Best Places To Eat on 4/20 In Denver

On 4/20, Stanley Marketplace is your one-stop shop for sweet and savory snacks. When the cravings kick in, head to Chi Lin for all things crispy and crunchy like the Harumaki Egg Rolls made with chicken, napa cabbage and carrots, the Basil Karaage Chicken Wings with spicy mayo, or the Chi Lin Fries topped with sriracha, spicy mayo and seaweed. Munchies at Comida mean Pimento Cheese Stuff Jalapenos with cooling cucumber jalapeno crema and Hot Dogs with Queso for some meaty goodness. And take your mood to the next level with the Sombra' Shrooms Burrito filled with Comida rice, beans, cabbage and salsa. Famous J's makes 420 dreams come true withcheesy pizza pies, garlic knots and pepperoni pinwheels. If you've got room for one more bowl.

Rolling's Smoke BBQ's Smoked Mac N Cheese should be at the top of your list when you top it with your choice of meat. Snack the day away at Stanley Beer Hall with the buttery bite-sized Warm Pretzel Bites served with beer cheese for dipping, and you're doing it wrong if you're not getting the Funnel Cake Fries as the ultimate sweet treat.

At Denver Biscuit Company, the McHashbrowns are an obvious choice alongside a Giant Biscuit Cinnamon Roll. After you've devoured the savory, get your final fix from the cinnamon sugar churros (traditional and filled) from Churreria de Madrid.

Cure the munchies on 4/20 with a stop at Yardbird in RiNo for southern snacks that quell cravings for salty, sweet, crunchy and more. The menus are loaded with satisfying bites and a few favorites for 4/20 include:

  • Fried Green Tomato BLT with house-smoked pork belly, pimento cheese, frisée, smoky tomato jam, and lemon vinaigrette

  • Chili Crisp Chicken with boiled chili oil, house pickles, and scallions

  • Deviled Eggs, towering high and topped with smoked trout roe, dill and chives

  • Sweet tooth? Opt for Banana Pudding Cheesecake or Deep Fried Orea

  • And of course, dig into the Yardbird Specialties:

    • Chicken & Waffles with honey hot sauce, chilled spiced watermelon, vermont sharp cheddar cheese waffle, and Yardbird bourbon maple syrup

    • Coal Roasted Rotisserie Chicken with chimichurri, lemon, ancho chili marinade, and mama's mash

    • Lewellyn’s Fine Fried Chicken, a full one half bird with mama's mashed potatoes, arugula salad, and Yardbird’s own honey hot sauce

  • BONUS: the fried chicken can be made gluten free, and Nashville Hot or Korean Style is also available. 

When munchies strike, Barcelona Wine Bar has a Happy Hour with drinks, bites, and flavors ideal for post 4/20 unwinding. Pull up a seat at the busy central bar and snack on crunchy and salty bites like:

  • House made Potato Chips with Chorizo Soria

  • Queso Plancha with seasonal fruit, like Luxardo cherries

  • Pork Pintxos with mojo rojo

  • And the beloved Gilda Pintxo with Boquerónes, guindilla peppers and olives

Our Top Choices For Cinco de Mayo Drinks

Make the most of Cinco de Mayo when you celebrate the holiday during one of the best happy hours around at Guapo Taco (Colorado Mills). Dig into seven different $3 tacos including house favorites like the Al Pastor and Grilled Portobello and pair it with the $5 Casa de Guapo featuring Camarena Blanco Tequila, Cointreau, orange and lime juice and agave nectar for the perfect kickoff to the holiday.

What’s Cinco de Mayo without a stop at Federales? The tequila + taco outpost embraces the spirit of the Mexican holiday with extended happy hour selections all day on Friday, May 5 from 11 a.m. – 7 pm. where celebrants can cheers to $8 margaritas and $15 beer buckets alongside fan-favorite food selections like the fresh made guacamole for $9 or crispy chicken taquitos for $12. In the mix of the Don Julio Takeover Month where all house margaritas will feature the iconic tequila, stop by the RiNo restaurant (2901 Larimer Street) where the iconic blue Don Julio Truck will be parked from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m..

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at Comida at Stanley Marketplace (2501 Dallas St., Aurora, CO) and enjoy specialty cocktails, including their six different takes on a margarita like the Agua de Jamaica Margarita or the Sweet and Spicy Pineapple Habañero Margarita made with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Snack on tacos, quesadillas, grilled tacos and guacamole as you soak up the sun on their spacious patio or toast to the occasion in their vibrant dining room, providing the perfect Cinco de Mayo setting.

