A Hidden Gem in Bloom! I stopped by Hive Garden Bistro during my July 4th visit to the Botanic Gardens, and I was pleasantly surprised at what a great experience it was. My first visit and will be enjoying it many more times now that I am a botanic gardens member. I ordered the Bee Hot Pizza with spicy honey drizzle, and it was absolutely delicious. The crust was perfectly crisp, the toppings were fresh and flavorful, and that honey drizzle added just the right kick of sweet heat. The sweet potato fries were golden, crisp, and lightly seasoned - some of the best I've had. And the chai iced tea was perfectly spiced. The view of the pond was so nice while we relaxed. The staff and service were on point as well. Hive is absolutely worth a stop. read more

The bottom of the pizza was burnt, the bread for my sandwich was stale, the chicken in my sandwich was dry and flavorless, the regular fries were clearly frozen fries a bit dry very little effort to at least buy high-quality frozen fries. The only thing that was good were the sweet potato fries. I saw a guy sitting at a table only eating an order of sweet potato fries, now I know why that was the only thing he ordered. I had been wanting to eat here for so long, the food on the trays always looked so good passing by. Horrible disappointment. And so expensive to boot. Also wish they had shade umbrellas available on request. Every seat in shade was taken, clearly customers want the shade. A shade table had opened up across the way, and the table was taken in two seconds. At least have umbrellas as an option for all customers. With Denver's high elevation, always need shade. read more

I enjoyed my brunch by the lily pond. There are a lot families so it's great for people watching. I ordered the hot honey thin-crust which was made fresh onsite in the pizza oven. It tasted great. read more

See all

For being located within an attraction, the Hive was surprisingly good! Salads were good, as were the french fries. I would definitely eat here again if I go back to the Botanic Gardens. read more

A perfect stop when you are in the Botanical gardens, surrounded by beautiful atmosphere and flowers. They have great options and then service is really quick. I got the sandwich and sweet potato fries- amazing! The aoli on the multigrain bread was perfect. read more

Hive Garden Bistro - Sunny boy - American Near Me - Denver, Colorado

See all

We got to the Denver Botanic Gardens around lunch so we decided to head straight to food before exploring. We were originally going to eat at the cafe when you first arrive within the large building but decided why not check out the hive in the heart of the gardens. So glad we did because the view was worth it alone. Service was quick and friendly... what more can you ask for? I ordered their French dip sandwich and a Aqua Fresca. The dip was cooked really well and the au jus was super flavorful. The Aqua Fresca was so refreshing on such a hot summers day. read more

Hive Garden Bistro - Beautiful views from Hive Garden Bistro - American Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Food was delicious and refreshing! The Thai salad is a must, crispy edamame and the dressing was so yummy

Look, this food is very good, but the location is truly the best. Sipping on lemonade and eating a sandwich, overlooking a Monet water Lily garden? There's not much that can top it. Truly some great eats, and if you're in the Botanical Gardens, I'd highly recommend it. The drinks were pretty iffy. One was too sweet, the other too tart. Ended up mixing them together to make a very delicious abomination. Absolutely loved the pollinator salad. Sounds like a lot of flavors, but somehow they all come together into a very delicious salad. Sandwich was amazing g as well. That bad boy was perfectly composed, with sweet and savory and a great combination of textures. No complaints. Except maybe more goat cheese. read more

See all

Nice stop at the Denver Botanical Garden to grab a quick bite. Overlooking the Monet Pool, the views while eating lunch are so beautiful. The fried artichoke sandwich with sweet potato fries was delicious and light. They use locally sourced ingredients including herbs and vegetables from the gardens. Prices are average. The lines can be quite long on a sunny summer day, but move fairly quickly. read more

See all

I stopped by here for some refreshments while walking around the botanic gardens. I enjoyed my strawberry mint lemonade and double espresso. They have a decent selection of refreshing beverages and lunch food. The seating area is nice because you can enjoy your food and drink while looking at the pond and gardens. read more

