70 APRIL 6-12, 2023 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC & VENUES | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SHOPPING & SERVICES | CONTENTS | afternoon tea at the historic mansion-turned- bed-and-breakfast. For a price that truly feels like a steal, guests are treated to the archi- tectural wonders of the inn, as well as tea sandwiches, sweet treats and piping hot cups of whatever tea strikes their fancy. Best Place for Coffee and Ice Cream Eiskaffee 1100 Broadway 720-442-7500 eiskaffee.co This European-style cafe from the owners of ice cream favorite High Point Creamery opened inside the 11th Avenue Hostel in the summer of 2022. Eiskaffee works as either a coffee shop or an ice cream shop, but the best options are those that combine the two, like affogatos made with any fl avor (defi nitely try the Bavarian cream), shots of espresso served in chocolate-coated edible “cone” cups, and the namesake eiskaffee, a combination of coffee made with locally air-roasted Kaladi beans and ice cream topped with whipped cream and served with a waffl e-cone cookie. Best New Coffeehouse Convivio Cafe 4935 West 38th Avenue conviviocafe.com Since opening in November 2022, this cafe has quickly become a force in the vibrant Denver coffee scene. Owners Kristin Lacy and Vivi Lemus channeled their love for Guatemala and community into creat- ing Convivio, named for the tradition of get-togethers centered around food and drink. Lemus focuses on her roots for Latin-inspired eats, while Lacy brings her background in coffee agriculture and retail work to source teas and beans from Guate- mala. From mural-adorned walls to Latino artwork, Convivio Café provides a home away from home in its West Highland lo- cation. It’s also become a hub for Central American immigrants and culture, with a mission to set tables where all are welcome. Best Bakery Bakery Four 4150 Tennyson Street bakeryfour.com Shawn Bergin moved to Denver with dreams of starting a bakery business, but his original small operation quickly out- grew its Highland home. In March of 2022, Bakery Four debuted in a new, ex- pansive space that allows Bergin to make much larger quantities of his sought-after, naturally leavened pastries, bread, bagels and more. There is a line almost daily, and rightfully so, as fans load up on everything from fl aky cream-fi lled cruffi ns to savory sausage rolls to sandwiches on fresh ba- guettes. Next up for Bergin: adding a sec- ond, bagel-focused concept dubbed Rich Spirit in Wheat Ridge. Best East-West Bakery Banh & Butter Bakery Cafe 9935 East Colfax Avenue, Aurora 720-513-9313 banhandbutter.com Banh & Butter, where have you been all our lives? Pastry chef Thoa Nguyen, whose family formerly owned New Sai- gon restaurant on South Federal Boule- vard, debuted her own bakery in April 2022. It’s an excellent emporium of fl aky sweet nothings, including green tea cruf- fi ns, French apple tarts, crêpe cakes, sa- vory Danish and other pretties piled high with ube (purple yam) cream. It’s also a banh mi sandwich palace and an East- meets-West coffeehouse where you can order an espresso or a Vietnamese coffee poured over housemade fl an. Don’t think twice: This East Colfax gem is going in the right direction. Best Bakery for Cakes Eternal Flavors Bakery 5600 West Dartmouth Avenue 720-309-4721 eternalfl avorsbakeryco.com The Spring Fling cake was a signature at Larimer Square staple the Market un- til it closed in April 2020 after 42 years in business. For nearly three decades, Melchor Ocampo served as the Market’s head baker, and now he and his family are bringing back some favorites from the shuttered business, including the much- loved fruit-fi lled cake. But every cake at Eternal Flavors Bakery is celebration- worthy. Stop by for single slices, or pre- order whole cakes for any occasion…or no occasion at all, because you don’t need an excuse to eat cake this good. Best Edible Arrangement The Botanical Bakery of Denver 2880 South Broadway, Englewood botanicalbakeryofdenver.com What began as a love of the outdoors and also the kitchen blossomed into a botani- cal-inspired bakery, aptly named the Bo- tanical Bakery of Denver. Located inside South Broadway plant shop Birdsall & Co., the bakery, which opened in September 2022, spreads whimsy and joy with its tasty pastries and events. Owner and baker Dylah Ray fi nds inspiration in nature to bring unique fl avor pairings to a daily of- fering of mini pies, scones and croissants. Plant-forward pastries come topped with fresh herbs and colorful edible fl owers, like the signature lavender shortbread pansy cookies, so you can have your plant and eat it, too. Food and Drink continued from page 66 continued on page 72
