Denver, CO
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.
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.

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
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 C51. More info.
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
Broncos vs Texans: 3 Keys to Victory
We’re hardly two years removed from the last time these two teams faced off but the embarrassment from that ugly loss still dampens the hearts of those unfortunate enough to still remember that game and all 100 opportunities they wasted.
But there’s good news: the Denver Broncos are a lot better now than they were then.
Let’s dig into how the Broncos can keep their momentum going and extend their winning streak to six games.
1. Find a way to make up for Pat Surtain’s injury
One positive I want to take away from their game against the Cowboys is that Surtain missed the entire second half against one of the best passing offenses in the league and Denver did just fine. Their secondary held up against two of the best receiving threats in football. And while Nico Collins is a legitimate threat, the Texans don’t have that 1-2 punch like the Cowboys do.
One way to keep that going is to get pressure on CJ Stroud. Their offensive line is only giving up just above two sacks a game this year, but they’ve also benefited from a somewhat sub-par schedule. The schemes that Vance Joseph has in store for them will be lethal. I expect everyone up front to eat.
There’s also the added bonus of Dre Greenlaw making his second return to action this season, following a bogus suspension. Having him being able to secure the middle of the field and let the DBs give a soft shell over the top should make things that much harder for Stroud to deal with as well.
2. Keep running that dang ball
Believe it or not, the Broncos currently boast the third-best rushing attack in the league with 1,102 yards on the season (137.8 YPG). This was not the case last season, the season before, or the season before that. And it’s this running game that’s completely elevated the offense, and it’s what kept them on the field last week as they went three-and-out the least amount of times in a game as they have all year long.
On first downs against the Cowboys, when the Broncos ran the ball they averaged over six yards a carry. On the game they averaged nearly seven yards per carry when adjusting for kneel downs and scrambles. JK Dobbins himself averaged 7.4 YPC.
This team is a running team through and through. And when you have an offensive line that dominates as much as Denver’s does (specifically looking at you, Quinn Meinerz) you have to keep pounding that rock. And the Texans only make up the fifth-best run defense, and out of the seven teams Houston has gone up against, only one team currently has a rushing attack that ranks in the top half of the league.
Truly this is a defense that is untested in the run game and the Broncos by-far boast the best rushing attack the Texans will see all year outside the Bills and the Colts.
A great way to keep a good defense guessing is the frequent use of both run and pass options. Bo Nix has been good at both of these this season. Against the Cowboys he was really carving them up with his pass options. Sean Payton does a great job switching up motions and formations to give the offense a numbers advantage, and Nix has been able to read the majority of these and make the proper call.
If they can keep these type of plays sprinkled in throughout the game, then that’s just another wrinkle the Texans have to come up with a plan for. And this is not something they’ve really encountered this season.
Sean Payton is a great offensive coach and he’ll show up on Sunday.
Denver, CO
RTD bans ads covering windows of metro Denver buses and trains
Regional Transportation District directors voted Tuesday night to ban the bright wrap-around advertisements that partially block views out windows on metro Denver buses and trains, resolving to give riders the same chance to see their surroundings as people in cars and make public transportation more appealing.
The prohibition means losing revenue — RTD officials calculated that window-blocking ads brought in $786,000 between April and September this year — at a time when agency officials are grappling with financial constraints.
Thousands of tiny holes, each half the size of a frozen pea, spread across RTD’s adhesive vinyl ad wraps allow riders enough visibility to know whether they’re nearing stops, but the ads obscure landscapes and prevent would-be riders outside buses and trains from assessing safety inside before boarding.
“It is worth the trade-off,” RTD Director Brett Paglieri said, campaigning for the ban as a step to help riders savor beauty.
Selling out RTD windows for commercial messaging “assumes us to be second-class citizens. We are equal to people who choose to drive private vehicles,” Paglieri said. “When you cannot see out the windows clearly, it denigrates the experience of riding. We want our riders to know we care about their experience.”
The elected directors approved the ban in a 9-4 vote.
They decided amid rising concerns about lagging RTD ridership, including criticism from state lawmakers invested in urban densification housing projects, who say viable public transportation is essential to manage vehicle congestion on roads.
