The Nickel

4.3 (1339)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

1100 Fourteenth Street, Denver, CO 80202

Make a booking

The Nickel

4.3

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Downtown / LoDo

Make a booking

2 people

20 Sept 2026

19:00

Booked 10 times today

About this restaurant

Good for business meals
Great for creative cocktails
Neighbourhood gem

Located within Denver’s historic Tramway Building, originally opened in 1911, The Nickel pays homage to the space that was once used to collect fare from customers riding its resident streetcars: a nickel. Just as the building in which The Nickel is housed has a storied past, the dishes found on the menu at The Nickel all have a story. We proudly serve menus that incorporate the highest quality ingredients from farmers, ranchers, distillers and craft producers, and is comprised of dishes that are easily recognizable and feel simple, but eat complex.

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Elegant Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Contemporary American, Cocktail Bar, Farm-to-table
Hours of Operation
Brunch Daily 07:00–14:00 Dinner Daily 16:00–22:00
Phone number
208892128
Website
https://www.thenickeldenver.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Cash not accepted, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress Code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Chef Franco Ruiz
Private party facilities
Enjoy a dining experience unlike the rest in the heart of Downtown Denver’s Theatre District, with menus that incorporate the highest quality ingredients. We have a wide selection of spaces for private dining and celebrations. Please contact our private dining and event coordinator at 303-228-2131.
Private party contact
Jessica Tremblay: (303) 228-2131

Location
1100 Fourteenth Street, Denver, CO 80202
Area
Downtown / LoDo
Cross street
14th and Arapahoe Street
Parking Details
Discounted valet for Nickel guests.
Public transport
Travel by Denver's convenient RTD Lightrail and take the H or D line to the 'Theatre District - Convention Center' stop. From there, walk three blocks North, past the Performing Arts Center to our entrance on the West side of 14th Street, between Arapahoe & Lawrence streets.
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeaway, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Private dining

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at The Nickel.

4.3

(1339)

4.3Food
4.5Service
4.4Ambience
4.0Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Denver
Contemporary American

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

The Nickel offers a cozy atmosphere and prime location near the Performing Arts Center, making it ideal for pre-show dining. The "food is phenomenal" with standout dishes like steak and airline chicken. Service is generally friendly, with "outstanding" servers like Rachel enhancing the experience. Despite a limited menu, quality remains consistent.

