Denver is home to an array of attractions that can be explored on a date such as Larimer Square, the city’s oldest block, which features beautifully preserved landmark 19th-century buildings and the Denver Botanic Gardens in the Cheesman Park neighborhood of Denver. If you are looking for a good restaurant to take your date, the city boasts a wealth of places to eat from casual cafés to fine dining establishments – take your pick.
Cattivella
Established by award-winning Denver chef Elise Wiggins, Cattivella offers an authentic and relaxed Italian dining experience. Located in the Eastbridge project in the Stapleton neighborhood, Cattivella, which translates to “naughty girl,” features an exhibition kitchen with a wood-burning pizza oven and a wood-burning grill where diners can watch the experts at work. A 26-seat chefs’ counter boasts views of the pastificio (pasta table) and the Butchers’ Corner, while a beautiful wrap-around patio boasts spectacular views of the mountains.
In addition to serving delectable Italian cuisine prepared with locally sourced and imported ingredients, Cattivella also serves a wide range of globally-inspired wines, craft beers, and signature cocktails, and Elise Wiggins offers wildly successful cooking classes which focus on the wholesome bounty of Italy. Cattivella is open for dinner only Monday through Sunday.
Cattivella, 10195 E. 29th Drive, Suite 110, Denver, Colorado 80238, Phone: 303-645-3779
Finns Manor
Finns Manor is a craft-cocktail bar and food-truck corral with an indoor/outdoor built on the grounds of an old salvage yard in RiNo. The hip bar is one of Denver’s top temples of mixology and serves an impressive array of libations, range from artisan, craft and rare beers on tap and by the bottle, wines from around the world by the bottle and glass, handcrafted cocktails, rum, whiskey and other rare spirits. The bar has an inviting outdoor patio and draws a diverse array of food trucks that serve a variety of food-to-go, including regulars like Owlbear BBQ, Taste of the Philippines, Tiger Monkey Korean, and the Night Shift, which serves worldly bao buns packed with goulash, garlic, and parsley. Finn's Manor is open in the evenings Tuesday through Sundays.
Finns Manor , 2927 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205
Ace Eat Serve
Ace Eat Serve is a unique dining concept that offers a relaxed space with an expansive indoor/outdoor bar, a dedicated Ping-Pong hall, and a year-round patio to enjoy Asian-inspired cuisine and drinks with friends. Housed in the old Storz Garage space at the corner of 17th & Pennsylvania, Ace Eat Serve features three unique spaces designed and built with repurposed and recycled materials to create an industrial design and comfortable setting that echoes the history of the building. Ace Eat Serve prepares Asian-inspired dishes that can be eaten in any of the spaces while enjoying a game of ping-pong with friends, and the bar menu features Asian beers, house-made sodas, fresh fruit juices, craft cocktails. Ace Eat Serve is open for dinner only, Monday through Sunday.
Ace Eat Serve , 501 E 17th Ave, Denver, CO 80203, Phone: 303-800-7705
Quality Italian
Quality Italian is a contemporary take on the traditional American chophouse with a vibrant lounge and a charming outdoor patio. The Italian-American steakhouse features a warm, industrial interior with reclaimed wood doors, floor to ceiling cabinetry, custom-designed lighting fixtures, a central bar that presents a dynamic cocktail program and extensive wine offerings, and an adjacent lounge with plush leather seating. The exterior garage doors are opened in the summer months to create a seamless indoor/outdoor dining ambiance, and there are both private and semi-private dining options for events and special occasions for up to 30 guests. Quality Italian is open for lunch and dinner, Monday through Sunday.
Quality Italian, 241 Columbine St, Denver, CO 80206, Phone: 303-532-8888
The Bindery
The Bindery is an intimate neighborhood all-day eatery and marketplace at the edge of LoHi that offers New American plates, freshly baked pastries and homemade quiche, chocolates and more. Nestled within Denver's urban center, the sprawling, sunny spot houses a modern European marketplace that sells a wide variety of deli-style goods, fresh produce and ready-made meals, along with a full-service bakery and all-day café that produces sweet and savory delights hot from the oven. Opening early for breakfast, the 4,000-square-foot restaurant wakes up with the warm, buttery smell of baking pastries, followed by light lunch menu and an elegant selection of dinner options, inspired by the owner, Hampsten Fox’s worldly travels. The Bindery is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between Tuesday through Sunday.
