Best Burgers in Denver

How to eat burgers in Denver

Denver is a great burger city because it never picked just one style. You can eat a parchment-wrapped saloon burger in a bar that has been pouring for generations, build your own cheeseburger from a long list of toppings, or grab an ultra-thin smash burger from a takeout window. Green chile shows up on menus all over town, and a few classic counters keep things cheap and simple.

A few neighborhoods are worth knowing. Lower Downtown and the Ballpark area, near Coors Field, are home to old bars and game-day burger stops. RiNo (the River North Art District) and Five Points, just northeast of downtown, are where many newer smash burger spots have landed. Cherry Creek, Platt Park and Washington Park in south-central Denver mix neighborhood taverns with longtime local favorites, and Sunnyside in northwest Denver has one of the city's most talked-about doubles. Every spot below is also on the cards above, and you can browse more in our restaurant directory.

Best burgers in Denver by style

Smash burgers

Denver's smash burger scene is young but busy. Dalton's Cheeseburgs runs a takeout window inside a mini-golf bar in RiNo and serves ultra-thin, crispy patties with a house sauce. Odie B's in Sunnyside keeps its menu tight around a double smash patty with crisp edges, grilled onions and house sauce. Duke's Good Sandwiches and Burgers in Five Points is a sandwich shop first, but its smash burger more than holds its own. For more picks around the country, see our best smash burgers page, and read smash burger vs. regular burger if you're not sure which style you like.

Classic burgers and old-school bars

My Brother's Bar is one of Denver's oldest saloons and still feels like it. Burgers come wrapped in paper with condiments on the side, and the menu includes a jalapeño cream cheese burger and a bison burger. Cherry Cricket in Cherry Creek is a longtime local institution where you build your own cheeseburger from a long list of patties, cheeses and toppings, and it also has a location in the Ballpark neighborhood. Candlelight Tavern on South Pearl Street near Wash Park is a neighborhood dive with a simple, backyard-style burger served with chips. Find more joints like these on our best classic burgers page.

Green chile cheeseburgers

Steuben's in Uptown is a regional American diner, and its green chile cheeseburger is a nod to Albuquerque. If you'd rather customize, Cherry Cricket's build-your-own menu lets you stack your burger the way you like it. Our green chile cheeseburger guide explains where the style came from.

Cheap and casual

Crown Burgers on South Colorado Boulevard is a classic fast-food-style counter with a long menu, and its pastrami burger is the signature order. Snarfburger, from the team behind Snarf's Sandwiches, is a no-frills burger shack on East 11th Avenue. Park Burger on South Pearl Street in Platt Park is a casual neighborhood favorite with a few locations around the city.

Chef-driven and worth the drive

Tessa Delicatessen on East Colfax is a chef-run deli from Vince Howard, and its cheeseburger is a good reason to visit beyond the sandwiches. If you have a car, Bud's Cafe & Bar in Sedalia, south of the city, is a small-town bar known for a simple burger served with chips. It makes a good stop on the way to or from the foothills. For a statewide view, read the best burgers in Colorado.

Local burger traditions

Green chile is the closest thing Denver has to a signature burger topping. Colorado has its own green chile culture, and many local menus offer chile as a topping, a sauce or a smother. Heat levels vary a lot from place to place, so ask before you order if you're sensitive to spice.

Bison is the other local twist. Several Denver menus, including My Brother's Bar, offer a bison burger alongside beef. It's leaner than most beef blends, so expect a firmer, less greasy bite. The old-saloon burger, served plainly in paper with no fuss, is a Denver tradition of its own, and My Brother's Bar is the place to try it.

Tips for visiting

• Plan around Coors Field: bars near the ballpark get busy before and after Rockies games, so go early or pick a spot in another neighborhood.
• Pair stops by neighborhood. Dalton's Cheeseburgs and Duke's are both in the RiNo and Five Points area, while Park Burger and Candlelight Tavern are both on South Pearl Street.
• Check hours before you go, especially for small counters, bar kitchens and anything outside the city like Bud's in Sedalia.
• Ask about the green chile. It can range from mild to genuinely hot.
• Craving one at home? Try our green chile cheeseburger recipe or our ultimate smash burger.
• Know a Denver spot we missed? Suggest a spot.

Browse by style

Want just one kind of burger? See our shortlists of the best classic burger joints, cheap burgers in Denver.

FAQ

What is the best burger in Denver?

It depends on the style you want. For a classic Denver experience, start with My Brother's Bar or Cherry Cricket. For a modern smash burger, try Odie B's or Dalton's Cheeseburgs. For a green chile cheeseburger, go to Steuben's.

Where can I find a cheap burger in Denver?

Crown Burgers, Snarfburger and Candlelight Tavern are all casual, no-frills spots that keep things simple. Smash burger counters like Dalton's Cheeseburgs are also good options for a quick, inexpensive meal.

Where can I get a green chile cheeseburger in Denver?

Steuben's in Uptown is the go-to. Ask how hot the chile is before you order, and read our Colorado burger guide for more chile picks around the state.

What is the best burger near downtown Denver?

My Brother's Bar sits just northwest of downtown, Cherry Cricket's Ballpark location is near Coors Field, and Dalton's Cheeseburgs and Duke's are a short trip northeast in RiNo and Five Points.