Downtown Dinner Tour Explore Denvers Culinary Scene

The first tasting stop brings guests to Tavernetta, one of Denver’s most celebrated restaurants and a polished showcase for regional Italian cooking. Opened by the team behind Boulder’s James Beard Award-winning Frasca Food and Wine, Tavernetta has earned national recognition for its hospitality, wine program and beautifully executed cuisine, including a Michelin recommendation. Inside the elegant dining room near Union Station, guests will ease into the evening with a Brachetto spritz, a bright, lightly sparkling Italian aperitif with notes of red fruit and florals. Alongside it, you’ll enjoy housemade focaccia and marinated Italian olives, a simple but memorable pairing that captures Tavernetta’s style: refined, seasonal and rooted in the pleasure of sharing good food. It’s a relaxed, delicious first taste of downtown Denver’s award-winning dining scene.

Located inside the beautifully restored Union Station, this acclaimed Spanish restaurant introduces guests to the vibrant tradition of tapas—small, shareable plates designed to bring people together around the table. During your stop, you'll enjoy a thoughtfully curated tasting of pan con tomate, crispy croquetas de jamón, savory setas with mushrooms and serrano ham, or a vegetarian goat cheese tapa drizzled with hot honey, each showcasing the bold yet balanced flavors found throughout Spain. To complete the experience, you'll sip a refreshing glass of house-made red sangria, a classic Spanish beverage made with red wine and fresh fruit that perfectly complements the savory bites. As your guide shares the fascinating history of tapas, Spain's social dining culture, and Union Station's transformation from a bustling railroad hub into one of Denver's most iconic gathering places, you'll discover why this stop is consistently one of the highlights of the tour.

Between tastings, guests will step inside the Oxford Hotel, one of Denver’s most historic and atmospheric landmarks. Opened in 1891, the Oxford is the city’s oldest operating hotel and still carries the character of old LoDo, from its ornate details to its timeless lobby and classic downtown feel. Your guide will share stories from the hotel’s past and its role in the neighborhood’s transformation, when this part of Denver evolved from a railroad district into one of the city’s most vibrant dining and nightlife destinations. It’s a quick but memorable stopover that adds a sense of place to the evening, connecting the food and cocktails on the tour to the architecture, history and personality of downtown Denver.

On our way to dessert, guests will walk through the Dairy Block alley, one of downtown Denver’s most colorful and creative pedestrian spaces. Tucked between historic brick buildings, this lively stretch is filled with public art, string lights, boutique shops, bars and hidden details that make it feel like a tucked-away neighborhood within the city. Your guide will point out how the Dairy Block transformed a former warehouse area into one of LoDo’s most vibrant gathering places, where food, design, hospitality and local culture all come together. It’s a short but memorable walk that adds energy and atmosphere to the evening before the final tasting.

At Kachina, guests dig into a Southwestern-inspired tasting that brings bold flavor and a little Denver flair to the evening. This stop features blood orange tequila pork carnitas tacos served on warm fry bread, with fresh salsas that add brightness, heat and texture to each bite. Paired with a house margarita, it’s a lively contrast to the earlier Italian and steakhouse stops, showcasing the range of downtown Denver’s dining scene in one fun, generous tasting. Set inside the Maven Hotel on the Dairy Block, Kachina adds color, energy and a sense of place to the tour, making it a perfect stop for guests to sip, snack and keep the conversation going.

On the way to our next tasting, guests will pass through The Maven Hotel, a modern Dairy Block destination that captures a very different side of downtown Denver. Where the Oxford offers old LoDo elegance, The Maven brings a more contemporary, art-filled energy, with bold design, local artwork and an open, social lobby that reflects the creativity of the neighborhood around it. Your guide will use this stop to connect the dots between Denver’s historic railroad roots and the city’s newer wave of hotels, restaurants and gathering spaces. It’s a quick but engaging transition before the next tasting, giving guests a sense of how downtown Denver continues to evolve while still keeping food, hospitality and local character at the center of the experience.

The tour ends on a sweet note inside Denver Milk Market, the lively food hall at the heart of the Dairy Block. Guests will head to Cornicello for a final dessert tasting featuring High Point Creamery ice cream, a local favorite known for creative flavors and small-batch quality. After a night of Italian bites, steakhouse comforts, Southwestern tacos and craft cocktails, this last stop gives everyone a chance to slow down, compare favorite moments and enjoy one more taste of Denver’s food scene. Set within one of downtown’s most social dining spaces, it’s a relaxed, satisfying finish to a progressive dinner tour built around great food, local stories and connection.