Memorial Day has come and gone, which means it’s the unofficial start of summer and all things outside in Denver, including dining.
But not every patio place proves equal, or fits specific needs. Whether you want an alfresco meal with a touch of class, a spot to bring your dog while you dine, or something casual for a night out with friends, we have over 25 of Denver’s best outdoor restaurants to visit right now.
Dog-Friendly Patios
Number 38 in RiNo
The RiNo-based Number Thirty-Eight has a huge outdoor space that welcomes dogs all year long, just as long as they are friendly, quiet, and on a leash. Not only that, but the sprawling space has a massive 220-inch outdoor LED television, plus two more outdoor setups perfect for those who want to take in a game, eat some wings and pizza, and bond with their pup. You can even go during the day for a bite to eat while working on your laptop. The only rule is no dogs inside, and no dogs during ticketed events. 3560 Chestnut Pl., Denver, nmbr38.com
Recess Beer Garden in LoHi
For a long time this LoHi eatery has been a hot spot for dogs and their owners, and it remains one of the best. First, there’s tons of picnic tables and communal seating, so if your dog is hyper, shy, protective, or any other personality, you can choose your spot based on that. The beer garden has dog bowls for water, large television sets playing sports, brunch service, and an easy-to-digest menu for the humans in your group.
Dog-friendly hours run Sunday through Thursday from open to close; Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. All dogs must be leashed and, like children, owners need to watch them. While there ask for a gratis treat for your animal, order them a side of bacon ($7) or pup patty ($6), get a pint of beer and an order of Recess Nachos ($16) for yourself. 2715 17th St., Denver, recessbeergarden.com
Denver Beer Co. in LoHi
When wandering around Platt Street in LoHi, stop for a cold beer and cooling patio spot at this Denver brewery staple. Not only is the large space dog friendly, but it’s covered so you can get those four-legged companions out of the sun.
Water bowls are littered about and humans can hydrate with a Graham Cracker Porter or Incredible Pedal IPA, among other brews. While there isn’t a kitchen here, Denver Beer Co. welcomes a rotating list of food trucks such as Barbed Wire Reef and R&B Tacos. 1695 Platte St., Denver, denverbeerco.com
Read our full Dog-Friendly Patio list here.
Patios Perfect For Brunch
Fox and the Hen in Highland
When looking for a brunch spot as lively as the weekend plans, head to Fox and the Hen, where the patio scene is always buzzing. With wooden picnic tables shaded by vibrant orange umbrellas, this spot offers a welcoming and energetic setting perfect for a casual brunch.
As for what you’re eating, it’s all about chef Carrie Baird’s Fancy Toasts ($12 to $17), which come in a rotating variety of flavors. Other delicious options include the BYO Omelet (starting at $11) and the chef’s famous Bobby Flavos ($18), her take on pork green chili huevos rancheros. This dish helped the Top Chef alumni clinch victory over chef Bobby Flay in an episode of Beat Bobby Flay. 2257 W. 32nd Ave., Denver, foxandthehen.com
Cozy Cottage in Berkeley
If you’re looking for a charming breakfast or lunch spot in Denver, Cozy Cottage should be high on the list. For 12 years this chill, homey eatery has served American and Mexican fare in the Berkeley neighborhood. Though the main restaurant resides in an old house-turned-cafe, the dog-friendly patio is a hidden gem that’s open year-round but doubles in size during the summer months so you can dine among the greenery. Grab a seat at one of the mix-and-match tables, shaded by colorful umbrellas, and enjoy the cozy ambiance.
On the food side, order the Cozy Blintz ($14.29) for the table. It’s made with crème fraîche tucked inside two crepes with fresh fruit. Next, The Huevos Escondidos ($15.59) comes with chorizo sausage, black beans, and cheddar cheese tucked between two corn tortillas, smothered with ranchero salsa and topped with two eggs, salsa fresca, and sour cream to help cool down the otherwise spicy plate. Overall the menu proves simple, comforting, affordable, and vast, so there’s a little something for everyone, including gluten-free pancakes. 4363 Tennyson St., Denver, cozyupdenver.com
Read the full brunch list here.
Best Pizza Patios
Joy Hill in Platt Park
Joy Hill sounds like it could be the name of your next indie band crush, but it’s actually a South Broadway hotspot marrying funky with functional. While the 1970s-era interior has a whole vibe, you’ll want to head up to the roofdeck where a bar and lounge meld rustic elements with flamingo-accented flair. It’s all neon and natural wines, sunsets and style.
