In a TikTok era, great restaurants not only have delicious eats to createcreating buzz, but also sumptuous interiors for the cameras to devour. From hand painted- murals crafted by local artists to thoughtfully curated fixtures and accents, here’s where you’ll find 10 of the most beautiful restaurants in Denver and its environs.
Parisian Chic at Noisette
A fictional chic, Parisian grandmother has been the constant source of inspiration for the design at Noisette since the LoHi French restaurant opened in August 2022, saidys Lillian Lu, pastry chef and owner. Fixtures and furniture in this blush pink and sage green jewel box lean modern. But to deliver and accompany dishes like homemade baguettes, tender, fall-apart Boeuf Bourguignon and lemon-spritzed dover sole, Lu sources mismatched plates and silverware from antique stores stretching from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs.
“What is wonderful is that we have had a few people view our decor and are reminded of something their mother or grandmother had in their house,” she saidsays. “We have also had several people reach out asking if we would like some of their antiques.” 3254 Navajo St. #100, Denver, noisettedenver.com
Old World Glam at Le Colonial
At Cherry Creek newcomer Le Colonial, guests enter through elegant French doors and are greeted by a transportive main dining room. Patterned Moroccan cement tiles ground the space and woodand, wood panels line the walls. Above,, and romantic fixtures reminiscent of gas lights have been sourced from New Orleans and hang from the ceiling.
A commanding oil painting of the Vietnamese countryside serves as the visual anchor in this French-Vietnamese dining hot spot. Sidle into a plush leather banquette surrounded by large and lush tropical plants for dishes like Ca Chien Saigon, a crisped up red snapper doused in chili garlic fish sauce. Darrah Ferrari Wahlstedt, the restaurant’s marketing and creative director, along with the architecture and design firm Knauer Inc. spearheaded the restaurant’s cosmopolitan design. 255 Fillmore St., Denver, lecolonial.com/denver
Coastal Vibes at Lady Nomada
No coastline in Colorado, no problem. Chow down on baja fish tacos and birria nachos paired with palomas and margs at Lady Nomada, which has locations in Olde Town Arvada and Lakewood’s Belmar neighborhood. Both outposts channel the vibes of a boutique hotel in Cabo San Lucas.
The laid back desert-meets-sea design includes paintings of surfers, hanging swing chairs, cacti gardens, and Aztec-patterned throw pillows and upholstery. Local artist Lindee Zimmer crafted the murals at both locations, including the Instagram-ready one at the Belmar location with warm sunset hues. 7519 Grandview Ave. Arvada and 7167 W. Alaska Drive, Lakewood; nomadakitchen.com
Historical Dining at Woodie Fisher
The stately brick building occupied by Woodie Fisher was Denver’s first volunteer fire department., Kknown as Hose Hose No. 1, and this 1881 landmark is actually the oldest fire station that remains in Denver today. Located at the corner of 20th Street and Chestnut Place (across from Coors Field), Woodie Fisher’s industrial design with exposed brick nods to its past through its design elements, like a firehouse chandelier hanging in the private dining room. Large arched windows and a 26-foot skylight let the sunshine pour into the handsome dining space. 1999 Chestnut Pl. #100, Denver, woodiefisher.com
Western Wonder at Wildflower
Moody and maximalist, Wildflower’s design draws inspiration from Denver circa the late 1800s when industrialists were expanding West. The interpretation of this Mile High Victorian era includes romantic touches like dried florals placed in candelabras and amber glass vases, as well as flower-patterned throws.
Also take in, plus Western details like cowboy art, and a warm color scheme with a rust-colored leather sofa and cacti lining a window. A garden-inspired cocktail like the Gimme Thyme gin cocktail sweetened with wildflower honey feels like the just-right sip at this LoHi restaurant—something like the Gimme Thyme gin cocktail sweetened with wildflower honey. 3638 Navajo St. Denver, lifehousehotels.com/hotels/denver/lower-highlands/restaurant/wildflower
Lovely Levels of Design at Stellar Jay
There’s much for the eye to feast on at the new Populus Hotel. Start, starting with the bibliophilic exterior of the building where windows are meant to mimic the eyes of Aspen trees. Once inside at Pasque, the lobby-level restaurant, take note of the curvaceous sculpture above the bar. It’s made from 500 sheets of Reishi, a leather-like material crafted from mycelium, which is the root of mushrooms.
