We've been to Cafe Gio a few times and everyone in our party has enjoyed it a lot. It's a solid, relatively affordable option for a light lunch. Today I had the Almost Waldorf salad with a generous helping of apples and roasted walnuts. The cheddar broccoli soup was made with smoked cheddar. Which was different, and maybe a bit much. CBR sandwich (chicken, bacon, ranch) was really well received. As was the power bowl. Service was fast. And the view for lunch is just great. Sitting inside feels like sitting outside with all the windows. If you're at the museum, this is a no-brainer choice for lunch. If you're just in the area, it's a very good option to consider. read more

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This is the worst chai I've ever had in my life. They didn't ask if I wanted sweetener or how much sweetener I wanted or what kind of sweetener I prefer, nothing. The drink ended up being flavorless hot sugar water. Emphasis on SUGAR. Very gross to me as I hate super sweet things. That's why asking what I like would be nice. They also offer two sizes without explaining the price difference. The answer is strange, there isn't a price difference... then just give people 16oz without asking, IMO. Just a weird experience and also yuck. read more

Really cute spot at the Denver art museum. Light with a good view for people watching. I decided to grab a bite to eat before I started my tour. Lots to see. I got the salmon and cucumber toast. Very generous on the divorce spread. The salmon was a bit fishy for me. The cucumbers were not fresh. The service was great. read more

Cafe Gio - Salmon and cucumber toast $13 - Cafes Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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We stopped for a light lunch while visiting the museum. I had the BLT toast and a Gingerbread Latte and my dining companions had the salmon toast and a chai-der and the Bahn mi. The BLT toast had a hot honey spread which was really good. The Salmon toast was very fresh and the chai-der was very good. The people who worked there were very friendly and helpful. Our food arrived quickly. It's a fast casual place but has pleasant seating with lots of windows. read more

Cafe Gio - BLT toast - Cafes Near Me - Denver, Colorado

This was my bestie and my first stop in the Denver Arts District for lunch before our spa appointments. We had all the intention to go to the museum but the lunch was so great, the ambiance was so chill and inviting that we just stayed and caught up. I had a Buddha bowl and we shared a lemon tart they have a lovely outdoor area too! The servers were so kind and helpful and helped us decide what to eat read more

Cafe Gio - Passion fruit refresher - Cafes Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Vegetable soup looked like it was from a can. Grilled cheese was plain white bread and a slice of processed American cheese. It was the most embarrassing meal I've had at a restaurant in years. It seems like grade school cafeteria food. Not what one should expect from a museum with world-class aspirations. Service was not paying attention... and dropped the food off with no napkins or silverware. Espresso cup with no saucer. Potato chips you'd see in a 7/11. The location is spectacular... this café should be a destination, not a regret. read more

Cafe Gio - Canned vegetable soup?! - Cafes Near Me - Denver, Colorado

My first and last visit to this cafe was disappointing. I ordered a London Fog tea, but it tasted like plain water. My friend's order was also incorrect. The salmon sadwich extremely salty. The staff needs improvement. read more

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After the much needed stimulation to my imagination and creativity by immersing myself at the "All American" exhibit in the next door building for a little over an hour, I came here to have a late morning coffee and pastry. Very clean and spacious; pastries displayed in a clear glass case which you usually see at any coffee shop. I got me my usual, a doppio. And to go along with it was one of the banana cakes. The young lady at the ordering counter pleasantly said ringing up my doppio with steamed/foamed milk on the side would be closest to the price of macchiato ($5); this sounded fair. Since I recently had a disappointing experience at a different coffee shop where they made my cappuccino like a latte, ordering two different things (doppio and steamed/foamed milk) so that I'd be able to do my own concoction was the right thing to do so thanks to Cafe Gio for being so flexible for my needs! I guess I can be a bit needy in this regard!! It was a quick go in, have a coffee and leave type situation as I would still need to go home and finish my tasks for my day job (I saw the exhibit utilizing my lunch hour) so I really didn't have any expectations towards this morning's routine of mine but the Banana Cake truly surprised me. Loved the icing on top! It tasted like a whipped cream but with right amount of sweetness. The sponge part was perfectly moist. And the portion size was just right for the price of $5. There are more items on the menu if you want something more savory. Nice casual cafe before and/or after seeing an exhibit. Very convenient! read more

