Denver, CO

A local’s guide to Colorado restaurants, breweries and coffee shops at Denver International Airport

Published

2 years ago

March 19, 2024

A local’s guide to Colorado restaurants, breweries and coffee shops at Denver International Airport

Sure, you can hit up a Dunkin Donuts, a Starbucks or a McDonald’s at Denver International Airport — and sometimes it’s traveling that gives us license to be bad like that — but a better option is to try some of Denver’s homegrown food and beverages from local businesses.

While these restaurants, coffee shops and breweries don’t actually own or run their airport branches — that is done by large concessionaires — many of them do take an active role in maintaining the quality and consistency of their offerings. Here’s a rundown of where to go.

Travelers line up to get food and drinks at the to-go counter at Mercantile in Concourse A at Denver International Airport in Denver on Feb. 28, 2024. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)

CONCOURSE A

Breckenridge Brewery

This brewery was founded in the little ski town of the same name way back in 1990. The airport location serves the company’s beer and offers a full bar. Near gate A71. More info.

Dazbog Coffee

This chain was founded in Denver in 1992. Located near Gate A48. More info.

Denver Central Market

Similar to its location in the River North Art District, Denver Central Market at the airport offers upscale grab-and-go items in food hall fashion. There’s a breakfast spot, meats and cheeses, Sushi Rama and Vero Italian, with pizza and pasta. Located near Gate A48. More info.

Denver Chophouse

This longtime eatery and pub near Coors Field was started by the Colorado family that also created the Rock Bottom and Old Chicago chains. The DIA spot is focused on steaks, burgers and the like. Located near the train escalators. More info.

Mercantile Dining & Provision

An outlet of longtime Denver chef Alex Seidel’s Union Station staple. Breakfast, sandwiches and restaurant-quality dinners. Located near the escalators to the train. More info.

Novo Coffee

Small, upscale Denver coffee chain and roasting company founded in 2002. Located near the escalators to the train. More info.

Snarf’s Sandwiches

The much-loved sandwich chain was started in Boulder in 1996 by Jimmy “Snarf” Seidel and now has many locations throughout Colorado, Missouri and Texas. Near Gate A73. More info.

CONCOURSE B

Elway’s

Former Hall-of-Fame Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway started his own steakhouse back in 2004, and the DIA location has been around since 2013, serving steaks, seafood, salads and more. Located near the escalators to the train. More info.

Etai’s Bakery Cafe

One of several artisan bakery concepts begun by Denver’s Baron family, Etai’s serves up hot and cold sandwiches and paninis. There is also a full bar. Near Gate B23. More info.

Heidi’s Brooklyn Deli

Heidi’s began in the early ’90s in Denver’s Highland Square and later expanded to multiple locations. It serves sandwiches, wraps, salads and smoothies. Near Gate B87. More info.

Modern Market

Originally founded in Boulder, this chain of healthy eateries serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner and includes gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options. Near the train escalators. More info.

New Belgium Brewing

Known for its ubiquitous Fat Tire, New Belgium is one of Colorado’s first craft breweries. Its DIA operation serves plenty of New Belgium beers, along with breakfast burritos, sandwiches, burgers, salads and some beer-infused items. Near Gate B30. More info.

Salt & Grinder

This New Jersey-style deli from renowned Denver restaurateur Frank Bonanno serves breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Located near the train escalators. More info.

Smashburger & Bar

Although Smashburger is now a national chain, it was founded in Denver with a single location. The menu consists of gourmet burgers, chicken sandwiches and veggie burgers, plus craft beer. Near Gate B44. More info.

Snooze: An A.M. Eatery

Wildly popular Colorado-founded breakfast spot with multiple locations around the country. The DIA outlet serves all day. Located near the train escalators. More info.

Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs

It doesn’t get more “small business” than Steve’s, which operates out of a stand on East Colfax Avenue. Gourmet hot dogs and local craft beers. Near Gate B24. More info.

The Great Divide Brewhouse and Kitchen in Denver International Airport's C Concourse. (Provided by Great Divide) — The Great Divide Brewhouse and Kitchen in Denver International Airport’s C Concourse. (Provided by Great Divide)

CONCOURSE C

Dazbog Coffee

This chain was founded in Denver in 1992. Located near Gate C47. More info.

Great Divide Brewing

One of Denver’s first craft breweries, Great Divide serves its wide variety of award-winning beers, along with breakfast, lunch and dinner classics Near Gate C32. More info.

La Casita

A true Denver original, La Casita was founded by the family of the late longtime local politician Paul Sandoval. While it specializes in tamales, you’ll also find burritos, green chili, quesadillas and other Mexican food. Located near the train escalators. More info.

Little Man Ice Cream

One of Denver’s favorite locally-owned ice cream shops, Little Man offers its signature sweet treats, as well as boozy shakes (including one called the Illuminati Shake, which is an ode to the conspiracy theories surrounding the airport). Near Gate C27. More info.

Modern Market

Originally founded in Boulder, this chain of healthy eateries serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner and includes gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options. Near the train escalators. More info.

Root Down

Justin Cucci’s eclectic farm-to-table restaurant is a must-stop for many frequent travelers through DIA, and a longtime staple at the airport. Serving upscale seasonal dishes, with a full bar. Located near the escalators to the train. More info.

Smashburger & Bar

Superfruit Republic

A Denver-based fast-casual chain primarily serving acai bowls as well as juices and grab-and-go items. Near the escalators to the train. More info.

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Denver, CO

Prolonged ‘Welly weather,’ our first taste of winter and Lisa’s official first-snow prediction for Denver

Published

1 week ago

September 24, 2025

Press Room

Prolonged ‘Welly weather,’ our first taste of winter and Lisa’s official first-snow prediction for Denver

Lisa Hidalgo and Ryan Warner were ready to bust out the rain boots for their September weather and climate chat.

