Listings highlight food events, shared table meals, and/or artisan produced foods with an emphasis on bean-to-bar chocolate, ice cream and sweet treats.
Denver Metro: Boulder, Denver, Edgewater, Gold Hill, Lafayette, Longmont, Louisville, Thorton
Boulder Farmers Market - Boulder
April-November
Saturday 8:00am-2:00pm (Wednesday market TBD, 2020)
Location: 13th Street, Central Park
Why Go There? Boulder tradition since 1987, with green practices/recycling, 150 vendors offer produce, plants, bakery items, juices, goat milk caramels, cheeses, ready-to-eat and packaged foods, crafts
More Information: BCFM
Sweet Cow Ice Cream - Boulder
Location: 2628 Broadway; 669 South Broadway
Why Go There? Louisville origin small batch ice cream shop branched out with locations now in Boulder, Denver, Longmont; rotating flavors include Bailey's Irish (21+ only), Ozo (local coffee roaster) coffee, fresh strawberry, vegan (coconut based) raspberry chip
More Information: Sweet Cow Ice Cream
Chocolate Lab - Denver
Sunday-Wednesday 11:00am-9:00pm, Thursday-Saturday 11:00am-midnight
Location: 2504 East Colfax
Why Go There? High quality small chocolate shop/cafe offers variety of truffles, baked chocolate treats, daily flavor house-made ice cream (to top brownies), packaged drinking chocolate. Cafe features savory chocolate enhanced lunch, dinner dishes, cocktails. Look for cacao nib roasted brussel sprouts, pulled pork/ chocolate bourbon sauce.
More Information: Chocolate Lab Denver + Facebook
Civic Center Eats - Denver
May-October Tuesday-Thursday 11:00am-2:00pm
Location: Colfax/Broadway: Civic Center Park (Across street from Denver Art Museum)
Why Go There? Several rotating food trucks offer lunch time fare, popular with locals, visitors. Free musical entertainment (tips welcomed).
More Information: Civic Center Eats
Cook Street School of Culinary Arts Restaurant - Denver
Location: 43 West 9th Avenue
Why Go There? During Restaurant Week the school cafe transforms into a boutique fine-dining restaurant with a new three-course meal featured each day, prepared by students with chef instructor supervision. Reservations required.
More Information: Restaurant Week
Denver Central Market - Denver
Daily 8:00am-9:00pm (bakery opens 7:00am)
Location: 2669 Larimer Street
Why Go There? Industrial/minimalist look food hall marketplace offers sitting areas for dining; variety of eateries, prepared foods to-go, shops: bakery, high-end chocolatier, fish market, High Point artisan ice cream (listed separately), organic produce market, juice bar
More Information: Denver Central Market
Em's Ice Cream - Denver
Daily 12:00pm - late evening
Location: 16th Street Mall (Between Curtis & Champa); also mobile food truck
Why Go There? Artisan small-batch, organic ice cream; makes own chips for chocolate mint chip, no stabilizers. Look for burnt brown sugar, coffee cashew toffee, chocolate mint chip, salted caramel. Worth standing in line for.
More Information: Em’s Ice Cream + Instagram
Frozen Matter Ice Cream - Denver
Daily 12:00pm-12:00am
Location: 530 East 19th Avenue;1061 South Gaylord Street (11:00am-11:00pm)
Why Go There? Artisan small-batch ice cream made from custom ice cream base: in-house pasteurized organic milk, cream, eggs; mix-ins made from scratch. Look for Palisade peaches and cream, salted caramel, other seasonal rotating flavors; frozen ice pops: watermelon mint, house-made root beer; worth waiting in line for; flavors vary at the two locations.