The Bindery , 1817 Central St, Denver, CO 80211, Phone: 303-993-2364
Coohills
Coohills is an upscale French dining restaurant opened in November of 2011 in Denver's LoDo neighborhood, named for owner and executive chef Tom Coohill. The beautiful restaurant showcases a custom-designed six-foot chandelier designed from the roots of cabernet grape vines and a four-seat chef's table overlooking an exposed kitchen where diners can watch food as it is prepared. Dinner options highlight locally-sourced farm-fresh ingredients, with menus featuring entrees such as Aspen Ridge prime strip, chicken coq au vin, tenderbelly pork, and market-fresh fish selections. Five, seven, and 10-course chef's tasting menus are also served nightly, with wine pairings available for an additional fee.
Coohills , 1400 Wewatta St., Denver, CO 80202, Phone: 303-623-5700
The Nickel
The Nickel is one of downtown Denver's top restaurants, located within the city's historic Tramway Building at the Hotel Teatro. The restaurant, which was opened to the public in 2014, is named for the city's historic streetcar fare rate and offers fine contemporary American fare within an elegant dining space with an open kitchen and vintage bar. Brunch, lunch, and dinner fare highlight ingredients sourced from local farmers and ranchers, including an impressive charcuterie program that showcases meats and cheeses selected from around the United States. Other options range from classic lobster and grits to pumpkin ravioli with brown butter and sage. The restaurant's cocktail program showcases house barrel-aged cocktails, including signature Nickel negronis with barrel-aged gin.
The Nickel , 1100 Fourteenth Street, Denver, CO 80202, Phone: 720- 889-2128
54Thirty Rooftop
54Thirty Rooftop is the highest open-air rooftop bar in Denver, located atop the 20th floor of the Le Méridien Denver Downtown. The seasonal bar was opened to the public in 2017 and offers spectacular panoramic views of the city's skyline, with fire pits and ample room for lounging and socializing. An extensive drink menu features fine wines and liquors, regional craft beers, and a wide variety of delicious signature cocktails, including unique icy cocktails produced by the bar's two frozen cocktail machines. A light bar bites menu features standard favorites such as hummus and tartare, along with unique signature cheesy monkey bread. An entrance chairlift also serves as a great spot for photographs with the city's skyline in the background.
54Thirty Rooftop , 1475 California Street, Denver, CO 80202, Phone: 303-893 - 1888
Nocturne
Nocturne is a neighborhood jazz and supper club that serves eclectic cuisine and cocktails, and hosts live jazz music in the evenings. Classic cocktails are served with old-school flair at the large bar which takes center stage in the club, while buckets of ice keep sparkling wine chilled on tables set around the stage where jazz musicians work their magic. The wine list is an oenophile’s dream with a myriad offering of wines from around the world which can be savored by the bottle or the glass, and the kitchen produces an array of shareable small plates and sound bites such as bison meatballs, fresh oysters, cheese and charcuterie platters, and an adventurous five-course Renditions Tasting Menu.
Nocturne , 1330 27th St, Denver, CO 80205, Phone: 303-295-3333
The Tatarian
The Tatarian is the latest cocktail bar offering in Denver from Lenka Juchelkova and Mike Huggins, the proprietors of the city's hip Union Lodge No. 1 and Arvada Tavern. The bar, which is located within the city's charming Berkeley neighborhood, is named in honor of the local city tradition of gifting Tatarian maple trees to new landowners during the 19th century. Unique tree-inspired cocktails are dreamed up by former Arvada Tavern bartender Josh Sevy, drawing inspiration from the ecology and culture of trees grown in countries throughout the world. A signature Tartarian cocktail features barrel-select bourbon, barrel-aged bitters, and maple orange saffron, while other beverages highlight unique ingredients such as pamplemousse liqueur, chai-infused pisco, and hibiscus lemon syrup.
