This Valentine’s Day, couples aren’t the only ones who deserve to treat themselves to a nice meal. Pre-fixe menus and date-night reservations may be everywhere you turn, but for singletons out there, takeout (or cooking for yourself, ugh) doesn’t have to be your only option on Feb. 14.
Ordering a whole pizza for yourself? Leftovers for lunch the next day! Sit at the bar of that upscale steakhouse, sip your favorite cocktail and indulge. Sometimes a nice meal alone can be a form of meditation, where you get to sift through your thoughts uninterrupted — or it might lead to a conversation with a stranger that soon becomes more.
Why not treat yourself this Hallmark holiday by dining with the one person you should love the most? (That would be you.)
Here are seven great spots around Denver to dine alone:
Denver Central Market (or any Denver food hall)
Sometimes, one of the best things to do when you’re alone is to get lost in a crowd. If you find solace in the buzz of conversations, or you just need a food stall for direction on what you’re craving that day, head to Denver Central Market, where you can find delectable sandwiches at Culture Meat & Cheese, pizza and pasta at Vero Italian, fresh seafood from Tammen’s Fish, coffee from Crema Bodega, and more.
Pro tip: When the weather warms up, sit outside on one of Denver Central Market’s picnic tables in the alleyway, which is filled with colorful graffiti.
2669 Larimer St., Denver; denvercentralmarket.com
Sushi Co.
Sushi Co.’s intimate bar-top settings at each of its three locations are perfect for a solo meal, partly because they’re not well situated for groups anyway. Take a seat at the U-shaped bar and enjoy a one-on-one meal with the Sushi Co. chefs, who make your handrolls, sashimi plates or chirashi bowls right in front of you. The menu is small but mighty, including 10 individual handrolls, like lobster, blue crab or spicy tuna.
Cherry Hills Sushi Co.: 1400 E. Hampden Ave. #110, Cherry Hills; Park Hill Sushi Co.: 4900 E. Colfax Ave., Denver; Berkeley Park Sushi Co.: 4404 Yates St., Denver; cosushico.com
My Brother’s Bar
There’s a reason My Brother’s Bar has stuck around as one of the oldest bars in Denver. It’s the perfect place to get lost in your own thoughts or strike up a conversation with a complete stranger, since one of its policies is no TVs. It’s one of the only old-school bars in Denver, where you don’t have to shout over the sports crowd to get a drink or chat with your buddies. My Brother’s Bar has a spot for everyone. And I would highly recommend ordering the onion rings with your burger.
2376 15th St., Denver; mybrothersbar.com
Post Oak BBQ
As mentioned in Denver Post’s top BBQ list in November, a seat at Post Oak BBQ’s bar is coveted. Once you place your order at the counter, where your meat is sliced or pulled right in front of you, pull up to the bar to devour your Carolina-style, pulled pork sandwich, or fall-off-the-bone beef ribs, along with a bourbon, frozen drink, or a Shiner Bock beer. If you are looking to catch a sports game, this is the place to go. Post Oak offers a friendly atmosphere with a side of good barbecue for solo diners.
4000 Tennyson St.; Denver; postoakdenver.com
Chef’s counter at Cattivella
If you really want to treat yourself to a nice night out alone, head to the chef’s counter at Cattivella in Central Park, where guests get a front-row seat to the culinary magic. The Italian restaurant’s exhibition kitchen is the star of the show, highlighting the wood-burning pizza oven and wood-burning grill in the center. There are 26 seats at the chef’s counter, with views of the pasta table and Butchers’ Corner. Feast on some crispy, wood-fired pizzas or dig into the pillowy gnocchi for a happy, full stomach.
10195 E. 29th Dr. Suite 110, Denver; cattivelladenver.com
A5 Steakhouse
Happy hour at A5 Steakhouse is a lovely secret. Of course, the modern steakhouse from Juan Padro is already making waves for its wagyu beef and beef tartare katsu sando for dinner. But if you’re trying to save a buck, head to the bar or dining room for happy hour every day from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., where guests can get oysters for $1.50, the A5 burger and fries for $14 and $10 drink specials. You can get a full meal for yourself without a steakhouse bill.
1600 15th St., Denver; a5denver.com
Yuan Wonton
Flying solo and just on the hunt for some killer food? Yuan Wonton’s food truck in Denver may be your ticket. This food experience is definitely worth the hassle it might take to secure some wontons. Yuan Wonton offers pre-sales on its social media the day before a scheduled stop, and it usually sells out within 10 minutes or so, especially the signature chili-garlic wontons or Gai Gok Fan. If you miss the pre-sale, visit the truck for whatever is on the menu that day, but be prepared for lines of nearly two hours.
For details on Yuan Wonton’s next stop, check out: facebook.com/yuanwonton or instagram.com/yuanwonton
