Hi, I’m Laura. I’m helping you discover the coolest food and experiences in Denver, Colorado and beyond.
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, I’m here to help.
No matter whether you’ve just landed in the Mile High City yesterday or have lived here your whole life, I’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 and are looking for personal, honest recommendations on how to best spend your time in and around the capital of Colorado, paired with striking original food and travel photography, then you’re in the right place.
For my latest takes on Denver living, follow me on Instagram @newdenizen
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 my life out West.
At the start of 2016, I got on a plane from JFK to Denver International Airport and never looked back.
Join the discussion on my FB Group, “I Moved to Denver”
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 I made it my 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.
And I was right.
Traveling with a food and culture mindset.
Denver is my current home base, but traveling gives me a lot of joy and it’s what I like to do when I’m not working. When exploring a new place, I use food as a way to experience the culture. I find 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 I 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.
My travel guides take you along for the ride, giving you my honest opinion of the best things I have found to eat/see/do in the places I’ve visited, which you can use to enhance your own travel experiences.
Why New Denizen?
A lot of people ask the meaning behind the blog name New Denizen. It’s a bit of a play on words:
New: Is a tip of the hat to my home state of New York and because I’m new to Denver.
Denizen: “Denizen” is a word that can mean inhabitant or one that frequents a place.
I chose it because my Instagram and blog documents where I’m currently a denizen (living/visiting) and is also a play on words with DEN, the airport call sign for Denver.
A little bit about me
I’m a NOLS graduate and a yoga enthusiast. My hold-over Covid-19 pandemic projects are learning Japanese (slowly…very slowly!) and listening to BTS (s’up, ARMY?).
This blog and my FB Group “I Moved to Denver” were featured in the New York Times!
Before becoming a food and travel blogger, 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
Yelp: NewDenizen
Zomato: NewDenizen
Feedback or partnership/collaboration inquiries: newdenizenblog @ gmail.com
Affiliate links
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Moo business cards – Even their standard options are stunning. I always use this service for my blog business cards.