Modern Latin American$$highland
Mister Oso in Denver is Blake Edmunds's playful Latin American room in RiNo, with masa tacos, Caribbean cocktails and a wood-grill program built around Colorado proteins.
Signature: Octopus al pastor, Chicharron tacos, Steak frites tacos
Order: The octopus al pastor on a fresh blue-corn tortilla; the masa is milled in-house and the octopus is grilled in slick chile oil.
Tip: The patio runs three rounds of seating on summer nights; the bar walks in if you arrive by 5:30 pm. The taro chips are bottomless if you ask.
Mediterranean (Spanish, Moroccan, Turkish)$$$highland
El Five in Denver is Justin Cucci's fifth-floor Highland tapas room with floor-to-ceiling views of downtown and the Front Range, a Mediterranean small-plates room since 2017.
Signature: Pintxos and tapas, Lamb shawarma, Wood-grilled octopus
Order: The wood-grilled octopus and the lamb shawarma; the kitchen runs a tasting menu and Bottomless Brunch on weekends.
Tip: Sunset reservations book out a month in advance. The hidden side patio runs walk-ins; the elevator entrance is on Umatilla.
Global street food$$highland
Linger in Denver is Justin Cucci's rooftop global street food room in the old Olinger Mortuary in Highland, with a 360-degree city view and a small-plates menu spanning Asia, Mexico and Mediterranean.
Signature: Banh mi, Bison meatballs, Pad Thai
Order: The bison meatballs and the banh mi sliders; the room's name is a play on the Olinger neon sign upstairs.
Tip: The rooftop patio is the room's draw; book by 5 pm or wait at the bar. Closed for service on Mondays in 2026.
Italian (Northern)$$$highland
Spuntino in Denver is Cindhura Reddy's Highland neighbourhood trattoria and gelateria since 2012, a tight pasta-and-aperitivo room with house-made gelato to finish.
Signature: Hand-cut pastas, Burrata, Gelato
Order: The agnolotti and the ricotta gnudi; the gelato counter runs eight flavors made daily, with a strong sour-cherry stracciatella.
Tip: The bar pours Italian aperitivos and a tight natural-wine list. Gelato counter is open to walk-ins after dinner service.