The Yummiest Cocktail Bars in Aurora

Steuben's Uptown

★★★★☆ 4 (3334) • $$

Acova

★★★★☆ 4.3 (649) • $$

"Acova is home to one of the best patios in all of Denver. I'd love nothing more than to give them higher praise, but I've left here wanting more on numerous occasions.From the same ownership as The Hornet on South Broadway, Acova took over this place from Patsy's, a beloved restaurant from Denver's yesteryear. Visually and aesthetically, they're doing it right. Execution of food and service though could use a reboot.I brought my parents here when they were in town, because I knew it'd be a wonderful atmosphere for dining al fresco. The meal almost never even took place, because when we arrived we were ignored for about five minutes. This wasn't a weekend, it was a normal night during the week. No hostess, server, bartender, etc. acknowledged us. We were on the verge of leaving, but I walked up to the bartender and eventually it all get settled. This is a huge pet peeve of mine, it's like ignoring someone that walks into your house!My dad and I ordered wings to start and these were the star of the show for me. The wings were crispy and well cooked. I wish I doubled down and ordered a second portion of them to be honest!For mains, I ordered the beef short ribs and they were served over risotto. The short ribs were relatively tender and had nice flavor. The risotto, however, was just not good. It's a tough dish to make don't get me wrong, but I couldn't even finish my plate because the texture and taste was off.We also had an issue with one of my family's dishes that was wrong, but eventually they made it right. I appreciate that the server and the GM actually took responsibility and ownership of the situation. I will give them kudos for that! Ultimately they were nice and tried to make up for the previous blunders of the evening.Am I running back? Absolutely not. I've been here a few times over the years and this experience matches all my other ones. But if you simply want to have a few drinks on the patio and soak up the sun, this is an excellent place to be when in LoHi."

School House Kitchen & Libations

★★★★☆ 3.5 (958) • $$

"Something has changed...And I love it! The food has improved. Plates and ingredients seem purposeful and in harmony. (BRISKET TACOS = YUM!) Bloody Marys are flavorful, garnished, and don't break the pocket. This place is charming! After a few elementary-level whelmed trips to school house over the last few years , they have graduated to a place where you want to go and study the whisky selection."

Park & Co

★★★★☆ 4 (730) • $$

"Have always enjoyed meals here over the years. The burgers are nicely sized, their fries are crisp and plentiful, and everything on the burger was crunchy and fresh.Cheaper beer prices and a solid rotating set of taps. Staff is friendly and attentive.Parking sucks in the area but a block or two walk isn't bad and helps burn a few calories off of the burger you just inhaled.Not the best wings out there though; they were pretty soggy but still reasonably tasty.Solid all around."

Parisi

★★★★☆ 4 (684) • $$

"Really mediocre pizza served with a side of surliness. Pizza crust is floppy and quite unappealing. Best thing was the gelato All flavors were bland.Much prefer Marcos, Blue pan, and homegrown tap and dough"

Kachina Cantina

★★★★☆ 4 (682) • $$

"We stopped by to sample the Wagyu Beef Tacos and enjoy a Margarita. While the tacos were flavorful, their small size requires ordering multiple servings for a satisfying meal. Unfortunately, the margarita was underwhelming, possibly due to the liquor used; reconsidering their brand selection may improve the drink. As part of the Maven Hotel at Dairy Block, the establishment benefits from the hotel's open-air layout and lively decor.Highlighted promotions include Margarita Mondays and 'Bottomless Brunch' on Fridays through Sundays, which necessitate reservations. The restaurant also offers weekday lunch specials and Taco Tuesday. Proximity to the ballpark makes parking challenging; alternative transportation or an overnight stay is advisable."

Nonna's Italian Bistro

★★★★☆ 3.9 (676) • $$

"Lovely, wonderful place. Highly recommended. The food is fantastic, the service impeccable, and the ambience is upscale yet relaxed. Nothing pretentious about this restaurant, just high quality dining with great service. I've been many times with numerous friends and will be back again."

Casa Mariachi

★★★★☆ 4.1 (597) • $$

"Great food, service and margaritas!! The carne asada was flavorful and tender. I would definitely go back."