Denver7’s chief meteorologist and the Colorado Public Radio host delved into a rare, days-long rainy stretch, our first taste of winter and the pair’s official first-snow-date prediction for Denver.

‘Welly weather’

“Two things happened this week that rarely happen in Colorado,” Warner said. “The first is that when I went to bed it was raining. I woke up and it was raining. And two, the rain meant I could wear my ‘Wellies,’ my Wellington boots.”

“These are rare events,” the green-rubber-boot-clad Warner quipped during the conversation.

Warner and Hidalgo held their conversation on the heels of an unusually rainy spell. In Colorado, rain storms often come and go quickly. This week’s rainfall, though, came during a slow-moving storm.

“It’s more the direction of it and where it camps out,” Hidalgo explained. “So as you get a low pressure system rolling through the state, and we get all this moisture that wraps around the back side of it, it jams up against the foothills. It’s called an upslope flow.”

In the winter, such a storm would’ve meant inches of snow in Denver. With September highs in the 50s, though, it came down as rain in town as it snowed in the high country.

First taste of winter

The National Weather Service in Boulder estimated Tuesday that “a widespread 5-10 inches” of snow fell at the highest elevations – above 10,500 to 11,000 feet – during the September 22-23 storm.

For the snow-lovers out there (keep scrolling if that’s not you)…
Some healthy snowfall over the past ~18 hrs for some of our higher elevations (mainly east of the Continental Divide above 10,500′).
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Pictured: Dakota Hill (Gilpin Co; left); Killpecker (Larimer Co; right) #COwx pic.twitter.com/46surChItd
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) September 24, 2025

Hidalgo noted things would quickly warm up after what was the area’s first winter weather advisory of the season.

“But this is just a hint of what’s to come,” she said. “And, obviously, we’re going to see a lot more alerts as we get into fall and into winter.”

When will Denver see its first measurable snow?

On average, the first snowfall in Denver happens on Oct. 18. The window has already passed for our earliest first snow, which happened on Sept. 3. The latest first snow in Denver is Dec. 10 – Lisa’s birthday.

With all of that in consideration, Hidalgo predicted this year’s first snow in Denver would fall on Oct. 24.

Warner’s guess? A potentially soggy evening of trick-or-treating after an Oct. 29 first snow.

More weather in-depth

Lisa and Ryan touched on studies on potential connections between both lightning and snowmelt on Colorado’s year-round fire season. They also discussed a study that suggests the eastern half of Colorado is drying out faster than the western half.

For more in-depth weather analysis, watch their full weather and climate chat in the video player below:

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Denver, CO

Denver Zoo animals don’t just do tricks, they help vets with their own healthcare

Published

2 weeks ago

September 15, 2025

Press Room

Denver Zoo animals don’t just do tricks, they help vets with their own healthcare

From a tiny tree frog to an enormous elephant, every one of the nearly 3,000 animals at the Denver Zoo are treated for their health issues on site. Many of the animals at the zoo aren’t just doing tricks, they’re helping zookeepers by participating in their own healthcare.

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Denver, CO

Some Park Hill residents feel Denver is failing on minority outreach in golf course discussion

Published

2 weeks ago

September 13, 2025

Press Room

Some Park Hill residents feel Denver is failing on minority outreach in golf course discussion

September 13, 2025 / 4:21 PM MDT
/ CBS Colorado

Saturday morning at Park Hill’s Hiawatha Davis Recreation Center, the City of Denver held a community open house to talk about its next big project: the city park and open space that was formerly the Park Hill Golf Course.

“It’s quite rare for a city to have this large of a park coming in. So it’s really important to us that that process is driven by the community,” said Sarah Showalter, director of planning and policy at the city’s Department of Community Planning and Development.

Residents got to see the plans for the park and the future the city has in store for the surrounding neighborhood.

“The voters clearly said that 155 acres should be a park, but the community is still looking for access to food and to affordable housing,” said Jolon Clark, executive director of Denver Parks and Recreation.

It seemed to be a good turnout, which the city likes, but two groups that appeared to be underrepresented were Black and Latino people, which is a problem, since Park Hill is a historically Black neighborhood.

A Denver resident looks at a presentation at a community open house in Denver, Colorado, on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025 on the future of the Park Hill neighborhood.

CBS

Helen Bradshaw is a lifelong Park Hill resident. She and Vincent Owens, another long-time resident, came to the open house and said the problem is simple: the city isn’t meeting the neighbors of color where they are.

“The people who are just the average go to work, they might be at work or they have to work today or, you know, they couldn’t get a babysitter or something like that,” Owens said. “A lot of the elders on my block, they’re not going to come to something like this. So, you need to canvass and actually go get the voice of opinion, or they don’t know about it.”

Bradshaw and Owens say they want a neighborhood park and space for the neighbors by the neighbors. They also want a grocery store and opportunities for people who were part of the neighborhood long before it became a gem for development.

Helen Bradshaw, left, and Vincent Owens say the City of Denver is failing to reach out to enough Black residents of the Park Hill neighborhood as the city works to determine how to move forward for the site of the former Park Hill Golf Course.

CBS

The city says that’s what they want as well, and that’s why they want everyone in Park Hill to give their input until the project is done.

“People can go to ParkHillPark.org and they can fully get involved and find out what the next engagement is, how to provide their input, you know, through an email, through a survey,” said Clark.

Michael Abeyta

Your Reporter Michael Abeyta specializes in coverage of the Colorado city of Aurora. Share you story ideas with him by sending an email to yourreporter@cbs.com.

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