Things to Do in Aurora (2025)

Chef Caroline Glover’s wood-fired, scratch-to-table landmark blends heart and craft inside Stanley Marketplace. Lauded by national critics and a James Beard Award winner, it’s a defining taste of Aurora’s culinary rise, often cited by Westword and Food & Wine.

Part community hub, part refugee-run food hall, Mango House gathers Burmese, Syrian, Nepali, Ethiopian, and Somali cooks under one roof. Frequently highlighted by Food & Wine and Westword, it delivers vivid flavors and a powerful sense of Aurora’s global community.

Dan Da - Review - Aurora - Denver - The Infatuation

This Aurora restaurant is for those looking to expand their Vietnamese horizons beyond phở and bánh mì. The menu is loaded with comforting, flavor-packed family recipes from three sisters whose parents opened one of Denver’s first Vietnamese restaurants in the '80s. Inside, a wall-to-wall mural of a woman wearing a nón lá looks over tables digging into simmering clay pots filled with steamed cherrystone clams laced with chiles, garlic, and lemongrass sauce, and proteins like pork belly or catfish. On most tables you’ll see Dan Da’s most popular items: triple-tiered towers with grilled meats, seafood, and fried fare served with fresh herbs and veggies, rice noodles, and other fixings to wrap your own spring rolls. And don’t overlook the salads, which are tossed in an umami-rich dressing and topped with crunchy sesame seeds and crushed peanuts. - Patricia Kaowthumrong

Pastry chef Thoa Nguyen marries French technique with Vietnamese flavors—think crepe cakes, croissants, and standout bánh mì. Celebrated by 5280 and Westword, this independent bakery-café embodies Aurora’s cross-cultural creativity from breakfast to afternoon treats.

A longtime gathering place known for generous platters atop teff injera and an optional coffee ceremony. Frequently praised by Westword and highlighted by the Havana Street district, it remains a cornerstone of Aurora’s Ethiopian dining scene.

Family-run since the mid-1990s, Golden Saigon serves comforting Vietnamese classics alongside signature curries. A perennial local favorite and Westword Best of Denver winner, it offers heartfelt service and dishes perfected over decades.

Colorado’s first Latino-owned production brewery pours Latin-inspired lagers and hosts language exchanges, runs, and live music. Regularly spotlighted by Stanley Marketplace and Visit Aurora, Cheluna feels like the community living room of Stanley.

Aurora’s pioneering craft brewery still anchors the scene at South Dock with small-batch releases beside its homebrew shop. Widely decorated at major competitions and covered by local media, it’s the classic stop for Apricot Blonde and more.

Veteran-owned and rocket-themed, Launch Pad taps everything from milk stouts to barrel-aged specialties, with food trucks and neighborhood events. A fixture in local brewery guides and Visit Aurora features, it’s pure Aurora personality in a glass.

New-school brewers near the Anschutz campus pouring lagers, hazy IPAs, hard tea, and barrel-aged projects. Covered by Westword and noted by industry press, Milieu doubles as a community hub with music, comedy, and Sunday chess-and-brunch.

Start with Ethiopian single-origin coffee and breakfast staples like chechebsa and enkulal firfir. Frequently recommended by Food & Wine and Visit Aurora, this independent café blends Ethiopian tradition with delicate pastries and warm service.

A cornerstone of the Aurora Cultural Arts District, this independent company stages classics and new work in an intimate venue. Covered by Westword and ACAD, Vintage sustains local theater with thoughtful programming and deep community ties.

An artist-led venue for concerts, festivals, and pop-up performances, reflecting Aurora’s creative pulse. Listed by Visit Aurora and the Cultural Arts District, it’s the place to catch local talent in a welcoming, community-driven space.