Enjoying great food, drink and conversation at a restaurant is made all the better by great views (including people-watching), balmy breezes and the romantic and carefree vibe. Lucky for us, our “patio season” can start in April and run well into fall. Here’s our 2025 roundup of Restaurant Patios In Good Taste that we’ve been to. We’d love to hear your suggestions too.
Here, in no particular order, are some of our favorite patios and the reasons we love them. Note that some show up in more than one category because they’re just adaptable like that. We want to hear from you though! What are some of your favorite patios? We know we’ve barely scratched the surface here. One criteria, we are talking permanent patio situations, not those that are bumped out into the street with cement barriers. We’re talking purposeful, structural patios, on the sidewalk or rooftop. Leave your comments below – we’d love to add to our patio time!
Restaurant Patios we find to be In Good Taste…and why
Family-Friendly
Breckenridge Brewery – Like the big back yard of your dreams, complete with a place for some musicians to play.
Culinary Dropout – see below.
Denver Beer Company at Lowry – It might not get better than this for families, especially those with slightly older kiddos. The patio itself is great but it is right on a park with a playground. Keep the kids in view while still enjoying your beer, able to jump up at a moment’s notice when you need to. Note: we don’t advocate leaving kids unattended in a park.
Hops & Pie opened a heated, covered 3,000-square-foot patio in 2023 that’s game, baby, pizza, and beer-friendly.
Ironton Distillery – We love the various outdoor “rooms” with enough space to keep an eye on the kids as they wander just a bit. It has also received raves for its dog-friendly nature.
Oblio’s Pizza – This Park Hill gem has got to be the shadiest patio in town, under decades’ old trees on a side-street. The family-owned and run pizza place is a favorite among families, inside and out. If it wasn’t so family-friendly, this lush patio could be a contender for “most romantic” patio. But, kids…
Station 26 Brewing – The spacious patio is definitely kid- and dog-approved. In fact, if you’re kid- or dog-averse, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a place to call your own. Note: the food is from food-trucks-only so bring something for the kids to nibble on.
TAG Burger Bar – In its new location in the Eastbridge Town Center in Central Park, the expanded, covered patio is relaxing and cool, with enough space inside it and just outside on the plaza to let antsy kids stretch their legs.
Opportunities for People-Watching
Blanco Cocina & Cantina – Channel some south of the border time on this wrap-around patio that lends itself to lingering a while.
Centro Mexican Kitchen – Located on Boulder’s Pearl Street, the year-round covered patio still allows for great people-watching (while eating great), set back a little bit from all the action.
Cherry Cricket Cherry Creek – The original patio spills out onto a whole other, really spacious patio. That one has TV’s for sports fan, yard games, and fire pits.
Culinary Dropout – Whether you sit at a table, at a high-top, or the lounges, there isn’t a bad seat in the (outdoor) house.
Deviation Distilling – Located in the alley of the Dairy Block, just outside of the distillery’s space in a refurbished 1800s firehouse. Creative and pretty cocktails catch glimpses from passersby who are separated from the seating area by large steely planters. It’s especially pretty at night.
Federales Denver – The patio has a dark, cozy vibe. Their corner location makes it great for people-watching, within its frame and outside of it too.
Larimer Square – We hope the street stays blocked off forever because letting the restaurants spill out with their romantic patios is the way we born-and-bred-Denverites always imagined the block could be.
Lowry Beer Garden – Tons and tons of outdoor space means lots of folks to observe while sipping beers. And with some of the long tables being shareable, you may just make some like-minded friends.
Schoolyard Beer Garden & Cafe – Located in the newly renovated and very historic Evans School in the Golden Triangle, pastries, salads, sandwiches, drinks and more can be enjoyed inside the gated complex.
Romantic
Annette Scratch to Table – Everything about this place is romantic and the patio areas are no exception, including the big, private yurt. Well, it’s not so pretty from the outside but I’m sure it’s dreamy when you’re inside.
Fire Lounge at the ART Hotel– Edgy, sleek, great city views, it’s just plain sexy.
glo Noodle House – Twinkly lights and location away from the busy road make it feel secluded. See why we love this place, here.
Le Bilboquet – Who couldn’t use a virtual escape to Paris (by way of Cherry Creek North)?
Tropical
Adrift Tiki Bar – Hanging blowfish lamps, island murals, grass-lined umbrellas and tiki decor (and drinks)? You can’t help but go on “island time” despite being on South Broadway.
The Garden – At The Ramble Hotel, the rooftop Garden recalls Denver’s early “Fern Bar Days” combined with a Bohemian vibe and the need to call it a “lanai.”
Happier Happy Houring
Barcelona Wine Bar – Tucked behind the LoHi restaurant, peeking out onto Larimer Street, Barcelona’s long, narrow, woody patio is secluded and cozy. Go for Happy Hour when Tapas are a real deal.
Cattivella – While we also love enjoying their generous happy hour at the chef’s counter inside, the patio’s a mighty pretty and off-street way to take in the good deals.
Officer’s Club – One of our favorite places to feel retro while in a modern atmosphere, the vibe hearkens back to Lowry Air Force Base’s original, official hangout. The happy hour menu is great and, order the Maryland Crab Cakes from the regular menu for the best you’ve ever had.
