Where to find Denver’s best outdoor dining

Head to this Jefferson Park brewpub for a craft beer, burger, and a top-notch view from the rooftop patio and you’ll see why it’s remained a local favorite since 2013. The beer list is extensive, with rotating options such as stout made with Denver-roasted coffee and raspberry blonde ale with local honey. Pair a pint with buffalo cauliflower, a green chile black bean burger, or a Reuben sandwich. On warmer days, there’s partial covering to keep the sun from bearing down on diners. Go downstairs for a more casual outdoor biergarten experience where you order food and drinks from a walk-up window—it gets bonus points for being dog friendly.

This playful LoHi hotspot in an airy lot is ideal for alfresco dining, complete with twinkle lights, picnic tables, and faux grass. The convivial beer, cocktail, and comfort food joint comes from Chicago, where the two original locations are going strong. Given its Windy City roots, it’s no surprise pizza is a big deal here, as are Happytizers including pulled pork nachos, elote dip, and breadsticks served with a goat cheese dip, plus soups and salads. Bonus points for the full canopy and outdoor heaters that give diners full access to alfresco dining, even when it's snowing.

Mizu Izakaya has dished up flavorful Japanese food in LoHi since 2016. A roomy outdoor seating area surrounds the restaurant and can be curtained off when the Denver sun shines a little too brightly. In the warmer months, the windows open onto the patio, making part of the interiors feel breezy as well. Come winter, portable heaters—and steamy bowls of pork kimchi ramen—keep things toasty. While sushi is the house specialty, the bustling izakaya also serves sizzling skewers, furikake fries, uni carbonara, Kobe beef bao buns, and more. Wash it all down with a drink from the large sake and cocktail selection.

Play a couple of rounds of ping pong before digging into ramen bowls and spicy tiger wings at this high-energy Uptown restaurant. Ace Eat Serve (often referred to as just “Ace”) graced the neighborhood in 2012 and brought modern Asian fusion to the area. Housed in what used to be a mechanic’s garage, this large open space is ideal for a casual night out, raucous parties, and year-round outdoor dining on the partially covered and heated patio. Ping pong tables abound, but even if you don’t play, executive chef Thach Tran’s creative plates—and an eclectic mix of sake and craft cocktails—are reasons enough to book a table here. Choose from Thai fried rice with jumbo shrimp and poached egg, confit Peking duck ramen, and more. Sit by the heaters if it’s a bit nippy outside.

Sweeping downtown views await on the roof of this LoHi eatery, best experienced during sunset. LoHi is all about global street fare and the outdoor menu is a more compact version of what’s served inside, dished out from a food truck perched on the rooftop. Graze on wagyu sliders, chile garlic edamame, and sweet potato waffle fries. Wash it all down with warm-weather drinks such as frozen rosé and rum-forward Painkillers.

This orchard-side cider house restaurant is about 30 minutes from Denver and has one of the best mountain views around. Snag a reservation on the outdoor deck for the full foothills effect, or grab a seat in the dog-friendly cider garden. The menu changes with the seasons, though you might find tasty cider-friendly fare such as pimento cheese with housemade pickles, watermelon panzanella, white fish ceviche, and a Colorado lamb burger. Bonus points for the playground and large kid-friendly lawn.

The plimoth was one of the first restaurants in Denver to go all-in on farm-to-table dining when it opened in 2014. Chef-owner Peter Ryan works with local farms to source the freshest and best produce for dishes such as grilled artichoke heart with romesco, greek olives, and citrus supremes and cracklin’ chicken with Napa cabbage and honey yams. Sit along the street on the plimoth’s brick-laden patio under soft lights when the weather permits. Outside tables are limited, so secure an alfresco spot by reserving well in advance.

This Italian-inspired spot has one of Denver’s most sought-after patios, equipped with sturdy wooden tables, ample space, and plants galore. Kick off your Acova experience with a tomatillo beer cheese dip with roasted pretzel bites, calamari with capers, garlic, shallots, and Calabrian chiles, or smoke-brined flash-fried chicken wings. Mains include heartier dishes such as lobster macaroni and cheese, plus burgers and sandwiches (bonus points for the many gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options). On chillier evenings, order a bowl of pork posole green chili and huddle under the heater. Note that while reservations can be made for Acova’s inside section, all outdoor seating is first-come, first-served.

One of the prettiest Flatiron Mountain views can be found on the outdoor patio at Corrida, restaurateur Bryan Dayton's Spanish-influenced chophouse. Take a seat outside on warmer days (preferably during sunset) while digging into chef Samuel McCandless’s Mediterranean-accented creations such as tinned mussels with white balsamic and black garlic and local greens with herb pesto and marcona almond. Beef is also a Corrida specialty—the restaurant sources Hokkaido wagyu and American beef from places practicing regenerative ranching. Enhance your alfresco feast with a drink from the roving gin and tonic cart.

Tom's Starlight is the glammed-up version of its predecessor, Tom's Diner, housed in a Googie-style historic building in Capitol Hill. Owner Tom Messina treated the longstanding diner to an overhaul in 2022, giving it a 1970s Palm Springs vibe. With its loungey tables and faux-grass lawn, the reimagined outdoor area isn’t just fun to hang out in—it’s one of the largest alfresco spaces in the area. Linger over signature cocktails such as the Jeweler’s Hammer (vodka, white Concord grape, simple syrup, lemon, prosecco, and rosemary) and feast on well-executed sandwiches, including the elk burger, layered with cipollini onion, goat cheese, blueberry jam, beets, and garlic aioli.