The roof is the reason to choose The Irish Rover (Denver) . The bar at 54 S Broadway pours a long lineup of Celtic brews and a whiskey selection. Its site describes a year-round rooftop patio with retractable awnings and walls, fireplace tables, overhead heaters and misters, so the seat holds up in cooler weather. Brunch runs Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., which leaves no rush to finish a plate. Coffee and breakfast are served too. It is the only place on this list with live music, and it has the highest Google rating on the list, 4.5 of 5. Weekday doors open at 3 p.m., so a weekday morning is off the table. Ask for the patio.
All three Baker brunch places serve only on Saturday and Sunday, so the choice comes down to start time, reservations and parking. The Irish Rover and Punch Bowl Social South Broadway Patio start at 10 a.m., and Sputnik Patio Capitol Hill starts at 11 a.m. Pick the rooftop at The Irish Rover first if live music matters. Choose Punch Bowl when a table has to be reserved, and Sputnik for a later start. All three have outdoor seating, and all three serve coffee and breakfast alongside brunch.
Brunch on S Broadway
Two of the three sit on S Broadway, and each pairs weekend brunch with a patio. One has a roof and live music. The other is a vintage-style room built for late nights, with a patio in its name.
The Irish Rover on S Broadway
Sputnik Patio on S Broadway
Sputnik suits a slower start. Sputnik Patio Capitol Hill is a vintage-style late-night spot at 3 S Broadway, and its site puts vegetarian- and vegan-friendly food at the center of the menu, with separate Brunch, Vegan and Drink menus. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Coffee, beer and wine are all poured, and it is the only place on this list that serves beer and wine, and the only one with vegetarian options. It does not take reservations, so plan on walking up and putting a name down.
Brunch on Broadway
Punch Bowl Social South Broadway Patio turns brunch into a group outing. The bar and amusement complex at 65 Broadway serves Southern American gastropub fare and punch bowls. According to Punch Bowl Social , the Baker location has bowling, karaoke, ping pong, darts and arcade games, so a table can drift from plates to games without leaving the building. Brunch starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday and runs until 3 p.m. It has outdoor seating, and it serves coffee and breakfast. It is the only place on this list that takes reservations, which helps when the table has to seat a crowd. It is also the only one with free street parking, and paid street parking is there too.
How to Plan a Baker Weekend Morning
None of the three serves brunch Monday to Friday, so Saturday or Sunday is the whole plan. Sorted by what the morning needs:
- An early start: Punch Bowl and The Irish Rover both start at 10 a.m. Punch Bowl takes reservations, so it is the one to book ahead.
- A later start: Sputnik begins at 11 a.m. Go expecting a walk-up table.
- Parking: Punch Bowl has free street parking, so it is the easiest to reach by car.
- Music and a roof: The Irish Rover, where brunch carries on until 2 a.m.
For a quieter cup instead of a full brunch, coffee shops in Baker covers two options. For brunch farther afield, the Denver brunch guide sorts spots by neighborhood. The same stretch of South Broadway is covered after dark in South Broadway in Baker: 5 Stops From Sputnik to Urban Prairie.
If the group is large, book Punch Bowl for 10 a.m. and park on the street. For a table with no reservation and no rush, head to Sputnik at 11 a.m. A band on the roof is the reason to start at The Irish Rover instead.
Photos: The Irish Rover (Denver): The Irish Rover Pub; The Irish Rover (Denver): The Irish Rover Pub; The Irish Rover (Denver): Chad Laverty
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