A Holiday Trip: Denver

Denver, the Mile High City, is known for its sweeping views of the Rockies and the broad array of outdoor activities in its backyard. Surprisingly, even though Ivy went to college in Colorado, neither of us had spent really any time in Denver. We decided to book a spontaneous holiday trip to Denver to see what all the hype is about. We can now confirm that this city was built for foodies, beer and wine lovers, and outdoor enthusiasts!

Here are some of the best places we discovered over our quick weekend getaway…

xxx Ivy & Eve

P.S. We want to give a shout out to Hotel Monaco Denver for being such an excellent host!

EAT

Snooze $$ - When Ivy was doing her undergrad in Northern Colorado, the local Snooze quickly became her go-to brunch spot. We highly recommend their Bloody Marys and the pancake flight (3 pancakes), which you can select from an array of sweet and savory pancakes. Although the menu is continuously changing, we suggest ordering the red velvet, sweet potato, or the pineapple upside-down pancake if they are on offer. 

Denver Central Market $-$$ - This is probably our favorite place we discovered on the trip. Denver Central Market is a fantastic food hall with all kinds of great vendors from Curio - bar, Culture - meat & cheese, Tammen's - fish market, and High Point Creamery- ice cream! We noshed on tuna/salmon poke bowl, cheese and charcuterie, and washed it down with some tasty house rosé!

beast + bottle $$$ - This place is big on farm-to-table cuisine. The menu was full of perfectly crafted entrees, small bites, and tasty cocktails. We LOVED the chicharrones served with a yummy creamy red pepper dip!

Marczyk Fine Foods $-$$$ - This grocery store is located just across the street from beast + bottle. They have a wonderful selection of cheeses, meats, and bakery goods. This is the perfect spot to stock up on goodies for your outdoor adventures or even a picnic!

Venice $$$ - If you are looking for an Italian restaurant with an amazing wine list, choose Venice. It is also located across the street from Union Station. 

Mercantile $$ - Located in the Union Station, Mercantile is part coffee shop, part bakery, and part casual restaurant. They serve tasty sandwiches, salads, and delicious Bloody Marys! We recommend getting anything that will include their house-made pickles. SO GOOD!

Buckhorn Exchange $$$ - Our Dad heard about this place and has wanted to go for years, so he sent us on a mission to test it out for him. We are SO GLAD he did! The Buckhorn Exchange is Denver's oldest restaurant and is a registered National Historic Landmark. The walls are covered with taxidermy animals, old photographs, and other "wild west" memorabilia. They are known for their top-notch steaks and a few more unusual dishes. We started out the night with the rattlesnake queso - warm queso dip topped with rattlesnake meat and a 1/2 order of their rocky mountain oysters (deep-fried calf testicles). Growing up in horse country, we have had our fair share of these delicacies, and we can tell you these were some of the best! Finally, we shared the giant buffalo prime rib and washed it all down with some cold Colorado brews! Fantastic!

DRINK

Forest Room 5 $ - This hip but under the radar bar is a great place to start your evening. Grab a beer or cocktail inside and head out to their side yard for fire pits, a little stream, and even a tipi. We loved its laid back feel and the quirky western films playing in the restrooms. 

My Brother’s Bar $ - This is Denver's oldest operating bar, making it a must-visit. Just down the road from Forest Room 5, this almost secret bar is perfect for your late-night hangouts. We ordered a pitcher of beer, fries, and onion rings, but we hear the cottage cheese is worth ordering! 

Terminal Bar $$ - Located in Union Station, during the day, Terminal Bar is packed with people coming and going via bus or train. After hours it turns into a super cool lounge. After all the restaurants and shops close, The Great Hall turns into seating for the bar.  

Ratio Beerworks $$ - Right down the street from Denver Central Market, this brewery is the perfect place to enjoy your delicious lunch. We ordered their carrot beer, and it was seriously good! 

Infinite Monkey Theorem $$$ - This urban winery has a really fun laid back vibe with a variety of wines on tap, in cans, and in traditional bottles. Grab a glass, take a seat, relax, and repeat! 

PLAY

Christmas Market (free) - During the holidays, Denver hosts an adorable traditional German Christmas Market with booths offering everything from German-made ornaments to giant pretzels! Grab a mug full of mulled wine or hot cocoa and peruse the shops at your leisure. 

Parade of Lights (free) - This once a year (two nights in a row) parade is definitely worth watching before you head out to dinner. The parade begins at dusk, and each parade float and entertainer is covered in glowing lights. This is a fun event for all ages. We liked the fire dancers the most! 

