Some sandwiches are meant to be eaten neatly. The ones on this list are not.
Across Colorado, a handful of delis pile pastrami, corned beef, and Italian meats so high that a single hand simply will not cut it. From old-school Denver diners to family-run Italian markets and a mountain-town favorite in Steamboat, these spots take stacking seriously.
Here are seven Colorado delis where the sandwiches are built tall and worth the trip.
1. New York Deli News, Denver, CO
Straight from the airport to the table is a real habit for some Denver folks, and New York Deli News is the reason why. It bills itself as an enduring, old-school, family-run diner, and it leans fully into that classic New York style.
The menu reads like a love letter to a NYC deli. Think heaping pastrami by the pound, pastrami with Swiss on toasted rye, corned beef and pastrami with eggs, and matzo ball soup that comes in a vegetarian version.
Breakfast runs alongside the sandwiches, so pancakes with bacon or sausage share the page with towering deli builds. Save room for the cheesecake, which fans of the real New York version speak highly of.
You will find it at 7105 E Hampden Ave, open seven days a week from 8 AM to 8 PM. There is a free parking lot, free wi-fi, and dine-in, takeout, curbside, and delivery.
Sunday mornings and afternoons pack in fast, so a quiet Monday might be your best bet.
2. Choice City, Fort Collins, CO
Half deli, half kitchen, all quality meat. What sets Choice City apart in Fort Collins is that it doubles as a deli, which means the cuts landing in your sandwich run higher than average.
The reopening gave the spot a fresh, modern look while keeping the warm, casual charm that regulars remember. Old favorites like the Reuben and the Fort Collins burger stuck around through the change.
Beyond sandwiches, the menu spreads into hearty territory with the Choice City Burger, a Breakfast Burger, pork shank, short rib croquettes, and a proper BLT. You can also grab cuts of meat to take home.
Find it at 104 W Olive St in downtown Fort Collins, open 11 AM to 9 PM most days and closed on Tuesday. It is family-friendly with a kids’ menu and high chairs, has outdoor seating, and takes reservations.
Parking is free but street spots downtown can be tight, so plan a few extra minutes.
3. The Bagel Deli & Restaurant, Denver, CO
Operating since 1967, this no-frills Denver diner takes Jewish soul food seriously. The Bagel Deli & Restaurant has grown into a genuine institution, running like a well-oiled machine while keeping that busy New York vibe.
Portions are the headline here. Bagels come fresh, latkes get plenty of praise, and the pastrami corned beef Reuben has a serious reputation around town.
The rest of the menu keeps classic comfort front and center. There is Challah French toast with butter and syrup, matzo ball soup with a gluten-free option, a French dip, corned beef sandwiches, rugelach, and vegan-friendly potato salad and pickles.
You will find it at 6439 E Hampden Ave, open daily from 7 AM to 4 PM. Prices land in the friendly 10 to 20 dollar range per person, and there is a free parking lot plus street parking.
Weekend mornings draw crowds, so Monday morning is the calmest window if you want elbow room.
4. Mollica’s Italian Market and Deli, Colorado Springs, CO
Craving house-made Italian sausage in Colorado is a tall order, and Mollica’s answers it. Family-owned and set near Garden of the Gods Road in Colorado Springs, this spot pairs classic Italian subs and pizza with a proper takeaway deli and market.
The sandwiches come stacked. Look for the layered Muffaletta, the Chicago Style Sandwich, and a hearty Italian Hero, all built with the kind of portions that keep the counter busy.
There is more here than subs. The kitchen turns out manicotti, a rotating pasta of the day, soup of the day, meatballs, sausages, calzones, and Italian sodas, while the market next door stocks specialty Italian goods for cooking at home.
The address is 985 Garden of the Gods Rd A. Hours run 9 AM to 6 or 7 PM most weekdays, later on Friday and Saturday, and it is closed Sunday.
Expect a casual, quiet setting, free wi-fi, plenty of parking, and a kids’ menu. Dogs are welcome, and reservations are not needed.
5. Dish Gourmet, Boulder, CO
Small footprint, big ambition. Dish Gourmet is a tiny, jam-packed nook on Boulder’s Pearl Street, and it makes the most of every inch with creative sandwiches, salads, and gourmet goods.
The locavore angle is the whole point. Sandwiches are built with fresh, locally sourced meats plus quality meats and cheeses, which is exactly what you want when a serious sandwich craving hits.
Breakfast holds its own here too, with a breakfast sandwich that has plenty of Boulder loyalists. The tidy, tucked-in space carries an old Boulder feel that fits the neighborhood.
Head to 1918 Pearl St, open Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 3 PM and closed Sunday. It is a quick, casual stop for dine-in or takeout, with a gender-neutral restroom and street parking out front.
Since the hours end mid-afternoon, treat this one as a breakfast or lunch destination rather than a dinner plan.
6. Gagliano’s Italian Market, Pueblo, CO
People point their cars toward Pueblo just to shop here. Gagliano’s Italian Market sits close to I-25 and has built a following that reaches well beyond city limits.
The draw is a store with a deli feel, stocked with a huge variety of Italian meats and cheeses. Freshly sliced meats, olives, homemade breads, sausages, and fig cookies fill the cases, along with scratch-made pasta.
For sandwiches, the traditional Muffuletta is the one to know, stacked with those quality cured meats and cheeses. Grab a batch of cookies while you are at it.
The address is 1220 Elm St, open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 4:30 PM and Saturday until 4 PM, closed Sunday. Keep in mind this is a market first, so there is no dine-in or restroom, and it is set up for a quick visit and takeout.
Street parking is free, and Saturday mornings are the busiest stretch.
7. Yampa Sandwich Company, Steamboat Springs, CO
Mountain appetites get mountain-sized sandwiches at this Steamboat Springs favorite. Yampa Sandwich Company is a local deli serving gourmet builds in a casual, trendy setting right on Lincoln Avenue.
The lineup is stacked and varied. Regulars reach for the Pastrami Reuben, the Italian Beef, the Turkey Melt, and the well-known Dolomite Sandwich, with the breakfast EBLT winning over the morning crowd.
Beyond the tall stuff, there are vegan soups, a Turkey and Cheddar Melt, and the Yampa Cobb Salad for anyone who wants to lighten things up. Breakfast sandwiches run early, making this an all-day stop.
You will find it at 635 Lincoln Ave, open 8 AM to 7 PM Monday through Saturday and until 5 PM on Sunday. It is counter service with free wi-fi, outdoor seating, and a kids’ menu, and dogs are welcome outside.
Parking spots downtown can be hard to snag, so arrive with patience.
Whether you are road tripping through the mountains or grabbing lunch in town, these seven delis prove Colorado knows how to build a sandwich you will need both hands to finish. Save the list, share it with a hungry friend, and pick your first stack.
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