See all

I got grilled chicken dippers and I was expecting like 6 chicken slices , but instead I got a cut up chicken breast with ranch and they even forgot the side. Also the chicken is literally cold and seems like it was thawed from the freezer. Edit: they also said they can't make pizza when it's raining. read more

Hive Garden Bistro - My grilled chicken dippers - American Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Food was surprisingly delicious! We ordered a hamburger and BLT. You order at the window, find an open table, and the food is brought to you. Expect a bit of a wait in line to order and get your meal during the peak lunch hour. Seating is on open patio by the lily pond. read more

Hive Garden Bistro - View from tables closest to the pond - American Near Me - Denver, Colorado

This is the diner located inside the Denver Botanical Gardens. This is little more than a cafe with tables and benches set outside and around the park. I ordered a grilled Turkey sandwich and added sliced avocado with a side of sweet potato fries and a small Hibiscus limeade ($23.50) and my friend ordered an Impossible burger with grilled onions, sweet potato fries and a sparkling water ($21.50)), so the prices are a tad bit high, but you are sitting in the Japanese gardens and have some great views. Parking is wherever you can find parking for the DBG, which isn't easy on the weekends. The food prep crew were wearing masks, and so where some patrons, but this is all outdoor seating. The food is really good and this is the only eatery within the gardens. read more

Hive Garden Bistro - Japanese gardens - American Near Me - Denver, Colorado

See all

I love this place! Of course you have to be inside the Botanic Gardens to eat here, and it's a little pricey. However, the food is always great, the staff are super friendly, and the money goes to a good cause! I had the grilled chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries, so delicious. Remember: right now during COVID you have to book your tickets in advance and they are limited so don't just show up at the door haha read more

Hive Garden Bistro - Grilled chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries - American Near Me - Denver, Colorado

I am surprised that this place didn't get better reviews. I always recommend my out of town friends to stop by the Hive when they are at the garden either for a full meal or at least to try out their in-house agua frescas. The restaurant sits right in front of the garden lily pond. Great for a serene, intimate morning with your loved ones or people watching if you come later during the day. Their food ingredients are mostly locally grown: either at the garden or from local farms. They have plenty of vegetarian options. However, as a frequent visitor to the garden, my favorite is actually one of their beverages called agua frescas. In the summer they usually have grapefruit and peach flavors. The taste is very unique and refreshing with hints of herbs (rosemary, basil, etc.). Overall this place is a bit pricer than a normal touristy cafeteria but I think it's worth every penny. read more

See all

A fantastic spot for lunch in the botanic garden. I was very impressed by the fresh taste and quality of the ahi salad. Sat next to the Monet garden and relaxed. My husband had the hive burger which he said was decent but nothing to write home about. Good food for being inside of a museum. read more

Hive Garden Bistro - Hive burger - American Near Me - Denver, Colorado

See all

Have to say, the food may look good, but not the taste, and especially not for the prices. I decided to try their Buffalo & Pork Bratwurst, a special of the day. The brat was rather thin, about the size of a regular hot dog, and may have been overcooked as it was rather dry and tough. The side of slaw that you pay extra for (to substitute out the side of house chips) was not worth the money. It was refreshing but rather muted in flavors, and a rather small serving as well. Unworthy of the $15 spent for both. My friend tried their kale salad and was not impressed either. Just because you can serve a kale salad doesn't mean you should just wash it, chop it up and serve it. Kale should be marinated to soften it up so that it's easier to chew and swallow. We both ended up getting food on the way back to the hotel, which was what we wanted to avoid by dining here. read more

See all

There are two food options when you're in the Botanic Gardens, while I do enjoy both this one is my favorite. The food is absolutely wonderful and it's so nice to sit outside near the water and watch the ducks paddle around. They have a lot of good burgers and sandwiches to choose from, I always get the traditional hive burger, it's classic perfection. But the number one thing is the sweet potato fries! They have the best sweet potato fries anywhere. Nice and crispy, salty with visible grill lines. Perfect! read more

