This post was originally published in 2020 but has been updated and recirculated for 2021.

Well, guys and gals I think we are on the other side! After a summer of social distancing, we are back and Denver is basically back to normal! Red Rocks shows will soon be full capacity and restaurants can still do booze to go and have extended patios!

Tennyson, Highlands & LoHi

• Mas Kaos – Tennyson – I mean we basically live here. A combo of Pizza (Kaos Pizza) and Tacos (Uno Mass) into one amazing restaurant with a great patio. Even if you don’t want to stay, swing by and get a drink to go form the “Margarita Stand”

• Local 46 – Tennyson – Probably the best outdoor space in Denver this “Biergarten” is huge with lots of semi-private spaces to hang. Pictured above
• Ale House – LoHi – Rooftop for drinks
• 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
• Punch Bowl Social – Punch Bowl turned the entire parking lot into a patio to hang!

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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