10 Must-Book Tables at Denver's Top Restaurants
LAST UPDATED BY Christine Loomis
July 31, 2022
No longer is Denver simply a western town. While the city is justifiably proud of its western heritage—which can be seen in the eateries that focus on steak and game—it's also a modern metropolis where locals, visitors, artists, professionals, sports enthusiasts, folks of all ages and generations and, yes, chefs, have come from across the country and the globe to stake a claim. The restaurant scene reflects that diverse population with its far-flung origins and influences, and it's possible to find any kind of food you want here. There are a slew of great restaurants that have European and Mediterranean overtones, including Le Roux, Tavernettaand El Five,while The Kitchen American Bistrobrings New American cuisine to new levels. Some restaurants, such as Sunday Vinyl, bring another element into the experience, in this case it's curated music played through a phenomenal sound system.Beckon, Denver's first pre-paid chef's table, is all about the experience, while Hop Alley andFor[a]gedbring elevated Asian fare to the forefront. Best of all, every Denver neighborhood has a star eatery to try.We've looked at all that Denver has to offer and put together a list that shines a light on the city's expansive personality as well as its super-star chefs. Share. Savor. Enjoy.
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Photo courtesy of Christine Loomis
Sometimes, "best" isn't about upscale and expensive. Casual and affordable restaurants can be the best at what they do and The Post Chicken & Beer on South Broadway is just such a place. For its fans, it's the go-to for deeply satisfying fried chicken in Denver. Guy Fieri clearly agreed when he showcased The Post on a Diners, Drive Ins & Dives segment on his popular show. While there's better craft beer in Denver, Post brews are worthy companions to the food, which includes options in addition to chicken. As for sides, standout accompaniments include cheddar biscuits, beets & sweets, collard greens and deviled eggs, though naturally mashed potatoes and mac & cheese have many fans, too. There is, however, something that must be noted: Inexplicably, grits are no longer on the menu. My great-aunt Mary from rural Alabama would be horrified. Come on, Post, give us back our grits!
Recommended for Best Restaurants because: It's argued by many that Post Chicken & Beer has the best fried chicken in Denver. What more needs to be said?
Christine's expert tip: If you find yourself in Lafayette, Longmont, Boulder or Estes Park you can enjoy Post Chicken & Beer in those towns, too.
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Lodo (Lower Downtown)
Lodo (Lower Downtown)
Photo courtesy of M. Thurk-Sunday Vinyl
The compact, cozy wine bar and restaurant overlooking the tracks at Union Station deliberately evokes the sophistication and camaraderie of the best wine bars in Europe. With 20 to 25 wines by the glass and a menu featuring snacks to entrees, this is an anytime place for couples and others to gather. The space was designed with acoustics in mind, and what's noticeable immediately on entering is the rich quality of the sound. But whatever is playing, guests can still talk and hear each other. The thoughtfully curated collection of vinyl comes from every music genre and, like the wine list, from across the world. Somewhere in the mix you'll likely hear old favorites. For a well-priced wine and bite, go for happy hour, 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday and 2 to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
Recommended for Best Restaurants because: Sunday Vinyl has a limited but stellar menu and the music gives it an ambience like no other.
Christine's expert tip: Wednesday is Flight Night, your chance to discover a new wine from a region you may not know well.
Read more about Sunday Vinyl →
Photo courtesy of Christine Loomis
Unpretentious and just a little edgy as befits its RiNo location, Hop Alley offers a menu that's hardly typical of Chinese restaurants. In addition to lobster dumplings and La Zi Ji (battered and fried chunks of chicken thigh tossed with Sichuan chili), there are familiar favorites including fried wontons and fried rice, albeit elevated by creative presentation and something unexpected—"much like the audible play list that frequently pulses to a hip-hop beat. Fried rice, for example, gets a rich, flavorful boost from bone broth. Start with something from the compact but creative co*cktail list and don't skip dessert, especially if house-made coconut-lime sorbet is offered. Chef Tommy Lee of Uncle fame, hits the mark with Hop Alley.
