Afternoon cupcakes get all the ink, but it’s early-morning baked goods that get our engines going. Bagels, sticky buns, danishes, croissants, waffles — these are the real reasons to get out of bed in the morning.
1.Indulge
1377 Forest Park Circle, Lafayette, 303-926-1676,
Monday-Friday 6 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 6 a.m.-1 p.m.
North metro-area commuters should take five and hit up the friendly, great-smelling Indulge Bakery for an old-fashioned sticky bun or muffin to ease the pain of rush-hour traffic jams. Extra points: Score a box of cookies for your office mates, and you’ll be everyone’s favorite co-worker. Located at the southeast corner of North 95th Street and Arapahoe Road.
2. Adagio
4628 E. 23rd Ave, 303-388-0904,
Tuesday 6 a.m.-3 p.m., Wednesday-Friday 6 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m.-3 p.m., Sunday 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m
For some, it rhymes with “gone”; for others, it rhymes with “moan”; but no matter how you pronounce it, a scone from this east-side bakery makes for a gut-pleasing breakfast. Hungrier than that? Pick up a breakfast calzone, stuffed with eggs, cheese and sausage.
3. Waffle Brothers
Monday-Friday at 16th and Arapahoe streets from 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m., or chase down their cart on Thursdays at 17th and California (7-10:30 a.m.) or Fridays at 16th and Tre- mont (7-11 a.m.).
Until you’ve had a hot, fresh one made on a specialized waffle iron imported from Belgium, a.k.a. the waffle capital of the universe, you haven’t had a waffle. Soft, sweet and doughy — and topped with a range of items from sugar to fresh fruit to marshmallow cream cheese — this is downtown’s best walking breakfast.
4. The Market
1445 Larimer Square, 303-534-5140.
Monday-Thursday 6 a.m.-11 p.m., Friday-Saturday 6 a.m.-midnight, Sunday 6 a.m.-10 p.m.
Larimer Square booms with glitzy culinary activity, from Rioja to Capital Grille, but it’s The Market, located smack in the middle of the block, that holds the whole thing together. Stop in early for coffee and an excellent, warm muffin — then watch your cubicle mates go green with envy.
5. The Bagel Store
942 S. Monaco Parkway, 303-388-2648
Saturday-Wednesday 6 a.m.-2 p.m., Thursday and Friday 6 a.m.-6 p.m.
Displaced New Yorkers may never find the bagel of their dreams outside the boroughs, but they’ll come close at The Bagel Store, where daily bagels (straight-up bagels, no sun-dried tomato and asparagus bagels with Cap’n Crunch cream cheese) come out hot, fresh, and at nine bucks a dozen, cheap. No toasted bagels here, but no need: They’re almost always fresh enough to still be warm.
6. Buffalo Doughboy
33 E. Dakota Ave., Denver, 303-722-9477
Tuesday-Friday 6:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Closed Monday
Think a croissant is made better with asparagus and feta? Then Buffalo Doughboy is your bakery. Hit up this cozy West Washington Park bakery early for a head full of soothing a.m. aromas, even more satisfying if you have a few minutes to linger over the paper.
7. Trompeau
1729 E. Evans Ave., 303-777-7222
Monday-Saturday 6:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. Closed Sunday.
Love ’em or hate ’em, but when it comes to breakfast no one does it like the French: The croissant is truly the apex of morning bakery art. Trompeau provides an excellent specimen. Come as early as you can for the warmest, freshest croissants, and pick up a baguette on the way out. You’ll want it later.
8. Taste of Denmark
1070 S. Union Blvd., Lakewood, 303-987-8283,
Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
Scandinavians understand the importance of indulging your sweet tooth every now and then, and this butter-filled store has plenty of methods for taking care of business. Come early for the freshest morning pastries, and pick up a loaf of bread for later. Bonus: The kitchen is open; if you arrive at the right time you’ll see your breakfast coming out of the oven.
9. Blueberry’s
1500 W. Littleton Blvd., Littleton, 303-798-7117
Monday-Friday 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m-3 p.m, Sunday 8 a.m-2 p.m.
Catch up on local comings and goings at friendly Blueberry’s, which serves as a meeting spot for Littleton locals looking for coffee, gossip and addictive dunkable biscotti. Need a quick catnap? Stake out the couch.
10. Pierre Michel
3624 E. Highlands Ranch Parkway, Highlands Ranch, 303-471-4828, .
Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-5 p.m., closed Sunday.
The croissants and brioche at this Highlands Ranch bakery are better than average, but what takes this place over the top is the breakfast- in-bed service: They’ll deliver croissants hot from the oven to your door. Can you think of a better way to welcome a Saturday morning? Thought not.
