A quaint little haven tucked in between Exposition and Ohio, the commercial district of Bonnie Brae is a true gem just a stone’s throw away. A one stop shop for shopping and dining, a Saturday in Bonnie Brae is a Saturday well spent.
One of my favorite places to go in Bonnie Brae is Wish Gifts. Well known not only for its adorable inventory but also its tie to the wish sister companies as well, Wish Gifts is a go-to spot for all gifts feminine and novel. Among the neatly divided pods of inventory, one can find pullover sweaters with witty sayings, greeting cards with sass and wine glasses adorned with glitter. A trip into Wish Gifts involves browsing shelves of things you want-but-don’t-technically-need and gifts that your estranged aunt who lives in Connecticut is almost guaranteed to love.
After all of that shopping, you are sure to have worked up an appetite, which is a great opportunity to walk next door to Katherine’s French Bakery, Café & Catering for a bite to eat. Classic French pastries are among the more decadent selections here, but you can find sandwiches and other more savory items to satisfy a tooth-not-so-sweet as well. Besides delicious food, I love Katherine’s because of their commitment to whole food. An in-house kitchen garden and effort to buy local whenever possible show through in the food in the most delicious of ways.
If your Saturday plans include work and play, ink! Coffee just across the street is a great place to get some work done in the company of a good cup of joe. Open wifi and reasonable prices make this swanky little spot a welcome break from the Starbucks routine. If you have to work on a Saturday, you might as well do so in a cute coffee house that is dog friendly to boot.
After a full day of fulfilling adult responsibilities, you have earned yourself a heaping bowl of delicious pasta, and what luck that there is a great spot just right next door. The Saucy Noodle is a little slice of Italy in our own backyard, with all entrees $20 or under. If I had to say, pesto penne, artisan pizzas and caprese salad are some of my favorites on the menu, but picking between Italian indulgences is more difficult for me than picking a favorite child.
I hope that you saved room for dessert, because just down the block is one of the best ice cream shops in the neighborhood. Bonnie Brae Ice Cream has a wide variety of flavors for their frozen treats, even the pickiest of palates will be satisfied. Just in case you needed another reason to indulge, this shop is a consistent contributor to the Alpha-1 Foundation, so you can feel good about your splurge.
When it comes to getting off campus, it is easy to get stuck in a rut of exploration and lose a curiosity for exploring Denver. I hope that this guide gives you some ideas of how to spend a day in Bonnie Brae, and that you check it out if you haven’t yet. Its charm and proximity make Bonnie Brae a a nice place to spend the day any time of the year.