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This is a cool cafe in the Denver Art Museum. You can access from the main road (14th st) or from the inside of the museum. We went in to get something light to eat before our State Capitol tour and they delivered. My husband got a bagel and I got an avocado toast. Both were made to order and the staff was super friendly and nice...very professional. My avocado toast was not like other ones I've had before, this was an avocado spread with chickpeas on top, it was good, but not as meaty as I had expected. The bagel was nicely toasted. Prices were not bad for a museum coffee shop. Recommended. read more

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Got an Iced Tea, a brownie and a goat cheese and turkey sandwich. That goat cheese sandwich was blessed by god. Either that, or I was really hungry. Brownie was several steps up from a Betty Crocker box mix, tad dry, but I wanted chocolate and she delivered. Chocolate makes me extremely ill, and I look forward to the stomach ache it will give me. The iced tea was nice. I guess I assumed iced tea would be the way southerners make it, with equal parts sugar and water. This is definitely a healthier version, so I had to result to adding several packets of sugar to it myself. This was not a successful endeavor. Tea still tastes good with lumps if Un-dissolved sugar in it, it's just maybe not the way your grandma makes it. read more

Cafe Gio - Iced Tea, Brownie - Cafes Near Me - Denver, Colorado

We were doing a self-guided walking tour of Denver and found this eatery inside the art museum. We just wanted a light bite so my wife got smoked salmon toast and I got an iced chai. Both were fine and hit the spot. While looking for the bathroom I was stopped by a staff member near the museum exit, and I told him we had just eaten at the cafe. He let me through after that. Nothing too spectacular but perfectly fine for an eatery at the museum. read more

Cafe Gio - Smoked salmon toast - Cafes Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Clean and brightly lit dining space. The menu was posted near the door and inside in 2 spots. They offer pastries, toasts, sandwiches, salads, bowls, snacks & beverages. I started with almond milk hot matcha latte. No surcharge for the almond milk. I got a smoked salmon toast and a Spring bowl. The salmon toast was great with lots of smoked salmon on top. The Spring bowl was super foods choice with mixed greens, sliced apples, blueberries, candied walnuts, quinoa, beets, goat cheese & green goddess dressing. Every ingredient was fresh and not too much dressing. I was served by Bradt L which was friendly and easy to talk to. They have multiple tables and a counter looking out toward Civic Center Park. There is also an outdoor patio. read more

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The staff was friendly and the service was quick. Made a stop in while at the museum and was very pleased.

I never thought I'd get a lecture from a security guard while getting ready for a quiet afternoon in a cafe with a friend. Cafe Gio had become my go-to place for coffee meetings, and I'd been recommending it to friends for years. But after my experience yesterday (Saturday afternoon 5/18 at 2pm) that's over. I was making a quick trip to the restroom (just down the hall past the reception desk, no ticket checker to go through or anything like that) before my friend arrived. A security guard called me back - shouted me back. I said I was going to the cafe and was I allowed to use the restroom? I've been a member for a few years. "How are we supposed to know that?" he shouted. From my point of view, I was doing nothing wrong. I was a museum member and frequent visitor taking a quick bathroom break before paying another visit to the cafe (you read that right - a returning paying customer). From his point of view, I was some kind of vagrant. On the way back to the cafe, he called me aside and told me the restrooms are not for members of the public, and next time I need to check in with the security guard. Like several other museum cafes I've been to, you don't need to be a member to go to this one. But I guess you need to check in with a security guard now before you're allowed to have bodily functions. I'm disappointed, because I thought I'd found MY cafe. But after finding a table, having to fetch a napkin to wipe off the drying mayonnaise-like smears on the table (not the first time I've had to do that), then noticing one of the baristas talking to the security guard and giving me a look, I'm going to have to find another cafe where I can simply enjoy a coffee with a friend in peace like I'd planned to without having to deai with negative false fantasies being projected onto me. read more

I'm not sure why this place has such bad reviews. It's a great place to stop for a coffee or a snack if you are at the museum. I ordered a pain au chocolat and an iced matcha latte. They both tasted good and kept me from being hangry :) read more

Soda was good, sandwiches were a bit tiny for the price but it tasted good and the people were nice.

