Denver Downtown 16th Street Food Tour

We begin our food tour at one of Denver’s most storied landmarks — the Brown Palace Hotel. Opened in 1892, this icon has hosted presidents, musicians, and travelers for more than a century. Its grand atrium, ornate ironwork, and stained glass skylight offer a glimpse into Denver’s gilded past, when elegance and ambition defined the city’s rise.

Before we step out into downtown, we enjoy a seasonal housemade pastry from the hotel’s award-winning pastry chef. Each creation — from buttery croissants to fruit-filled danishes or delicate tarts — is crafted in-house and reflects the season’s best ingredients. It’s a refined yet welcoming start, a bite of sweetness paired with a bit of history. As your guide shares stories of the hotel’s famous guests and hidden tunnels, you’ll taste the kind of care and craftsmanship that set Denver apart long before the modern food scene arrived.

After meeting at the Brown Palace, we head toward the 16th Street Mall — Denver’s main downtown corridor and the heart of our food tour. This mile-long pedestrian street runs through the center of the city, lined with restaurants, cafés, and food halls that show off Denver’s growing culinary scene. What began in the 1980s as a retail hub has evolved into a mix of historic landmarks and modern eateries serving everything from tacos and pizza to sushi and craft cocktails.

Here, locals grab lunch between meetings while visitors explore the city’s flavors in one easy walk. Food trucks and pop-ups often line the blocks, and patio seating fills with people enjoying Colorado’s 300 days of sunshine. As we make our way down the mall, your guide will point out long-time Denver favorites and newer spots redefining downtown dining. It’s the perfect place to taste the city’s energy — casual, creative, and full of local pride.

Our next stop is Lazo Empanadas, a local favorite bringing the flavors of Argentina to downtown Denver. Here, we sample their chorizo and egg breakfast empanada — a golden, hand-crimped pastry filled with savory sausage, fluffy eggs, and just enough spice to wake up your palate. Baked, not fried, it’s warm and flaky with a little smokiness from the chorizo and richness from the dough.

As you take your first bite, your guide shares how empanadas became a staple of Argentine street food — easy to hold, quick to eat, and endlessly adaptable. Lazo’s recipes come straight from family tradition, but with a Colorado twist, using local ingredients and bold flavors. It’s comfort food with craftsmanship behind it, a perfect mid-tour bite that bridges South American roots and Denver’s love of global cuisine. Grab a napkin, because this one tends to disappear fast.

Our third stop takes us to Appaloosa Grill for a bowl that tastes like Colorado: rich, slow-simmered bison chili. Lean, deeply flavored bison is cooked low and gentle with roasted chiles, tomatoes, warm spices, and a touch of cocoa for depth, then finished with sharp cheddar, green onion, and a dab of cooling crema. It’s hearty without being heavy, the kind of comfort that makes conversation start around the table. Your guide shares how bison moved from frontier staple to modern Rocky Mountain favorite while you sip water or a local beverage and take in the lively room. We talk texture, heat, and balance, and what makes game meats different from beef. By the last bite, you’ll understand why Denver chefs reach for bison when they want bold flavor and a sense of place—an edible snapshot of the city’s high-plains soul. Paired with a crumb of cornbread for scooping (or gluten-free on request), this stop is equal parts tasting and story—fuel for the short walk to our next bite on the tour!

Our next stop brings us to one of Denver’s most iconic landmarks — the Daniels & Fisher Clock Tower. Built in 1911 as part of the grand Daniels & Fisher department store, it was once the tallest building west of the Mississippi and a proud symbol of Denver’s growth. Modeled after St. Mark’s Campanile in Venice, its four glowing clock faces have watched over the 16th Street Mall for more than a century.

We pause here not for a bite, but for a taste of history. Your guide shares how this elegant tower survived the demolition of the original store in the 1970s and became a cornerstone of downtown’s revival. Today, it houses offices and event spaces with panoramic views, and its bells still chime through the city. Standing beneath it, you can feel the rhythm of Denver’s past and present blending together — a fitting intermission between food stops on our walk through the city’s evolving flavors and stories.

Our next stop takes us to Larimer Square — Denver’s most historic block and one of its liveliest dining destinations. Established in the 1860s, this was the city’s first main street and remains one of the best-preserved glimpses into Denver’s past. The Victorian storefronts you see today once housed saloons and trading posts serving gold rush pioneers; now they’re home to some of the city’s top restaurants and cocktail bars.

As we walk under the canopy of twinkling string lights, your guide shares how Larimer Square was saved from demolition in the 1960s and transformed into a model for urban preservation. The result is a street that blends old and new — classic brick facades paired with modern menus featuring Colorado ingredients and global influences. It’s a reminder that Denver’s food scene, like the city itself, is built on reinvention, turning its history into something fresh, flavorful, and very much alive.

Our next tasting stop is Osteria Marco, a cozy Italian restaurant tucked beneath the lights of Larimer Square. Known for its hand-tossed pizzas and house-cured meats, this spot brings the warmth of a neighborhood osteria right into the heart of downtown Denver. We’ll be sampling one of their signature wood-fired pizzas — thin, blistered crust with that perfect balance of chew and char, topped with fresh mozzarella, tangy tomato sauce, and bright basil.

As you take a bite, your guide shares how Osteria Marco helped pioneer Denver’s modern dining scene when it opened in the mid-2000s, proving that casual food could still be chef-driven and exceptional. The kitchen’s dough is made fresh daily, and the ingredients are sourced with the same care you’d find in Italy. It’s simple food done perfectly — a pause in the tour that invites you to slow down, savor the flavors, and enjoy one of Denver’s most beloved local spots.

We finish our food tour at Dragonfly Noodle, a lively Asian eatery that blends traditional techniques with bold, modern flavors. Here, we taste their hoisin duck bao — soft, pillowy steamed buns filled with tender shredded duck, sweet-savory hoisin sauce, crisp cucumber, and a sprinkle of scallions. Each bite is rich yet balanced, the perfect mix of texture and flavor to wrap up the day’s tastings.

Your guide shares how Dragonfly Noodle draws inspiration from the street food stalls of Southeast Asia while highlighting Denver’s growing love for global cuisine. The restaurant’s open kitchen and playful energy make it a local favorite, and the bao itself captures what the tour is all about: craft, culture, and a bit of adventure. As we gather for our final bite, surrounded by the buzz of downtown, it’s clear this stop — and this city — are all about connection through food.