French bistro$$$downtown
Bistro Vendome in Denver is Jennifer Jasinski's Larimer Square French bistro since 2003, with a courtyard patio and a menu of canonical bistro plates from Paris to Lyon.
Signature: Steak frites, Bouillabaisse, Duck confit
Order: The steak frites with bearnaise and the duck confit, both menu mainstays since opening, plus a glass of Loire Sauvignon.
Tip: The courtyard is one of Larimer Square's best-kept patios. Brunch on Sunday with the French toast is the room's busiest service.
Japanese-Peruvian$$$$cherry-creek
Matsuhisa in Denver is Nobu Matsuhisa's Cherry Creek dining room since 2009, the chef's third Colorado location with the canonical Nobu-style Japanese-Peruvian menu.
Signature: Black cod miso, Yellowtail jalapeno, Omakase
Order: The black cod miso and yellowtail jalapeno are the Matsuhisa signatures; book the chef's table for the full omakase.
Tip: The sushi bar pours through a separate booking link from the dining room. The Aspen location is the chef's original; Denver is the day-trip Front Range version.
Modern Mexican$$$downtown
Tamayo in Denver is Richard Sandoval's modern Mexican dining room on Larimer Square since 2001, a rooftop patio anchor for upscale tacos, ceviche and tequila flights.
Signature: Tableside guacamole, Cochinita pibil, Mole negro
Order: The tableside guacamole and the cochinita pibil with Yucatan-style achiote; flight of mezcal to pair.
Tip: The rooftop patio runs March through October with mountain views; book it three weeks ahead. The bar is open for walk-ins.
Japanese izakaya$$$south-pearl
Izakaya Den in Denver is the Kizaki brothers' South Pearl izakaya next door to Sushi Den, a small-plates and yakitori room with the same Toyosu Market fish supply.
Signature: Yakitori, Wagyu carpaccio, Skirt steak shabu
Order: Yakitori from the binchotan grill and the wagyu carpaccio; pair with cold sake or the kitchen's Japanese gin and tonic.
Tip: Walk-up only at the bar. The dining room takes bookings; the kitchen closes at 11 pm, later than most South Pearl rooms.
Mediterranean (Spanish, Moroccan, Turkish)$$$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.
Steakhouse$$$$downtown
Guard and Grace in Denver is Troy Guard's modern downtown steakhouse since 2014, with an in-house dry-ageing program and a Colorado wagyu and bison selection.
Signature: Dry-aged ribeye, Wagyu tasting, Tomahawk
Order: The 28-day dry-aged ribeye or the Snake River Farms wagyu tasting; pair with the truffle creamed corn and the wedge salad.
Tip: The downstairs lounge runs happy hour 4 to 6 pm with discounted steaks. Book the wine vault for a private steak dinner.