More Information: Frozen Matter + Facebook
Gala on the Bridge - Denver
September evening
Location: 19th Street downtown pedestrian bridge
Why Go There? Annual Greenway Foundation (restores, reconnects community to the Platte River) fundraiser offers spectacular views of the Platte River from the historic bridge while enjoying cocktails, live music, multi-course dinner prepared by award winning chefs
More Information: Gala on the Bridge
High Point Ice Cream - Denver
Daily hours vary by location
Location: 215 South Holly Street; 2669 Larimer Street (Denver Central Market); roving "Big Pinky" food truck
Why Go There? Small-batch artisan ice cream, seasonal sorbet flavors; infuses fresh mint in cream for the mint chocolate bark. Look for Corvus coffee, mint chocolate bark, salted caramel, Tin Cup Whiskey with pistachio brittle. Worth a trip.
More Information: High Point Creamery + Instagram
The Kitchen - Denver
Location: 1530 16th Street (LoDo)
Why Go There? Farm-to-table bistro features seafood bar from 3:00pm-6:00pm, daily: Community night, 7pm Mondays: family-style dinner, prix-fixe (plus gratuity) highlights seasonal ingredients; supports Denver public schools gardens; reservations required
More Information: The Kitchen
Little Man Ice Cream - Denver
Daily 11:00am-10:00pm (Friday-Saturday until 11:00pm)
Location: 2620 16th Street LoHi neighborhood
Why Go There? House-made ice cream, sorbet flavors rotate; special event flights include annual Craft Beer Week ice cream/beer pairings. Charming outdoor setting, signature giant milk can; “happening” neighborhood.
More Information: Little Man Ice Cream
Smith and Canon Coffee and Ice Cream - Denver
11:00am-7:00pm Friday closes 6:00pm, Sunday 12:00pm-5:00pm
Location: 2260 East Colfax Avenue #102
Why Go There? Small batch Philadelphia style ice cream and coffee shop favorite flavors include black coffee, butterbrickle and affogato pour overs
More Information: Smith and Canon
Sweet Action Ice Cream - Denver
Daily 1:00pm-10:00pm
Location: 52 Broadway Avenue
Why Go There? Artisan, small-batch rotating ice cream flavors popular with locals. Look for Stranahan whiskey (local distillery) brickle, salted butterscotch, Vietnamese coffee flavors
More Information: Sweet Action Ice Cream
Union Station - Denver
Location: 1701 Wynkoop (LoDo)
Why Go There? Historic building (functioning train station) offers variety of casual to high-end eating, drinking establishments. Check out: Mercantile's specialty food products, freshly prepared farm-sourced breakfast, lunch, dinner; Milkbox offers local Little Man Ice Cream scoops, shakes (with/without spirits), daily made ice cream sandwiches, sundaes; Stoic & Genuine's modern take on seafood, cocktails.
More Information: Union Station + Stoic and Genuine + Mercantile
Happy Cone - Edgewater
Daily 12:00pm-9:00pm (Friday-Saturday until 10:00pm)
Location: 5505 West 20th Avenue
Why Go There? Combines Colorado fresh fruit with house made vanilla ice cream or coconut milk ice cream into New Zealand machine, creating soft serve that is 2/3 ice cream 1/3 fruit; try signature Hokey Pokey housemade honeycomb
More Information: Happy Cone
Gold Hill Inn - Gold Hill (not curator reviewed)
May-December Wednesday-Saturday 6:00pm-9:00pm, Sunday 5:00-8:00pm
Location: 401 Main Street (10 miles from Boulder)
Why Go There? Three or six course prix-fixe dinners, served in rustic inn, scenic mountain setting
More Information: Gold Hill Inn
Three Leaf Farms Farm Dinners - Lafayette
June-September evenings
Location: 445 South 112th Street (corner of Highway 287, South Public Road)
Why Go There? Four seasonal farm-to-table dinners served family style at one long table, live music, themes: vegetarian summer solstice, mushroom madness, summer bounty, fall harvest
More Information: Three Leaf Farm
Longmont Farmers Market - Longmont
May-November Saturday 8:00am-1:00pm
Location: 9595 Nelson Road
Why Go There? Fresh produce, baked goods, ready-to-eat food, farm raised meat; artisans showcase every fourth Saturday, weekly music
More Information: Longmont Saturday
Moxie Bread Company - Louisville
Monday-Thursday 8:00am-4:00pm, Friday-Sunday until 5:00pm (wood-fired pizza, Thursday bluegrass evenings)
Location: 641 Main Street
Why Go There? Rustic breads made from local, regional heirloom grains milled on-site; local farm ingredient savory and sweet pastries, sandwiches; bean-to-bar Fortuna chocolate draw customers to historic 1800's house bakery cafe
More Information: Moxie Bread Co.