1,339 Reviews

N
Nancy Gold
Denver / Colorado97 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The Nickel is a wonderful place to have dinner before heading over to DCPA. The menu is limited which makes it so easy to select items. Our server, Rachel, was attentive and made sure we understood about the menu. She helped us with our drink selections and explained the appetizers. We let her know we were attending a show, so she watched to make sure we were served with plenty of time to head out. This restaurant filled up with people and we watched as the staff made everyone feel like they were the only ones there. There was music playing, but it was in the background and perfect. This was our first time and I know we will be back again.
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l
larry Gold
New York City91 reviews
4.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Good brunch. Location is great for pre-theatre lunch or dinner. We go there often when in town.
The NickelResponded 4 days ago
Larry, thank you for the great review! We’re so glad you enjoyed brunch and continue to choose The Nickel when you’re in town. We truly appreciate your continued support and look forward to welcoming you back again soon!
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A
Addison
Orange County2 reviews
2.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
Honestly nothing here was worth the price tag. There's better places on the same block. I'm not sure if the chef had an off night or what but I won't be trying them again. Empty on a weekend night should have been my first clue.
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A
Anne Gold
Denver / Colorado10 reviews
1.0
Dined on 11 September 2026
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
What a disappointment. I have eaten at The Nickel MANY times and the 4 meals served at a Friday pre-concert meal were all unacceptable. Fish was off tasting, duck confit bore no resemblance to any recipe I’ve seen, tasted or made and the chicken was so tough it was hard to cut. The food used to be excellent - what has happened?
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*
**Mary Gold
Denver / Colorado3 reviews
3.0
Dined on 9 September 2026
1. Overall 3
2. Food 2
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 3
The airline chicken was dry and the green beans inedible, but the presentation was gorgeous and the crispy polenta and corn were good. The burger was quite good, and huge. The server was nice but SO busy that he didn’t check in with us until the end. The atmosphere was nice and the chairs and booth seating were quite comfortable.
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B
Bethann Gold
New York City1 review
3.0
Dined on 8 September 2026
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
Great location. It could be so much better than it was
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M
Mark Gold
Denver / Colorado42 reviews
5.0
Dined on 6 September 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Super job by Rachel and staff. Steaks cooked perfectly. Love the charcuterie board
The NickelResponded on 8 September 2026
Mark, thank you for the 5-star review! We’re so glad you enjoyed the steaks and charcuterie. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with Rachel and the team. Hope to see you again soon The Nickel Team
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A
Andrew Gold
Denver / Colorado90 reviews
4.0
Dined on 23 August 2026
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Simple limited menu doesn't change much. Good quality.
The NickelResponded on 8 September 2026
Andrew, thank you for the great review! We’re glad you enjoyed your experience and appreciated the quality of our food and service. We truly appreciate the recommendation and hope to welcome you back again soon!
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C
Cheryl Gold
Denver / Colorado60 reviews
4.0
Dined on 21 August 2026
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The Nickel has been our go-to restaurant before a show at The Buell Theater for the last six years. Although the menu is small, the choices are all delicious and always prepared well. This visit I had the Airline Chicken for the first time. My husband has spoken highly of it. It was flavorfull and moist with lovely accompaniments. The one misstep was "hushpuppies" - our friendly waiter, Dusty, let us know there was only one. We assumed it would be larger, like a crabcake. Nope - It was one golfball sized, delicious crab hushpuppy, but for $15. The appetizer is misnamed as plural and very expensive for one. Lesson learned. Turning back to the positive, we were celebrating a birthday and were treated to glasses of prosecco as well as a dessert. Our waiter, Dusty, was great. A young lady was performing quietly near the entrance and added a sweet atmosphere to the evening. The other staff we interacted with were also friendly and pleasant. The Nickel will continue to be our restaurant of choice before a show, or for brunch with friends.
The NickelResponded on 8 September 2026
Cheryl, thank you so much for the wonderful review and for making The Nickel your go-to before a show for the past six years! We’re so happy you enjoyed the Airline Chicken and had such a great experience with Dusty and the team. We also appreciate your feedback on the crab hushpuppy and will certainly take it into consideration. We’re thrilled you continue to choose us for both pre-show dinners and brunch, and we look forward to welcoming you back again soon!
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S
Shelley Gold
Denver / Colorado10 reviews
5.0
Dined on 20 August 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Dusty did a great job waiting on us. We loved all the food we ordered. We had the charcuterie, Nickel Salad, deviled eggs, hush puppy and mozzarella.
The NickelResponded on 5 September 2026
Hey Shelley, Thank you for your kind review. We’re so glad to hear you enjoyed your meal and had a great experience with Dusty. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with him. We truly appreciate you dining with us and hope to welcome you back again soon. The Nickel Team
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Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Elegant Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Contemporary American, Cocktail Bar, Farm-to-table
Hours of Operation
Brunch Daily 07:00–14:00 Dinner Daily 16:00–22:00
Phone number
208892128
Website
https://www.thenickeldenver.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Cash not accepted, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress Code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Chef Franco Ruiz
Private party facilities
Enjoy a dining experience unlike the rest in the heart of Downtown Denver’s Theatre District, with menus that incorporate the highest quality ingredients. We have a wide selection of spaces for private dining and celebrations. Please contact our private dining and event coordinator at 303-228-2131.
Private party contact
Jessica Tremblay: (303) 228-2131

Location
1100 Fourteenth Street, Denver, CO 80202
Area
Downtown / LoDo
Cross street
14th and Arapahoe Street
Parking Details
Discounted valet for Nickel guests.
Public transport
Travel by Denver's convenient RTD Lightrail and take the H or D line to the 'Theatre District - Convention Center' stop. From there, walk three blocks North, past the Performing Arts Center to our entrance on the West side of 14th Street, between Arapahoe & Lawrence streets.
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeaway, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Make a booking

The Nickel

4.3

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Downtown / LoDo

Make a booking

2 people

20 Sept 2026

19:00

Booked 10 times today

The Nickel

Make a booking

The Nickel

Make a booking

About this restaurant

Dining areas

Additional information

Private dining

Barrel Bar

The Wine Cellar

The Study

Custom enquiry

Concierge
AI Beta

Menu

Reviews

Loved For

Review summary

Dining areas

Additional information

Make a booking

The Nickel

Make a booking