15 Fancy Restaurants in Denver That Are Worth the Splurge
Calling all material gworls! Known for its culture, music, art, sports, and food, Denver is full of nice restaurants that are totally worth the splurge. We explored the culinary scene in this Mile High City, and these are some of the best fine dining establishments we came across.
Photo credit: blaineharrington.photoshelter.com
1. 54thirty
1475 California St, Denver, CO 80202
(720) 996-1558
54thirty is a rooftop bar with expansive views of the city. The nighttime ambiance is pleasant, and during the cold months, there are firepits and heat lamps. The drinks menu includes cocktails and beers. While the food menu is not very large, the options are excellent. You can’t go wrong with any dish, but fan favorites are the chicken salad and the Waygu beef burger. The exceptional service makes this one of the best fancy restaurants in Denver.
Red Room South | Photo credit: Barologrilldenver.com
2. Barolo Grill
3030 E 6th Ave, Denver, CO 80206
(303) 393-1040
Barolo Grill is an award-winning Cherry Creek North restaurant that prides itself on serving authentic northern Italian food while maintaining a comfortable, elegant ambiance. Known for its modern Piemontese cuisine, a spectacular wine cellar, and knowledgeable, attentive staff, Barolo Grill is the perfect choice for special occasions or just a great night out. The menu changes seasonally, highlighting locally sourced ingredients from regional farms and artisans. Pair your dishes with a wine or go for their wine flight: a popular wine sampler. Critics agree: awarding Barolo with a Michelin award in 2023.
Photo credit: westword.com
3. Beckon
2843 Larimer St Denver, CO 80205
(303) 749-0020
Beckon is a fancy and unique restaurant situated in a converted RiNo bungalow. The menu is eight courses served in an 18-seater dining room. To have a meal, you need to prepay for your reservation. The menu changes with the seasons, but the one thing about the food is that it is exceptional. The wine pairing is one of the must-have experiences at Beckon because the wine accompaniment makes the food exceptional. The whole experience is heavenly.
Photo credit: hoodline.com
4. Bistro LeRoux
1510 16th St Denver, CO 80202
(720) 845-1673
The classy ambiance in Bistro LeRoux makes this one of the best fancy restaurants in Denver. This French-based eatery has a menu that combines French and Mediterranean cuisine in a lounge-like area with indoor and outdoor seating. There is a dining section and a bar section. The snacks menu has several light dishes, such as the smoked Marcona almonds, which are perfectly smoky. The small plates menu is heavily Mediterranean-influenced. We highly recommend the meatballs, which are served with Spanish-styled roasted pepper, ragu, basil, and fresh ricotta.
5. ChoLon Modern Asian
1555 Blake St #101, Denver, CO 80202
(303) 353-5223
Within walking distance of Coors Field, ChoLon is an elegant restaurant with a Southeast Asian menu with a touch of European flair. Chef Lon Symensma ensures every dish is flavorful, with delicate seasonings and ingredients. We highly recommend any of the soup dumplings, especially the French Onion Soup Dumplings. Amazing ambiance combined with awesome staff, this restaurant is guaranteed to put you in a good mood for food.
6. EDGE Restaurant & Bar
1111 14th St, Denver, CO 80202
(303) 389-3050
Located in the Four Seasons Hotel, EDGE is not your typical steakhouse. They have delicious wood-grilled meats, high-concept entrees, and a bar with a great social scene. Yes, this place is pricey, but delicious dishes combined with huge portions make it all worth it. There’s no way you leave EDGE unsatisfied.
Photo credit: fruitionrestaurant.com
7. Fruition Restaurant
1313 E 6th Ave Denver, CO 80218
(303) 831-1962
Fruition Restaurant is a farm-to-table eatery that serves fantastic food, led by Chef Alex Seidel. This Michelin Star-awarded restaurant has indoor dining and outdoor seating. They have tasty crab rangoon which is served with a duck Furikake and topped with hot mustard and sweet chili sauce. With a Southern vibe, they have a creamy shrimp and grits dish and country ham with roasted mushrooms and leeks. Fruition has an exceptional wine list with perfect complements to any meal. Service is great and always ready with recommendations.
Photo credit: papercitymag.com
8. Guard And Grace
1801 California St Denver, CO 80202
(303) 293-8500
Guard and Grace is a steakhouse that serves prime steaks and wood-fitted vegetable dishes with ample modern space. The menu is diverse, with steak options such as Wagyu and grass-fed steak cuts with various accompaniments. The fish dishes are just as wide and are served in the smoky fashion of the eatery from the specialty wood-fired ovens. The mac and cheese is exceptional, with the right amount of richness and seasoning. The oak-fired carrots are another must-have dish, and the drinks menu is quite decent. No matter what you order you won’t leave hungry; the portions are quite large.
