Denver Central Market is one of the easiest places in RiNo to try several different foods. The community-style food hall has bakeries, coffee, sandwiches, salads, sweets, seafood, pizza, pasta, and more under one roof.
We actually went twice—once on a Friday afternoon and again on Saturday morning—and both times it was busy but didn’t feel chaotic. That made it really easy to grab food from a few different vendors and basically turn the whole thing into a mini food crawl.
If you are trying to figure out what Denver Central Market is like and which vendors are inside, these were the stops we tried and what each one specializes in.
If you are spending more time in the neighborhood, I also have a full One Day in RiNo Denver: Where to Eat, Shop, and Explore guide with more places to add before or after the market.
There is no complicated ordering system here. Each vendor operates independently, so you just walk up, order what you want, and then grab a seat in one of the shared seating areas.
There is seating inside and outside.
Izzio Bakery is the pastry and breakfast stop inside Denver Central Market.
They are best known for oversized pastries like their Colorado Queens and La Roulettes, but they also serve savory breakfast items, breakfast bowls, croissants, and other baked goods. It was easily one of the busiest vendors we tried, and their pastries are Instagram-famous for a reason.
I have a much more detailed breakdown of Izzio in my Izzio Bakery Denver Review: What to Order.
Crema Bodega is the coffee shop inside Denver Central Market. This is where you go for espresso drinks, coffee, and something to pair with breakfast or a pastry from another vendor.
I ordered the house-made caramel latte…yum!
If you are coming to Denver Central Market in the morning, this would be my first stop—then grab a pastry from Izzio and you basically have breakfast handled.
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Lunchboxx is a fast-casual vendor serving sandwiches, snacks, breakfast items, and larger savory meals. It works well if you want something more substantial than coffee and pastries, especially if you are visiting around lunch.
We tried the biscuits with homemade jelly, which were a very easy addition to our breakfast spread. They also have enough savory options that I would come back here for lunch.
Temper Chocolates and Confections is the dessert stop inside Denver Central Market. They specialize in French-style bonbons, truffles, caramels, chocolate-covered fruit, and handcrafted chocolates.
Temper was where things got dangerous. We tried truffles, caramels, and chocolate-covered strawberries, and everything looked almost too pretty to eat.
Almost.
If you are visiting Denver Central Market after lunch or dinner and just want something small and sweet, this comes highly recommended by me. Ha.
Green Seed is the produce-focused vendor inside Denver Central Market.
They serve salads, juices, and other fresh dishes, so this is a good stop if you want something lighter mixed in with the pastries, chocolate, and heavier food around the market.
I ordered the Hot Tropic, made with pineapple, mango, orange juice, apple juice, coconut milk, and toasted coconut. It was really refreshing.
The vendors we tried are only part of the market.
Denver Central Market also has other options for pizza, pasta, seafood, sandwiches, and more, which is why it works so well if everyone in your group wants something different.
You do not have to agree on one restaurant or one type of food. Everyone can order from a different counter and meet back at the same table.
If food is a major part of your Denver plans, my DIY Denver Food Tour: Best Places to Eat in Denver Colorado has more stops we tried around the city.
It was busy, but surprisingly manageable.
Denver Central Market can get packed, especially later in the day and around popular meal times, and seating can fill up quickly.
We went on both a Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, and while it was busy both times, it never felt overwhelming to me. Community seating is available inside and outside, and we were able to find somewhere to sit without a problem.
If you want to avoid the bigger crowds, I would probably go earlier in the day.
If you just want one meal, you could easily be in and out in 30–45 minutes. But if you want to actually experience the market and try a few different vendors, I would give yourself about one hour.
That gives you enough time to order from several places without turning breakfast into an all-day event. Longer if you are like me and suddenly decide that you need breakfast, coffee, pastries, chocolate, AND juice.
I think it works well for both, but the experience is a little different depending on when you go.
For breakfast, the combination of Izzio Bakery, Crema Bodega, and Lunchboxx makes it very easy to put together coffee, pastries, and something savory.
Lunch gives you more flexibility because you can mix lighter food from Green Seed with sandwiches or other savory vendors and then finish with chocolate from Temper.
You could also split everything and try even more places, which is probably the better strategy.
If you are deciding between Denver’s two downtown food halls, I also compared them in Denver Milk Market vs Denver Central Market: Which Food Hall Is Better?
Yes, especially if you are already spending time in RiNo.
The best part is that every vendor is doing something completely different. I would not really compare the chocolates at Temper to the pastries at Izzio or the coffee at Crema, but I would order everything we tried again.
It is casual, easy, and especially useful when everyone in your group wants something different. And if nothing else, go get a Colorado Queen from Izzio.
That alone is a pretty convincing argument.
If you end up booking anything for your trip, using my affiliate links helps support my blog at no extra cost to you. I spend a lot of time researching and writing these guides, so I really appreciate the support.
If Denver Central Market is part of a bigger trip, start with my The Perfect 3 Days in Denver Colorado or Top Things to Do in Denver Colorado for help filling out the rest of your itinerary.
You can compare flights on Skyscanner, especially if your Denver dates are flexible.
We stayed nearby at The Maven, and you can read my full The Maven Hotel Denver Review: What to Expect before deciding where to base yourself.
You can also compare Denver hotel prices on Booking.com.
If you would rather have someone else handle the food crawl planning, you can check Denver options through Secret Food Tours or browse additional Denver activities on Viator.
Flying into DIA can be a little more confusing than you might expect, so read my Denver Airport Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Denver International Airport before your trip.
“Outside Terminal 3” is not a pickup location at PHX.
Before your driver pulls in, text them four things: your terminal, north or south side, door number, and inner or outer curb. Grab your bags first, then call them in. Drivers can wait free in the cell phone lot instead of circling. Getting through security is easy; getting picked up is the hard part.
Save this for your Phoenix trip ✈️
Come for the architecture, stay for the view.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross has been built into Sedona’s red rocks since 1956. The outside overlooks get busy, but inside is quiet, with huge windows framing the rocks. It’s free, takes 30-45 minutes, and has a paved, wheelchair-accessible ramp. Make sure to bring water in summer.
Save this for your trip planning!
Order it well done. Trust me.🍑🍕
Peach & Pancetta Pizza at Hideaway House in Sedona: roasted peaches, salty pancetta, ricotta, basil, extra-crispy crust. Split the house salad, grab a prickly pear lemonade, and get a patio table facing the red rocks. Skip the bread if you want room for another slice.
Save this for your Sedona trip✈️
Pack your bags, Denver is not just a mountain layover. RiNo alone can eat a full day between the murals, food, and bars. Skip the concert and hit Red Rocks midday instead, you’ll basically have it to yourself. Golden’s a 30-minute trip if you want a change of pace, and if food drives your travel like it does mine, Denver Central Market and BRUTØ deserve real time on the calendar. Give it three days minimum, four if you’re eating your way through it. Save this.
Stayed at The Maven in Denver’s Dairy Block and the location alone sold me, walking distance to Union Station and most of downtown, string lights right outside at night. The room was spacious and quiet, even had a swing in it. Real talk though, there’s a $28 daily resort fee and parking isn’t cheap, valet ran us $59 a day. Bed was a little firm, but that’s the only complaint I’ve got. Save this before you book.
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
