Jake FosterWhen you need a delicious break from your favorite Indian restaurant or usual Japanese restaurant, nothing satisfies quite like sensory-driven European fare.
Finding the absolute best French restaurant in Denver for buttery baguettes and rich onion soup requires knowing exactly where to look.
I’ve explored the city’s hidden culinary gems to bring you the ultimate dining guide for your next romantic date or casual weekend crepe.
How much does French food cost in Denver?
Prices for French cuisine in Denver generally span from $10 for a quick morning pastry to well over $100 per person for an upscale fine dining experience paired with wine.
| Dining Category | Average Price Per Person | Typical Menu Offerings |
| French Bakeries & Cafes (Casual) | $10 – $25 | Croissants, quiches, coffees, casual lunches |
| Bistros & Brasseries (Moderate) | $35 – $65 | Mussels, steak frites, escargot, wine by the glass |
| Fine Dining & Modern French | $60 – $100+ | Tasting menus, upscale à la carte, and reserve wine bottles |
1. La Merise French Bistro
Website: https://lamerisedenver.com/
Address: 2700 E 3rd Ave North
Contact: (720) 596-4360; [email protected]
Hours: Monday – Friday, 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Saturday – Sunday, 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Stepping off the busy Cherry Creek sidewalks, you’re immediately enveloped by an authentic, cozy atmosphere that perfectly captures a true Parisian bistro experience.
La Merise French Bistro features a massive selection of over 200 wines, meaning you will always find the exact flavor profile needed to complement their daily specials.
During the warmer summer months, you can enjoy your duck confit on a gorgeous garden patio that mimics a relaxed outdoor dining culture. I love that they keep their kitchen running consistently throughout the week.
However, you have to plan your afternoon cravings carefully. The restaurant completely shuts down its service between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM every day, leaving you entirely out of luck when you want a late-afternoon snack.
Delicious French Classics
Just had a great brunch with family at Le Merise! Food was delicious…escargot, French onion soup, chix liver pate… breakfast burger, croque madam, chix Florentino crepe, seafood crepe… everything was delicious. $19 bottomless mimosas!
- Patricia Van Regemorter | Google Review
Exquisite European Atmosphere
We had ginger parsnip soup ( very good quality for the price ) and escargot. As well as bottomless mimosas. The atmosphere was exquisite ( a French island in the heart of US). As a European myself I liked it and can recommend to others.
- Yana Siadzelnik | Google Review
2. Bistro Vendôme
Website: https://www.bistrovendome.com/
Address: 2267 Kearney St
Contact: (303) 825-3232; [email protected]
Hours: Sunday – Thursday, 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM; Friday – Saturday, 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM; Saturday – Sunday, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
If you’re hunting for a dining room dripping with history, Bistro Vendôme is a charming spot nestled in the residential Park Hill neighborhood that brings vibrant Parisian energy straight to Colorado.
The kitchen is led by a James Beard Award-winning chef, bringing undeniable culinary prestige to every plate that leaves the pass.
I recently grabbed a table here for brunch and was absolutely blown away by the rich, butter-soaked pain perdu. They also host an early happy hour, offering a highly curated selection of small bites and drinks.
Keep in mind that a mandatory 20% service charge is automatically added to every guest’s check. While this covers staff wages, it definitely altered my final menu price expectations and felt a bit surprising when I paid the bill.
Beautiful New Location
Love the new location of this iconic restaurant. Beautiful space, more open and hip, and the food is better than ever. Had the French Onion soup, Ott Provence Rose was suggested by my server; Beautiful and a great pairing with the sweetbreads. Service was great. Excellent experience!
- Roland Herrmann | Google Review
Phenomenal Dinner
We came here last Sunday for our anniversary and the whole staff signed a card for us. The food was phenomenal. We ordered chicken liver mousse for appetizer and it was silky and delicious. For entrees, we had duck a l’orange and pork sausage with champagne-poached pear and they were both fantastic! For desserts, we got caramel apple cheesecake and chocolate souffle and they were amazing!
3. Bon Ami
Website: https://bonamidenver.com/
Address: 295 S Pennsylvania St
Contact: (303) 862-4959; [email protected]
Hours: Monday – Friday, 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Saturday – Sunday, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Nothing satisfies a weekend craving quite like a hot, perfectly folded crepe. Bon Ami brilliantly fuses a traditional bistro with a dedicated creperie.
Every single savory crepe they serve is made using an inclusive buckwheat flour base, giving gluten-sensitive diners peace of mind.
They keep their doors open for full meal service every day of the week, anchored by an authentic happy hour culture focusing on traditional aperitifs. It’s a fantastic spot to grab weekend brunch with friends.
