The Most Flavorful Cocktail Bars in Denver

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."

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."

Wolf Peach Public House

★★★★☆ 3.9 (85)

"Wolf Peach Public House was an impromptu date night for us. I saw they were available for reservations on OpenTable and we decided to give it a try. The restaurant was very nice, the dining area was average sized but they do have a large patio with outdoor seating. Our food was good, but not for the faint of heart (haha). This restaurant uses strong bold flavors which was not our favorite for one of our entrees. What we ordered: Wolf Peach Ricotta- Outstanding! We will definitely order this againScallops- this is the entree that was definitely outside of the box and was not our favorite. The order comes with 4 Japanese scallops. It is served with a pea purée, wasabi, chimichurri, prosciutto, and citrus. Flavor overload, we will probably not order this again. Also, the scallops were slightly fishy, which is a risk you take when ordering seafood in CO (haha). Burger- holy cow!! This was our favorite and will definitely order again. Everything tasted so fresh and the avocado aioli was on point. The side salad it comes with had the most delicious dressing, super refreshing. Fried fingerlings are not my favorite version of fries but good overall. Overall, we will be back and would definitely recommend checking this place out!"

El Tequileno Family Mexican Restaurant - Golden

★★★★☆ 4.1 (154) • $$

"Came to eat here after taking a walk and I'm so happy we found this place. To start our server was amazing and made us feel so welcomed. They have such a family vibe and we feel really comfortable and relax.They do have a huge menu and everything looked great.To start I had a red bull Margarita which was huge and delicious.We also shared a chicken taquitos which itself could be a meal. The chicken was moist and flavorful.For entree I had the fajitas de mar which was shrimp , baby octopus and a whole fish filet inside a pineapple with rice, beans and the fix. I think my seafood was cooked perfectly and tasted great. I was not a fan of the beans but that's just me.We also had the carnitas enchiladas which were also absolutely delicious and packed with pork. I do think some things were a bit overpriced, but overall we had an amazing time and amazing food. I recommend to try."

Coyote Table Artisan Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.4 (84) • $$

"An amazing selection of Gelato that was unexpected. Went out for a bite to this fun place. I wasn't sure what I wanted and had a hard time making a decision.I went with the Italian grinder. I had a bit of a hard time wrapping my head around some of the things on it. Luckily, I was able to leave them off. I am not a Greek tapanad person and IMHO it should not be on an Italian sandwhich. Yes, I am a pain. It was served toasted and grilled, another thing I was not fully expecting but it was pretty good that way. One of the things I requested was mayo...a little cup of joy was brought with my sandwhich. We dipped chips in it, put it on my sandwhich and even just ate it with a fork. We couldn't figure out what is actually was but we knew 2 things..it was so good and it wasn't straight mayo. The server wasn't even sure what it was and they were pretty busy so we just enjoyed the mystery. The boyfriend even ordered some to dip his pizza crust in. When all was said and done we went to check out the Gelato and the wonderful woman who owns the place told us it was her own spicy mayo. We were graced with another small portion to go and let her know we would be back for more. Now on to the gelato...omg! After tasting a few I opted for the Banana Walnut. It was really good and so much Banana flavor. I had a hard time deciding so darn...I'll just have to go back for more. A large bar, plenty of tables and a very relaxed vibe. Digital trivia you can even play on your phone. We will be returning and ask for that spicy mayo!"

Provolino

★★★★☆ 3.5 (50)

"Just had lunch here and it was a really sweet spot! Loved the decor inside...it felt bright and cheerful, and the colors were fun. I had the lemon risotto as it's GF, and that was such a fun, unique dish! Great texture! We also got some meatballs and loved those as well. And our server, Chris, did a great job, too! A place I'd go again!"

Work & Class

★★★★★ 4.5 (1819) • $$

"Came at 5 pm on a Wednesday for early dinner and there was no wait. I tried a cucumber mint limeade with gin, then my boyfriend and I shared the jalapeño cornbread muffins, massive attack salad, 1/4 lb coriander roasted Colorado lamb and chickpea croquettes. Everything was pretty tasty and it was more than enough food for the two of us!"

Belmar Asia

★★★★☆ 3.9 (227) • $$

"I don't think I've had a bad dish here. Their menu keeps expanding! It's more than just pho. Our staples are usually the Chicken Salad (very savory and large like mountain. Served with shrimp chips, yum!) and some kind of pho. I remember liking their chicken wings as appetizers.On our most recent trip I tried the steamed scallops in their shells, very fresh and flavorful. The grill noodle bowls are excellent as well. A couple of times we dined in, they were playing classical music which caught us off guard but was quite pleasant!I'm very glad we have this Asian Fusion restaurant with emphasize on Vietnamese specialties!"

