Uptown

Pete Marczyk is something of a hero to Denver foodies. His tiny, long-standing, homegrown grocery store stocks locally grown produce, imports the very best cheeses (plus a selection of great local options), and bakes their own breads, but Marczyk is probably best known for being one of the area's finest butchers, as he does everything in-house and flies in gorgeous cuts of fish. The deli section has excellent sandwiches and delicious pre-made foods, and on weeknights in the summer (check the calendar) they grill hamburgers on the sidewalk outside. There's a second location up the street, too.

This Denver institution is known primarily for brunch, in part because of their signature bacon Bloody Marys (served with bacon-infused vodka), and their big, open patio, which always seems to be buzzing and full. That said, their comfort-food menu, which is subtly southern, is great all day long, as the breakfast dishes bleed into dinner: We recommend the traffic jam, an egg dish that comes with green chili cheese fries, sausage gravy, and bacon (and removes all traces of any hangover); the chicken and waffles; and the nightly blue-plate specials. Make sure to get an order of the sinfully good Steubie snacks, their special version of puppy chow (for the uninitiated: Chex Mix coated in peanut butter, chocolate, and powdered sugar).