Austin Texas Food Tour Locals Say You Can't Miss | $99 Austin Eats Food Truck Tour Review

Downtown Denver gets a bad rap from locals, and some of it is deserved. There's a lot of forgettable chain food around the 16th Street Mall, and if you're not paying attention, you'll end up spending $18 on a mediocre burger somewhere with TVs on every wall. But there are genuinely good spots down here — places I'd recommend to someone visiting from out of town or to a Denver person who hasn't explored this part of the city in a while. Here's what I'd actually send a friend to.

Corinne Denver

Corinne sits at 1455 California Street and earns its 4.8 rating in a way that doesn't feel accidental. The room is good-looking without trying too hard, and the food matches it — the kind of brunch or dinner spot where the execution is consistently better than you expect from a hotel restaurant, which is what this technically is. The pasta dishes are where I'd focus your attention. Worth going on a weekday if you can — weekends get crowded and the energy shifts a little.

Sam's No. 3

This is the move if you want something unpretentious and filling and you're not trying to spend much money. Sam's No. 3 has been at 1500 Curtis Street since the 1920s, and they clearly haven't spent a lot of time worrying about what's trendy, which is completely fine. Get the green chile — it's the reason people keep coming back. The diner format means you're in and out fast, and the $ price point means you can eat here twice in a day without thinking about it.

Tavernetta

If I'm taking someone to dinner downtown and I want to actually impress them, Tavernetta on the 16th Street Mall is where I go. The Italian menu is focused and well-executed — the pasta is made in-house and it shows. Yes, it's $$$, and yes, you should make a reservation because getting in without one on a Friday is optimistic. The cacio e pepe is the dish I keep recommending to people, and so far nobody has argued with me about it.

The Hampton Social

The Hampton Social at 2501 16th Street has a nautical-leaning aesthetic that makes a little more sense once you're inside than it sounds on paper. The food skews toward shareable plates and seafood-adjacent stuff — good for a group where people want to try a few different things rather than commit to one dish. The bar program is solid and the space is lively without being overwhelming. I'd aim for an early dinner or late lunch to avoid the peak rush on weekends.

Panzano

Panzano at 909 17th Street is another Italian option downtown, and it holds up well at the $$$ price point. The dining room has a warmth to it that a lot of downtown restaurants miss — it doesn't feel like you're eating inside a hotel lobby, even though it's technically adjacent to one. The risotto has been consistently good every time I've been, and the service is attentive without being overbearing. Quieter and more low-key than Tavernetta, which is either a selling point or not depending on what you're after.

Water Grill Denver

Water Grill at 1691 Market Street is listed at $ which seems like a mistake when you look at the menu, but there it is. The seafood focus sets it apart from most of what's around it in this part of downtown. Raw bar selections are worth starting with if you're into oysters or ceviche. It's the kind of place that works well for a business dinner or a date where you want the food to do some of the heavy lifting.

Maggiano's Little Italy

I know what you're thinking — Maggiano's is a chain, and it's in a mall. Both of those things are true. It's also consistently good in a way that matters when you're coordinating dinner for a larger group and you need a place that reliably delivers. The pasta portions are enormous, the service is fast and organized, and the 16th Street Mall Pavilions location is easy to get to. For a solo dinner or a romantic date, I'd pick somewhere else on this list. For a table of eight where everyone has different tastes, this works.

3 Margaritas Downtown Cocina Mexicana

3 Margaritas at 519 16th Street is straightforward Mexican food at a price point that won't hurt. The margaritas are what most people come for, and they're strong enough that you'll want to eat something before the second one. The food is solid — nothing that's going to reframe your understanding of Mexican cuisine, but that's not really the point. Good lunch spot, especially if you're already walking the mall.

Ajax Downtown

Ajax is at 1899 16th Street Mall and runs $$$ with a menu that leans into bold flavors and a bar program that's clearly been given some attention. The cocktail list is worth reading before you order. The food is more interesting than a lot of what surrounds it on the mall — there's some actual creativity here rather than just competent execution of obvious dishes. I'd sit at the bar if you're going solo or with one other person. The room feels better that way.

Stout Street Social

Stout Street Social at 1400 Stout Street is a solid middle-ground option — not the most exciting place on this list, but reliably good and the pricing is fair for what you get. The menu covers enough ground that it works when you're eating with someone who has strong preferences in different directions. The bar is well-stocked and the happy hour is worth planning around if your schedule is flexible. Parking on Stout can be a little annoying depending on the time of day, but it's not far from the mall if you want to walk from a garage.

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Downtown Denver has more going for it than people give it credit for, and most of the spots on this list prove that. My starting point for a first visit would be Tavernetta or Corinne — both represent what downtown dining can be when it's done well. If the budget is tight, Sam's No. 3 is the honest answer and I've never had a bad meal there.