Mediterranean
Photo: Contaminadas · CC BY-SA 4.0

2 mediterranean places in Denver we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Denver | Mediterranean across every city.

Mediterranean cooking in Denver leans on Spanish and coastal influences, often in rooms built for grazing. Rioja downtown works a refined seasonal menu, while El Five in Highland serves tapas with a skyline view from its perch above the neighborhood.

Rioja ★ 4.6

$$$MediterraneanDowntown

Rioja in Denver is Jennifer Jasinski's James Beard-winning Mediterranean dining room on Larimer Square since 2004, a flagship of the Crafted Concepts group.

OrderThe artichoke tortelloni and the goat cheese ravioli, both on the menu since opening.

TipSunday brunch with bottomless mimosas is a Larimer Square institution. The chef's tasting menu changes weekly and is the best way to see Jasinski's range.

El Five ★ 4.4

$$$MediterraneanHighland

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.

OrderThe wood-grilled octopus and the lamb shawarma.

TipSunset reservations book out a month in advance. The hidden side patio runs walk-ins; the elevator entrance is on Umatilla.

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