Are you currently planning your wedding in Denver and need a spot for a welcome party, rehearsal or some morning-after brunch action? Lucky for you, you’ve come to the right place! The Kaitlin Shea Weddings team took it upon ourselves to scope out the best spots for you. And we can’t lie, though eating and drinking and photographing our way through the city is “hard” work, someone’s gotta do it, right? ;) We’re lucky to live and work in a city with so many beautiful places and yummy food, so it was hard to narrow it down, but here’s our favorites from our adventure day!
The KSW Team at The Woods
We started at The Woods - a hidden gem on the rooftop of The Source Hotel, located in Rino, also known as our North Art District. With it’s gorgeous views, abundant natural light, and cool aged-industrial vibes, we could tell this place would be good from the jump.
And we weren’t wrong! We got to try their 4 fresh-squeezed juices- the citrus, green goddess, berry and ginger- all of which were so refreshing. They also brought out their quinoa bowl- an interesting take on a traditional bowl of oatmeal, but with way more nutrients than typical oats. With gooey, warm bananas mixed inside, and fresh blueberries on top, this breakfast is filling and nutritious while also being delicious- which is not an easy feat! The last course we got to try was their breakfast burrito- and boy were they not playing with this one! At nearly the same size as the (dinner-sized) plate it came out on, it most definitely did not disappoint.
If you’re looking for a spot that’s a little on the outskirts of downtown, with amazing views, a fresh but antiqued ambiance and incredible drinks and food- this place is for you. Added bonus: this restaurant is connected to a hotel, so the travel-time could be super quick! ;)
Our second stop of the day was The Lobby, located just southwest of the Rino district near Coors Field. This American-style brunch diner is located inside a historic building which also boasts a cozy outdoor patio!
We were offered an array of different savory and sweet treats. The Lobby crafted for us a Southern Hash that was delivered to the table in its own mini-skillet and topped with fried eggs hot off the griddle. It was a fan favorite! We were also served a dish on the lighter side, creatively named the “Pop Locks and Drop It.” This dish was an everything bagel topped with cream cheese, seasoned salmon locks and capers - perfect for a fan of the salty and savory. We also tried the “Cluckin Choose One” Chicken and Waffles, the “Whip It” French toast and topped it off with the “Hold Me Closer Tiny Dancer Donuts.” These donuts were bite-sized and served in a tiny silver pail with melted chocolate and berry puree for dipping on the side - perfection!
We washed it all down with some refreshing mimosas (which they offer in a TOWER for sharing!), and on to the next!
After The Lobby, we made our way to The Kitchen! The Kitchen, located in the Union Station neighborhood, features modern, urban design and plenty of options for groups to sip and dine! They have a classic dining experience right as you enter, with a bar top seating area along the back wall (espresso and alcoholic options galore!). Then, as you take the small steps up to the next level, The Kitchen offers larger tables for groups and a private room. All areas of the building feature brick walls, nearly floor to ceiling windows, and conversation-starting artwork and fixtures.
The lunch menu was offered to us at this stop, and it was a crowd favorite for our whole team! We started with some Purple Flower Water, a zero-proof cocktail featuring hibiscus, lemon, demerara, & soda water. It was served with edible flowers - so refreshing!
The Kitchen offers lots of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options which make it an easy choice for your entire party! For lunch we tried the broccolini (served with lemon and parmesan shavings), the crispy cauliflower (served with carrots, chickpeas, tamarind chutney, coriander chutney, mango, pickled red onion - a flavor explosion!), the quiche, and carrots. Now, you may be thinking, “they just got ‘carrots’?” and let me tell you, it was probably a favorite among all of the dishes! The carrots were sliced about an inch thick, cooked and served with urfa, whipped feta, pistachio, sesame, cilantro, mint. It flew off the plate!
Our second-to-last stop of the day was the 1908: An Uptown Eatery! 1908 is situated in the neighborhoods between City Park and Cheesman Park, and has a large outdoor patio with picnic tables and umbrellas for those sunny or rainy days! Inside, the 1908 features “Denver’s only bottomless Bloody Mary and mimosa bar!” You can pour your own mimosa juices or Bloody Mary mix, and top with an array of salty and savory toppings to make your drinks perfect for you! We also ordered a BOOT full of Bloody Mary and topped with a chicken tender, mozzarella stick and slice of bacon. Yeehaw!
At the 1908 we had the chance to try their hangover burger (which features house-made queso and a fried egg) and the brunch burrito (which was the size of our head)! Both were delicious and perfectly savory. The 1908 has bar-top seating inside as well as a large room with beautiful lights strung on the ceiling and brick walls to enhance the ambiance. We topped off this stop with a strawberry lemon spritzer!
Last, but certainly not least, we stopped for afternoon tea at Babe’s Tea Room. You can’t miss Babe’s as you drive down 15th Street because of their beautiful blue-green front doors, black-and-white striped umbrellas and incredible floral installation draping the entire facade. The inside of the team room is bright and airy, with white walls and whimsical details.
We were able to taste the Afternoon Tea, “a prix fix menu including an assortment of savory tea sandwiches, miniature scones served with jam, homemade lemon curd and Devonshire Cream, Scottish shortbread, homemade petit fours, and a French macaron.” This dreamy array comes with unlimited tea tasting - so you can try them all! We tried the Tranquility Rose, Coconut Custard, and Turmeric Comfort. All were fresh, cozy and delicious. They also offer this experience gluten free!
All of the stops on our brunch tour were perfect in their own way, and offered so many options! If you’re looking for something urban and modern, light and girly, or classic diner-vibes - we have the perfect stops. We can envision you stopping by Babe’s Tea Room for a Bridal Shower, or Morning-After brunch. The Lobby or 1908 for fun and casual rehearsal dinners and next-day brunches to fill those hungover bellies! The Kitchen for a sophisticated rehearsal dinner or bachelor(ette) party brunch. The Source for any fun and fresh event! All of these places have something unique and delicious to offer, and we hope you can try them all!
A few of our other favorites to check out:
The KSW Team at Babe’s Team Room
Photography: Alex Medvick Photo