SALT

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (849) • $$

"What a treat! We sat in the main dining room and received impeccable service from the hosts, our server, and the support staff. We started with a winter burrata salad and cocktails. The salad was amazing with distinct flavors that complimented each other so well. We also had the fresh baked bread and butter and loved the salty crust. For a main course, we had the risotto of the day--with mushrooms, wine and chicken. We relished every bite we could and took the rest home. We were too full for dessert but know that we will be back for more!"

Earls Kitchen + Bar

★★★★☆ 3.9 (644) • $$$

"The evening started off great at the hostess stand where we were greeted by a super friendly and welcoming young lady, Hadley. She sat us in Shanttneil's section and she was awesome from start to finish. Food and drinks were perfect. A+"

Snooze, an A.M. Eatery

★★★★☆ 4.1 (522) • $$

"Snooze is a breakfast brunch spot chain with many locations that has an array of food offerings and fun seasonal menu items. The interior aesthetic is decorated with a mid modern century retro feel and is well maintained with clean tables and floors. However, a few things to point out that are lacking with the overall experience would be the speed of service and taste of the food. While the staff is very friendly and somewhat attentive, don't expect to have a quick meal from start to finish. I went with a group of people around noon and it is busy. I would recommend making a reservation if you're limited on time and are planning to go around lunch time hours. I saw that there were new summer drinks on the menu and decided to try out the Butterfly Lemonade, since I'm very keen on the lavender flavor. It was good, though I finished it long before the food arrived and sat with an empty glass in front of me for a while before flagging down a staff member for water. As for the food, the portions are decent and the flavors are just fine. The hollandaise for the Benedict's are heavier than your traditional sauce as it's made from cream cheese, so keep that in mind if you have more of a dairy intolerance.All in all, I think Snooze is a place to try if you're looking for a nicely decorated spot with decent food, but be careful not to go in expecting to have a quick or cheap meal. I wouldn't say it's the best breakfast food I've had and it's certainly not the worst. Though, for a restaurant that specializes in breakfast items, I was hopeful it would be a place I would recommend to others with enthusiasm instead of mediocrity after going a few of times."

River and Woods

★★★★☆ 4 (539) • $$

"Super tasty restaurant. It's this awesome glamping x upscale dining mashup. Good vibe and great service.My husband took us here for a surprise date. We started with some drinks and the duck wings and and crispy artichoke. Both were good, but the duck wings were the preferred.We then doubled down and got duck and short rib for dinner. Beautiful plating and delicious dishes.We ordered their SA Syrah, which they were unfortunately out of, so settled for their last bottle of a vintage of Barolo. Delic!We got dessert and dessert wines but I'm totally forgetting what we got.Anyway, super great place."

Pony Up

★★★★★ 4.6 (398) • $$

"Really cool spot. We did wait about 5 minutes for bar seating on a Friday night. Service was really quick. We shared the Chicago French dip. So nice that they split it for us and gave us two dips. The sandwich was delicious and perfectly spicy. The beef was so juicy and delicious but was slightly dry on its own which was a bit disappointing but everything tasted awesome. I had the Parmesan bourbon drink. This was super delicious and would definitely order again."

Jose O'Sheas

★★★★☆ 3.6 (622) • $$

"I've been here a couple times, hoping that it would get better but it's just gotten worse. Mexican rice taste like tomato sauce and yes I know it has tomato sauce in it but it's definitely not suppose to taste like it. The enchiladas I had were ok, I can make them better at home, however I did really like the refried beans. We had the Mexican eggroll appetizer those were really good as well, chips tasted like they were store bought but the salsa was decent. The waitress was ok (can't remember her name) thats how ok she was. The inside was the typical Mexican themed. Being a Mexican i expect more from a Mexican restaurant. Overall in my opinion it's not worth the time and money."

