The 10 Absolute Best Patios for Outdoor Dining in Denver, CO
Denver has a wild outdoor dining scene. The pretty patios of Denver offer views of everything from city streets to mountain peaks! Here’s a look at what we think are the 10 best patios to eat and drink at in Denver, CO.
Culinary Dropout
4141 East 9th Avenue, Denver, CO
(720) 779-0190
Culinary Dropout is the perfect choice when you want to drop out from traditional indoor dining to enjoy an awesome and sprawling covered patio. This restaurant offers classic and filling dishes with a terrific drink menu. Popular dinner entrées here include the rainbow trout, meatloaf, steak frites, and 36-hour pork ribs. Salads, appetizers, soups, pizzas, and “meat and cheese” plates all stack on hearty portions of amazing flavors. Additionally, the drink menu stands on its own before you factor in that this place has some of the best food in Denver. Leave room for the Mississippi mud pie from the dessert menu!
The Happy Camper
3211 North Pecos Street, Denver, CO
(720) 259-1044
The bohemian patio at The Happy Camper in Denver brings you to a tented paradise with hanging plants and lanterns crossing paths under Denver’s cathedral sky. The big hit here is the plate of pork nachos that’s big enough for the whole table. While the nachos steal the show, the real draw of this patio paradise is the pizza! The NADENE pizza made with cupped pepperoni, ricotta, basil, hot honey, and marinara stands out as an elevated take. Other signature pizzas from the menu pile on everything from dill pickles to pepperoncini.
Burndown
476 South Broadway, Denver, CO
(720) 899-3827
Burndown raises the roof on patio dining in Denver with its outdoor rooftop dining. This neighborhood bar combines fresh air, live music, and sensational mountain views. The beautifully designed rooftop patio at Burndown has plenty of sunshades to keep patrons comfortable before the sun fades. While the menu isn’t expensive, the pizza, wings, and pulled pork all hold their own weight.
54Thirty Rooftop
1475 California Street, Denver, CO
(720) 996-1558
As Denver’s highest open-air bar, 54Thirty Rooftop is the perfect place to raise a glass to the Rocky Mountain views that surround you when you drink and dine here. Standout picks from the shared-plate menu include truffle potato chips with onion dip, braised short rib tacos, tuna tartare, lamb meatball sliders, and the boozy s’mores ice cream made with local whiskey.
Terra
891 14th Street (Suite 100), Denver, CO
(720) 643-2381
Located across the street from the Denver Convention Center, Terra is an organic farm-to-table restaurant with a great patio. Menu highlights include butter squash tortellini with black garlic brodo and pickled peppers, bucatini with smoked salmon and shaved roots, and suckling pork loin with strawberry barbecue sauce and roast endive. It should come as no surprise that the patio comes alive during happy hour!
Table Public House
2190 South Platte River Drive, Denver, CO
(303) 744-1113
Locals love the pet-friendly patio at Table Public House. A menu consisting of small plates, coffee, and drinks is just perfect for this eatery located on the South Platte River Bike Trail. The big secret about this subtle spot is that it has one of the best rotating tap lists in Denver. It also has one of the best coffee menus in the city.
Joy Hill
1229 South Broadway, Denver, CO
(303) 954-8784
There isn’t a better place in Denver to savor pizza and beer on a westward-facing rooftop patio. Enjoy a full bar that prioritizes Colorado-made spirits and beers! A typical meal at Joy Hill might include beet salad with chickpeas, pizza with prosciutto and burrata, and a glass of kombucha sangria.
Acova
3651 Navajo Street, Denver, CO
(303) 736-2718
Acova has earned a reputation for offering some of the best gluten-free dining in Denver. Situated in the heart of Denver’s LoHi neighborhood, Acova straddles the line between hip vibes and hearty plates. The menu offers up burgers, short ribs, honey-stung fried chicken, and hard-hitting salads. Specialty cocktails, wine, and beer round it all out nicely!
Derecho
2817 East 3rd Avenue, Denver, CO
(720) 769-8166
Derecho is a wine bar and tapas place that offers everything you could ever dream of when looking for a Spanish cocktail bar in Denver. While the big and small plates draw the crowds, it’s the deconstructed cheesecake made with whipped citrus ricotta, yogurt cheesecake, cherry compote, and almond crumble that will have you singing! While the outdoor patio here isn’t huge, it’s inviting and intimate.
The Patio at Sloans
4032 West 17th Avenue, Denver, CO
(303) 600-8386
Hang out on a heated patio with a designated dog-friendly area at this popular spot that takes guests from brunch to bar hour. Menu favorites include teriyaki beef tips, blackened salmon, Colorado cheesesteak, and the patio burger. For those popping in for drinks and snacks, the truffle popcorn is amazing!
Lowry Beer Garden
7577 East Academy Boulevard, Denver, CO
(303) 366-0114
Offering 16 on-tap varieties, Lowry Beer Garden is famed for its thoughtful selection that’s focused on handcrafted and Colorado-born brews. The expansive outdoor patio brings a festival vibe to things. While guests come for the beer, the “brats and dogs” from the menu easily come in a close second!
For more recommendations on where to eat and drink in the city, check out our Denver, CO page, here!
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