Can you say Avocado toast? Cafe Gio has it!! Kaila liked it so much she ordered a second piece. I had the Turkey and Brie sandwich. It was fantastic and a generous portion. We had a nice view of Denver from our pull up stools at a dining bar. This is an alternative to The Ponti across the hall. The food arrives more quickly and is slightly less expensive. No reservation is required. However, Cafe Gio is pricey. Bring your wallet. Parking is in the art museum parking building and the cost was about six dollars. What a view... read more

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Terrible food and half hearted service. 6 of us went to Cafe Gio on a trip to Art Museum because of location; five of us found the food wanting in flavor, quality and price for what you got. The only happy customer ordered the quinoa salad, which did look good. read more

The drinks were good but took a little while which was okay because it's a nice place to sit for a moment. Bagels were also pretty good. Did see someone behind the counter eating/drinking without washing her hands before serving food and drinks though :/ read more

Two stars to recognize a beautiful location on the DPL/Museum plaza, but would have been one star if food and service were the only consideration. We had some sort of curried garbanzo sandwich, nothing more than a few beans and a couple of thin slices of cucumber tossed carelessly on a squishy commercial bun and served with a toothpick. Took a long time (the cafe was half empty) and was definitely not worth the wait--nearly tasteless and generally a mess. Very disappointing for such a fine venue! read more

The service was poor and a sad reflection on the other fine establishments associated with the Denver Art Museum. It's a coffee shop: I wanted coffee. I ordered a coffee and was told "we don't have coffee". Surprised, I repeated what the server said through her mask (the music was loud so I wanted to be sure I understood her). They ran out. Then I said "if you're out of coffee how can you make a latte?" "With espresso..." Me: "So you could make an Americano?" "Yes." Couldn't she have politely said "You see, it's late enough in the day that we have run out of regular coffee, but I could make you an Americano, how does that sound? " She was also very snarky to my friend who did not understand the milk choices (again, it was hard to understand the server with her mask on with the music so loud). When my friend asked for 2%, the woman looked at her and said "NO", then repeated the list of milk choices. It was clear she did not want to be there anymore, and the ambience was very uninviting. Most of the chairs were up on the tables because they were closing in a half an hour. The coffee shop was so much friendlier when it was in the gift shop, and it would be nice if it were a warmer and more inviting atmosphere for such a fine community treasure as the art museum. Not sure I will ever go back. read more

I had the Turkey and Brie sandwhich was fantastic. Came here after Ponti was only taking reservations and wow. Was I happy. Crispy bread. Warm and melted Brie with some apples and Turkey...yum They also have excellent brownies. Sorry don't have photo of sandwich. I ate it all too soon. read more

love the team at Café Gio and the drinks! the Italian raspberry cream soda is sooooo good!

I want to like this place but I don't. It's cold and the staff tends to be unfriendly. The food and drinks are overpriced. Been a few times to try and each time what I wanted to order was not available because they ran out of ingredients. Who runs out of tomatoes? Two stars for the patio overlooking Civic Center Park. If you are in the neighborhood, there are better coffee shops on the block. read more

Their espresso is very bitter. The staff was friendly the prices weren't outrageous I was just served an awful espresso.

The food is pretty good but the sass I received by one of the employees was inSANITY. I ordered an iced latte or whatever and when I asked for my order the lady was like "I called your order five times sir." I just didn't hear you MA'AM. read more

Amazing best lemonade ever the passion lemonade taste like both lemonade and passionfruit its very yummy would recommend

I know this is just the cafe next to the main attraction, the Ponti (which also underwhelmed us), but this was the definition of ordinary. Limited menu, a serviceable $13 turkey sandwich. Salads the same. And the atmosphere is cafeteria style. With so much done well at the new improved art museum, we though they would hit a home run with the restaurants. Just the opposite. The restaurant before the new building went up was better in every way. read more

Tried the Turkey and Brie sandwich which was a bit dry & bland. Definitely needed mayonnaise or mustard. Cafe Gio It was very busy since this was a museum '"free" day. Counter staff tried mightily to keep up but were a bit overwhelmed. Wish they offered soup....it would take less time to produce an order of soup. Menu information posted in the hallway near the entry would be useful.....that goes for the Ponti as well. Overhead menu in the Cafe Gio is a smallish making it hard to read. Prices are high for the level of service....order at the counter, get your own cutlery, beverage & condiments, food runner delivers to your number. read more