Colorado Al Fresco
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Gabby’s Whirlwind Tour of Great Outdoor Dining
Summer in Denver is awesome, and so is the selection of patios for outdoor dining. Gorgeous sunsets, great views and the best weather bring out the fans. Let’s take a tour around town dining al fresco. We’ll start with the new oh-so-popular LoHi district.
Root Down (33rd & Osage) brings great dining to the LoHi area. Built in a remodeled 1950 service station, chef/owner Justin Cucci has re-created mid-century modern décor including a bowling alley lane as his bar, ’50s Knoll chairs and a phone collection on the walls. The garage doors open to the greatest patio that overlooks the city with an amazing view of downtown. Get there early to snag a seat and enjoy the globally influenced seasonal cuisine that includes great salads, soups, fish, poultry, beef and vegetarian offerings. Small plates are amazing, and perfect for sharing. Entrees are offered in half and full orders, and weekend brunch is a must with egg dishes, pancakes and more. Some favorites on the menu include the carrot-curry soup, buffalo sliders with fries, sweet pea risotto, scallops and chili-rubbed chicken. The drink and wine list is terrific, too. Everything about Root Down rocks.
1600 West 33rd Avenue, Denver, CO 80211
(303) 993-4200
The Squeaky Bean (33rd & Tejon) is a small bistro with a not-to-miss patio that wraps around the building and is perfect for enjoying the contemporary menu that offers outrageous food. Owner Johnny Ballen and chef Max Mackissock feature local, natural and interesting dishes to delight fans. Snacks of cheesy poofs, olives, parmesan and potato cannoli and sugar snap peas please everyone. Small plates list squash gratin, moussaka and poached tuna on toast with divine tomato soup. Enjoy sandwiches at dinner with a Croque Monsieur or duck confit. Entrees of pork and beans (pork belly), fish, chicken and lamb are a wonder, as is the weekend brunch. The Squeaky Bean is a place for super food and fun.
3301 Tejon Street, Denver, CO 80211
(303) 284-0053
Colt & Gray (15th & Platte) brings excitement to this fun street. Located next to the walking bridges to downtown or LoHi, this spot’s inside décor is great and the patio is spectacular, with red accents, ample seating and fine food. Enjoy people-watching along with your meal as pedestrians, skateboarders and bikers fill the street with their dogs and kids. The food, contemporary and fresh, matches the décor with super options for all. Bar snacks include fried oysters, crispy pig trotters, blue cheese-dusted gougere and bacon cashew caramel corn. Small plates and entrees bring many choices that range from a burger, salmon and pork to cioppino and steak. Weekend brunch is a perfect time to get some sun and fun before a sports event.
1553 Platte Street #120, Denver, CO 80202
(303) 477-1447
In the Park Hill neighborhood, Tables (22nd & Kearney) is a must. It’s totally enchanting and funky, with a charming patio where guests are pampered with blankets if the night gets cool. Amy Vitale and her husband, Dustin Barrett, bring delightful meals to this special neighborhood spot. Start with appetizers that include a splendid tuna tartar, crispy sweetbreads, lump crab cakes and soup of the day. Main courses include mahi mahi, cod with clams, trout and scallops with risotto for fish lovers. Grilled New York steak, a grilled pork chop with house-made sausage and crispy chicken with bread pudding are more choices on the ever-changing menu. Each dish is beautifully presented and so creative. Tables is definitely a favorite in Denver and will become your neighborhood restaurant no matter where you live.
2267 Kearney Street, Denver, CO 80207
(303) 388-0299
Roof top dining and a view of Larimer Square put Tamayo (14th & Larimer) on the list of best patios. The design of the roof makes it comfortable, fun and definitely the place to be. The menu features old Mexican favorites with a modern twist. Tamayo defies typical Mexican food, focusing on the cuisine of interior Mexico and adding delightful modern touches to its interpretations. Start with chunky guacamole served with homemade tortilla chips. Or try the tamal al chipotle – steamed masa removed from the husk, stuffed with shredded chicken and served with sweet chipotle sauce, crema fresca and avocado. The best pan-fried snapper with an Anaheim chile, rib eye skewers and tamarind-marinated pork tenderloin top the list of entrees. Don’t miss the exceptional wine list that won Best Wine List in Food & Wine Magazine.