Smokin' Dave's BBQ

★★★★☆ 4.4 (391) • $$

"The food is good. I especially like the Catfish and the Brisket. The Catfish is seasoned very well and the Brisket is moist & tender"

Blackbird Public House

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (679) • $$

"So I admit it....I am a happy hour slut...you got great drinks and bites I'm there!Blackbird Public House has an awesome Happy hour with a great menu and great prices.Throw in a parking lot on prem and I'm in love.Great ambiance with plenty of space to dine, drink or catch a game on the screen.Great Service...super quick, got everyone's orders right, and was always back to check on us.Food and cocktails were very good. Loved the HH Marg, their pizzas, and mussels.Def come and check them out"

Mister Oso

★★★★☆ 4.1 (388) • $$

"This place was suggested by a Colorado native and it was good. The overal ambiance was good, but the food, in my humble opinion, left a bit to be desired. What's interesting about this place, if you order tacos, they come in a big tin, with meat, and tortillas. Assembly required. But the thing was, there were three of us, and they put all the different proteins in one platter. We didn't know what was what. Overall, the food was flavorful, but nothing really stood out."

Matsuhisa

★★★★☆ 4.1 (386) • $$$

"WOW WOW WOW. This is Chef Nobu's third restaurant in Colorado, with the other two locations in Aspen & Vail. This new-style Japanese and was to die for. While everything was truly great, I'd say the must try items are: yellowtail jalapeño sashimi & crispy spicy tuna. Our entire group was happy dancing between each bite. Ambiance is mid-modern minimalist, the restaurant is truly beautiful. Our server guided us throughout the entire sushi experience and it did not disappoint."

Snooze, an A.M. Eatery

★★★★☆ 3.9 (423) • $$

"Great breakfast spot!! We had the Parmesan Crab Cake Benedict and the E'Lote Breakfast Pasta. Both were incredible. Yes, pasta with an egg for breakfast works wonderfully, especially for a hangover (so they tell me). Also had their Espresso Martini & Thai Bloody Mary... both excellent as well!!Service was prompt and courteous. Ambiance was ok, nothing special. Place gets VERY busy so plan ahead!"

Mead St. Provisions

★★★★☆ 3.8 (433) • $$

"A friend and I just ate here for lunch and I can't live! To me it's a sandwich lovers dream....I ordered the cutlet of chicken that was their chicken Caesar salad sandwich.....with extra dressing that was so fresh and delicious! Also had the calamari ( damn tasty and we destroyed that ! )and my friend had the towering roast beef sandwich that had NO fat and was served perfectly rare. Just incredible! Our server was Maile and you couldn't get more professional or be more personal than her. The golden basket of fries stole the show; I wish more restaurants would follow their lead. What an incredibly pleasant experience.....located on 32nd & Lowell Avenue in a charming , bistro/café setting . It takes a lot to impress me and Maile and Mead St. just knocked it out of the park!"

Uncle

★★★★☆ 4.3 (334) • $$

"Time for a mini updated review! The main reason to visit THIS Uncle location is because it takes reservations. At this point, I really only go to order the Veggie Khao Soi which is one of the best things on their menu. The starters are delicious as well, especially the Crab Buns. Oh, and a side of crispy tofu is a must!! I personally like sitting at the bar and watching the chefs work their magic. Still wish they had hot sake but will always come back to satisfy my ramen craving in-restaurant or to-go."

