Denver: LoDo Food Tour with Sausage, Pizza & Secret Dish

4.92

(141 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

You know that feeling when you’re not sure if you’re hungry or just curious? That’s how I felt stepping onto the sidewalk in Denver’s Ballpark District. There was this faint smell—kind of smoky and warm, even though it was barely noon. Our guide, Jamie, waved us over with a grin and handed out these little plates of elk sausage. I’d never tried elk before (and honestly thought it’d be gamey), but it was just… rich and peppery, almost sweet at the end. Jamie said Anthony Bourdain loved this place. I believed her.

Walking through Lower Downtown—LoDo—felt like time skipping around. One minute we were outside an old bordello (Jamie had stories about Jennie Rogers that made us laugh), the next we were ducking into a pizza spot where they served a slice inspired by a cheeseburger. It sounded weird but tasted familiar in the best way. The crust was crisp and chewy at the same time. Somewhere between stops, someone asked about green chili and suddenly we were dipping bread into this spicy stew—tangy, hot enough to make my nose run a little. Nobody minded.

I kept noticing little things: the clatter from Union Station spilling out as we passed; a breeze that carried coffee smells from somewhere I couldn’t quite find; locals waving to each other across the street like everyone knew everyone else here. Jamie pointed out the Oxford Hotel—she said it’s the oldest in Denver—and I tried to imagine what it must’ve looked like back when travelers arrived by train instead of Uber.

The last stop was hush-hush—a “secret dish” Jamie called it—and I won’t spoil it except to say I still think about that first bite. Sweet but earthy, soft inside with a bit of crunch on top. We ended up sitting on some steps outside, licking sugar off our fingers and talking about nothing important for a while. Sometimes tours feel rushed or rehearsed; this one didn’t. Maybe it was just the right mix of food and old stories—or maybe it was Denver itself.