The bistro is centrally located in the Botanic Gardens, overlooking the Monet Pool. It's outdoor seating only, with a lot of shade an a beautiful view of the pond. Prices are not cheap, but the food is much better quality than what you usually expect in a tourist attraction. The menu offers salads such as orange fennel salad, mushroom wood fired pizza, sandwiches etc. Over the years, I have had quite a few lunches there and it's consistently been good. It's always a treat to have a nice lunch in such a beautiful setting. read more

See all

I guess if you are looking for a slightly overpriced but underwhelming burger or sandwich and you are desperately hungry while traipsing around the Denver Botanic Gardens, this is a good bet for you. However I cannot condone their measly veggie tacos, which had meager mushrooms, absolutely little flavor, and worst of all, slightly old and blackened avocado bits. Just don't serve me old food at these prices. On the plus side, they did have coffee service, iced drinks and fresh-brewed iced tea (without sugar) so that was a salvation. Overall, quite an "institutional" kind of food experience I won't endorse, although the picnic tables are ideally placed under shade trees. read more

Hive Garden Bistro - Sad vegetarian tacos with old avocados. Had to request extra salsa. - American Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Surprisingly, very good sweet potato fries! What a relaxing view too with a little stream near by. read more

Hive Garden Bistro - Surprisingly very good sweet potato fries! - American Near Me - Denver, Colorado

See all

I enjoy sitting on the deck of this restaurant in Denver's Botanical Garden as it overlooks the Monet pool "lily pond", vegetable, fruit, and Japanese garden(s). A great place to stop for a snack or meal, take in the scenery, and relax. read more

Hive Garden Bistro - Hive Burger with Sweet Potato Fries - American Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Very nice place for lunch and very good vibe when visiting the botanical garden. Menu on the front board was designed in honeycombs and added to the theme very well. read more

The outside seating was my favorite, relaxing streaming water in the back ground and the pond looking out was gorgeous. Had plenty of shade from trees to umbrellas. The food was amazing and so was the STAFF! Beyond friendly and helped with recommendations. Got the green chili fries and it was plenary of food. My son got the grilled cheese and it was so good, even if it was a grilled cheese they took there time cooking it. They had a shift change with minor mistakes and immediately apologized ,corrected our order. Food came out hot and fast. The tea and lemonade is fresh. read more

I am so very fortunate to work next door to the gardens. On a beautiful spring day this week, I walked from work to the gardens to have lunch. The Hive Garden bistro was new for me to try. It is located next to the lily pond area so it could not have a more spectacular setting. For lunch I went with the fried artichoke sandwich with lemon aioli and a side of sweet potato fries. As a member of the gardens you get 10% off the bill which is a nice little perk. They give you a number and then you take a seat. It was nice to have table side service. The sandwich was a tasty little treat and the fries were good although they could have been a touch crispier. The artichokes were individually fried so it did make it a bit messy. There could have been a touch more seasoning in the artichokes too to really take them over the top. The experience was really lovely as I listened to the frogs croaking and felt the spring breeze. Truly a magical little moment of the day. read more

Hive Garden Bistro - Fried artichoke sandwich with sweet potato fries. Quite delicious. - American Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Ok, I LOVE the botanic garden. I've been a member for years and go often just to sit and enjoy the beauty. The first few times I ate at the Hive I got some sort of salad or pizza. Honestly that was a long time ago and I don't remember the specifics of the salad, but the pizza was very good. I believe it was a veggie pizza of the day and was piled high with veg, yum! Then I discovered the fried artichoke po boy and now I can't order anything else. It is so good! The bread is thick and fluffy, the artichoke fried lightly so its crunchy on the outside, meaty artichoke on the inside. The heavy flavor of the artichoke is balanced with a light aoili, tomato, and arugula. This sandwich is literally the best. Usually I'll bring my own drink but they also have really good iced tea and plenty of drink options. Service is good, and even when it is crowded and slower you have the best views around you. Sometimes seating is super packed, but you can always get your food to go and find a nice little bench to sit on. I did visit just the other day after their recent reopen from covid closures. There are spaces marked on the ground of where to stand to social distance. Staff was fully masked and gloved. People walking around were keeping distant and safe. All food is to go, the tables have been fully removed, so I found a bench to sit at to eat. My only piece of advice would be to post signage not to feed animals. I have seen people doing this before and have encountered some pretty pushy wildlife because of this. read more

