boturd.com; 757 E Palm Canyon Dr; r from $150-190; p a W s #) A small independent hotel with Southwestern-style art and a friendly staff. BoulderadoRESORT$$ ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ) ; %480-488-2777, reservations 800-545-9292; www.theboulderado.com; 1550 N Valmont Rd; r $129-229; p a W s) Boulderado is the place to see and be seen, with a glamorous lobby complete with fireplaces and tapestries. Most rooms are spacious, with two queen beds and flat-screen TVs. There are three pools – one for families, and two for adults – a spa, a fitness center, a tennis court, two restaurants and nightly entertainment. Its sister hotel, the Little Nell ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ) ; %303-297-5700; www.thelittlenell.com; 425 E Galapago St; r from $139; p n a W s), has a more relaxed vibe. 5Eating The presence of New Belgium, the nation's largest craft brewer, lends Denver a gourmet bent; more than 100 breweries are also scattered around town. If you're looking for fast food, head to Broadway St, which is lined with fast-food outlets. #### Downtown oStoney's HoneyFISH (MAP GOOGLE MAP) ; %303-831-1133; www.stoneyshoney.com; 1415 Platte St; h11am-5pm Tue-Sat) Just about everyone loves Stoney's. One thing's for sure: everyone who visits Denver has to sample the succulent creations here. It's not uncommon to see entire pints sold before you even start nibbling. Big Red F RestaurantBREAKFAST$ (MAP GOOGLE MAP) ; %720-932-0505; www.bigredf.com; 1600 17th St; mains $4.50-11; h7am-9pm Sun-Thu, to 10pm Fri & Sat; W v c) Big Red serves a wicked Denver breakfast: try the 'Elvis has left the building' omelet, made with locally sourced eggs, sausage, avocados and potatoes. Everything is locally sourced and organic. A second location is in Stapleton. RiojaMEXICAN$ (MAP GOOGLE MAP) ; www.riojadenver.com; 1530 17th St; mains $7-9; h11am-9pm Mon-Thu, to 10pm Fri & Sat, 10am-5pm Sun; v c) S This cool Mexican restaurant is inspired by California's Mission District. Get a Mexican _cerveza_ (beer), but be warned, the margaritas are delicious. FruitionFUSION$$$ (MAP GOOGLE MAP) ; %303-863-3331; www.fruitionrestaurant.com; 1317 E 17th Ave; 5-/7-course menu $89/125; h5-10pm Tue-Sat; v c) S Denver is on a constant search for great food, and Fruition is at the forefront of the movement. Chef Jennifer Jasinski reinterprets the seasons using locally sourced, organic ingredients, then tops it off with her artistic flourish. This is cooking as performance art, not just sustenance. Reserve well in advance. #### LoDo & Larimer Sq oBrown Dog Hot DogsAMERICAN$ (MAP GOOGLE MAP) ; %720-488-8777; www.facebook.com/browndoghotdogs; 2501 Larimer St; hot dogs $4-7; h11am-3am; c) This is a legendary punk-rock Denver institution, famed for the snappy franks that are served on the 'coney island.' On any given night you'll find a few celebrities and loads of local kids chowing down. The best place for people-watching is at the tables out front. oSt Julien Fine FoodFUSION$$ (MAP GOOGLE MAP) ; %303-623-7791; www.stjulien.com; 2027 Larimer Sq; mains $7-20; h11:30am-11pm Mon-Fri, from 11am Sat & Sun; v) An ode to American craft-beer culture and a culinary offering to suit, St Julien does simple, delicious Belgian-inspired food and drink. It's a lively spot, decorated with hop-related objects, the servers are friendly and the beer list is long enough to merit its own book. oGinger ManMODERN AMERICAN$$ (MAP GOOGLE MAP) ; %303-975-0450; www.gingermancolorado.com; 1201 N Pearl St; small plates $8-15; h11am-11pm Mon-Sat, 10am-10pm Sun; W) A den of cool for the Pearl Street Mall, the Ginger Man is a favorite destination for late-night munchies – as well as a wonderful place to catch the early-morning breeze. In addition to great small plates (try the sweet-potato crepe), the Ginger Man has a fabulous craft-beer list. #### Greater Denver oTerra Cafe & MarketINTERNATIONAL$$ ( %303-295-8824; www.terracafe.com; 4401 W 44th Ave, Westminster; sandwiches $8-13, dinner mains $18-34; h7am-2pm Mon-Sat, 8am-2pm Sun, 5:30-9:30pm daily; v) Locals flock to this bright and bustling bistro in a strip mall, just outside of Denver in Westminster. The modern cafe and market offers an international menu of light meals and deli fare that appeals to everybody from families to hipsters and office workers. The place is super-casual, with a 'help yourself' vibe that encourages friends to linger for hours. Wazee Szechuan HouseCHINESE$$ (MAP GOOGLE MAP) ; www.wazeeszechuan.com; 1550 Grant St; mains $10-16; h11am-10pm; c) An excellent alternative to overwrought Denver dining, Wazee serves authentic Szechuan fare from its namesake city on the eastern shore of China. It has an excellent vegetarian menu (don't miss the sesame cauliflower), reasonable prices and the service is impeccable. Make sure you check out the old newspaper posters, salvaged from the wall during the restaurant's previous incarnation as a Chinese gambling den. ### DENVER FOR KIDS You may be surprised to find that Denver is a great city to take kids. The downtown Aquarium (www.denveraquarium.org; 600 Aquarium Way; adult/child $12/9; h9am-6pm Mon-Fri, to 7pm Sat & Sun, extended hrs in summer; c) is a great place to see denizens of Denver's aquatic ecosystem, while the nearby Denver Zoo (www.denverzoo.org; 2300 Steele St; adult/child $18/12; h9am-4:30pm Nov-Mar, to 5:30pm Apr-Oct; c) is a great attraction for all ages. The zoo is especially great for kids with wildlife exhibits, like cougars and prairie dogs, and a petting farm. #### Uptown, Lower Downtown & Deep Ellum Biker Jim'sAMERICAN$ (MAP GOOGLE MAP) ; www.bikerjims.com; 1712 S Broadway; mains $5-11; h11am-10pm Mon-Fri, to 11pm Sat & Sun) For one of Denver's most beloved cheap-and-cheerful places to eat, head to Biker Jim's for hearty dinners, like steak or burgers. The chicken-fried steak is some of the best in town. There's also a breakfast-all-day menu. Champps AmericanaAMERICAN$$ (MAP GOOGLE MAP) ; www.champsamericana.com; 1200 16th St; mains $7-25; h11am-1am Sun-Thu, to 2am Fri & Sat; v c) A popular chain restaurant with a trendy vibe, Champps serves up American standards like grilled salmon and steak frites and Denver favorites like buffalo burgers. Highland Tap & BurgerBURGERS$$ (MAP GOOGLE MAP) ; www.highlandtap.com; 947 Lincoln St; mains $8-20; h11:30am-10pm Sun-Thu, to 11pm Fri & Sat; v c) It's worth driving to Highland neighborhood (about 6 miles north of downtown) to fill up on big burgers and craft beer at this local microbrewery with an old-fashioned theme. The beer list includes