Sure, summer in Colorado means hitting the trails, pulling out the bikes and setting up the tent for a night under the stars. But it can also mean sitting outside on a patio, taking in the views of the skyline with a cocktail in-hand.
Thankfully, Denver is full of al fresco spots to enjoy the abundant sunshine. Here are a few of our favorites.
Ironton Distillery & Crafthouse
Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of RiNo’s Brighton Boulevard, Ironton Distillery & Crafthouse’s spacious and peaceful patio is nestled alongside the South Platte River. This women-owned and women-led distillery has been serving up spirits, cocktails and food since 2018.
On Monday and Tuesday, distillery-goers can have flatbreads, roasted garlic hummus with vegetables and spent grain crackers, soft pretzels, and a number of other small plates. For the rest of the week, patrons can look for a full menu that includes salads, garlic knots and an extensive pizza list. For instance, there’s the Honey Bee pizza, topped with a mozzarella blend and a honey drizzle. Or, opt for something a bit more hardy and go for the Guston, topped with cherry tomatoes, sliced prosciutto and mozzarella cheese.
Last but not least: the spirits. Ironton makes gin, aquavit, absinthe, sochu (in collaboration with Denver Sake Company), amaro, five different whiskeys and several liqueurs. As for the mixed drinks, customer favorites include the S’mores Old Fashioned, made with bourbon, walnut bitters and a s’mores infusion, all clarified in vanilla ice cream; Spring Fairies, made with cucumber-infused aquavit; and the Pinkies Up, made with barrel-aged gin.
Mercantile Dining & Provision
From Alex Seidel, the James Beard Award-winning chef who also brought Denver restaurants like Fruition, comes Mercantile Dining & Provision. Located at Denver Union Station, patrons can sit outside and soak in the hustle and bustle of downtown, all while eating elevated comfort food made by executive chef Alexander Grenier.
Not sure what to get? According to Mike Mitchell, general manager, customer favorites include the burrito, the yellowtail tiradito, the watermelon salad and the salmon bowl. Additionally, many of the dish’s ingredients come from local Colorado farmers.
On the cocktail menu, Mitchell says some summer favorites include Yearning for Italy, a wine spritzer; the Paper Train, which is a reimagined paper Plane; and the Not Your Average Tiki, made with Jamaican rum, vermouth, Velvet Falernum, rhubarb liqueur, ginger syrup and lime.
Adrift Tiki Bar
Some days, you might be tempted to hop on a flight to a tropical island and never look back. For times like that, there’s Adrift Tiki Bar.
For more than a decade, Adrift has been serving up creative tiki-inspired concoctions and riffs on classic cocktails in an immersive environment on South Broadway. As soon as you step inside and head to the back patio, you’ll feel your cares melt away. A consistent summer favorite cocktail? The Macadamia Nut Chi Chi, according to owner Loren Martinez.
“It’s perfectly balanced, not too sweet and incredibly refreshing, which makes it the ultimate thirst quencher on a warm day,” says Martinez. “This cocktail is everything the piña colada wishes it was.”
As for what to eat with the dish? Martinez suggests the poke nachos, made with housemade wonton chips, raw marinated tuna, avocado, pickled onion and more.
Dio Mio
If a trip to the birthplace of al fresco dining is not in the cards this summer, fret not. You can still enjoy the best of Italy right here in Denver.
Open since 2016, Dio Mio has been serving up handmade pasta for the better part of a decade. The menu, helmed by Chef Peter McTiernan and sous chef Jack Raczkowski, incorporates locally sourced ingredients whenever possible and changes seasonally.
If you opt for patio seating, you might miss some of the action at the restaurant’s pasta production table. But in all fairness, sitting outside with customer favorites like the aperol spritz or a glass of pét nat is an equally enjoyable way to spend the afternoon.
Alternatively, you can check out their sister restaurant, Redeemer Pizza. Which, alongside a patio and upscale dining area, serves up pizza slices from an almost speakeasy-like setting in the back.
El Five
Tapas, cocktails, and an uninterrupted view of the skyline and Rockies? Sounds like the perfect evening. El Five is part of Edible Beats hospitality group, which also includes popular names like Ophelia’s, Vital Five, Root Down and more.
A mixture of Spanish, Mediterranean, North African and Middle Eastern cuisine, the dishes are meant to be shared—get the full experience by mixing and matching. Might we suggest starting with the “Spreads of the Meds,” which features several types of hummus, Turkish eggplant dip, and other accompaniments paired with a wine from their extensive “by-the-glass” menu?
Additionally, El Five is 100 percent wind-powered and grows most of its vegetables in its 6,000-square-foot organic garden or sources them (when possible) from local Colorado farmers and ranchers.
Happy Camper Denver
Inside Happy Camper Denver, customers can enjoy the airy dining room replete with disco balls and beer pong tables. But this pizza spot’s patio is not to be missed, with fairy lights to set the mood, fire pits, games and ample room to move around.
Known for their pizza, Happy Camper is perfect for vegetarians, carnivores, and omnivores alike. For veggie lovers, look for the Gaurav pizza, topped with portabellas, sun-dried tomatoes, goat cheese and more. Meat eaters, on the other hand, should try the Matt topped with Canadian bacon, pepperoni, Italian Sausage, mushrooms and other dressings.
If you can sneak out of work a couple of hours early, be sure to soak up the sun during their happy hour (Monday–Thursday 3 pm–6 pm) on the patio. Specials include discounted spritzes, espresso martinis and charcuterie boards.
American Elm
The name says it all: American Elm gets its moniker from the massive American Elm tree on the corner that stretches over and shades the patio. Started back in 2018, by Brooklyn transplant Bob Reiter, this eatery has quickly become a neighborhood staple.
The menu serves up elevated classic dishes. Think: A roasted half-chicken with heirloom carrots, spaetzle lemon beurre blanc, pomegranate and salsa verde. Or steak frites, a ribeye cap topped with bone marrow butter and served with arugula salad and fries. As for drinks, check out their thoughtfully curated cocktail list which includes options like the House Spritz or the Trompo, made with Madre Mezcal. They have a few non-alcoholic options as well.