While the daily availability is incredibly convenient, I felt the pacing was slightly rushed during peak dining times. The staff strictly enforces a two-hour table limit for certain services, making leisurely, multi-hour dining sessions impossible here.
Consistently The Best
I grew up in Europe frequently eating French food so ever since we moved back to Denver I was looking for a good French restaurant. Bon Ami is consistently the best! Their Beef Bourguignon is my personal favorite. We also love their escargot, mussels (in the white sauce), duck and meatloaf. Can’t wait to go back and try their crepes!
- Natalia Patterson | Google Review
Perfect Onion Soup
If it was possible to sleep with soup, their French Onion soup would be it. Everything about their French Onion soup was the perfect end to our meal! We started it with Mussels à la Marinère, added Salmon Gravlax, and delicious lemon garlic broccolini! The baguettes were so tasty. Went during happy hour as well and enjoyed 50% a wine bottle. So good. The service was excellent. Not a kid friendly place!
- Jenn Pfankuch | Google Review
4. Le French – 9+CO
Website: https://www.lefrenchdenver.com/
Address: 846 Albion St
Contact: (720) 710-8963
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Friday, 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM; Saturday, 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM; Sunday, 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
For a truly distinctive culinary perspective, Le French – 9+CO is a gorgeous eatery that seamlessly blends European techniques with the vibrant, bold influences of the founders’ Senegalese roots.
Co-founder Rougui Dia brings serious credentials as the former Executive Chef of a world-renowned Parisian kitchen, elevating the dining experience far beyond standard neighborhood fare.
They even feature an integrated bakery on-site, serving handcrafted pastries alongside a formal afternoon tea service that you rarely see outside of massive luxury hotels.
Just don’t expect to grab a quick croissant on your way to work early in the week.
I was disappointed to find out that the restaurant doesn’t open its doors until 11:00 AM most weekdays, completely eliminating the chance for an early morning breakfast run.
Incredible Food And Service
This place was beautiful and the food was amazing. A friend and I visited the restaurant for lunch on Tuesday and we were incredibly satisfied with the service and the food. We were pleasantly surprised to have met the owner. She was so kind and polite. If we ever go back to Denver, this will surely be a stop on the itinerary.
The French onion soup was the best I’ve ever tasted. The escargot was better than what I had in Paris! Everything was delicious. From the food to the drinks.
- Raven Chapple | Google Review
Amazing Saturday Dinner
A group of 8 of us (from Arizona) visited this location for a Saturday night dinner. They were so accommodating to squeeze us in. I ordered the Escargot (delicious and buttery) and Moules Frites (fresh and amazing texture). The pear martini had the perfect balance of pear and lemon. It was delicious. I highly recommend that you have a meal here. You won’t regret it. The ambiance is incredible, and it’s a different experience than you’d be used to.
- MyKeshea | Google Review
5. Bistro Barbès
Website: https://bistrobarbes.com/
Address: 5021 E 28th Ave
Contact: (720) 398-8085; [email protected]
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM; Sunday – Monday, Closed
Tucked away quietly in the Park Hill neighborhood, Bistro Barbès is an incredible, intimate spot that draws its unique culinary inspiration directly from the multicultural Barbès district of Paris.
They operate on a micro-bistro scale, so the kitchen maintains tight, meticulous control over every dish. This reflects the chef’s personal vision and experiences cooking across Mediterranean-influenced neighborhoods.
When I finally snagged a reservation last month, the dynamic seasonal menu completely shifted my perspective on how North African spices can elevate classic buttery sauces.
Plus, because the dining room is intentionally small, the atmosphere feels intensely personal and deeply authentic.
However, the venue operates on a severely limited weekly schedule, making it incredibly frustrating to score a table for spontaneous dining. They only open for dinner a few nights a week.
Thoughtful Three-Course Menu
This small French restaurant is an absolute treasure. From the moment you walk in, the space feels calm, quiet, and intentional — the kind of place where you can actually hear your dining companion, slow down, and enjoy every bite.
The chef’s three-course menu is beautifully composed: thoughtful, balanced, and clearly crafted with care and confidence. Each course feels purposeful, and the wine pairings are gorgeous — perfectly matched, enhancing rather than overpowering the food.
- Alma M | Google Review
Intimate Dining Experience
Excellent dining experience that will long be remembered for its overall quality, ambiance, modesty, and artistic expression. Dinner was one of the most intimate and relaxing that I have ever encountered, with every course being extremely well prepared, expertly plated, and unbelievably delicious! Love this place!! Thank you Chef Jon!!!
- Ron D | Google Review
