Patio season has officially arrived, and while there’s nothing wrong with simply kicking back with a cold drink under the Colorado sun, there are also plenty of ways to take the al fresco fun up a notch. Throughout the Denver metro area, a number of outdoor spots welcome friendly competition, whether you’re rallying over a game of ping-pong, perfecting your putt on a mini-golf course or racking up wins during rounds of cornhole. At these seven patios in the Denver metro area, it’s game on.
Skyhigh Vibes and Classic Cornhole at Pindustry
Think of Greenwood Village’s Pindustry as the posh Chuck E Cheese of your adulthood. Indoors, games run the gamut from duckpin bowling to interactive darts and air hockey. Head upstairs to the Skydeck, and the vibe shifts to a lively outdoor party.
With plenty of cornhole boards available to rent for just $15 an hour, hula hoops to take for a spin, and summer eats like a grilled Pineapple Burger ($18) with honey sriracha and Shrimp Po’Boy ($18), it’s a fun weekend hangout spot or a great place for a post-work happy hour. 7939 E. Arapahoe Road, Greenwood Village, thepindustry.com
Play Ping-Pong at Ace Eat Serve
Wings and ping-pong, anyone? Ace Eat Serve in the Uptown neighborhood has a playful patio with two outdoor ping-pong tables, convertible to beer pong tables for those who want to relive the glory of their beer-soaked college days. Reserve a table in advance; they start at $15 per hour for ping-pong and $25 for beer pong, which includes your first pitcher.
Each ping-pong table comes with an accompanying high-top table so you can park dishes like spicy chili mayo drenched Lucky Dragon Wings ($16) or small plates such as chili pickled cucumbers ($8) and tuna tartare spring rolls ($10). Loser buys a round of sake? 501 E. 17th Ave., Denver, CO; aceeatserve.com
Brunch and Backyard Games at ViewHouse
Here’s your Sunday Funday game plan: Head to ViewHouse’s Centennial location for your reservation at the Brunch Buffet, which has a seafood tower, meat-carving station and all the late morning/early afternoon staples you’d want. When you’ve polished off your last plate, move over to the courtyard for games like cornhold, giant Jenga and volleyball. ViewHouse has four locations:
In addition to Centennial, there’s outposts in Littleton, Colorado Springs, and the Ballpark neighborhood in Denver. Each location has its own huge outdoor courtyard where you can enjoy sports games on big screens, outdoor movie screenings and live music. In between games, quench your thirst with a spiked cherry limeade or a cold pint of beer. Multiple locations; viewhouse.com
Pints, Putters, and Pinball at Wonderland Brewing
Cornhole and breweries go together like beards and brewmasters. But in Broomfield, Wonderland Brewery is an all-out fun zone. Sure, you’ll find classic cornhole here. But this family-friendly hangout also has an 18-hole putt-putt course dotted with beer barrels ($8 for kids; $10 for adults) and an arcade with 30 themed pinball machines.
You can also shoot hoops and play pickleball in between rounds of sharp-witted beers like the Defunded Ranger IPA or a malty Oily Oaf, a bronze medal winner at the Colorado Brewer’s Cup. There’s also an in-house food truck churning out classic comfort foods such as a smash burger ($14), fried cheese curds ($10), and steak tacos ($12). 5450 W. 120th Ave., Broomfield; wonderlandbrewing.com
A Patio Party for the Whole Pack at The Eddy Taproom and Lawn
In Golden, The Eddy Taproom & Hotel is a boutique hotel basecamp for adventurers hanging out on the mountains flanking the old mining town. But locals are clued in on how fun the outdoor patio and lawn is, too. There’s even the “mug club, ” which locals can join and have their own beer mug to display in The Eddy Taproom and to drink from every time they visit. Gather up your friends to play cornhole or try your luck at a giant Connect 4 lawn game. There’s free live music from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Friday and Saturday.
This family-friendly patio also has kids menus and coloring pages for little ones. It’s dog-friendly, and you can get a “pupshake” from the hotel’s food truck. For the humans, try the Smoked Trout Dip ($16), a plate of chicken wings with chipotle-brown sugar sauce ($15), and the Fried Green Tomato BLT ($19). 640 8th St., Golden; theeddygolden.com
Mini Golf and Big Burgers at FlyteCo
FlyteCo is a must-visit playground for game lovers. Housed in a former flight tower, this Central Park spot is packed with fun, from bowling downstairs to sports simulators and axe throwing in the OverFlyte Tower. Outside, the move is to play a round of mini golf on the patio ($7 per person), where tiny airplane stamps guide you between the 18 holes.
After the games, kick back on the spacious patio and refuel with a burger, summer salad, wrap, and other elevated bar eats paired with the brewery’s own beer, a seasonal cocktail, or mocktail. 3120 Uinta St., Denver; flytecotower.com
Coming Soon: Rook, a ‘Rooftop Clubhouse’ at the Catbird Hotel
Crowning the Catbird Hotel in RiNo, in late May Rook will take over the space that Red Barber occupied. The team is setting out to reimagine what a rooftop bar can be with chess drinking games and rooftop pool parties, the kind with cue sticks, not swimsuits. The new space will host midnight chess tournaments governed by house rules, late-night backgammon duels, and board game extravaganzas, all set to a soundtrack of DJs spinning jazz and dance tracks.
Rook will serve creative craft cocktails and shots like a Ferrari (Campari and fernet) with the option of a beer sidecar. Bar snacks follow suit with options like Funyon grilled cheese, leveled-up pigs in a blanket, and walking tacos. Opening day is planned for May 20. 3770 Walnut St., Denver; catbirdhotel.com
