pick one thing to eat in all of RiNo, make it The Greenwich cheesecake. The caramelized, Basque-style cake is a creamy slice of heaven.

This high-energy, always-buzzing food hall is the place to have a great meal from morning until night. Start with coffee at Crema Bodega and a fresh-made pastry from Izzio Artisan Bakery, and close it down with a pizza and pasta dinner at Vero Italian, a scoop of Tin Cup whiskey and pistachio brittle at High Point Creamery, and a couple draft cocktails at the central Curio Bar. If you absolutely, positively have to narrow it down to just one meal, make it Vero Italian.

It makes sense that one of the world’s coolest bars picked Denver’s coolest neighborhood to move into. Death & Co. started in NYC, so you might have some pretty major expectations for drinks like the Sandia Sunset with jalapeño tequila, mezcal, watermelon, aloe, and mint, or the martini shaken with vodka and gin. But don’t just stop in for a pre-dinner cocktail or a nightcap—the food coming out of the kitchen is just as good as those legendary cocktails.

To say that Dio Mio is an Italian restaurant is like saying Beyonce is a singer—technically accurate, but not really painting the full picture of just how glorious each is at their respective craft. The radiatori pasta coated with basil pistachio pesto and topped with sesame and seaweed furikake is next-level, and the nearly foot-long chicken parm is the best in town thanks to a layer of sweet salami compote and spicy and tangy Thai chile giardiniera.

From the team that brought you excellent ceviche and churros at Señor Bear, Mister Oso serves that same style of pan-Latin food and party vibe, only with more tacos. Start with the downright perfect queso fundido, continue with lamb barbacoa and birria tacos, and finish with those excellent churros. Wash it all down with a pisco punch on Mister Oso’s magical, vine-covered patio and—for a second—the world might feel a little less like a dumpster fire.

Yes, this basement noodle joint does a very Colorado green chile ramen, but purists shouldn’t worry—they’ve got killer bowls of porky tonkotsu and spicy miso ramen, too. Beyond the broth, you’ll want to prioritize some of the shareable small plates like spam musubi, blistered shishito peppers, and okonomiyaki fries. The vibe is super industrial here, with concrete just about everywhere you look, exposed ducts, and neon lighting the subterranean space.