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In-flight stroopwafels and paltry packages of pretzels won’t sustain you through any but the shortest of flights. And, let’s be honest, you’re going to need some carbs to soak up all those airport beers.
Thankfully, loads of local restaurants including ChoLon, Bar Dough, and Mister Oso, as well as some beloved chains like Voodoo Doughnut and Snooze A.M. Eatery, have added outposts at Denver International Airport in recent years, so you can properly fuel up before you take off.
And Mile High foodies have even more to look forward to in 2025. Be on the lookout for ramen from Uncle, fry bread tacos from Tocabe, and perfect-for-the-plane empanadas from Maria Empanada. The Bindery, D Bar, Williams & Graham, Fat Sully’s Pizza, Osteria Marco, and the Bagel Deli are all planning to enter the airport restaurant game, too.
Ready for a pre-flight food crawl? Here are the best places to eat, drink, and snack at Denver International Airport, broken down by concourse.
Jump ahead:
Concourse A
From the red Pizza Hut Tuk Tuk truck to McDonald’s and Dunkin’, this stretch of the airport is fast-food dense. But beyond the Einstein Bros. Bagels and Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, there’s an impressive array of Denver-born eateries—many of which are finally reopened after closing for construction—if you know where to look.
Golfers should swing by this terminal to check out Golf Den, the new mezzanine-level bar that opened in November with golf bays that simulate famous links like the Old Course at St Andrews. The Capital One Lounge, which debuted in 2023, is also a favorite hangout for cardholders (and those who pay $90 for a day pass), complete with runway views, cocktails dreamed up by Denver’s Yacht Club, and tapas-style bites as well as grab-and-go sandwiches and snacks.
Read More: 7 Things We Love About the New Capital One Lounge Inside DIA
Mercantile Dining & Provision
With a chalkboard promising wagyu pastrami and Korean fried chicken, pastry cases packed with flaky golden croissants, and shelves of elevated plane snacks like dark chocolate salted caramels, chef Alex Seidel’s Mercantile Dining & Provision is a welcome addition to the airport dining scene.
Just like the Union Station outpost, there is a counter-service spot adjacent to the full-service restaurant, so travelers short on time can grab a ham-and-cheese croissant, cinnamon roll, or another pastry made by Füdmill, Seidel’s wholesale bakery, to go. It’s worth getting to the airport a little early to sit down and savor Mercantile’s Turkish eggs, pork belly biscuits, or miso salmon rice bowls, though. This is probably the best place to eat at DIA right now. A Gates, Center Core
Denver Central Market
RiNo’s Denver Central Market opened a petite food hall inside DIA in 2018, providing the perfect solution for when you’re traveling with a group and everyone has different cravings. This location replicates the original’s penny tile floors and moss-green entry sign and serves everything from sushi rolls to pizzas and pastas. The market will add a fresh face in the next few months when River Bear American Meats takes over the spot currently occupied by Culture Meat & Cheese. Sushi-Rama, Vero Italian, and Lunchboxx each have stalls in the airport market. Near Gate A48
Tacos Tequila Whiskey
With people flying in from all over the world, time is elusive at the airport, something that the Tacos Tequila Whiskey menu seems to recognize. A recent newcomer to the airport that opened in the spring, this is the spot where you can grab a carnitas breakfast burrito or indulge in an a.m. happy hour with chips and chorizo queso washed down with a spicy serrano marg or a Bloody Mary made with either vodka or tequila. Near Gate A18
Snarf’s Sandwiches
This Boulder-born shop that’s won over sandwich lovers across the Front Range with its fresh-baked bread and impressive portions now has three dozen locations, including one in DIA. Snarf’s staples range from an Italian sandwich loaded with meats and cheeses to a vegetarian sammie stuffed with artichoke and feta. Near Gate A73
Concourse B
If you’re flying out of the B Gates, lucky you. This terminal has a terrific mix of longtime staples, like Voodoo Doughnut, and exciting additions. We suggest grabbing your grub to-go and heading to the B-West outdoor deck to enjoy some fresh air, views, and even a fire pit for chilly days.
Aware that lots of travelers connect through DIA, United Airlines opened a grab-and-go lounge near Gate B60 in 2022 (available for United Club members, those with one-time passes, and Star Alliance Gold members flying internationally), so you can stop sneaking out lounge snacks in paper towels.
