It’s a family affair at this Italian favorite, run by chef Paul C. Reilly, his sister Aileen V. Reilly, and her husband and beverage director J.P. Taylor, Jr. That’s why service feels especially warm alongside soul-soothing dishes like rigatoni carbonara and cavatelli with braised beef and lamb. Reilly and co. are known for taking recon missions to Italy to discover new dishes, and it’s a journey that pays off in spades.

When you eat for a living, it’s hard to settle on a single favorite restaurant, but A5 gets pretty close to being mine. Not only does chef Max Mackissock dish out really good meat at this modern steakhouse, but it’s thoughtfully sourced, too. Expect not-so-typical cuts like the bavette and Denver steaks, ideal for devouring with mac-and-cheese croquettes, Japanese milk bread rolls, and kimchi fried rice with bacon. Did I mention there’s espresso martini on tap?

Between the velvet trimmings, ever-changing wall art, and marble floors, Room for Milly is the kind of sultry spot that’ll make you feel more attractive just by being there. My go-to cocktail is the Douglass, a sherry, gin, and salted-thyme honey concoction. But there’s also a great wine list, a solid zero-proof selection, and small bites like bottomless truffle popcorn and caviar with French onion spread and olive oil crisps to fuel the good times at one of Denver’s top craft cocktail bars.

For a few years, I lived within a stone’s throw of Cindhura Reddy’s acclaimed Italian spot, and it was glorious. Walking there was easy, giving me the chance to dive into a top-tier wine and amaro list curated by Reddy’s husband and co-owner Elliot Strathmann. Even though I’ve moved, returning to Spuntino is an extra-special outing I relish for inventive and seasonal Italian dishes flavored with unexpected ingredients like Thai basil, harissa, and South Indian masalas.

Le French’s casual-chic atmosphere—loungey blue velvet couches, a spacious patio, and a wine-bottle wall—makes it my top pick for mom dates and weekend brunches. Senegalese French sisters Aminata Dia and Rougui Dia’s 2019 debut was so successful that they opened a second cafe in 2023. At both locations, Parisian bistro staples share menu space with hard-to-find West African-accented comfort food like poutine with yassa-spiced chicken and sandwiches layered with baobab preserves and Brie.

Arlene and Philip Mobell bought The Blue Bonnet in 1968 and made it the reliable Mexican spot it still is today. The menu stays true to its roots and still features cheese-covered, green chile-laced hits like chimichangas, enchiladas, and my personal favorite, chile rellenos. The chips and salsa are bottomless, and the guac is basic but perfect. This is a spot I grew up going to with my family, and it’s now a place I bring my kids.

When only fried chicken will do—something I know a lot about, thanks to cravings during my second pregnancy—The Post Chicken & Beer is the ticket. The Denver location of the Lafayette mainstay is the place for juicy chicken-on-the-bone with Hatch green chile mac-and-cheese, slow-cooked collards, and a cold, brewed-on-site beer—a combo for the books.

Laidback YumCha serves up the same General Tso’s soup dumplings that made its more fancy-pants sibling, ChoLon, famous. But it’s the daily happy hour here that should be on everyone’s radar. Get discounts on those crowd-favorite soup dumplings and other Asian-inspired small plates like bao buns, shrimp shumai, and Wagyu beef short rib with scallion pancakes, best washed down with Japanese whisky cocktails and yuzu spritzes.

Mexican street food and casual vibes come together at this welcoming LoHi gem. Get the carne asada plate with housemade tortillas and pozole rojo with pork, and you’ll feel like you’re in Mexico City. Plus, chef and owner Dana Rodriguez makes her own tequila and mezcal, which she sources from female distillers in small villages. Try them in a margarita or go for brunch and pair a dram of smoky mezcal with a cup of Mexican hot chocolate, and you’ll forget about coffee altogether.

This sophisticated Northern Italian star has served pitch-perfect Piemontese food since 1992. Go a la carte or try the four-course tasting menu (spoiler alert: you can’t go wrong), which could feature agnolotti filled with veal or braised duck with Kalamata olives. Barolo’s is also famous for one of Colorado’s most prolific Italian wine lists—just one of the many reasons it’s a special-occasion favorite for just about anything you want to celebrate in style.