Perched atop the hotel, Stellar Jay is a rooftop bar and restaurant offering superlative views of the gold-domed Capitol building to the East and the Rocky Mountains to the West. Outdoor patio furniture is intentionally neutral so as not to distract from the views. From inside, those eye-catching Aspen eye windows make for geometric frames of Denver landmarks. 240 14th St., Denver, populusdenver.com/stellar-jay
Mister Oso in RiNo‘s Tropical Paradise
For a slice of paradise in RiNo, slip into Mister Oso, a pattern-happy Latin restaurant where you can enjoy tacos laden with—birria, lamb barbacoa, green curry mahi, mahi, and more. Dine—underneath draping plants or in a verdant courtyard with ivy covered walls. The Michelin Bib Gourmand-recommended restaurant features tropical wallpaper with birds of paradise prints, patterned tiles fronting the bar and coral-colored benches. Mister Oso has a second location in Washington Park, and recently opened a spot on Concourse C at Denver International Airport. 3163 Larimer St., Denver, misterosodenver.com
Wild Taco Berkeley Loves Decor
While this list is dominated by gorgeous interiors, Wild Taco’s punchy pink heart painted exterior is the attention grabber at this Berkeley restaurant. When the team debuted Wild Taco a few years ago at its first location in the Gov Park neighborhood, they wanted the space to be pretty and feminine. However,, but the building itself was industrial.
So, they incorporated the milagro hearts wall, an idea that came from one of the business partners Flor Arago who loves the design for its symbolism of love and devotion. In 2023, when it came time to open the next location, Wild Taco in Berkeley, there wasn’t room for the milagro hearts inside so the team opted to wear its heart on its sleeve, err outside wall, commissioning artist Matt Joshua to execute the design, saidays Yoon Terry, co-owner of Wild Taco. 4499 W 38th Ave., Denver, wildtacodenver.com
Elevated Airport Dining at Sunset Loop Bar & Grill
In 2023, editors at Food & Wine picked Denver International Airport as the best U.S. airport for food. Since thenSince, the restaurant scene at the airport has grown tremendously with outposts of local restaurants like Cholon, Mister Oso, Bar Dough, El Chingon, and Mizu Sushi-Izakaya. Among the notable newcomers is Sunset Loop Bar & Grill from Denver Nuggets’ personal chef Daniel Young.
The Concourse B restaurant serves pesto chicken sliders, green chile cheeseburgers, and crispy trout with runway views. The swank space feels a bit like an elevated mid-century diner and the art includes a beautiful tile mural that’s inspired by Colorado’s fiery sunsets and hiking trails. 8500 Peña Blvd., Concourse B, Denver, flydenver.com/dine/sunset-loop-bar-grill/
La Forêt‘s Fairy Forest
You’ll feel as though you’ve wandered into a magical forest when you dine at La Forêt, a French restaurant and cocktail bar on South Broadway. Formerly occupied by Beatrice & Woodsley, the restaurant kept the original Aspen trees studding the space. But on top of that, the design team added to the mythical ambiance with handcrafted wooden trees, lush greenery, and a planta plant wall at the entrance.
Also take in the pleasingpretty, as well as moss applications and dry floral arrangements scattered throughout. French-inspired fireplaces illuminate the back bar and chandeliers add elegance. Come for La Forêt’s daily Pastis Hour which happens from 4 to 5 p.m. It’s and is a tribute to the French tradition of apéro, with anise-flavored pastis and curated small bites headlining the menu. 38 S. Broadway, Denver; laforetdenver.com