Read More: 6 Things We Love About the New United Clubs at DIA
Sunset Loop Bar & Grill
The Denver Nuggets’ personal chef Daniel Young opened the newest Concourse B restaurant in November. With a focus on using local, healthy ingredients, the restaurant is billed as a “farm-to-gate” experience, sourcing from local purveyors and serving dishes like crispy trout, green chile cheeseburgers, and grilled tofu salads with spicy collard greens and quinoa. The light-filled restaurant features a tile mural inspired by Colorado’s sunsets and hiking trails that spans the entire back wall of the bar. For those on the go, the restaurant has an adjoining grab-and-go market. Near Gate B63
Voodoo Doughnut
Riffing off DIA’s many conspiracy theories involving underground lizard lairs and the Illuminati headquarters, Voodoo Doughnut beckons sweet-toothed travelers to its stall with a bright-blue, beady-eyed alien statue. Globetrotters can choose from a display case full of cookie-, candy-, and cereal-topped doughnuts along with bacon maple bars and apple fritters or opt for a pink box filled with a dozen classic doughnuts for $22. Like its other shops, Voodoo’s airport location has lots of vegan options, too.
Want to see how the dough gets made? Peer through the windows that look into the back of the kitchen to catch the pastry pros in action. B Gates, Center Core, Mezzanine Level
Shake Shack
Airports are full of fast food chains—but not all franchises are built equal. Fan favorite Shake Shack, a New York fast-casual burger chain, made its DIA debut in 2021, serving crinkle-cut fries, Angus beef burgers, and creamy shakes to hungry travelers. B Gates, Center Core, Mezzanine Level
Snooze A.M. Eatery
Enjoy a pre-plane pancake flight at Snooze with flavors like its signature Pineapple Upside Down, blueberry, and sweet potato. Or, take your tastebuds down the savory route with a smashed avocado benny layered with poached eggs, tomatoes, and smoked cheddar hollandaise. The iconic Denver-born breakfast chain known for amassing long waitlists opened its DIA outpost in 2021 with a sprawling 30-seat bar. You can often snag a seat there with a shorter wait time than Snooze locations in the actual city. B Gates, Center Core, Mezzanine Level
Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs
The menu at Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs is a geography lesson through the lens of hot dogs, which includes the dragged-through-the-garden Chicago dog and a Dallas dog smothered with chili con carne. Hot dog devotees will know that Steve’s Denver location off of Colfax just closed, so this is the last place you can score these beloved glizzies in the Mile High City. Near Gate B24
Lounge 5280
If you’re feeling a little bah-humbug after enduring long TSA lines, pop into Santa’s Layover Lounge, the first airport holiday pop-up bar. Sip on a “Pa Rum Pa Rum Punch” spiked with Captain Morgan rum and pomegranate liqueur mixed with fizzy ginger ale and nosh on pizzas that are named after Rudolph and his pals. Look for the “Sleigh the Layover” banner on the mezzanine level when you arrive from the train at Concourse B. Festive inflatables, cameos from Santa himself, and a hot chocolate bar with Buddy the Elf–approved toppings solidify the holly jolly vibe.
When it’s not serving as Santa’s Denver home base, Lounge 5280 co-opts airport lounge vibes while serving wine by the glass and bottle, local beers from some of Colorado’s most popular breweries (e.g., Cerveceria, Left Hand Brewing, Oskar Blues, Epic Brewing Company), and craft cocktails made with local spirits like the 5280 Lemonade with Woody Creek vodka and Leopold Brothers blackberry liqueur.
Slide onto a barstool so you can strike up a convo with fellow travelers or claim a table if you need to settle in and shoot off a few emails before setting your OOO. B Gates, Center Core, Mezzanine Level
New Belgium Brewing
There are a few pretzel purveyors throughout DIA, but you’ll find the very best twisted snack—and one the size of your face—on the menu at New Belgium Brewing. It’s topped with sea salt and served with a jalapeño beer cheese and housemade mustard for dunking.
The DIA outpost of the Fort Collins brewery boasts impressive business hours (6 a.m.–10 p.m., daily), and it’s usually hopping, pouring some of its greatest hits like Fat Tire and Voodoo Ranger IPA. Breakfast specials plus salads, sandwiches, tacos, and burgers are all on the menu. Near Gate B30
Concourse C
You have to be careful in this terminal. With so many stellar newcomers including Cholon, Mister Oso, and Bar Dough, it’s all too easy to get lost in the margs and miss your flight. So, proceed with caution.
