This post was originally published in 2020 but has been updated and recirculated for 2022.

Denver is best enjoyed outside and with a seemingly endless amount of sun its pretty easy to do year round! If you are looking for a great patio to enjoy a meal or drink this is your guide. If its winter and you are still looking for an outdoor experience read this guide and my winter outdoor dining guide.

Tennyson, Highlands & LoHi

• Happy Camper – LoHi – This is a new pizza spot to Denver that has a GIANT patio – this is a great spot for groups or like an ad hoc meetup

• American Elm – Tennyson – We love eating on the Patio at American Elm. Food, Service & drinks are always spot on. Check them out for brunch too
• Bacon Social House – Sunnyside & Littleton – Brunch or lunch with a large patio and very open-air “inside” dinning too
• Postino – LoHi, South Broadway – Cheese, wine, cheese & more wine! Oh and all the bruschetta you can dream of + a big patio!

• Cart-Driver – LoHi – This covered patio gets direct sunlight all day + its pizza and oysters!
• Ashkar – LoHi – Cozy and covered outdoor patio (with heaters)
• Arcana – LoHi – Large patio with outside bar
• The Family Jones – This local distillery is the perfect spot for happy hour on the patio
• Avanti – LoHi – The food hall/bar has a two large rooftop patios. I love Avanti cause its a crowd pleaser for groups can eat whatever they want and drink whatever they want and be happy – Highly recommend Rooted Del Mar – YUM
• Glo Noodle Bar – Tennyson – This vibey noodle shop just opened (2022) at the corner of 38th and Tennyson with a huge patio with lots of sun – win-win! (Pictured below)

Uptown & Gov’s Park

• Ace Eat Serve – Uptown – Huge patio and great for “groups” Also check out their new lunch pop up Happy Go Lucky for lunch
• Humbolt Kitchen – Uptown – Make a resy here for date night
• Steuben’s – Uptown – The Trout Almondine is one of my all-time favs
• Logan Street – Gov’s Park – Maybe one of the longest patios in Denver with its wrap-around porch
• Coperta – Uptown – Get your spritz on with the extended patio at Coperta. Check out sister restaurant Beast+Bottle too!

Downtown, Union, Larimer, Dairy Block

• Kachina Cantina – Dairy Block/Union Station – Kachina is one of my FAVORITE restaurants in Denver. They have WHITE queso that is fire, killer margs (bottomless for brunch) and the food is so so good. I love their tacos in the Navajo bread but seriously love everything on the menu. They have a very open-air dining room and a great patio too.
• Poka Lola Social Club – Dairy Block – Take their amazing cocktails and food to go (think cheese plate, french dip, burgers) and enjoy in the ally or at home!
• Tavernetta – Union Station – Tavernetta’s patio has basically doubled so there is plenty of outdoor dining at this Union Station staple.
• Sunday Vinyl – Union Station – I have yet to visit this Union Station wine bar but everything about it looks right up my ally

• Osteria Marco – Larimer Square – Larimer Square is shut down and all restaurants have tables set up alfresco!
• Snooze – DTC, Ballpark, Union Station, Colorado Boulevard, Westminster – Have all extended their patios – brunch all day! yes, please!
• Urban Farmer Denver – Union Station – Steaks and more on the spacious outdoor patio and open-air dining room
• Wynkoop Brewery – Union Station – The OG Denver Brewery has a great patio overlooking Union Station – perfect for when your guest just arrive from DIA
• Tomayo – Larimer Square – Margs on a rooftop overlooking Larimer Square yes, please! Chef Richard Sandoval nails the Mexican food and drinks here – check them out for brunch too.
• The Wild – Union Station – This coffee shop/bar has a cute little patio right across from union station – lovely for breakfast or a drink

RiNo

• The Source – RiNo – The Source has converted their parking lot to a communal outdoor area for all their restaurants including Safta, Acorn and Smok
• Barcelona Wine Bar – RiNo – One of my favorite spots in Denver, the patio is small but the food and wine is oh so good
• Ironton Distillery – RiNo – HUGE patio like half a football field with share and misters too! Killer drink and Za!
• Bigsby’s Folly – RiNo
• Los Chingones – RiNo – Rooftops, margs and street tacos

• Ironton Distillery – Strong drinks and good pizza with probably the biggest patio/garden area in Denver – head to Ironton – open for brunch now too!
• Number 38 – Number 38 opened during the pandemic and has been our go-to outdoor spot! Check out the music and comedy line up or play a game of volleyball

