Definitely one of my favorite areas in Denver. There are a handful of decent restaurants and bars in the square and surrounding area. Overall the atmosphere is great. There isn't a ton of street level parking, but if you go just south of the square there are a few reasonably priced lots that have always had space when I've been there.
First off, I think the waitress was one of the scariest people I've met in...jk I had the Meeting Street hash which was pretty decent. The pricing was strange, with entrees $10-13, but with $8 Mimosas. XO has a sorta upscale vibe, which the food doesn't quite match, though it's not bad. For coffee lovers, they do French Press. Overall it was just alright.
xoxo
Gossip Girl
I do not recommend. The food is decent (I had the Po "Shorty" Boy Italian sausage with deep fried shrimp and a side of fries), but nothing special. The atmosphere is nice, with a two outdoor seating areas to accompany the smaller inside. The service (and kitchen), on the other hand, was slow. It took 25 mins to order food, and another 45 for it to actually arrive.
If you are coming to the Denver/Boulder area you have to find a way to stop here. There are always tons of events going on, like Monday night summer movie series, concerts, and other kinds of shows. It's absolutely gorgeous, and the sound quality is killer. The view isn't so bad either :)
This is such a fun place to see a show. The picture makes it look bigger than it is, as the crowd does not extend far beyond that point. Even given the size, big names come through here all the time, making it a great spot to see some of your favorites up close and personal. Tons of fun.
I had heard about the Hofbrauhaus and it's legend, but it's even more impressive in person. The scale is enormous -- the main room must seat 1200 people on its own, not to mention the many other rooms, and the massive courtyard/beer garden. It must seat thousands in total. It's loud, boisterous, and drunk; definitely go if that is your scene too. There's also something kinda awesome (and ridiculous) about traditionally dressed servers carrying up to 12 GIANT beer steins at the same time. Forearms of steal.
I am not a big museum guy, but this was one of my favorite parts of Amsterdam. The work is arranged chronologically, starting in the beginning of Van Gogh's career, spiraling up floor after floor towards the end. One of the most interesting pieces of the museum was how each work had a plaque describing not only the intent, but pointing out 'mistakes' in form/technique. It was incredible to see Van Gogh's early mistakes in perspective and brush technique as he studied under classical artists of the time, his progression to technical mastery, and then back to breaking all the rules, but this time on purpose, for effect and experiment with color, brush strokes, and perspective. Highly recommend.
I'm a casual homebrewer and brewery frequenter, and I can confidently say that Avery's brewery tour is the best one I have been on. Not only did I learn a good deal about barrel/cask brewing, but I also had a blast. The tour guide was hilarious, and everyone had a good time (helped by some great beer).
Great happy hour from 3 - close every day that includes delicious food and great house drinks. You can easily make a meal out of a couple happy-hour appetizers for pretty cheap. Great spot right at the heart of the Pearl Street Mall.
Great view of the Boulder valley below. The hike is not too difficult, and if you don't mind a little bouldering, you can get on rock faces about the top of the trail for some truly breathtaking views. One of my favorite short hikes (only takes a couple hours).