Denver RiNo Food Tour: Street Art, Tacos & Local Tastings

Summary

Denver street art meets bold bites on this RiNo food walk

You’ll jump right into Denver’s RiNo Arts District with tacos at Los Chingones, taste fresh ricotta gnocchi at Denver Central Market, share laughs over giant pretzels and beer cheese at Bierstadt Lagerhaus, grab a foldable NY-style slice at Redeemer Pizza, and finish with inventive ice cream flavors. This tour is full of color—on your plate and on every wall around you.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the way the murals in Denver’s RiNo Arts District almost spill onto the sidewalk — like someone couldn’t help themselves and just kept painting. We met our guide right outside Los Chingones, where the air smelled like grilled tortillas and something spicy I couldn’t quite place. He joked about “face-melting salsa” before we even sat down (I tried it; my mouth went numb for a second). The pork belly taco was messy in that good way, dripping a bit onto my hand while we laughed about our favorite taco spots back home. It felt like everyone loosened up after that first bite.

We wandered past more graffiti than I could count — honestly, I stopped trying. Our guide pointed out a mural of a woman with blue hair and told us about how artists swap walls every few months here. At Denver Central Market, the noise level jumped up: clatter from butchers, someone yelling “behind!” near the bakery, coffee grinders going nonstop. We squeezed into Vero for ricotta gnocchi — lighter than any pasta I’ve had, pillowy and just browned on one side. I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. There was this moment where the group fell quiet except for forks scraping plates.

I’m still thinking about that pretzel at Bierstadt Lagerhaus — chewy outside, soft inside, dunked in beer cheese that tasted sharp and somehow sweet at once. The slow pour pils took forever (our guide said it’s “worth the wait,” and he wasn’t lying), but watching the foam settle felt almost meditative after so much walking. We passed Sacred Heart Church on the way to Redeemer Pizza; our guide paused to tell us how it’s been there since 1890 serving Irish and Mexican families long before RiNo got trendy. Something about that stuck with me.

Redeemer’s pizza slice was huge — you have to fold it or risk losing half your toppings (I learned that fast). The crust had this smoky char that made me wish they sold whole pies to go. By the time we reached High Point Creamery for ice cream (mine was basil blackberry swirl), my feet were tired but my brain was buzzing from all the flavors and stories packed into three hours. Walking back through those painted alleys as the sun started dipping low… yeah, I’d do this food tour again just for that feeling alone.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore RiNo Arts District food and art

• Meet guide at Los Chingones
• Taste inventive tacos at Los Chingones
• Walk through RiNo Arts District murals
• Visit Redeemer Pizza for specialty slices
• Stop at Sacred Heart Catholic Church exterior
• Enjoy ricotta gnocchi at Denver Central Market
• Sample Bavarian pretzels and beer at Bierstadt Lagerhaus
• End with seasonal ice cream at High Point Creamery

Top questions

How long is the Denver RiNo food tour?

The tour lasts about three hours from start to finish.

Where does the RiNo food tour start?

The tour begins at Los Chingones in Denver’s RiNo Arts District.

Are vegetarian options available on this food tour?

Yes, vegetarian options are available at most stops.

Is hotel pickup included?

No, but public transportation options are nearby and infants can ride in strollers.

Does the tour include alcoholic drinks?

You can add alcoholic drink pairings for an extra fee; minimum drinking age is 21 with ID.

What foods are included on the Denver RiNo Arts District Food Tour?

You’ll try tacos, ricotta gnocchi, NY-style pizza slices, Bavarian pretzels with beer cheese, and seasonal ice cream.

Is this food tour suitable for gluten-free or dairy-free diets?

No, it isn’t recommended for guests who need gluten-free or dairy-free meals.

Will we see street art during the tour?

Yes, you’ll walk through areas filled with murals and graffiti between tasting stops.

What’s included

Your day includes all tastings—starting with freshly-baked kouign-amann from an award-winning bakery (sometimes swapped), housemade German pretzel with mustard and beer cheese at Bierstadt Lagerhaus, adobo chicken taco at Los Chingones with guajillo ranch and Takis crunch, pillowy ricotta gnocchi at Vero in Denver Central Market, a specialty New York pizza slice from Redeemer Pizza plus inventive seasonal ice cream to finish—so come hungry!