Recommended for Best Restaurants because: There's no lack of Chinese restaurants in Denver but none that match Hop Alley's creative and delicious take on this much loved ethnic fare.
Christine's expert tip: No tables? Grab a seat at the convivial bar where great service and the full menu are available.
Read more about Hop Alley →
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Photo courtesy of Christine Loomis
For[a]ged opened in 2019 with a menu that ranges from an impressive raw bar to steaks, salmon and vegetarian entrees. The name is a play on the words foraged, related to the freshest of natural ingredients, and forged, a nod to the chef's collection of knives, including some he made himself, displayed on the walls and used in the kitchens. Chef Duy Pham and his son are culinary artists, each nigiri and hand roll as much artistic presentation as delectable bite. For an incomparable experience, book Omakase, translation, "I leave it to you," a photo-worthy, multi-course chef's table for up to eight offered at the raw bar where you can interact with the chefs. A romantic choice: the green velvet booths upstairs. Wherever you sit, ask what fresh ingredient isn't on the menu as fish from all over the world arrive fresh daily but aren't always listed.
Recommended for Best Restaurants because: Culinary artistry by For[a]ge chefs showcases authentic Japanese fare in downtown Denver. As in Japan, exquisite presentation is integral to the experience here.
Christine's expert tip: For[a]ged has a private dining space with two tables for 12.
Read more about For[a]ged →
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Lodo (Lower Downtown)
Lodo (Lower Downtown)
Photo courtesy of Mike Thurk/Tavernetta
Light-colored woods and stylish contemporary furnishings give Tavernetta, just outside Union Station, an appealing Northern European vibe. Unlike Frasca, its acclaimed sister restaurant in Boulder, Tavernetta draws inspiration not from one region of Italy but from areas across the country, with added inspiration from neighboring Austria and Slovenia, among others. House-made pastas are standouts, but whatever seasonal dishes are on the menu will likely be memorable. For couples seeking a romantic interlude and whose culinary desires align, the menu includes options for two to share, along with a nicely curated wine and "aperitivi" list. Tavernetta is a place to splurge, to savor, to indulge and to find utter satisfaction in a meal artfully conceived, flawlessly served and presented. If you just want drinks and appetizers or dessert, find seating for two by the lounge fireplace, Tavernetta's most romantic spot.
Recommended for Best Restaurants because: Tavernetta offers fine (but not fussy) dining in a contemporary atmosphere and a menu that takes upscale Italian to new heights.
Christine's expert tip: Arrive early in happy hour to get a seat by the fireplace, perhaps the most romantic spot in the restaurant.
Read more about Tavernetta →
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RiNo (RiverNorth)
RiNo (RiverNorth)
Photo courtesy of Paper Laundry/Beckon
Beckon is an experience, an evening conducted much like a symphony. The tempo rises and falls as eight or nine courses appear, but everything, including the synchronized plating of courses and placement of plates before guests, is deliberate. Beckon is available by prepaid ticketed reservation at $150 per person and can be sold out weeks in advance. Diners choose one of two sessions per evening, at 5 or 8 p.m., and should expect the experience to last approximately two-and-a-half hours. The meal consists of small plates prepared and presented in view of guests, each dish created to be savored and remembered. When you make your reservation, you're asked if there's anything you can't or won't eat, but dishes remain a mystery until the food appears before you. Beer, wine and co*cktails are extra. Seating is available on Beckon's patio as well.
Recommended for Best Restaurants because: Pre-paid chef's tables have become popular in other cities and Beckon, Denver's first, sets the bar high for any to follow.
Christine's expert tip: In addition to inside seats at the chef's table, Beckon also has patio seating available.
Read more about Beckon →
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Lodo (Lower Downtown)
Lodo (Lower Downtown)
Photo courtesy of Christine Loomis
Chandeliers and candlelit tables define LeRoux's elegant and romantic space. Even the bar gets candles as evening arrives. Several seating areas provide intimacy for a romantic occasion or simply a dinner at which conversing is not made impossible by the cacophony experienced at so many restaurants today. It feels a bit old school in that regard, a return to what fine dining used to be, yet it's also casual and contemporary. Dishes are prepared meticulously, a perfect melding of complex and delicate flavors in an exquisite presentation. The chicken liver mousse might be the best in Denver, and if you want a show-stopper, go for the Wagyu beef tartare presented with a flourish of smoke. There's a fine wine and co*cktail menu, too.