From seasonal saisons to the Cinco de Mayo special release of the Margarita Low Rider lager, Cheluna Brewing Co.’s award-winning Mexican-inspired chelas and hard seltzers are a must way to celebrate the holiday. The Latinx-owned brewery at Stanley Marketplace (2501 Dallas St., Aurora, CO) is brimming with craft beer, culture and entertainment any night of the week, but especially on Friday, May 5, during the brewery’s Frontliner Friday, where guests can enjoy $5 pints or $7.50 23oz pours. It’s sure to be a party with live music beginning at 7 p.m. from Denver-based funk musician James Hurtado. Don’t miss their back patio, where you can catch some rays while sipping a cerveza from their Casita Azul beer shed. 

 

Stop into swell and swanky EDGE Restaurant and EDGE Bar on Cinco de Mayo and try one of the three versions of a margarita the talented bar team has put together:

  • Sip on the Noble Times, a creative version of the margarita with Casa Noble Blanco tequila with citrusy tang of Aperol plus blood orange, a squeeze of fresh lime and a touch of agave to finish. 

  • Beso Fresa (the Strawberry Kiss) is a smoky and fruity take with strawberry aperol, Union Uno Mezcal with lemon basil and orange flower water.

  • Don't miss the Paloma Rosa, a take on the classic with patron silver, grand marnier, agave, fresh lime and finished with grapefruit soda. 

 

Plus, only in the bar can you find EDGE’s elusive Marco’s Tacos, made with Lazy Acre Sirloin, smoked bacon, and a spicy salsa roja + salsa verde, the perfect barside bite to mark this fun holiday. 


For a morning taste of Mexico on Cinco de Mayo, start the day with a stop into Little Finch (1490 16th St Denver) for the Café Cajeta, a regular on the cafe menu and traditional Mexican espresso drink starring cajeta sauce, the rich caramel confection. Add in steamed milk and finished with smoked sea salt, it's an unexpected Mexican morning treat that can also be ordered decaffeinated for afternoon sipping.

Breck Brew Farmhouse is releasing a treat. A fresh take on one of our favorites Agave Wheat, Watermelon Lime Imperial Wheat. Bursting with notes of vibrant watermelon, lime, and agave nectar, this unfiltered Imperial American Wheat ale is a refreshing mix of sweet and tart fruit flavors. A crisp and dry finish makes for the ultimate summer sipper. 8.8% ABV

Our friends at Matchbox are teaming up with Espolon Tequila from 6-8 for some amazing drinks and giveaways. Stay after to catch the Nuggets game.

Paloma’s and Margaritas oh my! Lustre Pearl has possibly the best starting five of Cinco de Mayo drinks on deck today.

Westfax Brewing Company

  • Cilantro Lima - Blonde Ale - 5.5 % ABV - Draft, 16oz Single Cans, 16oz 4-Packs. Brewed with lime zest, lime juice, and cilantro, Cilantro Lima starts with a fresh citrus burst of lime and finishes with subtle cilantro notes. 

  • Line Starts Here - Mexican Lager - 5.5 % ABV - Draft, 16oz Single Cans, 16oz 4-Packs. A classic Mexican Lager; crisp and crushable, perfect for warm days.

  • A Tribe Called West - Triple Dry Hopped West-Coast IPA - 7.5 & ABV - Draft, 16oz Single Cans, 16oz 4-Packs. Motueka, Amarillo & Simcoe hops lend this west coast IPA flavors of pine, spice, citrus, and tropical fruits. Tribe is a collaboration beer created to celebrate the 4th anniversary of Culture Beverage by #allthewests: WestFax Brewing Co., Cellar West Artisan Ales, and Brouwerij West.

Dia De Los Muertos Happenings Around Denver

Day of The Dead is the much celebrated event that takes place November 1 and 2nd amongst the Mexican community as well as other cultures around the world. A few of our favorite local spots are joining in on the fun to celebrate with some amazing events and specials to commemorate the holiday.

Federales Zombie Apocalypse:

It’s the return of the undead for Halloween at Federales (2903 Larimer St). RiNo’s lofty, open-air bar and restaurant is hosting a party all day on Saturday October 30. Infect yourself with some fun with your best zombie costumes and join the Federales team for tacos, taquitos, tequila and more with a high-energy party. Doors open at 11am; costumes are encouraged as the restaurant is decorated and transformed for the epic apocalyptic weekend. Make reservations here.

