Denver has been gaining international recognition for its great dining, with many local chefs winning awards as they search for innovative ways to combine regional foods with exotic flavors. Local food aficionados already know where the best tables are found, and now travelers are flocking to Denver to discover for themselves what all the buzz is about! Whether it’s the Highland District’s LoDo or Federal Street for its inexpensive ethnic eateries, Denver has something for every taste bud. Here are three favorite hot spots in the city for trendy dining in Denver:

Zengo Restaurant

Owner and chef, Richard Sandoval, has created a glowing atmosphere in which to enjoy the exotic Latin-Asian combinations he dreams up in his creative kitchen. Winner of Bon Appetit’s Restaurateur of the Year and Mexico’s Toque d’Oro, Sandoval creates dishes that ignite the senses and excite the palette. His expansive wine list harmonizes with the many dishes on the menu, including ceviche, sushi rolls, dim sum, soups, salads, and larger platters such as cedar roasted salmon. Come early to enjoy a cocktail at the bar during happy hour.

The Ninth Door

One of Denver’s sexiest restaurants, The Ninth Door gets its name from the number nine carved into a favorite expat bar in a tiny village on the Spanish coast. Chef Kevin Marquet creates a cornucopia of Spanish tapas along with succulent daily specials. In the heart of LoDo this restaurant is ideal for enjoying a great wine with dinner or a well-mixed cocktail in the lounge.

Fruition

Winning the Diner’s Choice Award in 2009, this neighborhood restaurant in Denver’s historic district offers comfort food of the highest quality. Chef Alex Sidel uses exquisite ingredients in combinations that have your mouth watering the instant you begin reading the menu. With a great wine list, excellent service, and affordable prices, you can enjoy such masterpieces as Tender Belly Farms grilled pork chops with sweet corn and goat cheese pancakes, pan roasted diver scallops with marinated crispy clams, and many vegetarian dishes.

There are many more trend-setting locales in Denver, adding to the city’s new mystique as it becomes a gourmet’s destination. From the home grown to the exotic, Denver’s restaurants are some of the best attractions around!