NOTE: This post was updated March 2022 to reflect the most current information.
Greeley is one of our favorite Colorado cities, and we’re pretty sure this guide will prove why that is. This quiet town is home to one of the country’s most talked-about craft breweries, it has more than five super awesome museums and immersive, historic experiences, it’s home to one of the best live music venues in the region, and it boasts some of the best local food, too.
Whether you’re staying in town for the day or you’ve lived here your whole life, this self-guided tour offers the perfect route to experience all of that and more, and it’s all located in the heart of downtown Greeley. Suited for a full day—from coffee and breakfast all the way to dinner and post-show drinks—this guide is the perfect way to experience Greeley.
Doug’s Diner
From the same team behind Doug’s Day Diner in Fort Collins, Boulder and Centennial, Doug’s Diner is a breakfast and lunch spot that everyone can enjoy. The huge menu is packed with classics like huevos rancheros, crepes, chicken fried chicken and gargantuan burritos alongside beverages from the espresso bar and adult bevvies like Bloody Marys and mimosas. Yum!
Aunt Helen’s Coffee House
Photo courtesy of Aunt Helen’s Coffee House
Defined by their sass and their unique advice, Aunt Helen’s is a community coffee house with character. The family-owned and -operated shop is named after and inspired by the family’s real Great Aunt Helen, a practical, no-nonsense, Downtown Greeley resident who is over 100 years old! To keep up with specials, events and the team, follow them on Facebook here.
Greeley History Museum
Maintained by City of Greeley Museums—who also manages three other educational facilities in town—Greeley History Museum showcases and preserves Greeley and Weld County’s history through permanent and temporary exhibitions, educational programs, research and collections. Any time you stop by, you can check out the permanent exhibit “Utopia: Adaptation on the Plains”. Then, be sure to keep exploring other galleries to find new, rotating exhibits, too!
Greeley Ice Haus
Greeley’s best indoor ice arena, the Greeley Ice Haus, hosts public skate sessions, classes, clinics, leagues, tournaments and more. They offer public skate hours every day of the week in addition to cosmic skating, skating programs, public ice hockey, broomball and more. To see everything you can do at the Ice Haus, click here.
Luna’s Tacos & Tequila
Photo courtesy of Luna’s Tacos & Tequila
The Luna’s Tacos origin story is steeped in Northern Colorado and Greeley tradition. It’s owned and operated by a group of friends whose collective experience includes founding the Northern Colorado chain Wing Shack Wings, publishing BandWagon Magazine, and opening the Moxi Theater. We weren’t kidding about Greeley tradition. Luna’s Tacos & Tequila opened in 2018 and has already become a favorite in town—especially if you’re craving, you know, tacos and tequila. Their signature taco lineup includes 10 flavorful combinations for vegans and meat-eaters alike. You can see the menu here.
HD Escape Rooms
HD Escape Rooms operates unique escape room experiences in Denver, Westminster and Greeley. In Greeley, you can escape from two of their newest puzzle rooms: “Out of Time ” and “Curse of the Coven.” You and your team are tasked with finding clues, puzzling through riddles, and overcoming tests of wit in order to escape before the clock runs out! But first, be sure you can locate the entrance to HD Escape Rooms — be on the lookout for the hidden entrance behind the historic Home Light & Power building.
Green Earth Brewing Company
Green Earth is about green practices and great beer. Their historic building in Downtown Greeley was remodeled using reclaimed materials, and their beers feature as many Colorado ingredients as possible. As a result, they’re packed with flavor. From the classic New England Style IPA to the spiced Gingerbread Blonde Ale, this is a must-visit on any local craft brewery tour.
Zoe’s Cafe
The epitome of a neighborhood coffee shop, Zoe’s is a full-service coffee shop serving only ethically and relationally sourced specialty coffees alongside loose leaf tea from the Tea Spot. Their coffee is roasted, brewed and served entirely by their team using beans sourced directly from their coffee growers in Villa Rica, Peru!
Colorado Model Railroad Museum
The Colorado Model Railroad Museum began in 2002 as a small passion project driven by big dreams. Today, it’s one of the finest, miniature accomplishments in the world, encompassing 5,500 square feet over five years and 280,000 volunteer hours. The one-of-a-kind museum showcases hundreds of railroad scenes, more than 500 scale locomotives, 80 scale miles of train track, about 28,000 handmade trees, and thousands of other handmade artifacts. In addition to the miniature railroad, guests can also see artifacts like a 1919 Colorado and Southern Caboose that is open for tours. For more details and admission information, click here.