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"

Middleman

★★★★☆ 4.2 (91) • $$

The Secret Garden

★★★★☆ 4.2 (29)

"Lots of people are butt hurt at this automatic 19% service charge - so don't come. I am def a fan of this place. Otherwise - it's a lovely spot on the park, few parking spots in front if u don't live within walking distance in the hood, and lots of fabulous outdoor and indoor seating.I love that I can grab my Americano and a healthy salad. It's not going to be cheap - but this isn't your Mission star Beckon sit-down.Yes, things cost more now a days and they tell you upfront about this service charge. This is not a table service place. It's still take a number for food or wait for your coffee."

Li'l Devils Lounge

★★★★☆ 4.3 (80) • $

"Best bar experience since Covid, and it would've ranked highly even before. All the staff were charming/unique but Dick made our night, making us laugh and teasing the shit out of us/taking it back.Solid pours, felt like part of the (dysfunctional?) family!I will return when next in Denver!"

Lady Jane

★★★★☆ 4.4 (171) • $$$

"Love this bar in LoHi! It has our favorite drink that we had our entire trip - The Leaf Peeper. We loved it so much we came back a second day! The bartenders are wonderful. They give great recommendations and are highly knowledgeable of their cocktails. I also tried the Cold-Blooded and Shadowlands. They were delicious, too. The cocktails are so well designed, with unique and carefully selected ingredients. Prices are comparable to other cocktail bars, and the ambiance is classy but laid back. A must stop when in Denver, and make sure you check out the Leaf Peeper! Parking is street and can be tight."

Reckless Noodle House

★★★★☆ 4.2 (129)

"I ordered the reckless fried rice and it was so flavorful, the pork belly was so tender and cooked perfectly The atmosphere is really nice and had a jungle like aesthetic. We sat at the bar and the food took around 20 mins. We also came in one a Thursday night at 7 and we got the last 2 seats at the bar so this place can get pretty busy for dinner"

La Mariposa Restaurant & Margarita House

★★★★☆ 3.6 (66)

"Amazing customer service and experience with our server Lupe. She is our favorite! If you come here you can expect sincere conversation, great food & strong drinks in a cool atmosphere. My partner recommends the birria tacos and I love the flautas. Good rice and beans here too--I've noticed that most Boulder Mexican restaurants use black beans--but they have the good refried beans here if you need a break from the black beans."

Corrida

★★★★☆ 4.1 (201)

"What an excellent experience! It's a spectacular location with a great view over parts of the city. The staff is excellent and well educated and capable. Our server, Mason, was attentive and well versed in the food We have the tenderloin, the short rib, and the halibut at our table. They accommodated a birthday celebration as well. Desserts were amazing! And unexpectedly delicious. Tarta de queso vascaCrema de chocolate!!Looking forward to returning to this amazing restaurant."

3 Margaritas - Broomfield

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (170) • $$

"Enjoyed lovely service and flavorful food at our last visit. Everything was piping hot and the portions were large! I especially loved the Birria and Molcajete. The Margarita Flight is great for sampling a variety of flavors! Overall great service and delicious food! Follow Coloradofoodie on IG for more Reviews!"

Sarahi's Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4 (5)

Hudson Hill

★★★★★ 4.5 (375) • $$

"Just stopped by for a place to work and a coffee. There is plenty of seating and it's a great ambiance to get a little work done. The coffee was good, the right smoothness. Great lighting and friendly staff. I can definitely see myself coming back for a cocktail or a little bite."

Jungle

★★★★☆ 4.4 (98) • $$

"We fell upon this place after looking for a fun dinner spot. The food was not too shabby but they really shined with their cocktails! A lot of great variety and tasty options. We also had great service & the ambiance was light & relaxed."

Dimestore Delibar

★★★★★ 4.6 (177) • $$

"Can we get more of the quality sandwich craft-personship like this place ? Wow. Simply bomb....This place is great, service was thorough and fast for the quality of product they produce. I got the Chicken Parm and it reaffirmed why I love pesto. Cheese was all over the sandwich and was amazing. The chips included obviously were great too and very fresh. I was so satisfied I bought the Italian sandwich as well to take on my journey. Make sure to come by this place!"