I HATE to leave this review. Came here yesterday for lunch and it was pretty busy. The food is good but one of the food runners accidentally stepped on some ducks, during the rush, and broke one of their necks!!!! The duck flopped around for a while before only one leg was just twitching. Another patron was kind enough to hold the dying duck's neck until the gardens' staff intervened and put it into a box and took it away. There was blood on the ground and the food runner was crying. THIS SHOULD HAVE NOT HAPPENED! I didn't see ANY signs telling people NOT to feed the ducks!!!! To make matters worse, business then resumed as usually and the table who sat down behind us, who hadn't seen what happened, FEED ANOTHER DUCK!!! WTF??????? HORRIBLE, TRAUMAIZING EXPERIENCE!!!!!!! read more

We were visiting the Botanical Gardens and wanted to have a bite to eat for lunch. The location is perfect and is in the center of the gardens. The tables are all outdoors, some areas are covered by a patio cover and other tables have umbrellas. It is a counter order but they bring the food to your table. The food was very good. Innovative selections, especially the salads and the sandwiches. Personal favorite was the BBQ Pork Sandwich w/sweet potato fries. They have a good variety of soda's and juices. There is a fire oven for pizza's as well and they are yummy! Tip: Grab a table near the Monet Pool, as the views are relaxing and beautiful! read more

See all

Among the most beautiful spots to eat in the city, especially if you get a seat beside the Monet garden. Since it's the only place to eat in the gardens, there's no competition, which means standards are low. The menu itself is great, with a wide variety of choices for all dietary needs, but quality of food is subpar for the cost. Sweet potato fries: dripping with grease and so floppy you can tie them in a bow. This means the oil isn't not enough, or isn't changed often enough; whatever the cause, we ended up poking and prodding them with a slight wince rather than actually eating them. The coleslaw looks suspiciously like the kind that comes already shredded in a big bag from Costco, just with a different dressing on it. If the prices were much lower, I'd give it a much higher rating; it's a matter of value for the cost. read more

Ordered the quinoa/black bean veggie burger. Delicious. I wouldn't say it's worth 10.95$, but you're paying that price because it's in the botanical gardens. My son had a cheese quesadilla that he ate all of. We also got the lemon hummus with red chard and pita bread. I love most hummus but this was WAY to lemon-y. For $12.95 that's something I'll never order again. Overall cool place, good lemonade, and it's got a great view of the gardens! read more

See all

The Botanic Gardens is one of my favorite spots in Denver, easily. I frequent often as a nice respite as I live close by. I don't customarily order food when I go but when I have, I have been pleasantly satisfied with the quality of the culinary options offered as they are thoughtfully prepared. The last time I ventured to the gardens, I needed some breakfast and I opted for a breakfast burrito with bacon. Surprisingly, the gardens has a very well balanced breakfast burrito -- they don't load it up with potatoes like so many places tend to do. The ratio of ingredients are in balance. The bacon is prepared properly as it is thick and chewy. The scrambled eggs are prepared well in that they are not overcooked. It is fairly expensive at $9 but a welcome treat and satisfying. Note that the green chile is mild so it likely leaves chile heads yearning for the burn. As far as the service, all of my interactions with the staff have been exceedingly pleasant. There can be a considerable wait in line when ordering food as the person taking orders also makes the coffee drinks. This is kind of a bummer but plan accordingly so you aren't disappointed if strapped for time. There is an option to order online but I didn't see a way to take advantage of the member discount and it isn't clear if you still have to wait in line. Note that there currently is a 5% covid surcharge and if you are a member of the gardens, you get a 10% discount. read more