Recommended for Best Restaurants because: Le Roux is the perfect restaurant for a romantic date night or celebration but a treat at any other time, too.
Christine's expert tip: Leave the car at home. This restaurant is super convenient for public bus and light-rail transportation.
Read more about LeRoux →
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Lodo (Lower Downtown)
Lodo (Lower Downtown)
Photo courtesy of Christine Loomis
The Kitchen in Denver was originally an offshoot of the popular Boulder Kitchen, but it stands on its own and, in fact, offers a very different ambiance and vibe. Sleeker and brighter than the Boulder eatery, The Kitchen American Bistro is a chic urban restaurant in this small chain with a menu befitting its LoDo neighborhood and all the trendy restaurants and bars around it. The menus, created by the same chef, are the same, so if you find yourself in Boulder and want to indulge in those fantastic carrots again, go for it. Did I mention the carrots? Of course, you may want to try the steak, salmon, oysters or pastas, too, along with a glass of fine wine or a creative co*cktail. If you're looking for a pleasant bar to sit at for happy hour, look no further.
Recommended for Best Restaurants because: The Kitchen American Bistro brings casual sophistication and an excellent menu to Denver's 16th Street Pedestrian Mall.
Christine's expert tip: Bar menu only is served daily from 3 to 5 pm
Read more about The Kitchen American Bistro →
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LoHi
LoHi
Photo courtesy of Christine Loomis
From the same group that created Root Down, Ophelia's and Linger (located next door), El Five is also focused on planet-friendly food, much of it plant-based, all of it superb. To be sure there are meat entrees on the menu of small plates, but vegetarians and vegans have plenty of options. Embracing an industrial-glam aesthetic enhanced by bold pops of color in wall-spanning murals, El Five is bustling and welcoming with sweeping views over LoHi and downtown Denver thanks to its fifth-floor location (hence the name), expanse of windows and a sunset-bathed terrace. The entire Mediterranean region is showcased on the eclectic menu labeled Tapas de Gibralter, including Italy, Spain, Israel, Lebanon and Morocco. While the atmosphere is casual, service is attentive and knowledgeable, and a co*cktail from the sophisticated bar list is the way to start the evening.
Recommended for Best Restaurants because: The atmosphere, service, design and creative interpretation of Mediterranean fare raise El Five to superstar status on the Denver restaurant scene.
Christine's expert tip: The entrance is nearly hidden in a street-level garage. Look for the big 5 by the glass doors.
Read more about El Five →
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Lodo (Lower Downtown)
Lodo (Lower Downtown)
Photo courtesy of Christine Loomis
Hotel restaurants don't always measure up to the hotels themselves, but in the case of Chez Maggy, the upscale Thompson Denver's in-house restaurant, that is definitely not the case. With a menu devised by Chef Ludo Lefebvre, Chez Maggy showcases traditional French cuisine with a few Colorado twists and lots of butter and cream. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as brunch, Chez Maggy is stylish, the service is superb and the food is everything French dishes should be, which is richly delicious with overtones of decadent. Chef Ludo grew up in Burgundy, France, and married a woman from Colorado. Chez Maggy is named for his mother-in-law and the Tagliatelle Bolognese on the menu, decidedly not French, is her recipe. If you're looking for an utterly divine and decadent breakfast, try the thick French toast topped with vanilla ice cream.
Recommended for Best Restaurants because: Chez Maggy offers sublime French cuisine is a stylish setting.
Christine's expert tip: Have a beverage at the inviting lobby bar before or after dinner.
Read more about Chez Maggy →
Meet Christine Loomis
Christine has written about every aspect of travel, from romance and adventure to family and wellness. She is also lucky to have had three major home states through the years: New York,...More About Christine