Game Playing
Ace Eat Serve – Maybe you want to play ping pong. Or corn hole. Or maybe you just want to enjoy your meal. All of it is possible on the expansive, semi-covered patio.
Culinary Dropout – How many restaurant patios create a very designated and large area just for yard games?
FlyteCo Tower – Spread out, play some Putt, and enjoy the food and drink scene where the owners’ passion for aviation has landed at the control tower building in the Central Park neighborhood. The patio now welcomes dogs. Watch where you, uh, putt your feet.
Keeping It Simple
Boychik at Stanley Marketplace – The food is so good here that the only thing that could make it better is enjoying your meal on the wrap-around patio, enjoying a summer evening.
Olive & Finch – The Cherry Creek location is long and narrow but, despite being located near busy 1st Avenue, feels nicely contained thanks to planters.
Our Mutual Friend Brewing Company – The Larimer taproom has a fenced in, spacious patio that’s nothing fancy but it does the job including showing off cool murals and easy access to food from Pit Fiend BBQ located behind their patio. Kids and dogs are welcome but visit the website about rules for each.
Perdida – Channel the Baja coast on the multi-level, partly-covered patio in Westminster. Basking in the fabulous mural, under pink and white striped patio umbrellas makes us feel sunny anytime.
Parma Trattoria – Despite being located in a strip mall (where, by the way, some of the best “strip mall jewels” can be), the spacious side patio at this Louisville restaurant makes it feel like a world unto itself.
Channeling Europe
Barcelona Wine Bar – The fenced off patio keeps the fun in while allowing passersby to ogle you enviously as you sip drinks and enjoy tapas. It’s one of the few private patios in this list, in fact.
The Hive Garden Bistro at Denver Botanic Gardens – It’s #1 for pretending you’re at Giverny, in Monet’s Garden.
Le Bilboquet – Besides being very romantic (see above), in true French fashion, the patio is as much about seeing as being seen.
Ultreia – Channel Spain sitting at a mosiac-tiled table, enclosed by wrought iron gates, nestled against the historic Denver Union Station, with trains nearby and fantastic people-watching. One gets the feeling their just a few tapas and gin drinks away from their next travel adventure.
Selfie Central
Wonderyard Garden + Table – It’s a great place to see, be seen, and take a picture of yourself doing both. With a whimsical patio featuring various charming seating vignettes, every scene cries out for another round of pics. Don’t miss the carousel horses though – an actual selfie station. The food is quite good and the cocktails? Totes picture-worthy.
Sunset Sightings and Other Expansive Views
Los Chingones in Eastbridge – Big skies, the former airport tower, and sunsets make for spectacular rooftop viewing. More chips and salsa, please!
Rare Bird – The Halcyon hotel’s seasonal rooftop has rooftop programming throughout the summer plus an open-air wood-fired oven and seating that encourages socializing.
Red Barber – It’s what other patios want to be when they grow up, expansive, with nearly uninterrupted views all around for great sunsets and city views.
Tamayo – Which is more stunning, the food and drink, or the sunsets you catch from this rooftop spot, especially since they redecorated and refreshed their decor inside and on the patio?
The Fort – The covered patio affords views of Red Rocks and the sweeping Colorado Foothills while dining on “New Foods of the Old West.”
Feel Homey and Cozy
Dagabi Tapas Bar – Subterranean and tucked away, it’s one of Boulder’s best patios you’d only know about if someone told you. Like we just did.
My Neighbor Felix – The Boulder location has a patio almost as comfortable as back patio at home, with bench seating wrapping around firepit tables and shade overhead.
Postino Wine Cafe at 8th and Colorado Blvd. – Set off from the busy road a bit, next to some grass, it just draws you in and makes us say, “we’ve got to go back there,” every time we drive by.
Red Rocks Beer Garden in Morrison – If you could put up a bunch of tables and chairs all around your own backyard, all of your friends would want to hang out there and have beers as much as they do at this spot.
River & Woods – The restaurant is a former house and the patio dining happens in the backyard. Can it get homier than this?
Toro in Cherry Creek – Although large, because it’s in a courtyard, it’s easy to let the outside world fall away.
City Views
Avanti Food & Beverage – After the lucky challenge of deciding what you’ll order at this food hall, you deserve to enjoy your meal with spanning city views.
The Woods – Atop The Source Hotel, offers views of the city and the gritty with a wrap-around patio from on high.
Mountain Views
Lariat Lodge in Evergreen – Grab a brew with your view plus some tasty comfort foods.
Pindustry – have your food, drink, play games, and a stunning view too.
Stem Ciders Acreage – Located in Lafayette, perched on a hill with views of the Rocky Mountains, you can recline in an Adirondack chair, a hammock, or sit at a picnic table to enjoy sips and nibbles.
The Rouge Wine & Bourbon Bistro – Sister business to Pindustry but oh-so-different, this south and west-facing, wrap-around patio has great views of the west. Just look beyond the parking lot.
Viewhouse off I-25 – Look beyond the I-25 traffic to appreciate the western views
Getting Close to Nature
Great Divide Brewery and Roadhouse – One whole side wall opens to the outdoors at their Castle Rock location. And that outdoors is a creekside with tall trees and a pedestrian and cycling path. It’s a nice oasis.
-Story and photos (except where noted) by Courtney Drake-McDonough, publisher & managing editor or In Good Taste Denver