Over priced for the options available. Burger was below avg for a $19 burger with fries. On a positive note, food was made fast. Sadly, Fast is rarely good. read more

The location and outdoor style of this cafe are so lovely. I was expecting to find the kind of convenience foods that you would usually find in like a zoo, so I was surprised to learn that the food was actually all fresh and homemade. My friend had a pizza which they fired in a stone oven and I had the artichoke po-boy with a basil vinaigrette side salad.It looked like they had a lot of good smoothies and coffee drinks too, and it wasn't too expensive considering the high-quality food and location. The people working were also very friendly ,and our food was ready really fast. I would definitely recommend eating here if you're going to the Gardens. read more

I loved having lunch here today. The brickoven pizza was one of the BEST pizza's I've ever had! The pizza chef was a gentleman named Demarco and he told me he has been making the pizzas for the last 4 years. He has mastered the art and I highly recommend dining here, especially when Demarco is cooking the pizzas. So good!! read more

Excellent spot to have lunch while at the Botanical Garden. You find a table first and stake it out with one of your party, while another gets in line to order. You take your own drinks to the table, while they deliver the food to you. The pros: A beautiful spot, well shaded, next to the large lily pond. Friendly efficient service. Flexible to adjust your order if needed. Food is freshly made while you wait. Basically everything is compostable, even the drinking cups and plastic forks. My slushy (raspberry) was delicious! So were our sandwiches (BLT on ciabatta; and Canadian bacon on rye). The cons: The cafe is so popular that it can get busy. Therefore, you have to be quick to save a table and then be willing to wait in line to order. Food is delivered quickly enough for my taste. This is not a grab-and-go place, it's a spot to relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. I recommend it! read more

See all

Fresh salads and sandwiches on a covered patio within a world-class botanical garden. Courteous and professional staff, laid back clientele make this place a refuge. Reasonably priced too. read more

These guys are the only game in town at the center of the botanic gardens. It's a decent place, but the lines are ridiculously long. Curiously, we didn't have to wait that long for our food after we had ordered. Super friendly staff (as are most Colorado folks), but just okay food. The Mahi Mahi sandwich was a little bland, though the fries were excellent. The pear salad was fine. read more

See all

Too many wasps and the food didn't have any flavor we got the burger, the kids pizza tasted like burnt crust, and the butternut squash and that also had no flavor. read more

It's hard to believe a restaurant with this quality food was in this location. Most food establishments in side of a tourist area are not desirable at all. The Hive could easily be a brick and mortar in Downtown Denver. The food smelled amazing and is prepared fresh. I only got the iced black tea and a key lime bar. Both items were fantastic! The misses got Aqua Fresas mango peach cilantro and mint I believe. It was super refreshing. If your at the Botanic Gardens don't pass up the Hive hell even skip breakfast or lunch before you go and have your meal here! read more

We had slightly inflated expectations based on the Yelp rating. I ordered the quinoa / black bean burger with bleu cheese and fries on the side plus a margarita pizza for the kids. We also got two soda floats which proved popular for the little ones (no surprise.) The burger was pretty good. Buns were a bit dry and firm but the pattie plus fixin's of lettuce, tomato, onion and thick pickles overall made for a satisfying burger. I could taste some nice pepper in the veggie patty and it did not at all taste processed or "too much soy." Without the bleu cheese it may have been too bland. The pizza was a total disappointment. I had high hopes considering they have a nice outdoor gas-fired pizza oven. Order taker warned it could take 25 - 30 minutes but it came in closer to 20. Soggy crust, too much cheese and the tomato sauce had an odd flavor. When it comes to thin crust pizza, more cheese is not better. However, the food came out in a reasonable time, the weather was gorgeous and the botanical gardens (especially the pond) are truly beautiful. read more