Carmine's On Penn

★★★★☆ 3.7 (438) • $$

"Ross and I dined at Carmine's on Penn & had a fabulous Italian meal - la cena era deliziosa! Carmine's on Penn boasted a wonderful staff and equally good food to boot. We arrived at Carmine's on Penn and were seated in the dining room adjacent to the bar. The aesthetic of the restaurant was warm & relaxed with family sized portion Italian fare & a lively bar. General Manager, Jessica took great care of us. She was lovely and gave us a great background on the restaurant and menu items we should try. Our servers Shae & Aaron were attentive and quick with service.Shae started me off with a White Wine - the Argiolas Costamolino, Vermentino 2021, Sardegna. The Costamolino had flavor notes of ripe stone fruit & citrus. The wine's lemony acidity paired well with the vegetables in the bruschetta & Caesar salad.Jessica brought us garlic bread that was made fresh in house. The beautiful bread knots were warm, fluffy and filled with fresh garlic, butter, and olive oil taste.For Appetizers we had the Bruschetta made with fresh mozzarella, baked crostini and tomato bruschetta mix. The Bruschetta was bursting with fresh flavor. The bruschetta mix had a beautiful balance of mellow acidity and subtle garlic taste. The baked crostini was made in house and I loved that it had some flexibility to it - it wasn't messy and crumbly like standard crostini is.For Salad we had the Community Caesar made with romaine lettuce, housemade croutons, parmesan cheese and Caesar dressing. This Caesar was amazing - the romaine lettuce was perfectly coated in thick, tangy Caesar dressing and each bite had parmesan cheese in it.For Ravioli we had the Vodka Ravioli made with three cheese ravioli in a vodka cream sauce topped with arugula and garlic oil. The Vodka Ravioli was a lusciously melty dish. The vodka sauce was bright in color and flavor from the tomatoes, vodka and crushed red pepper. It was creamy on the tongue while the pasta had soft chew and a warm cheesy center.For House Specials we had the Beef Short Ribs made with a pound of chianti-braised beef short ribs, creamy gorgonzola polenta, roasted carrots and cider vinegar poached kale with a chianti reduction. "These are the best short ribs I've ever had" Ross exclaimed after taking his first bite. The short ribs were fall-off-the-bone tender. We didn't even need a knife to cut the juicy meat; it fell right apart under our forks. The ribs topped dreamy polenta that made for velvety bites against the steaming meat.Shae paired the Ravioli and Short Ribs with a Red Wine - the Cantele, Primitivo 2019, Salento. The Cantele had flavor notes of plum and sour cherry. It was an excellent pair for the rich vodka sauce of the ravioli and juicy red meat of the short ribs.For Dessert we had the Carmine's Tiramisu made with fresh baked lady finger cake, dunked in coffee, topped with rich mascarpone cream sauce and drizzled with chocolate. This Tiramisu was sinfully delicious and I couldn't get enough of the rich mascarpone cream sauce and chocolate drizzle that topped it. The pastry quality mascarpone cream was so silky and generously coated each bite of fluffy lady finger cake."

EAT! Food & Drink

★★★★☆ 3.7 (420) • $$

"This is my 2nd visit ever coming here and pretty excited to get this Happy Friday started. I would like to say thank you to Yelp for the FREE NO STRINGS ATTACHED Bloody Mary. Used the check in feature to receive coupon. The breakfast today was just delicious. And presentation was great. I had the Rib Benedict today. Just everything about today's breakfast was impressive and I knew this place could get me as a customer."

Syrup City Park

★★★★☆ 3.5 (453) • $$

"what a great morning! we were given supreme-o seating with our view of the park and the food and service was better. we arrived at 10 and there was no crazy wait like other places but it was still packed! would definitely recommend this restaurant for breakfast in the City Park area."

range

★★★★☆ 3.8 (380) • $$

"When I stumbled upon Range while looking for a new place to try for a pre-show dinner, it checked all my initial boxes - great reviews, good-looking pictures, and (above all) a stellar menu. I made my reservation immediately.Fast forward a few weeks to the night of the reservation. My friends and I arrived and were promptly seated. First impressions: love the interior; perfect mix of elegant and cozy. The first thing to snag our attention on the menu was the drinks, specifically the cocktails. So many compelling options! It's one of those places where you're reading through the menu and you think "that looks good...oh, that one looks good, too...oh wait, THIS one looks good, TOO!" and so on and so forth. After much deliberation, I got the Buttered Rum Negroni and thought it was divine.We settled on the Baked Camembert for an app (delicious, loved all the little accoutrements), and then got the Moulard Duck Breast, Mediterranean Pasta, and Warm Brussels Sprout Salad w/ Salmon for dinner. Safe to say, all three of us were pretty enchanted with our dishes! My sister loved the olives and artichokes in her pasta, and my friend who got the salad raved about it. The duck (my dish) was cooked perfectly (so tender and juicy and delicious) and the scalloped potatoes were a perfect side.Overall, we really liked this place! The location is ideal if you're walking from the DCPA for a pre-show dinner, but also definitely worth a visit, regardless!"

