Why I love Denver’s Sunnyside Neighborhood
THINGS TO DO, EAT, AND SEE IN DENVER’S SUNNYSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD
on December 8, 2023
Sunnyside is known for its laid-back ambiance and has recently seen an influx of new restaurants and shops. The convenient location, the walkability, and the charm of the bungalows and Tudors that line the streets are a draw for many long-term Denver residents and newcomers alike. Each year, the neighborhood hosts the Sunnyside Music Festival and invites community members to support local bands and businesses and enjoy good food and live music.
The Best Coffee Near Sunnyside
There’s no judgment in the Sunnyside neighborhood whether you drink it black or you like the additional milk and sugar. The coffee shops around town are serving up some of the best-roasted beans available.
Cherry Bean Coffee
4059 Tejon Street
Cherry Bean strives to be a contributor to their local community through diversity, experience, and high-quality specialty coffee. The family-owned coffee shop has roots in regions known for their coffee production, such as Central America and the Caribbean Islands. The shop sells egg sandwiches, vegan banana bread, and even cinnamon rolls in addition to their beverage options. Whether you’re in the mood for a classic pour-over or a drip coffee or you’re looking to spice up your morning routine with a mocha or a cafe au lait — Cherry Bean is dedicated to serving only the best beans around.
Waldschänke Ciders + Coffee
4100 Jason Street
Aside from its diverse offering of ciders, Waldschänke is also known for its tasty caffeinated beverages. The small coffeehaus and roastery take pride in their sustainably-sourced beans, with master roaster Zach Green at the helm of the operation. Drip, cold brew, americanos, and cortados, all make up the cafe menu. Additionally, you can order a caramel, honey, or even dark chocolate latte to sweeten up your morning. Don’t forget to ask the barista about the latte of the season! If you want to opt out of the post-caffeine slump, try a kombucha or a can of blackberry sparkling juice.
Launch Sunnyside Cafe & Cocktails
4055 Inca Street #5
In conjunction with its high-quality espresso beverages, Launch Sunnyside also serves up food, cocktails, and friendly service. The cafe is partnered with Kaldi’s Coffee and meticulously trains its baristas to account for altitude, time of day, and temperature to perfectly dial in each shot of espresso that they pull. Try the honey lavender latte or the Jump the Gun smoothie, which features coffee, chocolate, and milk. The mocha is made with Ghirardelli dark or white chocolate and the Joe To Go is the perfect option for a crowd. The tea and coffee-inspired cocktails are unique to Launch, such as the Cold Fashioned which is served over a cold brew ice cube.
Where to Eat & Drink in Sunnyside
Sunnyside is brimming with breakfast and brunch options. Even if you don’t order your eggs sunny side up, you can still enjoy a plate of pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs, and maybe even a breakfast cocktail.
The Universal
2911 West 38th Avenue
The Universal is open seven days a week and serves up breakfast and lunch items. The restaurant has a convenient online tool that allows diners to check the wait time and add their name to a list if one is available. The Universal collaborates with Queen City Coffee, Aspen Bakery, and Tender Belly to provide the best ingredients and products to their customers. The weekend brunch offering includes cornbread rancheros, pork green chili and grits, and banana walnut pancakes. Drinks feature the breakfast mimosa, a spicy watermelon margarita, and a pain killer with rum, pineapple, and cream of coconut.
Sunny’s
2339 West 44th Avenue
Sunny’s is open Friday through Monday for breakfast and lunch. Weather permitting, there is outdoor seating available for those who want to enjoy the fresh air with their meal. The breakfast menu has staples such as classic egg sandwiches, granola parfaits, and buttermilk pancakes. They also whip up a mean plate of roasted veggie latkes and a hearty breakfast plate of eggs, waffles, bacon, sausage, potatoes, and of course, a healthy drizzle of pure maple syrup. Wash breakfast down with a dirty chai or a double shot of espresso before tackling the rest of your day.
Bacon Social House
2434 West 44th Avenue
Bacon Social House believes that no breakfast or brunch plate is complete without a respectable amount of bacon. Whether you go all in with the signature bacon flight or enjoy the crispy addition to your breakfast salad, you won’t leave the social house feeling like you missed out. The boozy French toast is a popular order, topped with bourbon caramel and vanilla whipped cream and the triple-decker breakfast sando would keep anyone full until dinner time. If bloody Marys aren’t your thing, try a guava or pomegranate mimosa or dive into the liquor early with a Bacon old fashioned, a Tipsy Peach Lemonade, or a Born to Rum.
Bodega Denver
2651 West 38th Avenue
To reinvent the everyday corner store popular in cities such as New York, Bodega Denver uses quality ingredients to innovate their chef-driven sandwiches. The team works to create a spot you can hang out at for your morning matcha latte as well as your after-work cocktail (or mocktail)! Sandwiches include a chili crisp fried chicken, a lamb birria French dip, and a green chili falafel. Coffee and tea options cover the basics such as chai, cappuccinos, and even a London Fog. If you’re celebrating, cocktails like an Aperol spritz, a Bodega Buzz, and a Kool-Aid margarita are perfect for enjoying over a bite to eat and plenty of laughs.
Can’t-Miss Shops in Sunnyside
Sunnyside features the largest comic book store in America, as well as a charcuterie on-demand service that’s perfect for your next house party. If you’re scratching your head wondering what to get your friend for their new housewarming, check out Ship Sunshine and choose the perfect gift box.
