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Top Restaurants For Brunch In Denver

Perhaps it's the thriving nightlife scene that drives Denverites to recuperate in the late morning hours of the many infamous breakfast-lunch, otherwise known as Brunch, locations. The ladies especially, will spend an entire Saturday or Sunday quenching their thirst with bottomless mimosas, raising the bar to their counterpart fellas, knocking drafts down at a summer Rockies game. Then again, there's just something so lovely and relaxing about having a lazy, late breakfast and bubbly with your grandma or mother. Whichever your motivation, the following restaurants are top picks for Brunch in Denver.
Lola
(credit: Sarah Carpenter)

Lola

1575 Boulder Street
Denver, CO 80211
(720) 570-8686
loladenver.com
Brunch Saturday & Sunday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Main Dishes from $8 - $14, with starters and sides below $10

Lola has been one of the top restaurants in Denver for wine, tequilas and Mexican-coastal inspired food. Decorated with notable Dia de los Muertos figures (Day of the Dead, a Mexican celebration of ancestors), deep reds and classy Spanish-style chandeliers—the ambiance alone pulls you in and excites during the visit. The restaurant sits atop a hill just north of downtown Denver, on the south-eastern edge of the Highlands neighborhood. The establishment itself is on the grounds of former long-time Olinger Mortuary; as if their space is their own nod to the ancestors to Colorado. Happy hour, dinner and hosting a large party at Lola are not to be missed, and their brunch has made a good name as well. You'll find Chicken and Waffles with buttermilk brined fried chicken, chorizo gravy and cherry-fresno syrup; Goat Cheese and Smoke Salmon Omelet, with roasted hazel dell farm mushrooms, arugula salad and honey-cilantro vinaigrette; including their signature guacamole prepared and served table-side just to your liking, and more. Be sure to ask about their variety of Bloody Mary's and Mimosas, and do try their Sangria anytime. Stay later on Sunday to enjoy live music from 2:30 - 5 p.m. Though not required, reservations are a good idea for this busy restaurant.

Dazzle
(credit: Sarah Carpenter)

Dazzle

dazzlejazz.com
Brunch Sundays, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
$17.95 all-you-can-eat, $8 build-your-own bottomless Bloody Mary & Mimosa Bar

To my knowledge, nowhere else in Denver can you go and dine on delectable egg dishes served on silver platters, while grooving to live jazz music -- in the morning! And if there are others, Dazzle's "Sunday Urban Brunch" is definitely one of the best! For an all-you-can-eat price, you can browse through gourmet buffet style presentations of all the important egg and waffles dishes, including a chef prepared create your own omelet and create your own crepe station, and many fun desserts to choose, from heart-shaped doughnuts to twinkies! And if that's not enough, you get to enjoy your treats all while listening to ambient, live jazz music, played from 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., which is rotated on each side of the restaurant so everyone can have their taste. Nearly everyone I know has had one of their birthday parties there as a birthday brunch—certainly enough food, drink and entertainment for everyone! When you go throughout the week, be sure to check out their happy hour, and do not miss their grilled avocado, and their award-winning Ragonetti macaroni and four cheese. Reservations are a good idea.

Krameria Cafe
(credit: Sarah Carpenter)

Krameria Café

1401 Krameria Street
Denver, CO 80220
(303) 322-3138
krameriacafe.com
Sunday/Monday 7am-4pm, Tuesday-Saturday 7 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Prices $4.50 - $12.95

At the rate that I've been spreading the word about this hidden gem that is Krameria Café, customers and the media alike have been taking notice too. Slightly tucked away north of the "Park Hill" neighborhoods, Krameria Café sits humbly at the corner of 14th and Krameria, as a family owned Mediterranean and Southwestern breakfast, lunch and dinner neighborhood café, serving breakfast all day! What stands out the most to me are their very authentic, home-style "Southwestern" dishes. My favorite is the "Luchadores" (fighters) for $8.95: "2 juicy, grilled Poblano Peppers, with your choice of beans, on 2 corn tortillas, topped with 2 eggs, any style, and smothered with your choice of homemade salsa or green chili" as described on the menu. I get mine with pinto beans, eggs over medium, green chili, and a cup of joe, mmm, mm! I evaluate the authenticity of a restaurant that serves Latin-inspired dishes in how they prepare their beans, and perhaps on their green chili as well. At Krameria, the beans are cooked, not refried, served in a bed of their own juices, and the green chili is fresh, with just enough spice you can still drink your coffee, with no big chunks of pork, like the beans, simplified to enhance the flavor and juices—homemade, southwestern, and authentic. The presence of Poblano peppers in many of their dishes, sets them apart as well. Be sure to watch for the restaurant's expansion this year, adding bar space and a late night environment for the community.

Brown Palace
(credit: Sarah Carpenter)

The Brown Palace, Ellyngton's

321 17th Street
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 297-3111
brownpalace.com
Brunch Sundays, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
$47.95 Just Brunch, $57.95 Domaine Chandon Champagne and Brunch
And two more tiers that include Moet et Chandon or Dom Perignon

The elegant and classy Brown Palace Hotel in Downtown Denver has been known for many additional delights, from day spas, to tea time, and of course the romantic getaway stay. What some may not know is their seriously incredible Sunday Brunch! Held inside Ellyngton's, one the four restaurants housed by the hotel, the Dom Perignon Champagne Sunday Brunch makes you feel like you have died and gone to culinary heaven with a feast fit for a Queen. For a slightly high price worth every penny, you'll take your fine plate and fill it with antipasto salads and crisp greens, maybe some jumbo shrimp or fresh oysters, how about some sushi? And of course Belgian waffles and omelets made to order and a fresh slice or two or three of juicy carved meat. More importantly, a stop at the plate of imported cheeses, such as sheep's cheese with black truffles or melty camembert, you'll realize you just got a bargain on your breakfast. Once you sit, your waiter will ask you if you'd like chef prepared eggs benedict, do it, it's perfect. You will not have room, but visit the dessert bar anyway, which you see upon entering the dining area -- fountains of chocolate, house-made white chocolate and raspberry truffles, and more! But do be careful when the waiter asks you "Champagne?" While you're distracted by your first bites you might accidentally say yes to glasses of Dom Perignon, normally well over $100 for a bottle -- and if it's on purpose, hey, all the more cheers! There are four tiers to choose from, to include just the lavish buffet, and three options to include different Champagne with your brunch. Reservations are definitely important for this one.

Breakfast on Broadway
(credit: Sarah Carpenter)

Breakfast on Broadway

2901 South Broadway
Englewood, CO 80113
(303) 788-9998
breakfastonbroadway.com
Daily, 6 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Prices $5-$12

When you drive towards Breakfast on Broadway, on south Broadway, and you see the gigantic skillet and eggs sign and think "Diner," you're on the right track. Diner, but with an urban, and suburban, contemporary, farm feel. The moment you start in on your first bite, you know you will be back to dine here. Hands down the best eggs benedict in town, with ascents of avocado, grilled ham, crab cakes or truffle oil. Multitudes of pancakes, from those made with butternut squash to rice. And do try their "Hash" dishes, the Veggie Hash with six different vegetables and hollandaise sauce is one of my favorites. On Sundays, you'll be entertained with some calming song and guitar by local musicians. And you can drink it all down with espresso to Bottomless Mimosas. It's a small restaurant to satisfy all the guests, so get there early!

- Sarah Carpenter lives in Littleton, where she was born and raised. She spent a decade in Downtown Denver, and its surrounding neighborhoods, going to school for writing, working in the service industry, and getting to know Denver's diverse culture. She has a passion for travel writing, local and afar, focusing the story on its people, culture and region.

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