Watch CBS News

Top Hangout Spots After Bar Close In Denver

In Denver, all the bars must stop serving at 2:00 a.m., so what is a late-night person to do? All Denver parks have a night curfew, so that's not an option, and you certainly don't want to go home that early. Luckily, there are lots of 24-hour diners and restaurants, ready to serve up greasy favorites and some healthy alternatives for anyone looking for a late night treat. Most of these spots of Denver icons, so pick a joint or two and swing by the next time you find yourself looking for a place to go once the bars have all closed.
Tom's Diner
601 E. Colfax Ave
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 861-7493
www.tomsdinerdenver.com

This popular 24-hour diner is always a great place to go after the bar closes. You'll find all sorts of diner favorites on the menu, from traditional breakfast favorites to paninis, sandwiches and full dinners. The shakes here are also perfect for a late night treat, and you can get them in flavors like root beer float, orange cream float, mocha and French toast. Tom's Diner gets pretty packed after 2:00 a.m. but there are lots of comfortable tables and booths here, so you may have to wait a few minutes, but it will be worth it when you can soak up all that alcohol with a big plate of eggs and potatoes at 3:00 a.m.

Denver Diner
740 W. Colfax Ave
Denver, CO 80204
(303) 825-5443

Denver residents love the Denver Diner, and the recent remodel was just enough to update the facilities without losing the original charm of the place. More than $1.4 million was spent renovating the hip joint at Speer and Colfax, but when you walk in, it still feels much like it did before, just a bit cleaner and a bit newer. All your favorites are still on the menu, including that massive breakfast burrito. Parking, as usual, is hit or miss in the small attached lot, so plan ahead and join your pals at one of Denver's late night traditions.

Related: Top Late-Night Happy Hours In Denver

Pete's Kitchen
1962 E. Colfax Ave
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 321-3139
www.petesrestaurants.com

You can't talk about late night Denver traditions without mentioning Pete's Kitchen on Colfax. Just like Tom's Diner and the Denver Diner, Pete's Kitchen relies on diner staples to soak up the booze and feed hungry partiers once the bars close down. Everything here is served up with a Greek flare, so you'll find gyros and gyro melts, feta burgers and even gyro breakfast plates with eggs and hash browns. There are even Greek salads and other Greek staples like souvlaki and dolmades. This Denver landmark has been serving things the same way since 1942, so make Pete's Kitchen your next late-night stop.

Voodoo Doughnut
1520 E. Colfax Ave
Denver, CO 80218
(303) 597-3666
www.voodoodoughnut.com

When Voodoo Doughnut first opened its doors in Denver, the late night lines reached around the block. Everyone was lining up to take home one of those coveted pink boxes filled with massive doughnuts of all kinds. Now, the lines are shorter but the doughnuts are just as good. If you've got a late night craving for something sweet, this hip doughnut joint is open 24 hours a day, so you can get your own bacon maple bar or cereal-covered cake doughnut. Plus, the line out front is always a great place to meet some new people and make a few friends. Don't worry, the line moves quickly.

Related: Top Afterhours Restaurants In Denver

Leela European Café
820 15th St
Denver, CO 80238
(303) 534-2255
www.leelacafe.com

What do you do when it's 3:00 a.m. and you have a craving for a tasty coffee drink? You won't find a lot of late night coffee houses that stay open 24 hours a day, but Leela European Café is one of the few. This great local gem has tons of delicious coffee drinks. From white mochas to cappuccinos, lattes, spiced chai and more, there are so many delicious drinks to choose from. The menu here is also pretty robust, with sandwiches and burgers as well as lots of traditional breakfast favorites. This is another popular late night treat in the Mile High City, so be sure to swing by the next time you're not ready to head home once the bars close.

Deborah Flomberg is a theater professional, freelance writer and Denver native. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.