Mile High Comics
4600 Jason Street
Mile High Comics is proud to be America’s largest comic book retailer. Their immense inventory spans over 10 million comics, as well as 300,000 trade paperbacks. The Jason Street mega store is 45,000 square feet, brimming with comics, books, toys, and various collectibles. Some of their most popular titles include Batman, Avengers, GI Joe, Fantastic Four, Ghost Rider, and Green Lantern. Those in search of something new may want to try the “5 lb. Mystery Box.” Whether you’ve been a comic fan for decades or you’re looking to explore the art form, this comic shop is worth a peruse.
So Damn Gouda Cheese + Provisions
2432 West 44th Avenue
With the increasing popularity of charcuterie boards, So Damn Gouda Cheese is the perfect shop to hone your skills. Upgrade your snacking game and discover new flavors and textures that are sure to wow any guest. All cheese balls, crostinis, and even the fig and red wine reduction jam are created in-house. Cured meats, specialty dried fruits, pickles, and olives are all sourced with the highest possible quality in mind. Order a cheese box, a signature tray, or even an Entertainer Cheese Platter if you’re hosting a small get-together or a sizable party.
Ship Sunshine
4725 Lipan Street
Ship Sunshine believes that sending a thoughtful gift shouldn’t be a stressful endeavor. The ready-made boxes cover a range of life’s important moments, from engagements to first-time homeowners, and even “just because” occasions. The vast majority of Ship Sunshine’s products are from local and women-owned businesses, which allows the community to show their support. Check out the Fall Thank You gift box, the Gratitude care package, and the Merry and Bright holiday gift. If you’re someone who struggles to put together the perfect gift, let Ship Sunshine help you out this holiday season and discover the convenience of finding a list of curated gift boxes at your fingertips.
The Nightlife Scene Around Sunnyside
Sunnyside’s nightlife scene features a brewery, a taproom, and a cafe and cocktail bar all in one. The beer culture around Denver is strong, though you can get by with a mocktail at The Radiator if you don’t wish to imbibe.
Diebolt Brewing Company
3855 Mariposa Street
Diebolt Brewing Company has an 8,000-square-foot production facility, including its 15 barrel brewhouse. At any given time, they have a capacity of 210 barrels of fermentation. This allows them to serve plenty of beer to plenty of guests! Check out their daily specials, such as the Electric Cowboy, the Guava Lava Bing Bong, and the Colorado Greenback, which is the flagship session IPA that the brewery has been making for a decade. Wednesdays are brown bag specials and Mondays are for rolling the dice. Guests get a dice roll after buying a pint, with the number corresponding to different deals such as free chips, discounted merch, or 25% off to-go beer.
The Radiator
2139 West 44th Avenue
The Radiator is a prime hangout spot in Sunnyside, staying open until 11 PM Thursday through Saturday. The cafe and bar serve up artisanal caffeinated drinks from Pablo’s Coffee, as well as tea and kombucha options. The craft beer and cocktail offering includes local names and an array of IPAs, sours, and ciders. The bar menu includes the Millionaire Margarita, the Espresso Self Martini, and the Pete Davidson Paloma. If a glass of wine is more your style, order a pour of Sauvignon Blanc or prosecco and snack on chips and salsa, olives, or the cajun snack mix mixed with nuts and pretzels.
Crooked Stave Denver Taproom
1441 West 46th Avenue Unit 19
Crooked Stave has a couple of taprooms in Colorado, with the brewery and home base being located in Denver. Taproom hours run Monday and Tuesday from 2 PM to 8 PM and Wednesday through Sunday from 12 PM to 8 PM. The resident food truck is Egg Belly, which serves up tasty burritos, tacos, burgers, and wraps. The beer offering features a Sour Rosé that’s been fermented in oak with raspberries and blueberries, the Strawberry Fields blonde ale, and the Mojito Sour brewed with lime and mint.
Outdoor Spaces in Sunnyside
Sunnyside has a couple of small community parks, with playgrounds, sports fields, and picnic areas. One of the biggest draws of living in Denver is enjoying the weather year-round. Families can get out and spend time in a local green space during afternoons and evenings, before hitting the mountains on the weekend.
La Raza Park
1501 West 38th Avenue
La Raza Park was recently voted in favor of becoming a historic cultural district. This park was the first of Denver’s municipally owned playgrounds and dates back to the 1900s. This 2.9-acre park was originally named Columbus Park before being renamed as La Raza, meaning “the people.” There is a playground, a basketball court, picnic tables, and even a metal sculpture of an eagle. The raised, pyramid pavilion was built in 1990 with murals painted on the interior and has since become a defining feature of the park’s history.
Ciancio Park
4001 Lipan Street
Ciancio Park has a designated parking lot, as well as a baseball, softball, and mixed-use field. There is a small playground and plenty of mature shade trees that provide comfortable temps year-round. The urban park is located next to a middle school and is a popular community gathering place for sports games, with bleachers on site to invite spectators to enjoy the game.
Places of Interest in Sunnyside
If you’re interested in a career as a bartender, there’s no better place to get trained than at Sunnyside’s very own bartending school. Flexible course options are available, as well as ongoing training after graduation.
Bartending School of Denver
2836 West 44th Avenue
Denver’s bartending school features a brand-new facility, all-new equipment, and the most updated curriculum currently available. Course options range from remote classes to in-person instruction. Graduates receive job placement assistance in restaurants, bars, clubs, and other venues. Students will learn the necessary skills by getting behind a real bar and learning hands-on techniques on how to craft high-quality drinks while providing exceptional customer service.