The Tatarian , 4024 Tennyson Street, Denver, CO 80212, Phone: 303- 416-4496
D Bar
D Bar is a cozy neighborhood café and delicatessen that specializes in all things sugary and sweet, along with great coffee, freshly baked pastries, and light bites. Owned by Food Network Celebrity Chef Keegan Gerhard, Keegan Gerhard and his wife, Lisa Bailey, D Bar offers an array of simple, delicious food such as sandwiches, salads, and pastries, along with coffee, espressos, specialty coffees and mouthwatering desserts. Located in Uptown Denver just a short walk from the 16th Street Mall, D Bar is named for the ‘d’ in drinks, dining, and dessert, and presents delectable sweet treats, cakes, cookies, pastries, and sweet nectar cocktails. D Bar is open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week.
D Bar , 494 E 19th Ave, Denver, CO 80203, Phone: 303-861-4710
David B. Smith Gallery
David B. Smith Gallery is one of Denver's most acclaimed contemporary art galleries, originally opened by its namesake gallery curator in 2007. The gallery, which has been hailed for its cutting-edge works showcases by major international publications such as The New York Times, showcases work from some of today's most innovative and dynamic regional and international artists working in a wide variety of media. Artists represented by the gallery include Laura Ball, Sarah McKenzie, Justin Favela, Tobias Finke, and Penelope Umbrico, with additional works on display by a number of past exhibiting artists. The gallery participates in a variety of nationally leading art fairs and showcases a number of annual exhibitions, including solo and group shows.
David B. Smith Gallery , 1543 Wazee St, Denver, CO 80202, Phone: 303-893-4234
Ultreia
Ultreia is the latest offering from James Beard Award-winning executive chef Jennifer Jasinski and noted Denver restaurant company Crafted Concepts, the force behind popular restaurants such as Rioja, Bistro Vendôme, and Stoic and Genuine. The restaurant, which is co-operated by restaurateur Beth Gruitch, is operated out of the city's Historic Union Station Great Hall, is named for a Latin word loosely meaning "onward," a reference to the Camino de Santiago Spanish pilgrimage. Iberian-style cuisine is served up at brunch, lunch, and dinner, including shareable pintxos and tapas such as stuffed piquillo peppers, Portuguese mussels, and patatas bravas. Larger plates include octopus and pork belly, moorish spice-rubbed pork ribs, pico pau, and full table chef's feasts, offering a selection of the restaurant's favorite dishes for service for two. Gin-focused tonics are served up from the restaurant's bar, along with a list of fine international wines.
Ultreia , 1701 Wynkoop St #125, Denver, CO 80202, Phone: 303-534-1970
Table 6
Table 6 has been a solid fixture of Denver’s dining scene since its opening over a decade ago. This classic American bistro boasts rustic interiors, an open-plan kitchen and friendly, welcoming staff who serve the menu’s simple and elegant dishes. Chef Mike Winston focuses on creating modern comfort food with eccentric touches, such as lemongrass chicken scaloppini with candied yams and lamb burnt ends with fig barbecue sauce, while owner/sommelier Aaron Forman pairs the excellent cuisine with just as excellent wines from around the world. Table 6 caters for all occasions, from date nights to dining with friends, with a relaxed, casual and utterly comfortable ambiance. Table 6 is open for dinner only Monday through Sunday, and brunch on Sundays.
Table 6 , 609 Corona St, Denver, CO 80218, Phone: 303-831-8800
Citizen Rail
Located in the Kimpton Hotel Born at Union Station, Citizen Rail is a contemporary street-level restaurant that seats 127 guests with a chef’s counter boasting unfettered views of the eatery’s wood-fired grills which are the beating heart of the eatery. Named after the nearby train lines, Citizen Rail presents a menu inspired by Colorado’s legacy of simple, savory fare and old-school American cooking techniques. Boasting plenty of house-aged and butchered cuts of beef, pork, lamb, game and an excellent selection of fresh seafood, the menu features signature plates like hickory oxtail and rice porridge cakes, wood-grilled oysters swimming in cilantro butter, dry-aged filet steak with spring pea hummus and a bright cauliflower tabbouleh, and rabbit loin and sausage with English peas, leek soublis, and roasted morel mushrooms. The restaurant also offers a hand-curated bar program featuring classic cocktails, casual wines, and a wide selection of Colorado craft beers.
Citizen Rail, 1899 16th St, Denver, CO 80202, Phone: 303-323-0017