STAY

The Kimpton Hotel Monaco $$$ - We called this place home for the weekend and loved it! The hotel lobby and rooms are beautiful. They have a great restaurant and bar attached, extremely attentive staff, and its location is in the center of downtown, within walking distance of everything Denver has to offer. We can't stop saying great things about this hotel. 

We got into Denver at 5am, and were able to check into our room even though check-in is usually 4pm! One of our favorite parts of staying at the Monaco Denver was the daily happy hour in the lobby daily from 5-6pm. At happy hour, they poured two wines and served a rotating beer on tap. Each drink came along with a little snack. One night they served meatballs, which were divine! We loved that the Monaco Denver thinks of the little details like a "hydration station" in the lobby and even complimentary hand warmers for the chilly Denver evenings! We can't wait to go back!

Happy Holidays!

A Wine Lover's Guide to Edinburgh

While wine may not be the first thing you think about when visiting Edinburgh, that doesn't mean there isn’t plenty of amazing places to satisfy the wine lover in you. Edinburgh is home to some of the best wine bars and restaurants we have ever been to, and that’s saying something! We can’t think of many better ways to spend an afternoon, cozying up in one of these spots with a glass of wine, a bite to eat, and a friend or two.

We have teamed up with This is Edinburgh to share with you our wine lover's guide to Edinburgh.Follow the link below to find out where our favorite locations for wine connoisseurs and casual wine drinkers to visit in Scotland’s capital city.

Continue reading A Wine Lover's Guide to Edinburgh on Edinburgh.org

Here is our list of favorite locations for wine connoisseurs and casual wine drinkers to visit in Scotland’s capital city.

xxx Ivy & Eve

Smith & Gertrude

Located in Stockbridge, this hip wine bar is a cheese, charcuterie, and wine lover's wonderland. We love their wine flight option, which changes weekly. We can see why it’s their best seller. They also offer a huge selection of wines by the glass and by bottle. There is plenty of room for large and small groups, or grab a seat at their communal center table and make some new friends! If you stop by on a Sunday, bring in your own vinyl and play DJ while drinking great wine.

26 Hamilton Place, Edinburgh EH3 5AU (0131 629 6280)

Vino

With three locations within Edinburgh, the Stockbridge location is our favorite bottle shop. One half of the store lined with neat shelves of hand selected wines and the other a large selection of beer, liquor, and snacks. Vino features Scotland's first Enomatic wine tasting machine, giving customers the opportunity to try up to 8 wines before purchasing.

26 North West Circus Place, Edinburgh EH3 6TP (0131 225 6998)

Ecco Vino

Despite being located just off the Royal Mile, this restaurant is surprisingly quiet and non-touristy. With a great wine list and affordable meals this is a great place to grab a quick bite to eat or spend a few leisurely hours sipping wine and enjoying the company. We recommend trying their Mackerel Ravioli and the Skipper's catch of the day!

19 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh EH1 1BP (0131 225 1441)

Veeno

Conveniently located on Rose Street, in the heart of Edinburgh's New Town (with another in Quartermile), this wine bar is an awesome place to take a break from the bustling streets beyond. They do everything from flights to a killer weekday lunch deal: sandwich/salad and a wine/beer/prosecco/soda for the price of the main. Need we say more? One of the most interesting things about their menu is that all the wines come from their family estate vineyards in Sicily, and offer authentic Italian spuntini (Italian style tapas) from ingredients sourced solely from Italy.

76 Rose Street, Edinburgh EH2 2NN (0131 225 3239)

The Fat Pony - closed

The Fat Pony is the latest venture of David Ramsden, who is no rookie to the Edinburgh hospitality business. David is the mastermind behind The Dogs, a longtime favorite restaurant of ours in Edinburgh. The Fat Pony wine bar is situated in the Haymarket area of the city and is a must for any wine enthusiast. The menu consists of a large ever-changing wine list available by the glass and bottle, several amazing hand-crafted cocktails (the bloody mary is to die for), and delicious small bites. Not to mention their knowledgeable and hilarious staff! 

Goya 23 - closed

Situated in Edinburgh’s area of Stockbridge, Goya 23 specializes in Spanish wines and also has several interesting sherry flights on their menu. There is a large selection of wines you can purchase for in-house consumption or to take back home. The service is exceptional, with the staff helping guide you through the wine selection process based on your own unique wine preferences. They also feature a nice tapas menu to nibble on while you enjoy your wine. If you’re in a hurry, stop in and purchase their to-go wines, charcuterie, and tapas!

Henri - closed

Located in this location now is Whiskers Wine Café . We have visited Whiskers a number of times and it is equally as delicious! Whiskers focuses on fresh local dishes and has a fabulous wine selection.