On the menu find wood-fired, naturally leavened pizzas made with local ingredients and house-made mozzarella. The uber-chill sanctuary features misting fans for hot days, heat lamps for chilly nights, and western-facing mountain views to keep your eyes occupied no matter the weather. Bonus, you can make reservations specifically for the patio via Tock. However, you’ll still need to get there on the early side to snag one of the seats along the far west-facing wall in order to catch the colorful Colorado spectacle of the sun setting behind the Rocky Mountains. 1229 S. Broadway, Denver, joyhilldenver.com
Homegrown Tap & Dough in East Washington Park
In the historic South Gaylord subsection of East Wash Park, Homegrown Tap & Dough is home to one of Denver’s best patios. The rustic-chic pizzeria embraces and celebrates everything Colorado via some extremely tasty wood-fired pies. Try the Weekend Warrior with red sauce, smoked mozzarella, pepperoncini, pepperoni, and oregano. Another winner, the Pigs & Pears, a lovely pizza topped with butternut squash, goat cheese, bacon, candied pear, arugula, and balsamic, with a roasted garlic sauce underneath.
But back to the patio. Amid the lush neighborhood’s abundant greenery, this table-service hotspot invites you to settle in for a leisurely afternoon spent satiating all your carb cravings. When day fades to night, strings of overhead lights give the sense of dining under the stars. 1001 S. Gaylord St., Denver, tapanddough.com
Hops & Pie in Berkeley
In the heart of Berkeley, Hops & Pie has been a beloved neighborhood fixture since 2010, slinging some of the best pizza and craft beer in town. The restaurant got a patio upgrade in 2023, which transformed a pandemic-era makeshift space into a permanent outdoor haven. With fire pits, plenty of TVs, and a welcoming vibe, this patio is where you want to be.
Owned by husband and wife duo, Drew and Leah Watson, as the space has grown so has the menu. The team still makes the iconic crust naturally leavened from a sourdough starter aged over a decade, but now diners can also try the Detroit- or New York- style pies. Bonus, with a rotating tap list of craft beers, there’s always something new to pour, making it the perfect place to relax, people-watch, and get some fresh air. 3920 Tennyson St., Denver, hopsandpie.com
Dine Outside in a Secret Garden
Domo Downtown
Domo’s sprawling backyard garden, dotted with cherry blossom trees that drop pretty pink petals like nature’s confetti this time of year, feels more like a tranquil swath of the Japanese countryside than a restaurant located just a few blocks from Colfax Avenue in a major Denver thoroughfare.
The serene space features water elements, a small pond with a wooden bridge, Buddha statues, and evergreen bushes. All this can be enjoyed while savoring dishes like matcha-infused soba noodles and an ever-changing rotation of side plates such as tangy pickled vegetables and stir-fried lotus roots. The rustic countryside charm continues indoors, where diners can sit on polished tree stumps with Japanese crafts and treasures filling the space. 1365 Osage St., Denver, no website
Secret Garden Bar & Café in Cheeseman Park
Perhaps the most aptly named addition to our garden hideaways list is Secret Garden Bar & Café, which opened last August at the northern edge of Cheesman Park. Housed in the historic Tears-McFarlane House, a stunning example of Colonial Revival architecture dating back to 1899, this secret garden café melds socialite history with a laid-back park-side vibe.
The outdoor patio is bordered by blooming flowers and outfitted with picnic tables and umbrella-shaded seating. Start your day with a breakfast burrito and coffee or wind down in the afternoon with marinated olives, whipped feta, and a glass of wine or a craft cocktail. The menu also features fresh paninis, sandwiches, salads, and baked treats. 1290 N. Williams St., Denver; secretgardenbarandcafe.com
Potager Restaurant & Wine Bar in Capitol Hill
This iconic Denver restaurant offers both a rustic, romantic covered patio that evokes the charm of a French bistro and an open-air garden where guests can dine surrounded by blooms. Fun fact, Mick Jagger enjoyed a meal on the patio in June 2024, the night after The Rolling Stones played Mile High Stadium.
“The open air garden is truly magical, like a fairy garden, with seating amongst flowers and herbs and vegetables that are all used in the Potager kitchen throughout the season,” said Potager owner Eileen Warthen.
Beyond its beauty, the garden serves a practical purpose. It allows the kitchen team to stay in tune with what’s growing and when, offering a firsthand glimpse at the ripening produce and what’s emerging from the soil throughout the spring and summer. In turn, this appears on the plate in a masterpiece of seasonal new American fare. 1109 Ogden St., Denver, potagerrestaurant.com
Discover more secret gardens here.
