74 APRIL 4-10, 2024 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC & VENUES | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SHOPPING & SERVICES | CONTENTS | 303-831-7788 760 E Colfax Ave Denver, CO, 80203 www.argonautliquor.com Download our app and receive free delivery on your first order. needed to become confi dent leaders not just at work, but at home and in the com- munity. In 2022, it added a second location in Globeville, increasing its ability to sup- port young adults. Both shops are inviting spaces to visit — and that cup of coffee will taste even better knowing you’re support- ing a bigger mission. Best Coffee Shop and Bar Combo Queens Eleven 3603 Walnut Street 720-583-1143 queenseleven.com With the early-morning hours of a coffee shop and late-night hours of a bar, Queens Eleven is a tucked-away treasure in RiNo. It’s located on the main fl oor of a high-rise inside a new build on a busy block, so the entrance to the quaint cafe is easy to miss. Stepping in off the street feels like walk- ing through Alice’s looking glass and into a shop that gives off dark, speakeasy vibes. The daytime menu is simple and straight- forward — Strava coffee drinks, Dis Burri- tos, pastries from Rebel Bread, and grilled cheese sandwiches that pair well with the cocktail menu. An $8 happy hour espresso martini bridges the gap between daytime work sessions and evening conversations and cocktails, and Queens Eleven delivers on both fronts. Best Gluten-Free Pastries Rivers and Roads Coffee 2539 Bruce Randolph Avenue 303-321-3052 2960 Champa Street 303-343-3084 riversandroadscoffee.com Finding gluten-free sweets in the Mile High City can be a hassle, especially for those with a serious intolerance. Rivers and Roads Coffee is a fully gluten-free facility, whipping up treats that are safe for all. The shop rotates a wide range of pastries, from scones and biscuits to muffi ns and cook- ies in fl avors like peanut butter chocolate, orange cranberry and vanilla latte. If you want to try gluten-free baking at home, mixes for muffi ns, cornbread, brownies and more are available for purchase. The Rivers and Roads website also lists recipes that utilize the shop’s baking mixes to cre- ate a variety of treats. Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Port Side 2500 Larimer Street portsidedenver.com Port Side is a breakfast and coffee haven in the shipping containers that also house Topo Designs and Cart-Driver in RiNo. Since opening in 2016, it’s drawn fans for its coffee program, rotating breakfast sandwiches and Instagram-worthy vegan avocado toast. But the breakout star is the dark chocolate sea salt cookie. This sweet treat somehow always tastes fresh from the oven, with a melty, gooey center and a perfect crisp around the edges. Is it the high-quality ingredients, the technique, or the perfect dash of coarse sea salt that makes these our favorite? We don’t know, but we’ll keep eating them until we’ve cracked the code. Best Specialty Coffee Drink Moonfl ower Coffee 4200 West Colfax Avenue moonfl owercoffee.co This coffee cart that recently moved into a permanent home at Full Tank Food Park serves a latte that’s far superior to the typi- cal mocha, vanilla or lavender varieties. Ube is a root vegetable that originated in the Philippines and is popular in Southeast Asia. Moonfl ower co-owner Sam Salomon is of Filipino descent and has long been fa- miliar with ube’s many uses. When used in a latte, which is available here hot or iced, it imparts a bright-purple hue and a natural sweetness, with earthy, nutty, vanilla-like notes that pair perfectly with acidic coffee and creamy milk. Best International Cafe Padoca Brazilian Bakery & Market 950A Jersey Street 720-520-0074 instagram.com/padocag When Paula Lowery moved to Denver, it was hard to fi nd a taste of home in the metro area, so she decided to start a busi- ness that specializes in dishes that remind her of her native Brazil. She named her col- orful, cozy Mayfair cafe after the padocas (neighborhood bakeries) she longed for, and now serves traditional eats like pão de queijo (cheese bread), coxinha (chicken croquettes) and a variety of sobremesas (desserts). In addition to the baked goods and coffee drinks made with beans from São Paulo, visitors to Padoca will also fi nd hearty dishes such as feijoada, a traditional dish with black beans, and plenty of take- away options. Best Indian Calzone in a Coffee Shop Lil Coffea Shop 300 East 6th Avenue 720-519-1279 2450 South Downing Street 303-733-4496 lilcoffeashop.com Food and Drink continued from page 72 continued on page 76