RTD directors also voted Tuesday to prepare for a restart of special bus service to Denver Broncos and Colorado Rockies games downtown next year as a way to attract more riders.
Meanwhile, RTD directors are grappling with projected revenue shortfalls despite a record $1.2 billion budget, expected to increase to more than $1.3 billion next year. RTD executives have said services may have to be cut to manage costs, based on financial forecasts that RTD’s primary source of revenue from sales taxes paid by residents across eight counties will decrease.
The ad-wraps issue arose in recent years as directors heard rider complaints.
“The ads are truly obnoxious. They obliterate a full view of your surroundings,” longtime RTD employee and regular rider Bob Brewster, 79, said in an interview.
“Looking out those tiny little holes in the ad wraps doesn’t give you the full picture. It limits your vision,” Brewster said. “Being able to see out the window is an enjoyable part of riding public transit,” he added, and using buses and trains for commercial messaging “uglifies our public transit vehicles.”
RTD officials have displayed ads on buses and trains for more than 50 years. RTD Director Michael Guzman, opposing the ban, argued it will cut revenue needed to maintain service. “RTD is not about the vibes. RTD is about moving people.”
The grassroots advocacy group Greater Denver Transit welcomed the decision.
“People who ride public transportation deserve the basic human dignity of being able to look out the window without obstruction,” the group’s co-founder, James Flattum, said. “The revenue RTD has generated from ad space on vehicle windows over the last decade has been so small that it is effectively irrelevant to supporting RTD’s operations. But it comes at a dear cost to the rider experience.”
RTD officials said their customer satisfaction surveys have not included questions about wrap-around ads since 2012. A Greater Denver Transit survey of riders found that 84% felt ads covering windows degraded their transit experience.
Ads that cover windows have been placed on 493 buses (out of 955 in the fleet), 128 light rail trains (out of 201) and 48 commuter rail trains (out of 66), according to agency records.
RTD officials said ad revenues totaled $4.9 million in 2023, $4.4 million in 2024 and $3.1 million this year through September — the bulk of it from ads that do not cover windows and still will be sold.
The agency recently terminated a contract with Lamar Advertising and has received bids from competitor agencies as part of an effort to rethink ads as a source of revenue. Public transit officials in St. Louis, Missouri, and Albuquerque, New Mexico. have decided to remove ads from the sides of buses and trains.
“Advertising revenue is used for RTD’s general operations,” RTD officials said in a statement relayed by spokeswoman Pauline Haberman. “Any potential reduction in revenue will need to be considered and accounted for in the budget.”
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Denver, CO
Denver City Council seeks to block Flock cameras contract due to concerns about
The battle over Denver’s Flock camera surveillance system escalated Tuesday with nine Denver City Council members asking the city auditor to step in and essentially block Mayor Mike Johnston’s proposed extension of a contract with Flock.
In a letter dated Oct. 25 and obtained by CBS News Colorado, the nine council members asked Denver City Auditor Tim O’Brien to not sign a five month contract extension with Flock that Johnston announced last week.
“We have serious concerns about Flock Group Inc’s ethics, transparency and credibility,” reads the council letter. “We do not believe the City and County of Denver should continue doing business with a company that has demonstrated such disregard for honesty and accountability.”
The council members accuse Johnston of deliberately evading city council oversight of the Flock agreement by violating city contracting rules.
Last week, the Mayor announced he was unilaterally extending Flock’s camera contract with Denver through early 2026, with measures in place to prevent federal authorities from accessing data from Denver’s Flock cameras.
In response to the city council letter, a spokesperson for Johnston on Tuesday released a statement saying, “It is the Mayor’s job to keep the city safe. License plate readers do just that, and there is nothing about this no-cost extension that is beyond the scope of the Mayor’s responsibilities or authority.”
Auditor Tim O’Brien said on Tuesday he would perform due diligence “by considering whether this contract is intentionally split in violation of city contracting rules and assessing if it subverted City Council’s independent oversight.”
Some city council members have expressed privacy concerns around the use of the cameras.
Denver City Council’s Health and Safety Committee is planning to discuss the Flock issue again on Wednesday with an update scheduled on the Surveillance Task Force.
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