Inga's Alpine Tavern

★★★★☆ 4.1 (289) • $$

"Inga's Alpine Tavern is aptly named. When you walk in, you definitely get those cozy mountain basement vibes. The ambiance is fitting for a neighborhood, locals-only watering hole.I want to like this place more than I do. I've been here a few times since the kitchen is open fairly late (by Denver standards) and it's a nice place to chill and watch a game. But $6 Coors Banquets and $8 canned beers? This isn't a high end cocktail bar, this is more of a dive. Too steep for the quality of what you're getting.In terms of food, y'all should know by now I'm a wing lover. I even have a chicken wing tattooed on me. KIDDING, but maybe I should...$15 for an order of wings is pretty standard with inflation, so that I don't necessarily care about. But these wings are tiny with a lowercase t. There's not much meat on them, and the flavors leave you wanting more. They do load up on the carrots and celery...but that shouldn't be the most exciting part about a chicken wing adventure.Maybe their wings aren't all that and I should expand my horizons to other menu items. They do have great pictures on their website, but I've never personally seen food that resembles it in person.Like I said, a super cozy neighborhood spot. I've just been let down with the food options a few times. Honestly it won't completely deter me from coming back, I just feel like I'm getting the short end of the stick here!"

Emerald Eye

★★★★☆ 4.2 (29)

"We were wandering down Larimer street and we were planning to grab a Lyft at the end of the road. Before we ordered it, we saw a red neon sign that read "cocktail lounge". We headed towards it and decided to walk down the stairway with the mint green painted walls. I'm so glad we did. I had the clarified punch and it was one of the best cocktails I've had recently. So delicious. The other cocktail we tried was also good even thought I don't like mescal as much as other spirits, it was still well balanced. My partner said he enjoyed it. Service was attentive and swift. This place had a really chill, tropical vibe with beautiful mood lighting. I very much enjoyed relaxing over a delicious drink in the Emerald Eye lounge and will definitely go back to try other cocktails next time we are in Denver."

Bedlam

★★★★★ 4.8 (12)

"Amazing atmosphere with unique seating options (some areas have tables and chairs, others have sofas). It's a bit dimmer light so perfect for a date night or grabbing drinks with friends. There's one pool table which adds a fun option. If you're in the area, I'd definitely recommend stopping by for a drink!"

54thirty Rooftop

★★★★☆ 4 (513) • $$

The Goldfinch

★★★★★ 4.6 (23)

"My friend and I came here for brunch last week. We came right when it opened and had no trouble getting seated. I'm glad more places are starting to offer brunch because I really hate waiting. The ambience is definitely that of a cocktail lounge, but very comfortable. We started with bloody marys and asked for spicy. They didn't come out spicy (granted, we really like spice) but the mix is all very thin. I prefer a thicker bloody, so I wouldn't order this again.We opted for a bottle of bubbly rose next and that was delightful. For our entrees, I had the Shakshuka and my friend had the Breakfast Skillet. I loved how saucy mine was and the flavor was great- but it came out luke warm, so I would have preferred hotter. My friend said the Breakfast Skillet was very good. Overall, I think the best aspect of this place is the ambiance. I'd certainly return!"

Junction Food and Drink

★★★★☆ 4.1 (105) • $$

"Junction is getting there!! I discovered this super cool food hall because I wanted coffee at Sonder and thought there would be a place to hang out for a few hours to get work done... SURPRISE!! It's not a café. Lots of great eateries (and a bar) to enjoy every hour of the day. Still not crazy busy like Avanti, Edgewater, or Milk Market, so take advantage while you can.Love the visibility of AV, subconsciously promoting private event space options to planner nerds like me. My main issue with Junction is that it's unclear where to bus dishes and glasses after meals. Other than that, I love the variety of cuisines represented. Solid selection of caffeine and booze. Wide availability of trash receptacles and restrooms. I've been here twice already, and it's a go-to suggestion for hangouts when I'm in the area.P.S. Cocktails at the bar are fantastic! There's also beer and wine. With only one person working, it can take awhile just for a single drink... worth it if you're not rushed. I had a Skinny Paloma, which was expertly crafted. Probably why cocktails take forever."

Ni Tuyo

★★★★★ 4.7 (148) • $$

"I've been wanting to try this place for a while now and finally made it here! They do not take reservations so you wait in person for your table to be ready! Luckily, we got in around 8.20 pm on Friday evening which is a bit late for dinner but we got a table instantly. I got the papayita drink which was alright and my husband got the Paloma which was good. Our friend was visiting from India and had never tried mezcal, he tried the mahahali drink and that was really good! For apps we got the elote corn and guacamole - both were freshly made. I personally loved the elote corn. For mains we got the tacos - I loved the pork belly tacos, it was almost like the al pastor but better. Our friend is a vegetarian and got the Rajas which he loved. We also got the veggie enchiladas and the pollo main dish - they were both so well made. Overall, I liked the food here! I am glad we stopped by for dinner here."