Outdoor Space With Food and Games
Ace Eat Serve in Uptown
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). And now, Ace Coffee Bar is open during the day, and yes, you can still play ping pong. 501 E. 17th Ave., Denver, CO; aceeatserve.com
FlyteCo Tower in Central Park
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
ViewHouse Locations
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
See all game-filled patios here.
Noteworthy Outdoor Spaces to Eat and Drink
American Elm
Since opening six years ago, American Elm has always had an outdoor space flanking its namesake tree. Now the area has been reimagined, and it’s elegant yet laidback, large but not sprawling, and offers the same great plates dished up by chef Daniel Mangin. Recently that included a divine Striped Bass Crudo ($18), Deviled Eggs ($11), and the city’s best roasted chicken ($33). Even if you just want a craft cocktail or glass of wine, it’s a great place to be when the weather is nice. 4132 W. 38th Ave., Denver, amelm.com
Xiquita in Uptown
The outdoor seating isn’t vast at chef Erasmo Casiano’s ancestral Mexican restaurant, but it’s shaded and decked out with pleasing plants. That means even when it’s the middle of summer you can find a break from the heat, and enjoy the new Xiquita Taqueria happy hour menu as well. Dinner there is just as nice. 500 E. 19th Ave., Denver, xiquita.co
Ultreia in Downtown Denver
There’s something very European feeling about the patio space at Ultreia, right in Union Station. Maybe it’s the proximity to the transportation hub, or the traditional tapas served from the Spanish restaurant. Or perhaps the vibe comes from sipping goblets of gin and tonic alfresco. Either way, it’s a great spot to enjoy happy hour, lunch and dinner. 1701 Wynkoop St., ultreiadenver.com
Kaos Pizzeria in Platt Park
Kaos Pizzeria is something of an urban oasis featuring a sprawling space where both sun worshippers and shade seekers find a happy place. Dogs sprawl contentedly by their owners’ feet, catching the occasional crumb, while diners relax into chairs that seem designed for lingering over that last sip of chianti and bites of wood-fired pizza and pasta. It’s a patio that feels less like stepping out for a bite and more like stepping into a friend’s backyard garden. And with a happy hour stretching luxuriously from 2 to 6 p.m., it’s where you come for the discounted drinks, but end up staying late for dinner. Kaos Pizzeria, 1439 S. Pearl St., Denver, kaospizzeria.com
Le Bilboquet in Cherry Creek
In Cherry Creek this high-end French spot offers a handful of small tables outside, perfect for an intimate lunch or dinner. Though the alfresco dining remains the same, inside the space went through a recent revamp, updating the blue velvet and changing the dining room to make it more French bistro like.
During lunch order the endive salad ($18) and a bavette steak ($44) with fries and green peppercorn sauce. Or head to Le Bilboquet for a fine dinner featuring escargot in parsley butter ($22), duck leg confit ($41), and a bottle of the new house-bottled Sancerre. 299 St. Paul St., Denver, lebilboquetdenver.com
Acova in Sunnyside
The outdoor patio at Acova is where verdant garden greenery provides a picture-perfect backdrop that’s so naturally inviting, it’s the antithesis of Instagram bait. The wine slushies, however, have proven to be social media stars.
Whether or not you’re thirsty for likes or just plain old thirsty, order a red-white swirl with a floater of Leopold Bros. blackberry liqueur. Why? Because it tastes just like summer. If you’re hungry, the food is just what you hope to find in a friendly neighborhood gem like this one. The Diablo Eggs, Honey-Stung Fried Chicken, and Broadway Lobster Mac and Cheese are all standout dishes, but you really can’t go wrong with anything you order, especially when dining outside. 3651 Navajo St., acovarestaurant.com
Epic Outdoor Spaces
Champagne Tiger in Capitol Hill
From the front Champagne Tiger looks like a retro diner, but once inside you’ll find it’s so much more. And, it has a huge fenced-in patio, perhaps the largest in the area. Not only that, but there’s plenty of places to lounge, sip, nosh, and gossip, all with chic 1960s vibe. 601 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, champagnetiger.com
Edgewater Public Market in Edgewater
Edgewater Public Market has all your alfresco dining needs covered. Upstairs, a 2,200-square-foot rooftop terrace offers amazing city views, and fire pits to keep you warm. Plus, the cocktails get served from a gleaming 28-foot Airstream trailer. On the ground floor, there’s indoor and outdoor seating, and no matter where you land, people watching proves fantastic.
