Five great breakfast spots in Denver

Annie’s Cafe. Annie’s is happily stuck in the 1950s, when kids carried tin lunch boxes to school and store signs came in neon (memorabilia you’ll find on the walls here). Breakfast still means platters heaped with entrées like French toast or classic Denver omelets. $. 4012 E. Eighth Ave.; 303/355-8197.

Dixons Downtown Grill. The breakfast hot spot in LoDo is this bright and airy cafe loaded with Arts and Crafts decor. Choose from one of their egg dishes, or try Dixons French Toast with extra syrup ― that is, if you think a waist is a terrible thing to mind. $. 1610 16th St.; 303/573-6100.

Dozens. Get a taste of How the West Was Won (biscuits, gravy, and sausage) or enjoy a Platte River Platter (crab and shrimp omelet). Government workers from nearby county offices often pop in for coffee and a giant, fluffy cinnamon roll. $. 236 W. 13th Ave.; 303/572-0066.

Ellyngton’s. This is where Denver’s elite meet for power breakfasts. Top-notch service makes you feel like a VIP as you savor stuffed brioche or eggs Benedict and exquisite coffee. Sunday brunch is an extravagant buffet, with champagne and live jazz. $$. 321 17th St.; 303/297-3111.

The Market at Larimer Square. With its whooshing espresso machine and crowded bakery counter, it feels like a Parisian bistro, but the clientele is more dot-com. Grab a latte, a buttery croissant, and a slice of quiche. $. 1445 Larimer St.; 303/534-5140.