12 upscale rooms in Denver, editor-picked. occasion rooms in Denver — destination kitchens for celebrations and visits. All Denver food.
Sushi Den ★ 4.8
south-pearl · 1487 S Pearl St, Denver, CO 80210
Sushi Den in Denver is Toshi and Yasu Kizaki's South Pearl sushi house since 1984, with fish flown daily from Toyosu Market in Tokyo via the brothers' Japanese supply chain.
Tip: Reservations open online 30 days out and disappear in hours. The walk-in policy at the bar still works if you arrive by 5 pm.
Tavernetta ★ 4.7
lodo · 1889 16th St, Denver, CO 80202
Tavernetta in Denver is Bobby Stuckey and Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson's regional Italian dining room in Union Station's Crawford Hotel, the sister to Boulder's Frasca since 2017.
Tip: Book the chef's counter for a view of the pasta station. The Italian-only wine list runs deep on Friuli and Piemonte growers.
Rioja ★ 4.6
downtown · 1431 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80202
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 with Spanish, Italian and North African plates.
Tip: Sunday 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.
Mercantile Dining and Provision ★ 4.6
lodo · 1701 Wynkoop St, Denver, CO 80202
Mercantile Dining and Provision in Denver is Alex Seidel's farm-to-table dining room and provisions counter in Union Station, sourced from his Fruition Farms in Larkspur.
Tip: The market counter sells the kitchen's bread, charcuterie and produce; the morning espresso bar is the city's best Union Station coffee.
Hop Alley ★ 4.6
rino · 3500 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205
Hop Alley in Denver is Tommy Lee's modern Chinese dining room on Larimer in RiNo since 2015, a Michelin Bib Gourmand that runs Sichuan and northern Chinese plates with Colorado proteins.
Tip: Book the bar counter to watch the wok station. Lee's bao counter Uncle is two blocks away if you want noodles after.
Annette Scratch to Table ★ 4.6
stanley-marketplace · 2501 Dallas St, Aurora, CO 80010
Annette Scratch to Table in Stanley Marketplace is Caroline Glover's James Beard-winning wood-fired neighbourhood kitchen, a small dining room and patio with daily-changing menu.
Tip: Stanley Marketplace is a 12-minute drive from RiNo. Brunch on Sunday is the busiest service; the patio runs through October.
Bistro Vendome ★ 4.5
downtown · 1420 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80202
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.
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.
Izakaya Den ★ 4.5
south-pearl · 1487A S Pearl St, Denver, CO 80210
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.
Tip: Walk-up only at the bar. The dining room takes bookings; the kitchen closes at 11 pm, later than most South Pearl rooms.
Potager ★ 4.5
capitol-hill · 1109 Ogden St, Denver, CO 80218
Potager in Denver is Teri Rippeto's market-driven dining room in a Capitol Hill row house since 1997, a daily-changing menu built around Front Range farm produce.
Tip: The patio garden is the room's draw spring through fall. Closed Sundays and Mondays in 2026; book a week ahead for Saturday.
El Five ★ 4.4
highland · 2930 Umatilla St, Denver, CO 80211
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.
Tip: Sunset reservations book out a month in advance. The hidden side patio runs walk-ins; the elevator entrance is on Umatilla.
Spuntino ★ 4.4
highland · 2639 W 32nd Ave, Denver, CO 80211
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.
Tip: The bar pours Italian aperitivos and a tight natural-wine list. Gelato counter is open to walk-ins after dinner service.
Tamayo ★ 4.3
downtown · 1400 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80202
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.
Tip: The rooftop patio runs March through October with mountain views; book it three weeks ahead. The bar is open for walk-ins.