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Restaurants in Downtown

Thirsty Lion

4.4
4,557 Google reviews$$ · Moderate

One of 25 restaurants we've tracked near Downtown.

Things to Know

Thirsty Lion is a casual American restaurant and bar in downtown Denver near Union Station known for solid cocktails and consistent service, popular with pre-game crowds and business groups.

Service quality is hit-or-miss depending on your server, but the food is well-executed and the downtown location near Union Station makes it convenient for drinks before events.

  • Exceptional individual servers who provide attentive, fun service and remember details
  • Found and secured a customer's lost tablet in their safe
  • Well-made cocktails and happy hour prices are very reasonable
  • Clean atmosphere that's not too loud, good for conversation
  • Prime downtown location steps from Union Station
  • Inconsistent drink refill service; some servers are slow to check on tables
  • 3% surcharge added to bills and not always clearly communicated upfront
  • Fries can be hard and taste stale
  • Difficult and confusing private event booking process
  • Portion quality varies by dish; some meals don't feel worth the price

Based on Google reviews · AI summarized

Hours

Monday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Thursday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Friday: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Saturday: 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM

Sunday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Closed now

People Order

  • Kung Pao Chicken
  • Smoked Chicken Salad
  • Cheeseburger
  • Ahi Poke Bowl

Things To Do Nearby

What Visitors Say

K

Kelli Mahoney

a month ago

Tyler was AMAZING! We go here a lot before Nuggets games. This is by far the best service we have had. Tyler was professional, fun and super attentive. We appreciate his hard work and hope to have him again in the future. We also appreciate him playing credit card roulette for us!

A

Avery Lynch

a month ago

This place was so yummy! I got the Kung pao chicken, delicious. And the edamame were also so good. We left my son’s tablet at the restaurant and hours later they had it still locked in their safe!

A

Aka. Mike The Inspector

6 months ago

Hey guys, well let me tell you that this place food is amazing. Everybody enjoyed their food at the table from burgers to salad .flavor wise just like the menu described it. I had smoked chicken salad, which was phenomenal. The atmosphere was great not too loud. they had a few football games on, but still very manageable to talk with each other. I am giving a two stars for service because I feel like I was waiting too long for the server to come and refill my drink . other than that great place to stop by if you’re downtown, we reserved a table so it was quick. Aka.Mike the inspector

J

Joshua Ackerman

5 months ago

My co-worker and I were in Denver for a few days for a conference. We came here because the menu looked good and they were pretty busy when we walked by a few nights prior. The atmosphere was nice, and everything was clean. We were seated right as we walked in. The service was good. I ordered the Ahi Poke Bowl and my co-worker ordered the cheese burger. The portion sizes were good and the prices weren't bad for the size of the meals. My meal was good, but nothing mind-blowing. My co-worker enjoyed the burger, but he said the fries which came with it were hard and almost tasted stale. Before anyone comes here be aware they charge a 3% surcharge for your meal. My co-worker believed he saw a small sign outside which stated this, but I did not see it. This was a bit of a surprise when I saw it on the receipt. The explanation on the receipt said it was to ensure their employees could receive proper benefits. They also calculated the recommended tip amounts based off the total of everything (food, 3% surcharge, and tax) rather than just the meal itself. Overall, the experience wasn't bad, but neither of us loved it. Neither of us plan on coming back to this restaurant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Thirsty Lion worth it in Downtown?

Service quality is hit-or-miss depending on your server, but the food is well-executed and the downtown location near Union Station makes it convenient for drinks before events. Known for: downtown denver spot with reliable cocktails.

What should I order at Thirsty Lion?

Popular choices at Thirsty Lion include Kung Pao Chicken, Smoked Chicken Salad, Cheeseburger, Ahi Poke Bowl.

What do visitors love about Thirsty Lion?

Exceptional individual servers who provide attentive, fun service and remember details Found and secured a customer's lost tablet in their safe Well-made cocktails and happy hour prices are very reasonable Clean atmosphere that's not too loud, good for conversation Prime downtown location steps from Union Station

Is there anything to know before visiting Thirsty Lion?

Inconsistent drink refill service; some servers are slow to check on tables 3% surcharge added to bills and not always clearly communicated upfront Fries can be hard and taste stale Difficult and confusing private event booking process Portion quality varies by dish; some meals don't feel worth the price

How expensive is Thirsty Lion?

Thirsty Lion is moderately priced, with a 4.4-star rating from 4,557 Google reviews.

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