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A historic restaurant in Denver's Theater District - The Nickel, Denver, CO

The Nickel

4.3 (1350)
$30 and under
Contemporary American
1100 Fourteenth Street, Denver, CO 80202

Make a reservation

A photo of The Nickel restaurant

The Nickel

4.3
$30 and under
Contemporary American
Downtown / LoDo

Make a reservation

2 people
11:30 PM
Booked 11 times today

About this restaurant

  • Charming
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Good for special occasions
Located in Denver’s historic 1911 Tramway Building in the heart of the Theatre District, near Larimer Square, The Nickel celebrates the city’s rich heritage through thoughtful, ingredient-driven cuisine. Once a hub for Denver’s streetcars, the building’s original vaulted ceilings and expansive windows offer a glimpse into its past, while a grand, rustic wood pile anchors the restaurant’s distinctive chef’s table. Our menus highlight quality ingredients sourced from local farmers, ranchers, distillers, and craft producers, bringing a sense of place to every dish. Recognized by Westword as Best Hotel Restaurant in 2025, The Nickel offers a warm, welcoming dining experience rooted in Denver’s history and character.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Elegant Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, Cocktail Bar, Farm-to-table
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Daily 7:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Daily 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    208892128
  • Website
    https://www.thenickeldenver.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Cash not accepted, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Chef Franco Ruiz
  • Private party facilities
    Enjoy a dining experience unlike the rest in the heart of Downtown Denver’s Theatre District, featuring a historic ambience and menus that incorporate the highest quality ingredients. We have a wide selection of spaces for private dining and celebrations. Please contact our private dining and event coordinator at 303-228-2131.
  • Private party contact
    Jessica Tremblay: (303) 228-2131
  • Location
    1100 Fourteenth Street, Denver, CO 80202
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown / LoDo
  • Cross street
    14th and Arapahoe Street
  • Parking details
    Discounted valet for Nickel guests.
  • Public transit
    Travel by Denver's convenient RTD Lightrail and take the H or D line to the 'Theatre District - Convention Center' stop. From there, walk three blocks North, past the Performing Arts Center to our entrance on the West side of 14th Street, between Arapahoe & Lawrence streets.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

All Experiences

  • Thanksgiving Dinner

    $95.00 per person

    Prepaid

    1 - 8 people

    Nov 26, 2026 only
    Celebrate Thanksgiving in Downtown Denver with a festive prix fixe dinner at The Nickel, the signature restaurant at Hotel Teatro. Join us on Thanksgiving Day for a classic holiday meal inspired by the traditions of the season, served in our historic dining room in the Denver Theatre District. Thanksgiving Day Details - Date: Thursday, November 26, 2026 - Hours: 1:00–6:00 PM - Last reservation: 5:45 PM - Menu: Thanksgiving prix fixe dinner, $95 per person - Location: The Nickel at Hotel Teatro Please note that The Nickel will be closed for breakfast on Thanksgiving Day. Reservations are recommended.
    Thanksgiving Dinner Photo

  • Meet Santa at The Nickel

    1 - 8 people

    Dec 12, 2026 - Dec 19, 2026
    December 12 & 19 | 12–2 PM Christmas is coming, and Santa is making a special stop in Denver! Join us at The Nickel at Hotel Teatro for a festive holiday brunch in our historic dining room. Snap a photo with Santa, share your holiday wish list, and drop off your letters in our official North Pole mailbox. It’s the perfect way to make a little holiday magic before your next show at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Santa's visit is complimentary with your brunch reservation. Reservations are recommended.
    Meet Santa at The Nickel Photo

  • Christmas Eve Brunch

    1 - 8 people

    Dec 24, 2026 only
    December 24, 2026 | 7 AM–3 PM The Nickel at Hotel Teatro There's no place like The Nickel for the holidays. Gather around the table this Christmas Eve for a festive brunch in our historic dining room, featuring holiday-inspired specials alongside favorites from our regular menu. Enjoy live music from Darcy Nelson from 11 AM–2 PM for a special holiday ambience. Celebrate the magic of the season over good food, good company, and a little holiday cheer at The Nickel. Reservations are recommended.
    Christmas Eve Brunch Photo

Private dining

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Menu

This menu from The Nickel was last updated on 9/10/2026.

View menu on restaurant's website (opens in a new tab)

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at The Nickel.

4.3

4.3
(1350)
  • 4.3Food
  • 4.3Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 3.9Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Nickel offers a "warm and welcoming" ambiance with "delicious food" and a "great cocktail menu," making it a perfect spot before a show at the DCPA. Guests appreciate the attentive service, though some note a "limited menu" and "small portions." Ideal for special occasions and memorable evenings.
1,350 Reviews

  1. Barbara

    Denver16 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Love the location, the ambiance, the food is very good.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Chantel Gold

    Denver1 review

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent for pre-theater or pre-ballet. Loved the ambiance and the somewhat quieter venue than a lot of places downtown. Very tasty menu items, especially the deviled eggs with caviar and the peanut butter and chocolate dessert. Make sure to check out the photos of late 1800s and early 1900s Denver on the first landing just up the marble stairs.

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  3. Ayliffe A.

    Denver1 review

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This was our 4th time dining at the Nickel before a performance at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. The food is delicious, the hot drinks are always hot and the service is excellent. However, I wish they had GF offerings.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Rod

    Denver4 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    The Saturday brunch menu is a bit egg heavy and not much on the lunch side. The cinnamon roll was excellent and should be for $7.00. The Caesar small salad was mixed greens without any romaine. The dressing was too heavy and not anything like Caesar dressing. Not a $16.00 salad in my opinion. My wife liked her hamburger and the fries were great. The ambiance is classy. The wait staff was competent but not fully engaged or pleased to be there except for one relatively new to Denver fellow who moved fast, smiled and conversed. Overall it is average.