If none of the locally based options below suit your fancy, this concourse also hosts lots of fast-food outlets, including Smashburger, Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Jamba Juice, and Starbucks. You can also catch a game at the Coors Silver Bullet Bar, enjoy some wine and cheese at Vino Volo, or grab a savory or sweet crêpe from Magic Pan.
Teatulia Tea & Coffee Bar
This Denver-based organic tea company, which shut down its cozy LoHi shop in 2020, opened a new outpost at DIA in November for greeting weary and stressed travelers with chamomile tea lattes and hot green teas. The airport tea shop also serves pastries, veggie snack boxes, salads, and sandwiches. Near Gate C62
Marczyk Fine Foods
Travelers at this hub can also grab a pastrami on rye or pork green chile from Marczyk (a local market and deli that has two Denver shops). The market also serves breakfast, including avocado toast, as well as items you can easily carry on the plane like yogurt parfaits and breakfast burritos. Near Gate C62
ChoLon Modern Asian
Chef Lon Symensma has been busy building his empire of eateries around Denver for years, and now he’s added a DIA location to his portfolio. The modern Asian eatery offers bar favorites like a Vietnamese coffee martini as well as Korean hot chicken sliders and bao buns. If you don’t want to dig into dumplings on the plane, consider a build-your-own bowl like a sweet-and-sour pineapple fried rice topped with tofu, shrimp, pork belly, or steak. Near Gate C62
Mister Oso
Michelin inducted Mister Oso into its Bib Gourmand category in 2023 praising its “creative menu and clever cooking.” The restaurant, which is now among DIA’s recent arrivals, slings imaginative all-day tacos like braised coconut pork and slow-cooked short rib with adobo au jus. Frozen strawberry margs and piña coladas set the tone for a tropical vacation (even if you’re really just headed to a work conference).
Those jetting out on early flights have the unique chance to taste Mister Oso’s approach to breakfast with dishes like a flaky empanada stuffed with chorizo as well as breakfast tacos, burritos, and tortas. Near Gate C54
Bar Dough
You know what’s better than an airport beer? An airport Aperol spritz. Belly up to the circular bar at this beloved Italian spot and wile away your delay over a margherita pizza. In addition to gourmet personal pies, Bar Dough also slings pasta, salad, and signature meatballs made with beef, pork, and pancetta, plus crushed tomatoes, cheese, and basil. Near Gate C54
Great Divide Brewing
Travelers passing through Denver can get a quick introduction to our city’s renowned craft beer scene by taking a seat at Great Divide and ordering a pint of its hazy IPA or imperial stout. Not only are there lots of tasty beers on tap, the hometown brewery serves delightfully beer-centric menu items like ale-battered fish and chips and french toast with a dark stout mascarpone. Near Gate C32
Little Man Ice Cream
Looking for a sweet treat? Little Man Ice Cream’s airport kiosk serves scoops, milkshakes, and affogato (espresso-drenched ice cream). Find a dozen different flavors in constant rotation at the iconic creamery, including some of your Little Man favorites like salted Oreo and “Space Junkie,” black raspberry ice cream with brownie bites and marshmallow swirl. Near Gate C27
One of the most underrated spots in the airport is Tamales by La Casita. This no-frills Highland institution’s DIA location sells Frito pies, green-chile-smothered tamales, and burritos, as well as $13 margaritas (affordable by airport standards). C Gates, Center Core
Root Down
Vegetarians should skip the soggy grab-and-go salad and find a seat at Root Down instead. The veggie-forward menu is peppered with globally inspired dishes like banh mi turkey burgers and vegetarian shoyu ramen. But this funky LoHi restaurant didn’t take any shortcuts on the design of its DIA location, either. Those waiting for their flights can take a seat at reclaimed butcher block tables surrounded by travel-inspired decor like hanging globes and mini metal airplanes on the walls. C Gates, Center Core
Superfruit Republic
Colorado-based Superfruit Republic opened its fourth location at DIA in 2023, serving smoothies and acai bowls that travelers can top with chia seeds, coconut, strawberry slices, blueberries, granola, and more. The outpost also serves fresh-pressed juices and sandwiches prepared by Olive & Finch. C Gates, Center Core