La Chiva

★★★★☆ 4.2 (311) • $$

"We headed to La Chiva on a recommendation of a friend. Needed a change of pace from the ho-hum suburban chains. What a unique place. La Chiva hit the mark. Our waiter was very friendly and super helpful. Our meal started with a cocktail, my dinner companion ventured out and tried the mango margarita which was lovely, I just needed wine. Now for dinner. Our friend suggested the sampler platter La Chiva Picada which included a generous assortment of Columbian items including plantains, chicken, potatos, rellena and 2 tasty dipping sauces. Next we ordered the Bistec and the Piscado. I LOVED the fish... a flaky fillet swimming in a creamy coconut broth. The steak was nice served with rice and patacones. Finally, the desserts were calling.... we order the flan the the guava bread pudding. They were delicious. La Chiva was such a fun change of pace. Great place to go with a group that likes to share. Only down side is the mandatory tip."

Corridor 44

★★★★☆ 3.8 (379) • $$

"Came here on a Sunday night for post-dinner drinks. Went with the Brazilian wax (cachaca, açaí, bubbles), which I enjoyed. Their Vesper and Espresso martinis are also excellent. Ambiance is classy. Service was friendly. If you like bubbly, this is the place to be! There is indoor and outdoor seating."

Cuba Cuba Sandwicheria

★★★★☆ 4.2 (291) • $

"Owen gave us amazing service for such a young guy. Definitely coming back because the food was delish. We had the original mojito which was just the right amount of liquor and sweetness. Loved the music and the ambianceThey have live music every Saturday and the espresso shots are so delish"

Cuba Cuba Sandwicheria

★★★★☆ 4.1 (304) • $

"I'm pretty picky and this one is near perfection! I get the Picadillo. I know it may seem simple and rather American, but the beef is seasoned so well. And it is so good with the black beans and plantains. Don't judge me. The beans are perfect. The plantains are amazing. And I get a side of tostones (not greasy). This is big enough to share or to have two meals! Sometimes I get a little ham croquette as a little treat. Also delicious and not oily or greasy. Thanks for having awesome food for me to enjoy! 10/10 would do it again. 10/10 on speed for the delivery, too. Skrt skrt!!"

The Bistro at Marshdale

★★★★☆ 4.4 (254) • $$$

"Great service, amazing food. Consistently excellent overall experience.The parking can use some organization as its shared with a bed and breakfast. We were a bit concerned about parking in the wrong place due to 20 RESERVED signs from the bed and breakfast only. There were not clear designated places to park."

Eeny Meeny Sushi Roll

★★★★☆ 4.2 (277) • $$

"We stopped in tonight for a birthday dinner with six of us. I have always enjoyed this place but have not been there since covid. This was a fabulous dinner experience and we are all glad we choose this restaurant. The colorful lights and fish pond is a nice view when you enter the building. The spiral staircase up to the dining room is unique and very cool. It's very attractive and wives a wonderful feel to the experience. We were seated immediately and our server was a wonderful names QiQi. She was fun, friendly, helpful, prompt and downright spunky. She is a fabulous server that really made our dining experience all that much better. She is upbeat and chatty and we all loved her. The decor inside the restaurant is fascinating and fun to look at. They did a great job with the Japanese decor. Now, of course, no review would be complete without discussing the food. Wow, covers it. We had everything from pineapple saki, hot saki, egg rolls, seafood teriyaki, shrimp fried rice, veggie lo mein and a few meals I can't spell. They were hot, freshly made, well presented and delicious. This dinner was worth every dime we paid for it and we will gladly return in the near future. Thank you QiQi for making this birthday dinner a complete success. Ps. We received a free warm Saki as a check in bonus."

Coperta

★★★★☆ 3.6 (375) • $$

"I got the same dish as last time based on my review of the ragu cavatelli half portion. Half portion still small and overpriced. I did not enjoy the dish as much as last time; it was average. The homemade noodles had a great texture but the flavor of the sauce unfortunately lacked.Also came without a reservation on a Friday night and got bar seating. Street parking"