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  5. Tonya

    Denver1 review

    5.0

    Dined on October 25, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    We were created right away and seated within a few minutes. Our table was for 4, a larger table was set just before us, then many 2 quest tables after us. We waited for over an hour for our food, as the smaller tables were served before we were.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Jason Gold

    Denver18 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on October 18, 2026

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Decent brunch with family. Service was really friendly but super slow. Waited over 5 min for someone to greet us and seat us. Food took a long time. Took a while to get attention to get our order in after we asked for just another minute. I think they were short staffed and someone was maybe late. But overall not the end of the world. We still had a good morning and appreciate everyone’s hard work!

    Is this helpful?

  7. David Gold

    Denver57 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 14, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    The food is always outstanding at The Nickel. They have a great cocktail menu and I often go here before shows at the DCPA. Highly recommended!
    The NickelResponded on October 27, 2026
    Hi David, Thank you for your kind words and for choosing The Nickel before your DCPA shows! It means a lot to hear that you consistently enjoy the food and cocktails. We look forward to welcoming you back before your next show!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Susan Gold

    Cleveland63 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 11, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Beautiful restaurant, warm and welcoming staff, delicious food.
    The NickelResponded on October 27, 2026
    Hi Susan, Thank you so much for the kind words! I’m happy to hear you enjoyed the food and felt welcomed by our team. We’ll be sure to share your feedback with everyone. We look forward to welcoming you back to The Nickel soon!

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  9. Meg

    Denver7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 8, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great wait staff and wonderful table location. Food and drinks are really good. Portions are small, except for the burger. All in all I highly recommend The Nickel.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Bob Gold

    Denver103 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on September 26, 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great place especially before the theater Food was great and service excellent
    The NickelResponded on October 9, 2026
    Hi Bob, Thank you for the wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed both the food and service during your visit. We love being part of our guests' pre-theater experience and are glad we could help make your evening special. We look forward to welcoming you back to The Nickel again soon!

    Is this helpful?

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Elegant Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary American, Cocktail Bar, Farm-to-table
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Daily 7:00 am–2:00 pm Dinner Daily 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    208892128
  • Website
    https://www.thenickeldenver.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Cash not accepted, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Chef Franco Ruiz
  • Private party facilities
    Enjoy a dining experience unlike the rest in the heart of Downtown Denver’s Theatre District, featuring a historic ambience and menus that incorporate the highest quality ingredients. We have a wide selection of spaces for private dining and celebrations. Please contact our private dining and event coordinator at 303-228-2131.
  • Private party contact
    Jessica Tremblay: (303) 228-2131
  • Location
    1100 Fourteenth Street, Denver, CO 80202
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown / LoDo
  • Cross street
    14th and Arapahoe Street
  • Parking details
    Discounted valet for Nickel guests.
  • Public transit
    Travel by Denver's convenient RTD Lightrail and take the H or D line to the 'Theatre District - Convention Center' stop. From there, walk three blocks North, past the Performing Arts Center to our entrance on the West side of 14th Street, between Arapahoe & Lawrence streets.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

FAQs

The Nickel’s weekend brunch (Saturday and Sunday, 7:00 am–2:00 pm) is a guest favorite, many diners visit for pre-theater brunch and special occasions.

Guests often praise the Nickel burger and fries as generously sized, and the Nickel Salad is frequently described as a generous, shareable portion.

Yes, The Nickel is often recommended for a special evening, with a quiet, conversation-friendly dining room and multiple guests calling it a great option for special dinners before the theater.

The Nickel sits in Denver’s historic Tramway Building with high, airy ceilings and big windows, offering a bright, period‑perfect dining room that many guests enjoy as a warm pre‑theatre spot; some evenings feature live music.

The Nickel lists its dress code as Casual Dress, comfortable, neat attire is perfectly appropriate and nothing formal is required.

The Nickel is a perfect pre‑theatre spot, plan an earlier dinner around 5–6pm when you can enjoy a relaxed meal before shows; guests report the room fills with pre‑show diners (about 5:30–7:15) and quiets after curtain. Weekend brunch (Saturday–Sunday, 7:00 am–2:00 pm) is also a popular choice for matinees and opera mornings.

Yes, The Nickel runs a bar-focused Happy Hour Tuesday–Friday from 4–6pm with small bites and drink deals, and theatre patrons can get a discounted valet rate when they show their tickets.

The Nickel has a main dining room plus a full bar/cocktail lounge (the Library) where guests often sit for drinks and Happy Hour; bar seating and the restaurant’s oval tables are commonly mentioned by visitors.

Yes, families dine here regularly and guests praise family‑friendly brunches and Mother’s Day meals, though one guest notes there isn’t a dedicated kids menu on site.

The Nickel’s burger, listed on the menu as the short‑rib burger with fries, is a recurring favorite, with multiple guests praising the burger and fries.

Yes, The Nickel accepts private parties, so you can book group or special events there.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Denver / Colorado
  4. Denver
  5. Downtown / LoDo

Make a reservation

A photo of The Nickel restaurant

The Nickel

4.3
$30 and under
Contemporary American
Downtown / LoDo

Make a reservation

2 people
11:30 PM
Booked 11 times today
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