ChoLon Modern Asian

★★★★☆ 4.1 (19)

"I've been to the other ChoLon locations before and was excited to learn that they opened up a location closer to where I live! We came as a group of four for dinner (reservations recommended).We had French onion soup dumplings, scallop tartare, crab fried rice, tempura mushrooms/asparagus, lemongrass chicken satays, and brussels sprouts. Everything was tasty! The fried rice and dumplings were the crowd favorites. We probably would not order the tempura veggies again.Service was friendly!"

Santo Remedio

★★★★☆ 3.6 (42)

"If you're looking for a patio on Tennyson and some good food this is the place for you! They also have misters to help with any hot temps. I came here with my boyfriend during the hot days we've been having and grabbed a margarita and some dinner. The food was great and the margs were even better haha. The staff were very friendly and the atmosphere was awesome. Definitely check this place out and grab a tasty marg:)"

Queens Eleven

★★★★★ 4.5 (43)

"About time I wrote a review update! So glad that Queens Eleven is still open and doing well. It's my go-to spot in RiNo for a quick caffeine hit or cocktail when I'm in between appointments. Their espresso martini is fantastic, and their cold brew is strong. Customer service is fantastic, and the interior is so swanky. I love hanging out at the bar on my laptop. Definitely going to continue supporting this local business in the future!"

Blanco Cocina + Cantina

★★★★☆ 3.9 (279) • $$

"I remember when Blanco landed in Denver a few years back. I was blown away by the beautiful build out and their dedication to revitalizing this part of town. Years later, it's grown into one of my favorite chain restaurants because the food, service and cocktails are consistently top notch!Our last visit solidified it being a go-to when in this part of town. 9+Co has plenty of options, albeit many chain-type places. Blanco (and their other concept, Culinary Dropout) have always separated themselves from the rest.*Don't miss the weekday happy hour (3-6pm) and all day on Tuesdays*WARM QUESO ($13) -- Guacamole, Sour Cream, Pico de Gallo. We added Ground Beef ($3) and this elevated the already good queso into G R E A T queso. Chips were salted and perfectly crispy. The queso had the texture we all crave and love, and with the surrounding accoutrements we were devouring it faster than a race car at the Indy 500.TIGER SHRIMP FAJITAS ($23) -- Spicy Garlic Butter, Served with Caramelized Peppers & Onions, Elote, Guacamole, Pico De Gallo & Queso Blanco. Choice of Black or Charro Beans. I can't tell you the last time I ordered fajitas, but I'm really glad I ordered these. The amount of food alone was worth the price of admission. The shrimp were plump and juicy and had a great snap. The tortillas are made in house and you can absolutely taste the difference.Not to mention, my Cadillac Margarita, and even the salsa that came with the chips to begin the meal, were excellent. I literally have zero negatives at Blanco. Service is always spot on, and the vibes (whether indoors or on the patio) are always lively and fun.Impressed with this place since day one. No signs of slowing down. Check 'em out if you want a delicious meal in a trendy setting!"

Bacon Social House - South Broadway

★★★★☆ 4 (119) • $$

"I tried the Littleton location last year and wasn't impressed but the South Broadway location restored my faith in this restaurant. The service was quick and attentive although I forgot to get the name of our waitress. The bacon flight was delicious and a great way to start our meal. The prickly pear mimosa was yummy but I definitely got more lavender than prickly pear. The espresso martini was one of the best I've had and the stuffed blueberry French toast was absolutely delicious with the perfect fresh fruit compote and not overly sweet. I will definitely be back to this location!"

Salita

★★★★★ 4.5 (26)

"What a great find!! The same bartenders from the green russel have come over after the closing of the Larimer location (lease reasons). Drinks are fancy. Bartenders are incredible and the ambience is to die for. This painting makes me want to come back over and over. To make it even better, Luca is next door and the food there is the best in Denver!"

The Electric Cure

★★★★☆ 4 (78)

"This bar is a mix of tiki, punk rock, and college bar. It's not the nicest, cleanest place...so managing expectations is key. They have an extensive specialty cocktail and matching mocktail menu which is super cool. True to tiki form, they are on the sweeter side, but I was pleasantly surprised that the cocktails weren't sickly sweet. My first drink came with a long hair sticking out of the top so I removed it and didn't complain since the bartenders hair looked freshly washed. We came around 9pm Sunday and there was plenty of free parking right in front. The menu says 20% gratuity included but they add the 20% on top of the menu price so that is misworded and misleading."