THE Top 12 BEST Pizza Spots In Denver (Right Now!)

Downtown Denver gets a bad reputation for restaurants. Some of it is deserved — there's a lot of mediocre food near the tourist corridors. But there are genuinely good spots mixed in, and if you know where to look, you can eat well without driving to RiNo or LoHi. Here's where I'd actually send someone.

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Tavernetta

This is my go-to when someone visits from out of town and wants a proper dinner that isn't going to disappoint. Tavernetta sits right on the 16th Street Mall and does Italian in a way that doesn't feel like a chain — the pasta is made in-house, and it shows. I'd go with whatever the seasonal pasta is on that visit rather than overthinking the menu. It's on the pricier side, so set expectations accordingly, but the quality is there.

Corinne Denver

Corinne is inside the Source Hotel on California Street, and the room itself is pretty striking — high ceilings, a lot of natural light, and a bar program that takes things seriously. The food skews American with enough creativity to stay interesting without trying too hard. My wife and I went on a weeknight and had no trouble getting a table, which surprised me for a place that looks this polished. Worth knowing about if you want somewhere that feels special without the full formality of a three-course situation.

Panzano

Another Italian option downtown, and the fact that two Italian restaurants made this list probably tells you something about what downtown does well. Panzano is in the Hotel Monaco on 17th, and it has a quieter, more settled energy than Tavernetta — better for a business dinner or somewhere you want to actually hear the person across from you. The handmade pasta here is consistently good, and the service tends to be sharper than you'd expect for a hotel restaurant.

Sam's No. 3

Sam's No. 3 has been on Curtis Street since the 1920s, and it has the energy of a place that doesn't need to prove anything. This is diner food — big portions, low prices, the kind of green chile that makes a legitimate case for Denver doing something right. It's the spot I send people who want a real local experience without spending much money. Get the breakfast burrito smothered in green chile and you'll understand why this place has stuck around.

The Hampton Social

The Hampton Social on 16th Street leans into a coastal aesthetic that's a little unexpected for landlocked Denver — but it works. The menu has a lot of seafood-forward options, the cocktails are well put together, and the space is designed for the kind of long, comfortable meal where you end up ordering another round without planning to. It skews a bit younger and louder on weekends, so if you want a quieter experience, go on a weeknight. Good for a group where the table wants to share a few things rather than everyone ordering their own entrée.

Water Grill Denver

Water Grill is on Market Street and takes seafood seriously in a city that doesn't always get credit for doing that well. The price point is lower than you'd expect for the quality coming out of the kitchen, which makes it one of the better values on this list. If you're skeptical about ordering fish in a landlocked state, the sourcing here should put that to rest — this isn't a place cutting corners. The oyster selection alone is worth a stop.

Maggiano's Little Italy

I know Maggiano's is a chain, and I'm including it anyway, because the one at the Pavilions on 16th Street is genuinely well run and the food is consistent in a way that's useful when you're feeding a group with mixed opinions. The pasta portions are large enough to share, and the classic Italian-American dishes — the rigatoni, the chicken piccata — are done competently and without any pretense. It's not the most exciting meal on this list, but it's reliable, which counts for something downtown.

3 Margaritas Downtown Cocina Mexicana

3 Margaritas has multiple locations around the metro, and this downtown spot on 16th Street holds up. The margaritas are exactly what you want them to be — large and strong — and the Mexican food is straightforward and satisfying. I wouldn't call it destination dining, but if you're already on the Mall and want something quick and filling that doesn't feel like a tourist trap, this one works. The green chile here is worth trying if you're building a sense of where Denver's chile culture lives.

Ajax Downtown

Ajax is at the corner of 16th Street Mall and Little Raven, and it covers a lot of ground — burgers, salads, bowls, drinks — in a way that makes it an easy choice when you're eating with people who can't agree on anything. The space is large and tends to get busy, so expect some noise on weekend evenings. The burger is better than it has any right to be at that price point. Not a place I'd drive across town for, but if you're already in the neighborhood, it's a solid call.

Stout Street Social

Stout Street Social is on the quieter end of downtown, which makes it a little easier to actually relax in. The menu is pub-style American — flatbreads, burgers, apps — and it's the kind of place that works better than it looks on paper once you're actually sitting there. Happy hour prices are good, and the bar is well stocked. I'd call it a reliable neighborhood spot more than a destination, but downtown doesn't have enough of those, so it earns its place on the list.

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If I had to pick one place from this list for a first-time visitor who wants to eat somewhere genuinely good, I'd send them to Tavernetta or Panzano depending on the budget. If they're more interested in eating something local and unpretentious for under $15, Sam's No. 3 is the answer — and it's been the answer for about a hundred years.