9. Izayaka Den
1487A S Pearl St, Denver, CO 80210
(303) 777-0691
Considered to be one of the best sushi spots in Denver, Izayaka Den is a hip eatery known for its intricate Japanese small plates. Everyone raves about their beautiful ambiance and their exceptionally fresh sushi and sashimi. This spot is great for lunch, dinner, and late-night dining, but be sure to make reservations ahead of time or you may have to wait a while- they always seem to be busy! We highly recommend getting the Spicy Edamame, Ginger Bluefin sashimi, and the Kobe Beef Roll.
Linger | Eggplant “Bone Marrow”
10. Linger Eatuaries
2030 W 30th Ave, Denver, CO 80211
(303) 993-3120
Linger is one of the concepts from the Edible Beats restaurant group, housed in a former mortuary (props to them for braving the optics of serving food in a former storage and embalming spot for human corpses) in Lower Highland, or LoHi. You’ll love the bar, the decor, the service, the beautiful rooftop, and of course the food. The restaurant prides itself on being 100% wind-powered, with a veggie-forward menu representing countries from all over the world. Everything you can order is impeccable, but some of our favorites are the: Bao Bun Trio (with Mongolian BBQ Duck, Char Siu Pork Belly, and Korean Fried Chicken), Crisp Filipino Spring Rolls, Tempura Ginger Chili Shrimp, Roasted Eggplant “Bone Marrow”, and the Wagyu Sliders. The cocktails are phenomenal as well, especially the bright and refreshing New Saigon, with gin, lime, basil, jalapeno, and cucumber.
11. Ocean Prime
1465 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80202
(303) 825-3663
Ocean Prime is a great upscale restaurant in Lower Downtown with a phenomenal menu and a cozy and intimate atmosphere whether you dine indoors or outdoors. Their menu focuses on seafood, steak, and perfectly-crafted cocktails. Great appetizers to try are the Lobster Bisque and the Surf N Turf (which has scallops, braised short ribs, and gremolata). The main dish must-haves are the Chilean Sea Bass and Filet Mignon steaks with absolutely stunning presentations. For dessert, you have to try the Warm Butter Cake. It has the perfect amount of sweetness and is the perfect combination of simple and sophisticated. The staff is well-knowledged on the menu and will certainly go above and beyond to make sure your experience is impeccable. From appetizers to desserts, the flavors at this fine dining spot are immaculate and worth every penny.
Photo credit: oliviadenver.com
12. Restaurant Olivia
290 S Downing St, Denver, CO 80209
(303) 999-0395
The warm ambiance in Restaurant Olivia makes it one of the top choices for an upscale dining experience in Denver. The pasta-focused restaurant has some of the most authentic Italian in the city. Every year, the staff of Restaurant Olivia takes a trip to Italy so that they can personally experience, taste, and see what inspires the menu. The dinner menu does change seasonally, but some popular dishes are the Charred Spanish Octopus, the classic Eggplant Parmesan, and their Tagliatelle pasta dish with prosciutto sauce and parmesan cheese. For dessert, most people recommend the Lime Tiramisu and Churro Bombolini. Their hand-crafted cocktails are also phenomenal, and their wine list pairs very well with the pasta. The rich flavors and the exemplary service make the experience of dining at Restaurant Olivia one that is unforgettable.
Photo credit: Yelp
13. Rioja
1431 Larimer St Denver, CO 80202
(303) 820-2282
Rioja is an imaginative upscale Mediterranean restaurant with exceptional dishes & wines. With a high-energy dining room, locally sourced ingredients, and fresh food, Rioja is worth the price! A staff favorite is the Sukiyaki bowl, a filling broth full of glass noodles, bok choy, shaved beef, green onions, tofu, carrot, ginger, and Napa cabbage. Others also rave about the chicken salad sandwich that has chili chicken grilled to perfection, bacon, curry aioli, candied cashews, and celery, alongside the tasty turmeric mule. The food is fresh and perfectly prepared, and the service personnel are attentive and knowledgeable.
Photo credit: canadas100best.com
14. Tavernetta
1889 16th St Denver, CO 80202
(720) 605-1889
Tavernetta presents a beautiful fine dining experience. Everything in this fancy restaurant is exceptional, from the decor to the excellent service and fantastic food. The seating area has two dining areas with rich wood accents, making it feel cozy and private. The attentive service personnel are quick to serve without being overwhelming. With an Italian-influenced menu and an excellent wine list, this is the place to eat! Portions here are large, so be ready to share!
Photo credit: arizonarestaurantweek.com
15. The Capital Grille
1450 Larimer St Denver, CO 80202
(303) 539-2500
Open seven days a week, The Capital Grille is best known for its expertly prepared steaks, which are dry-aged in-house for 18 to 24 days and then hand-cut by an on-premise butcher. The Capital Grille’s wine list features more than 350 selections, and its floor-to-ceiling wine kiosk regularly houses 3,500 – 5,000 bottles. They have great food, excellent ambiance, and wonderful staff. The wine pairings are perfect, the food portions satisfying, and the décor welcoming – all enticing for an intimate dinner.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on May 17, 2022, and last updated on January 24, 2022. Please refer to restaurant websites and social media pages for the most up-to-date information.
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