Who has the best cheeseburgers in Denver – Here’s the top 10

In a city that may have literally invented the cheeseburger (a stone marker on Speer Boulevard commemorates the claim) Denver takes its patties seriously. From 81-year-old dive bars to Wagyu smashburger upstarts, the Front Range is stacked with spots worth loosening your belt for.

We combed current Yelp and TripAdvisor ratings, reader reviews and local food coverage to build this list of 10 cheeseburgers that deserve a spot on every Coloradan’s bucket list.

1. Cherry Cricket — Cherry Creek (plus downtown, Littleton and Broomfield)

No Denver burger list is complete without the Cricket. Open since 1945, the original Cherry Creek location still glows under its vintage neon marquee, and owner Lee Driscoll credits “fairy dust” for its staying power. The concept is build-your-own: start with a quarter- or half-pound patty and choose from roughly 40 toppings, including roasted green chiles and herbed cream cheese. The Cricket Royale — Swiss, caramelized onions, crispy onion strings, roasted garlic and onion jam, and garlic aioli on a pretzel bun, is a fan favorite. Don’t skip the house green chili, recently named Colorado’s best by Chowhound. 4.3 stars, 1,152 reviews on TripAdvisor; top-rated on Yelp.

2. 5280 Burger Bar — 16th Street Mall (plus additional locations)

Named for the Mile High City’s famous elevation, 5280 uses 100% Colorado Black Angus beef on house-made buns with scratch-made sauces. The namesake 5280 burger, American cheese, shredded lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickle and house 5280 sauce — is the go-to, but regulars swear by the Texican (red chili, sharp cheddar, diced onions and Fritos) and the green chile cup on the side. An attached ice cream shop churns fresh flavors daily. 4.1 stars with 2,100-plus reviews on Yelp; 4.3 stars, 952 reviews on TripAdvisor.

3. NADC Burger — RiNo

The newcomer with the biggest buzz. NADC, short for “Not a Damn Chance,” as in you’d never expect a $20 smashburger to be worth it, was born from a collaboration between Michelin-starred chef Phillip Frankland Lee and professional skateboarder Neen Williams. The patties are 100% Wagyu, hit with a signature steak-style seasoning and seared to a freakishly juicy crust. One YouTube reviewer scored the taste 8.9 out of 10 and called it “the juiciest smash burger I’ve ever had.” It’s polarizing on price, but nobody argues the flavor. 4.2 stars, 178 reviews on Yelp.

4. Hopdoddy Burger Bar — LoDo (plus Cherry Creek)

This Austin-born chain wins over locals by baking its own buns in-house multiple times a day and sourcing quality beef. The Classic Cheeseburger with Tillamook cheddar and Doddy Mayo is a reliable hit, and the Wagyu Smash, double Wagyu patties, shaved onions, pickled jalapeños and secret sauce, keeps things interesting. The parmesan truffle fries are practically mandatory. Multiple locations; consistently top-five for Denver burgers on Yelp.

5. Park Burger — South Pearl Street (plus Hilltop and RiNo)

A casual, family-friendly neighborhood joint, Park Burger has racked up awards with never-frozen patties on freshly baked artisan buns. The Bourbon Bacon Jam burger and the Gochujang burger both draw raves, and the Fun Guy (mushroom lovers, take note) is a sleeper hit. Pair it with a local craft beer on the sunny South Pearl patio. Note: the Highland location closed in July 2026, but three spots remain. 4.5 stars, 250 reviews on TripAdvisor; 4.1 stars with 991 reviews on Yelp.

6. My Brother’s Bar — Platte Street

Denver’s oldest continuously operating bar has been pouring since 1873, older than Colorado statehood itself. There’s no sign on the building, which only adds to the mystique. The burgers arrive wrapped in paper with a caddy of classic fixings, and the no-frills approach is the whole point. Order a cheeseburger, grab a seat on the tree-shaded patio, and soak in 153 years of history. 4.3 stars on TripAdvisor; a perennial “Best Bar” and “Best Burger” pick in Westword’s Best of Denver.

7. Sam’s No. 3 — Downtown (Curtis Street)

A Denver diner institution and a “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” alum, Sam’s No. 3 is famous for towering, made-to-order burgers and its signature Kickin’ Green Pork Chili, which gets ladled on everything. The can’t-miss order is the Red No. 3 Chiliburger, smothered in house beef red chili. If you’re feeling ambitious, tackle the Monster Burger, piled with mushrooms, bacon and melted Jack. 4.4 stars, 3,210 reviews on TripAdvisor; featured on Food Network.

8. Snarfburger — Capitol Hill, Denver (plus Boulder)

When sandwich king Jimmy “Snarf” Seidel turned his attention to the griddle in 2013, Boulder fell in love. The Denver outpost on 11th Avenue followed, and it promptly won Westword’s Best Hamburger and Best French Fries in 2020 and 2021, plus the Denver Burger Battle Judges’ Choice in 2021 and 2023. It’s a retro throwback shack: a single starts at $5.95, the giardiniera hot peppers are the secret weapon, and the onion rings are the stuff of late-night legend. A top pick for cheap burgers on Yelp.

9. Little Wolf / Flip & Howl Burger Kitchen — Berkeley

The newest entry on this list, Little Wolf is a walk-in whiskey bar and neighborhood hangout on Lowell Boulevard that launched its Flip & Howl Burger Kitchen in early 2026. The cold-smoked burgers are scratch-made, the whiskey list is deep, and the Berkeley vibe is effortlessly cool. With a 4.9-star rating on Yelp (albeit with a still-growing review count), this one is a rising star worth getting to before the secret’s fully out. Open seven days; happy hour weekdays 3-6 p.m.

10. Crown Burgers — South Colorado Boulevard

An old-school counter joint that has quietly amassed more than 430 Yelp reviews and 3,600-plus on Birdeye, Crown Burgers specializes in the kind of unpretentious, smash-it-on-the-flattop cooking that made American burger culture great. The pastrami burger, a nod to the owners’ roots, is the signature, and the breakfast burritos smothered in green chili are a bonus reason to visit early. Closed Sundays, so plan accordingly. Consistently rated among Denver’s best old-school and budget burgers on Yelp.

Ratings and review counts sourced from Yelp and TripAdvisor as of September 2026. Hours, menus and prices are subject to change; check each restaurant’s website before visiting.