We don’t have time to do so in this tour, but if you want to head further south from here, we recommend stopping by Meeker Home Museum, La Petite French Bakery, Free Leaf, Madison & Main Gallery, The Blue Mug and John Galt Coffee on that end of the neighborhood!
Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant
The story of the Rio starts in Fort Collins and includes very good and very strong margaritas. Since opening their original Old Town location, this team has expanded to more than five others throughout the state, including this one in the heart of downtown Greeley. Here, you’ll find excellent Tex Mex food made using local ingredients, the best margarita in Weld County and a killer patio. They’re also a featured food partner with Greeley’s own Tower 56 Distilling which means you can enjoy a small menu of items from the Rio if you stop in the Tower 56 tasting room right around the corner on 9th Avenue.
Lincoln Park
Because the settlers who named Greeley hailed from New England where most towns had their own town center or park, Lincoln Park was part of the city’s plans as early as 1870. Then and now, the park is located at the heart of Downtown Greeley and offers a lovely green space for picnicking, playing at the playground, relaxing under a shade tree, or walking along the paths.
Located directly across the street, make sure you stop by Lincoln Park Emporium, too. The mom and pop marketplace brings together Miss Mary’s Kitchen Store, Owlz Used Books, The Bedding Balcony, Karastan, the original furniture consignment shop, and tons of gifts made right here in Greeley.
Union Colony Civic Center
Owned and operated by the City of Greeley, the Union Colony Civic Center was built in 1988 and is home to two performance venues. Monfort Concert Hall seats more than 1,500 and Hensel Phelps Theatre seats just over 200. Together, they host more than 100 musicals, concerts, comedy shows and events with the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra and The Greeley Chorale every year.
Meeker’s
Meeker’s is another great place to stop for dinner on our tour if you’re in the mood for farm-to-table. After gaining extensive experience in some of the world’s most well-known kitchens—including several projects in London—Chef Ron Jackson has come back home to Colorado to add his own flair to American and Rocky Mountain cuisine. And his menu includes everything from Blueberry Danish Pancakes at Sunday Brunch to an Ahi Tuna Burger and Aperol Spritz for dinner!
WeldWerks Brewing
This humble, hometown brewery in Greeley is now known all over the country thanks to their outstanding and award-winning brews. In 2018, the team set out to release 100 new beers, and ended up releasing more than 130! But that’s not surprising coming from the team that has created things like the Sweet Potato Casserole Stout, the Dragon Fruit Guava Milkshake IPA, the PB&J Stout and the Chocolate Banana Pudding Stout. To view their current tap list, click here.
Brix Brew & Tap
At Brix, you can taste Colorado beers from 60 taps that include a selection of beverages brewed in-house. We especially love it because you can pair those beers with a food menu that includes snacks like bacon-wrapped dates, flatbread pizzas and paninis, and an amazing Sunday brunch! To see the menus, click here.
The Kress Cinema & Lounge
Photo courtesy of The Kress Cinema & Lounge
Not only is the Kress Cinema & Lounge Greeley’s only independent movie theater, it’s also a full-service bar and restaurant serving specialty cocktails, craft beer, wine, gourmet small plates, and classic movie concessions that you can have delivered right to your cinema seat. If you want to learn about their small and super-secret speakeasy, click here.
Moxi Theater
The Moxi is Downtown Greeley’s live music destination. With a capacity of over 400, professional light and sound, and a full-service bar, it’s the ideal place to see a show. The schedule always includes a healthy lineup of local acts like The Burroughs alongside nationally touring bands like Josh Hoyer & The Soul Colossal. Check out the calendar here and follow the team on Facebook for event updates!
Patrick’s Irish Pub
One of Greeley’s favorite watering holes, Patrick’s has been serving up craft beer, offering live music events, and hosting local food trucks for a decade. And their tap list, which offers more than 25 beers and ciders, represents local favorites and rare selections alike. Served alongside a full bar, it’s a great place to hang out in the heart of downtown.
Where are you stopping?
Unfortunately, we couldn’t include all the amazing businesses, eateries and attractions of Downtown Greeley in one tour. Add to our itinerary in the comments below!
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