Whole-Some activities at Whole Sol

The flagship location of Whole Sol in Sloan’s Lake is celebrating their one-year anniversary with a Soloween Party all day to include whol-some activities like pumpkin carvings (11 a.m. to noon), MELT Project box class (noon to 1 p.m.) for all and cookie decorating (2 p.m. to 3 p.m.), a Living Décor Plant pop up from 11am-2pm and a FRE Wellness on Wheels Pop Up from 11am-3pm. The team will be offering food specials all day such as a $5 OG bowl, $5 any toast, $3 Vegan Cookie Dough, plus more of fun activities for all ages.

Monterrey, Mexico born and raised Chef Manny Barella from Bellota (3350 Brighton Blvd, Denver) and his team are planning celebratory events at the restaurant for the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos. Starting Monday 10/25, the team is building a traditional altar (ofrenda) for the community in preparation for the holiday which they’ll celebrate on Monday 11/1. The altar will include candles, photos, and traditional offerings and Bellota guests and friends are encouraged to join in by bringing in photos of loved ones they’d like to be included in the altar in remembrance and honor for the departed. Guests who bring something for the altar will be given a token to return on Monday 11/1 where they can be redeemed for a marigold-infused Milagro tequila shot (marigolds are traditionally known as the flower whose scent attracts the souls of the departed to revisit at the altar). Food specials include tamales with pork in salsa verde wrapped in banana leaves and a succulent Chicharron Taco with chicharron (fried pork skin) braised in salsa verde with cotija cheese and onions with lime. Drink specials include theTierra de los Muertos, a black cocktail with Sol De Mexico tequila, Fernet Vallet, Demerara sugar and Cacao bitters.

(2501 Dallas Street at Stanley Marketplace) is known for their Mexican soul food including a menu of mix and match variations of tacos and up to 10 kinds of margaritas. For Dia de Los Muertos, the team is asking guests to bring in photos of loved ones (including pets) to be added to the altar and in return Comida will buy them a house margarita of choice. On Monday 11/1, Comida will be offering special mezcal cocktails, including the Vida de Muertos Del Maguey Vida’s, with pear nectar, lemon, cinnamon simple syrup, and angostura.

Cheluna

The state’s first Latinx-owned Mexican craft brewery is brewing up a traditional altar for the community to enjoy for the holiday, a Dia de Los Muertos Halloween Costume Party with Karaoke on Friday 10/29 from 7-10 pm; and hosting a sugar skull crafting class with Adriana Gonzales, free with Cheluna purchase on Saturday 10/30 from 1pm – 3pm.

Food Hall & Marketplace Hybrid Opens in Aurora

Food halls, collaborative work-spaces, artisan and urban markets are a trend on the rise here in Denver and the U.S. in general. Joining the club here in Denver is the new Stanley Marketplace, fully opening in April 2017, in the former Stanley Aviation headquarters in Aurora, CO. The hip, industry-style marketplace will feature a variety of carefully curated dining concepts, local shops, boutiques and a few other businesses.

Comprised of more than 100,000 sq. ft. on 22 acres, the adaptive reuse development aims to become the communities’ new centerpiece. In addition to the culinary options, it will be home to a spacious community park, indoor/outdoor event venue, office space and a wide array of shopping and recreational options, as well as residential offerings. What we learned on our visit was how this marketplace sought out and brought together a community of like-minded businesses and people who believe in doing things differently with sustainability, creativity, passion, and their customers' happiness forefront in their business practices.


We tasted a wide selection of dishes offered at the various Colorado-based eateries and found there is something for everyone. Another great feature is you aren't limited to one eatery, as many are designed to take-away if you'd like to keep exploring/shopping or grab more additions (or alcoholic beverages) to your meal. It's an informal, laid back space with storefronts of beautiful trinkets, treats and welcoming people. We invite you to take a look and have some things to eat and drink.

Dining options include:

Annette, Comida, Cheluna Brewing, Denver Biscuit Co., Glazed & Confused Doughnuts, Infinite Monkey Theorem, Logan House Coffee, Maria Empanada, Miette et Chocolat, Mondo Market, Rolling Smoke BBQ, Rosenberg's Bagels, Sazza, Stanley Beer Hall, Sweet Cow Ice Cream, and Yellowbelly Chicken.

www.stanleymarketplace.com

Photo Credit: Robert Castro