Sweet Cow Ice Cream - Louisville
Daily 11:00am-10:00pm
Location: 637 Front Street
Why Go There? Small batch ice cream shop (also has locations in North, South Boulder, Denver Highlands, Platt Park, Stanley Marketplace, with varying flavors by location); flavors include Ozo coffee (Boulder roastery organic espresso); purists can avoid artificial ingredient, artificial color add-ins, such as Lucky Charms cereal.
More Information: Sweet Cow Ice Cream
Dar Chocolate - Thornton
Location: 12189 Pennsylvania Street (by appointment only)
Why Go There? Bean-to-bar small batch chocolate bars, variety of flavors, cacao content, worth seeking out; available on-line and/or from local retailers (see website); eye-catching artful inner wrapper, indicative of artist turned chocolate maker roots
More Information: Dar Chocolate
Additional Resources
Farmers Market - Arvada
Sunday 9:00am-1:30pm, (June-September)
Southlands Farmers Market - Aurora
Saturday 8:00am-1:00pm, E470/Smoky Hill Road, Southlands Shopping Center main plaza (May-September)
Taste of Pearl - Boulder
Annual Spring afternoon event with multiple restaurant, winery, distillery participants
Farmers Market - Castle Rock
Seasonal farmers market, 8:00am-1:00pm; 300 Second Street/Festival Park (June-September)
Artisan Cheese - Colorado
Producer directory
South Pearl Farmers Market - Denver
Sundays 9:00am-1:00pm, 1400 block of South Pearl Street (May-November)
Farmers Market - Denver Metro
Five locations
Colorado Symphony Fundraiser - Denver, other areas
Food/beverage events
Food Truck Row - Denver
High quality food trucks
Inside Scoop - Denver, Littleton
Small batch ice cream shops: 1535 Platte Street, Denver; 5654 South Prince Street, Littleton
Leopold Brothers - Denver
Family-owned boutique distillery offers tours, classes (fee); 5285 Joliet Street
Liks Ice Cream - Capitol Hill
A family-owned very popular locally made ice cream shop since 1976 (uses artificial colors)
Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Dinner Society - Denver
Summer pop-up dinners combine museum tours, multi-course dinner/drinks, guest chefs
Rise and Shine - Denver
Small cafe known for southern style biscuits; 5126 West 29th Avenue
Farmers Market - Denver
Historic South Pearl Street farmers market, May-November (Sunday, 9am-1:00pm)
Edgewater Farmers Market - Edgewater
Music; 25th Avenue business district; July-September (Thursday 5:00pm-8:00pm)
Golden Farmers Market - Golden
Saturday 8:00am-1:00pm; 1019 10th Street/library parking lot (June-October)
Babette's Bakery - Longmont
Offers highly rated rustic breads, pastries, wood-fired pizzas; 2030 Ionosphere G & H; closed Monday
Louisville Farmers Market - Louisville
Saturday 9:00am-1:00pm; 824 Front Street (May-October)
Lyons Farmette - Lyons
Hosts on-farm dinners July-September, benefits non-profit organizations: 4121 Ute Highway
Parker Farmers Market - Parker
Sunday 8:00am-1:00pm, Main street/Victorian (June-October)
Arvada Farmers Market - Westminster
Saturday 9:30am-1:30pm, 98th & Sheridan, NW corner (June-September)