Sunnyside: Denver history, tree-lined blocks, and delicious beer and food
One of my favorite parts of being a Realtor® is getting to know Denver’s many unique neighborhoods, and sharing that knowledge with my clients. So much of feeling at home in an area is finding your regular spots and knowing some neighborhood “secrets”! This is part of a monthly series highlighting some of my favorite Metro Denver neighborhoods – and featuring recommendations from the awesome folks who live there.
Sunnyside is in northwest Denver, between 38th Avenue, I-70, Federal, and Inca/the railroad. Sunnyside was formed in the 1850s as one of Denver’s original neighborhoods, along with Berkeley Lake, Potter Highlands, Sloan’s Lake, and West Highlands!
THE ‘HOOD
Sunnyside is heavily residential, with a true neighborhood feel, thanks to the quiet streets and big trees. The average sale price over the past 6 months for a detached home in all of Sunnyside is $558,805, and for attached, $613,405.
A Sunnyside Victorian.
THE STYLE
Sunnyside, as an older neighborhood, has many 1900s Victorian homes, with steep gabled roofs, original finishes like decorative trim and stained glass, and no shortage of charm. You’ll also see plenty of slightly younger bungalows as well as some brick ranches. As Sunnyside has grown in popularity, the number of newer builds (some detached homes and lots of townhomes) has also increased.
THE SPOTS
Parks: Columbus Park is a small, 1 square block park at the corner of 38th and Navajo, and the slightly bigger Ciancio Park is close by at 40th and Mariposa. Sunnyside has no shortage of greenery, though, with many residential blocks boasting big trees and cared-for yards.
Shops: David and Crystal highly recommend Cask and Craft (38th and Tejon) for great craft beer (don’t overlook the beer cave in back!), and incredible scotch collection, and friendly and knowledgeable staff.
Chris loves Martucci’s Barber Company (44th and Zuni) for its old school barbershop feel – the friendly, neighborhood vibe has made him a convert from cutting his own hair!
One of the more recent additions is Leevers Locavore (38th and Bryant), which opened in late 2019, filling the area need for a local grocery store featuring natural and specialty items.
Eats and Drinks: Start your Sunnyside day with some coffee – Melissa loves Pinwheel Coffee (just south of the Sunnyside line at 37th and Navajo) – run by Denver Montessori Junior/Senior High School and Compass Montessori School. Maggie and Dave like Huckleberry Roasters (43rd and Pecos) for its cute patio and the artistic touch it adds to the neighborhood.
Gaetano’s.
Sunnyside is full of amazing restaurants – from old school staples to newer arrivals, from fine dining to casual eats. On the old school side, so many folks that I talked to recommended Gaetano’s (38th and Tejon), a classic Italian family restaurant. Nearly everyone recommended their homemade meatballs; Maggie and Dave love their chicken parm and lasagna as well. Gaetano’s even has Sinatra nights where you can be serenaded at your table!
Laura highly recommends The Wolf’s Tailor (41st and Tejon) for the amazing combination of welcoming atmosphere, patient but not patronizing service, and crazy delicious food. Their menu features pasta, simple vegetable dishes, and a few seafood and meat plates with creative Japanese flavors. They also offer an omakase option – a chef’s choice menu – for $45 per person - if you want to leave your dining experience entirely in the chef’s hands.
For casual dining, Earnest Hall (44th and Federal) is one of David and Crystal’s favorite places to grab a slice of pizza and a drink, thanks to their friendly staff and lively atmosphere. For a real local tip, Laura recommends Chickee’s Lil’ Kitchen (44th and Zuni) as a special gem that you have to visit to understand… I’ve never been there, but I’m certainly curious now – and the breakfast burritos sound amazing. Sunnyside also has your ramen needs covered at Ramen Star (41st and Tejon) – the Umami Tonkotsu and Spicy Miso ramen, featuring their homemade noodles, come highly rated.
Tart Cherry Pale at Factotum.
Don’t forget about the beverages! One of my favorite Sunnyside spots is Factotum Brewhouse (38th and Lipan), owned and run by a brother and sister team who give homebrewers the opportunity to hone their craft and brew with them. Their Tart Cherry Pale (pictured here) is one of my all-time favorite beers, and the taproom is comfortable, inviting, and the perfect place to gather with friends (or make new ones). Diebolt Brewery (39th and Mariposa), one of Dave’s favorites, is another family-owned microbrewery, right around the corner from Factotum, serving French-inspired beers in a former meat-packing facility. Waldschanke Ciders + Coffee, a Swiss-inspired cidery (41st and Jason) has a truly incredible lineup of ciders, and if you are normally a beer drinker, it’s definitely worth switching it up and branching out here! These three beverage emporia make up the Sunnyside Taproom Bounce! As these business open back up, they have capacity restrictions – so if you visit one and they’re full, bounce over to one of the others!
Maggie’s favorite spot for margs is El Jefe (44th and Alcott) – and their food menu, inspired by the Mexican regions of Yucatán, Oaxaca, and Veracruz, is incredible as well.
A bacon flight!
For delicious brunch, head to The Universal (38th and Eliot), which has been slinging all kinds of grits, hashes, and more since 2012. David and Crystal appreciate the selection of unique dishes you might not find at other restaurants. Bacon Social House (44th and Alcott) does brunch too, with a decidedly bacon-forward approach (who would’ve guessed?), including a flight of porky goodness. I can personally attest that if you like bacon, this is an excellent choice.
For more of the history of Sunnyside, check out this resource from the neighbors association, SUNI: https://sunnysidedenver.org/community/history/.
Many thanks to my friends and clients who contributed all of their favorites to this list!