1400 Larimer, Denver, CO 80202
(720) 946-1433
When you say “oldies but goodies” for al fresco dining, you think of Highland’s Garden Café (32nd & Perry). The landscaped grounds rival those of the Denver Botanic Gardens. Owner Patricia Perry heads the kitchen, tends the gardens and oversees every detail of the wine list. Sit in one of the secluded gardens and take in the scenery as you delight in the meal. Start with crab cakes, mussels with tomato and basil, sweetbreads or escargot with wine. It’s hard to decide on an entrée, as the dozens of selections change weekly and all tantalize. Fish, beef, quail, lamb and vegetarian specials change weekly. In summer months, indulge in the New England-style cod with clams casino. The wine list is amazing, and prices by the glass or bottle are impressive. Private parties of any size, weekend brunch and one day per month for senior lunches are more options at this upscale but casual restaurant. A visit to Highland’s Garden Café is as special as dining out can be.
3927 West 32nd Avenue, Denver, CO 80212
(303) 458-5920
Strings (17th & Humboldt) is a special place for many reasons, including a great patio to enjoy dining and watch the scene. The creative menus are served al fresco for lunch, dinner, the bar menu, and weekend breakfast. Start with tuna tartar served on a glass-tile platter, the signature beef carpaccio or mussels. Divine crab cakes with chutney, potato gnocchi, soft-shell crab with spicy remoulade sauce and a cheese plate are other truly wonderful appetizers. Strings is famous for its cashew-crusted sea bass, the most popular dish on the menu, and penne bagutta, but be sure to indulge in the seasonal menu of fish, beef, chicken, pork and veal. If you are a liver fan, this is the place to go. Each presentation offers accompaniments that complement the dish. Kids are exceptionally well treated and are invited to make their own desserts in the kitchen. Owner Noel Cunningham makes it all happen. Strings is a perfect choice anytime.
1700 Humboldt Street, Denver, CO 80218
(303) 831-7310
Randolph’s Restaurant at the Warwick Hotel (18th & Grant) brings new meaning to hotel patios. The wrap-around patio is enclosed from the street with beautiful landscaping, comfortable seating and a wonderful atmosphere. Near downtown, forget “hotel” and think of fun and a place for the best lunch in town and a more sophisticated dinner. Or drop in for wine after work and enjoy the scene. Burgers, panini, sandwiches, salads and entrees bring so many noontime options that decisions are nearly impossible. With free valet parking, leave your car and stroll downtown afterward to visit the Art Museum or enjoy a sports event.
1776 Grant Street, Denver, CO 80203
(303) 318-7272
Patios with great entertainment are another treat.
Shanahan’s (S. Syracuse off I-25 & Belleview) wows the crowds in the DTC area. Big and gorgeous in décor, both inside and out, the restaurant’s patio is awesome anytime, and live music plays through the speaker system six nights a week. The food is fabulous, with excellent starters of Kobe beef carpaccio, crab cakes, tuna tartar and fried oysters. Terrific steaks and a huge selection of seafood make perfect entrees with delectable sides to complement your choice. As you enter, don’t miss the showcase of Super Bowl rings and the Lombardi trophy and the walls of wine, with 4,000 reds and over a thousand whites. Owner Marc Steron does it all right at the very popular Shanahan’s Steakhouse.
5085 South Syracuse Street, Denver, CO 80237
(303) 770-7300
Elway’s Cherry Creek (1st & University) is great looking with a fabulous bar area, comfortable dining room and a fantastic patio, with heat lamps and plastic covers for warmth when needed. In the summer, Wednesday nights bring big-name bands and vocalists to wow the crowd during the summer concert series. The patio, which rocks all the time, extends out to the mall for these events, and the scene is terrific. Elway’s food shines under the creative talents of executive chef Tyler Wiard. Order anything from lamb chops fondue and tuna tartar to burgers, sliders, steaks and fish, and every dish will be as great in presentation as in taste. Whether snacking or dining from the full menu, everyone is thrilled. The wine list is excellent, with great choices by glass or bottle. Elway’s Cherry Creek is just the place to be.
2500 East First Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80206
(303) 399-5353