New Denizen a publishing project and community for people passionate about local restaurants, food, and dining culture.
For anyone who loves to explore a city by way of fork and knife and has a passion for finding secret, unforgettable spots when traveling, we’re here to help. We’re committed to bringing you stories about food you won’t see anywhere else.
No matter whether you’re a traveler, transplant, or a long-time resident of the Mile High City, we’ll introduce you to all the eateries (from snack bars to fine dining restaurants) that are worth your time and money and reliably deliver a memorable meal with every visit.
Be the hero to your friends, family, or out-of-town guests by using my recommended itineraries highlighting the best of what Denver locals like to do on their days off.
If you’re over anonymous, crowd-sourced review sites or outlets that are more concerned with getting you to click a link than they are with building and strengthening our community, we are here for you. If you enjoy personal, honest opinions and recommendations on how to best spend your time in and around the capital of Colorado, paired with 100% original photography, then you’re in the right place.
For the latest takes on Denver food and culture, follow us on Instagram @newdenizen
Why New Denizen?
A lot of people ask the meaning behind name New Denizen. It’s a bit of a play on words:
New: A tip of the hat to our home state of New York and because we’re “new” to Denver.
Denizen: “Denizen” is a word that can mean inhabitant or one that frequents a place.
So many people in Denver come from someplace else, and in some ways is pretty representative of how America works. Unless your family lineage extends to the Native people of the Americas, somewhere down the line, your family moved from someplace else to be here. In a sense, most of us are New Denizens, trying to create a sense of home and belonging in the place where we live.
Join the discussion on our FB Group, “I Moved to Denver”
All from a New Yorker’s perspective.
Before I became a Denverite, I was a born and bred New Yorker who grew up with the best of the food, culture, art, and entertainment worlds at my doorstep.
But as many Manhattanites will tell you, access to all that exciting stuff comes at a personal cost: Tiny apartments. High-stress work environments. And eventually, an overwhelming lack of energy and financial resources to actually go out and enjoy all the things the city has to offer.
Over time, and with a little bit of prodding, I decided to leave New York and start a new chapter of her life out West — getting on a plane from JFK to Denver International Airport and never looking back.
Uncovering the best of Denver through countless hours of eating and exploring.
Everyone has to eat, but if you’re like me, you want more than just sustenance. You’re looking for food establishments that fit your budget, fulfill your cravings, and deliver a memorable experience.
That’s why when I moved to Denver she made it her mission to deep dive into the emerging food scene, and find the best food the city has to offer.
I knew that this place — which had so quickly won me over with its beauty and independent spirit — must have chefs and restaurants worth bragging about.
Traveling with a food and culture mindset.
Denver is my home base, but traveling gives me a lot of joy and it’s what I like to do when we’re not working. When exploring a new place, I use food as a way to experience the culture. I try to learn about interesting places to eat through careful pre-trip research as well as of-the-moment recommendations I get from locals while on the ground.
I hunt for the exceptional neighborhoods, shops, and experiences that are completely unique to the region because we believe when you tap into the creative spirit of a place, you better understand the values, hopes, and challenges of the people that live there.
New Denizen travel guides take you along for the ride, giving you my honest opinion of the best things we have found to eat/see/do in the places we’ve visited, which you can use to enhance your own travel experiences.
A little bit about us
Established 2016
Founder & Editor: Laura
I’m a NOLS graduate. I’m learning Japanese (slowly…very slowly!) and listening to BTS (s’up, ARMY?).
This project and my FB Group “I Moved to Denver” were featured in the New York Times!
Before starting this project, I ran an award-winning music blog called The Modern Age and was featured in Lizzy Goodman’s book, Meet Me in the Bathroom, an oral history of the rebirth of rock ‘n’ roll in New York City between 2001-2011.
I’ve been to 29 countries and territories and I hope to keep adding to that list.
If you’d like to read more about how I decide what restaurants and products to cover on my site, read my Food Influencer Code of Ethics blog post.
If we’re kindred spirits, please reach out to me so we can be friends! 😉
Instagram: @newdenizen
Feedback or partnership/collaboration inquiries: newdenizenblog @ gmail.com
Affiliate links
By clicking on the links below I receive a discount or commission on products purchased via these links.
Moo business cards – Even their standard options are stunning. I always use this service for my blog business cards.