RiNo Denver Restaurants: Where to Eat in River North

RiNo Denver restaurants sit in the River North Art District, a former industrial area just north of downtown, where warehouses are now kitchens, breweries and food halls. Larimer Street is the spine, murals cover the walls, and The Source is the best-known hall. Brunch and dinner both draw crowds.

RiNo is a short ride from downtown, and the A Line rail and bus routes serve it. A drink at a brewery, a restaurant and then dessert makes an easy evening.

Why do people eat at RiNo Denver restaurants?

RiNo stands for River North, a district of old factories and rail yards that artists settled and restaurants followed. The heart of it runs along Larimer Street and Brighton Boulevard, with side streets full of galleries, breweries and cafes. It is walkable in sections, and its murals make a walk between meals worthwhile.

People go for the range. A single block can hold a tamale counter, a cocktail bar and a fine-dining room, which makes RiNo a good place for a group that cannot agree.

Larimer Street dining: the main strip

Larimer Street is the district's spine, and most of the restaurants that visitors know are within a few blocks of it. Work & Class, at 2500 Larimer Street, is a long-running restaurant from chef Dana Rodriguez, with Latin American flavors and a menu built around shared plates. The restaurant has also opened other outposts and a daytime cafe in the Denver area, so check which location you are visiting.

Walk the street before you choose, and look at who is eating in each room. Menus are often posted in windows, and you can compare styles quickly. Weekend evenings are busiest, and reservations help for groups.

Denver food halls in and near RiNo

Food halls are a feature of the district, with independent vendors from bakeries to butchers to coffee roasters under one roof. They are a good way to try several things without committing to one restaurant.

Food hall scenes change quickly. Zeppelin Station, another RiNo hall, has been reported closed or mostly empty, and older articles still list it. Always check a hall's own page before you plan around it. For the whole city, read the Denver food halls guide. The neighboring Five Points guide covers soul food and more on Welton Street.

What about breweries and drinks in RiNo?

The district has a high concentration of breweries and taprooms, and many serve food or let you bring it in. A flight of small beers is a good way to try several styles, and some taprooms have food trucks parked outside. If you do not drink alcohol, many bars offer craft sodas, coffee and zero-proof cocktails.

Plan your drinking with the transport home in mind. Colorado has strict laws on driving after drinking, and a rideshare or the A Line is the sensible way to go.

RiNo brunch: how to plan it

Brunch in RiNo is a weekend event, and the popular places have lines on Saturday and Sunday. The district's cafes serve eggs, breakfast burritos and pastries, and some do a full menu with cocktails. Go early, around opening, or on a weekday.

Colorado's breakfast burrito smothered in green chile is easy to find across the city, and a smothered burrito will keep you full for a morning of walking. For a guide, see the best green chile in Denver.

RiNo dinner: ways to build an evening

For dinner, start with a drink at a brewery or a cocktail bar, move to a restaurant and finish with dessert or coffee nearby. Many of the newer kitchens serve small plates, so order a few for the table and add more if you are hungry.

If you have a reservation at a popular spot, arrive a little early, since the district's parking and ride-share pickup points can take time. A walk before dinner is a nice way to see the murals in daylight. Many of the district's galleries and shops stay open into the evening on special nights, so a dinner reservation can be combined with an hour of browsing. Wear comfortable shoes, because the sidewalks are a mix of old industrial surfaces and new paving.

How do you get to RiNo and park?

The district is a short ride from downtown, and the A Line rail and bus routes serve the area, so you do not need a car. If you drive, parking is a mix of street spaces and lots, some of which charge. Weekend evenings and event nights are the hardest times.

Cycling is common, and there are bike lanes on several streets. Scooters are available too, though they are not allowed on some sidewalks. If you arrive by rail, the walk from the nearest stop to the main strip is short, and the route passes several murals. Check the signs for parking rules, and do not leave valuables in a car.

What else is in Colorado?

Denver is one stop in a state with food in its mountain towns and along its highways. The Colorado food guide covers the wider picture, and every other city is on the US guides page.

RiNo changes fast, and notes age quickly. The Mosey app lets you rate each dish you try along Larimer Street and keep a RiNo list that you can edit as places come and go.