Best part, there’s enough food and drink options to please everyone. Try Konjo, the only Ethiopian restaurant on the west side of town. Or go to Happy Cones, which stakes its claim as America’s first New Zealand-style creamery. Arepas House offers a taste of Venezuela, Glady’s is all about vegetable-forward vegan fare, and Barbed Wire has all the burgers. Barquentine is a family-owned brewery inspired by the beers of Belgium. Finally, Black Box Bakery brings out of this world laminated pastries to the mix. 5500 W. 20th Ave., Edgewater, edgewaterpublicmarket.com
The Farm House at Breckenridge Brewery in Littleton
Take a tube, a bike, or a car—just make sure you get to The Farm House at Breckenridge Brewery. It’s located just beside the banks of the Platte River, off the eponymous trail, about 10 miles south of Denver in Littleton. The rustic venue offers a charming blend of craft brews and hearty meals, all with a scenic view of the mountains from the cozy back porch, sprawling lawn, and beer garden surrounding it.
Lawn games, fire pits, and live music are also part of the experience when things are in full seasonal swing. Make sure to check out a brewery tour, hosted Thursday through Sunday year-round with a reservation. Also keep a look out for the summer concert calendar. 2990 Brewery Ln., Littleton, breckbrew.com
Yardbird in RiNo
If you’re craving a dose of Southern charm with your cityscape, Yardbird in RiNo’s Lot 28 project is your go to. Not only is the restaurant massive, clocking in at a whopping 14,950-square-feet, it’s rumored to boast one of the biggest patios in town, with room to host you and 599 of your friends for the ultimate alfresco affair. On this expansive terrace you’ll find a stage and lawn, plus a bi-level patio where the grub is good and the drinks are strong. 2743 Blake St., Denver, runchickenrun.com/denver
Outdoor Dining Beyond the Denver Metro Area
River and Woods in Boulder
Heading to the outdoor dining area at River and Woods feels like you’re about to have a backyard party where you don’t have to do any cooking or cleaning. It’s comfortable, quaint, and perfect for alfresco eats. The cuisine is wholesome American fare, with a strong pull towards the seasons and local ingredients. This Boulder eatery opened in 2016, founded by DiningOut’s Josh Dinar and chef Daniel Asher. Today executive chef Russ Fox leads the kitchen. 2328 Pearl St., Boulder, riverandwoodsboulder.com
New Terrain Brewing Co. in Golden
Adjacent to the Golden Bike Park and a dog run, the brewery resides snug against the eastern slope of North Table Mountain in Golden. It’s a favorite haunt for the area’s active crowd, who follow the brewery’s own trail from North Table Mountain Park right to the sprawling beer garden’s door.
The expansive patio has lots of seating options, fire pits, and a stage for live music, and there’s a food truck on site for every hour that the place is open. The brewery’s busy calendar is replete with baby goat nights, yoga on tap, specialized bike demo experiences, and the weekly Music by the Mesa live music series on Thursdays. The garden is kid-friendly and the same goes for dogs, which you’ll certainly see any given night. 16401 Table Mountain Pkwy., Golden, newterrainbrewing.com
Steam Espresso Bar in Boulder
Located in the backyard of Steam Espresso Bar’s Boulder location lies a destination-worthy garden escape. Sip your coffee and read a book or thumb through the newspaper among cloud-like hydrangeas, climbing clematis vines, and begonias flowing from wooden planters.
The coffee scene feels cinematic, especially when you factor in the unexpected addition of an airplane fuselage parked in the middle of it all. The fuselage has been a fixture on the property for more than two decades. When Steam opened in 2013, it became part of the landscape and incorporated into the espresso bar’s logo and merchandise. By the end of May, the flowers should be fully awake and ready to be enjoyed alongside your morning cup of joe or as part of your afternoon coffee break. 1801 S. Pearl St., Boulder, steamespressobar.com
Wonderland Brewing in Broomfield
Head through the looking glass and into Wonderland Brewing, a small-batch brewery that goes big on fun and even bigger on space. This dog- and family-friendly playground has an outdoor stage, a firepit, and an 18-hole mini golf course sprinkled with quirky Western-themed yard art. If that’s not enough, there are courts for pickleball, cornhole, and basketball.
If you prefer spectating to participating, take your pick from the beer-garden-style patios. Yes, plural. Inside the space you’ll find a ton of classic and limited-edition video games and pinball machines. For food, visit the Wonder Grill, an in-house food truck minus the wheels. 5450 W. 120th Ave., Broomfield, wonderlandbrewing.com