• Federales – This Austin transplant is HIP and always bumping. Come for the big patio, strong drinks and perfect white queso!
• Honey Elixer Bar – Y’all this place is a VIBE. Like the decor is amazing, drinks are fancy and music is 100%. I felt cool being in here. The patio is small but right in the ally between Walnut and Larimer which is covered and street art with great people watching.
• Improper City RiNo – Think of a giant open space with picnic tables, games and food trucks. Great for getting a large group together who needs to come and go.
• RiNo Beer Garden – This patio is great for groups and has lots of TVs so if you want to watch a game while being outside this is the spot – full bar too! (Pictured below)

Wash Park & South Broadway

• The Hornet – South Broadway – The Hornet has TWO patios! One patio right on Broadway and First and another one in back, which was named one of the best-hidden patios in Denver by Westword.
• Kaos – South Pearl – The Pizza in Mas Kaos. An old victorian with a huge yard to lounge it.

• Cochino – South Broadway – Y’all this patio is awesome!! They have misters! Plus, they have frozen margs and Palomas and one of my favorite queso’s in Denver

Cherry Creek

• Local Jones – Cherry Creek – Local Jones has a small patio but big windows so a great open-air feel in Cherry Creek
• Le Bilboquet – Cherry Creek – Transport yourself to Paris! With brunch or dinner on this charming patio!
• Barlo Grill – Cherry Creek – Barol has converted their parking lot into a patio!
• Cherry Cricket – Lodo & Cherry Creek – The Cherry Creek location has made a huge “Backyard“

City Park & Central Park

• Pizzeria Locale – Central Park – This new location has a big patio
• Stanley Marketplace – Central Park – I mean this place is like half patio – amazing restaurants like Chook, Elita, Maria Empanada, and Stanley beer hall – great for kids too!
• Postino – City Park – Postino is an all-around winner – wines, fancy toast and sunshine

Englewood & Littleton

• Breckenridge Brewery – Littleton – The farmhouse is open!! Come enjoy this huge patio more details here
• Cochino Taco – Englewood & South Broadway – Killer margs and queso plus a great patio

Boulder

• SALT – Part of Pearl street is closed and SALT has extended their patio! They are also serving to-go via their food truck!
• Flagstaff House Restaurant – Grab a cocktail and enjoy dinner starring at the mountains and the sweeping views of Boulder
• Zolo – Now open with crazy mountain views from their patio
• Centro – Open with a totally new menu and patio!
• West End Tavern – Rooftop with great views

Golden

• The Golden Mill – This is your post-hike go-to! The patio is huge, dog-friendly, and has 3 different food options plus ice cream – really it’s a win-win. (Pictured above)

Breweries

I don’t drink beer – allergic to barley 🙁 – soo I am just sharing the ones I have literally driven past or yall responded with on IG! Slide into my DM’s and I’ll add your favorite here!

• New Terrain Brewing – Golden
• Call to Arms – Tennyson – This parking lot/patio gets sun all day + they have seltzers!
• Empourium Brewery – Tennyson – This converted parking lot has fire pits, igloos lounge chairs – its a vibe

Rooftops Around Town

Rooftops deserve their own section right? While these are listed by neighborhood I thought it best to call them out in one section

• Tomayo – Larimer Square – Margs on a rooftop overlooking Larimer Square yes, please! Chef Richard Sandoval nails the Mexican food and drinks here – check them out for brunch too.
• Los Chingones – RiNo – Rooftops, margs and street tacos
• Avanti – LoHi – The food hall/bar has a two large rooftop patios. I love Avanti cause its a crowd pleaser for groups can eat whatever they want and drink whatever they want and be happy – Highly recommend Rooted Del Mar – YUM
• The Red Barber – RiNo – This brand new (2022) rooftop patio on top of the Catbird hotel sits at the end of RiNo so looking west towards the mountains you literally see all of Denver!
• The Woods Denver – RiNo/The Source – Looking for a killer sunset view then head to The Woods at the very top of The Source.
• 54Thirty – Downtown – Swanky rooftop with westward views of the mountains – that’s 54Thirty at the top of the Le Méridien hotel
• Elevated Rooftop Bar – Cherry Creek – The rooftop of the Halcyon Hotel in Cherry Creek has great views + a full bar and grill
• El Five – LoHi – While a small rooftop patio its still lovely for dinner or a drink
• Linger – LoHi – Sister restaurants to El Five – Linger is a Denver Staple and before LoHi was a thing it had the best views in town. The patio is still super fun and great for drinks or dinner.

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