The Cooper Lounge

★★★★☆ 4 (289) • $$$

"While in Denver for a conference, I met up with one of my friends who I've known since 1989. He loves to go out and when I asked where we should meet, he said "I know a place with great cocktails" and he wasn't kidding. He also knows I love trains and grand train stations so the thought of going to a cocktail bar in a train station was a slam dunk. Almost everything about this place is outstanding. The service from start to finish was impeccable. Everyone was so smooth and professional, there was never a wrong note. From the host to our servers (we had one whose shift ended mid-meal and the transition to our new server was like silk) it was outstanding. The ambiance is great too...up on a balcony above the main waiting room in Union Station, you have great views and you can feel the energy but there's also a calm about it. In some train station dining places, it can get cacophonous...I'm thinking of the old Michael Jordan Steakhouse in Grand Central Terminal. But the Cooper Lounge is lively but also mellow, if that makes sense.Drinks are great. I had planned on having one and ended up having three! They're pricey for sure but you're paying for good liquor and they're deftly made. My first was the Smoke and Spades (Iwai 45 Whiskey, Lapsang Souchong Tea, Lemon, Soda) which was good but more of a day drink from my perspective. I switched to the Cooper Lounge Old Fashioned and I loved how they asked if I wanted bourbon, rye or tequila (rye please!). That was an excellent drink.They serve some light bites and we had some baked brie (Focaccia, Danish Brie, Black Garlic, Roasted Tomato, Red Onion Jam) which was really dry and the brie was hard rather than melty. We also had duck croquettes which were good. But food isn't the point of this place, it's the cocktails and the service and on those points, the Cooper Lounge excels. If you've been to the Campbell in Grand Central, it's a similar vibe, although because it's in a more open space, it feels lighter and airier. It also ain't cheap! 100% recommend this place for a drink in Denver."

The Ginger Pig

★★★★☆ 4.3 (249) • $$

"Too Pig to FailBrainchild of Chef Natascha Hess, who's family heritage couldn't be further from China, but after spending three summer's living abroad with a Chinese family, quickly fell in love with the food, culture, and flavors of the region. And thus, the Ginger Pig was born. Chef Hess has managed to parlay her fantastic cooking into multiple TV appearances (Chopped S54E5 & Beat Bobby Flay S31:E2), as well as recently earning multiple Michelin Bib Gourmand awards, which is given to "...restaurants that our inspectors consider to be the best value for money within our selection."The Good:*Friendly service*Order at the counter and they bring out your meal to you, but no worries they actually pace out the food beautifully. *Beijing Dumplings were unreal and packed with tons of flavor. *Great bar program and local brews on-on-tap *Seems like a silly thing, but their pickled cucumbers were quite tasty. I'd buy a few jars of that to take home. *Chinese BBQ Pork Shoulder (aka Char Siu) was mind-blowingly fantastic. Tender, with a nice crisp exterior and a great char to go with the sweet-heat glaze. 10 out of 10 would definitely order again. *And speaking of mind-blowing, the Hong Kong French Toast was also amazing. The crispy exterior and soft custardy middle was heaven on a plate. Another 10 out of 10--SAVE ROOM AND GET THIS!!The Meh:*Interior is very cramped and there is some tables where you might have to share space with strangers, if that's your bag, baby. *Recently opened new location in Boulder is take-out only. *Wasn't really a fan of the Auntie Zhang's Chinese Noodles, as the glass noodles seemed kinda undercooked and the sauce just seemed to be missing something. Don't get me wrong, it was ai'ight, but just nothing I'd order again. The Ugly:*Parking is a bit of a shit-show as their parking lot holds maybe a half-dozen (properly parked) vehicles, and the street parking is a bit hit-or-miss. Conclusion: We only had time for two meals in our short one-day stay in Denver and Ginger Pig was a fabulous decision. Highly recommended."

Mercury Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.6 (349) • $$

"If you are from the Denver area or just moved here and haven't been here yet you are definitely missing out... I have been here multiple times with my son and we both absolutely love it. He has participated an open mic three times and has he use the Mercury stage to help him get over his stage fright. The staff here are friendly and will treat you like family. The restaurant is clean, the food is good. Last time I came we ordered the quesadillas twice in one sitting... The salsa that came with it was just the right amount of spice, and the pico was fresh. I had a screwdriver and a beer while I was here, the bartender did not disappoint. The crowd for the poetry slam is always supportive as well as inclusive. Whether you are a local poet or just a soul with a lot to say, whether you are a comedian on his off day or an eight-year-old trying to combat stage fright - this crowd will welcome you with open arms. We, of course, will be back and hope to see you there next time."