Whether this is your first date night or a 25th anniversary, the right restaurant can create a meaningful memory, a deeper connection and perhaps even a new tradition. As Denver’s highest rated food tour we have been hard at work to pick out the most romantic restaurants to help make you romantic evening in Denver, one of the most memorable moments.
Coperta- Classic Southern Italian in Uptown
400 E. 20th St. │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Book A Table │Price: $$
Coperta, a romantic restaurant that won’t break the bank
Best Table: For more privacy and less bustle, ask to sit along the rear exposed brick wall in the main dining room. They also have lovely outdoor dining facing the park.
What you should eat: Coperta’s menu changes seasonally but their charcuterie is a great start to any meal and they do great fresh seafood. Desserts are subtle and seasonal, not overly sweet.
What you should drink: The fantastic Whiskey Italiano is an Italian interpretation of a Manhattan. Coperta also always has a diverse and interesting set of wines by the glass.
This neighborhood spot is a such a cozy eatery, even the name Coperta means “blanket” in Italian. Celebrating the food and wine of Rome and Southern Italy, this is one features classic Italian cuisine that won’t break the bank.
Start with the spuzzulia, a sampling of regional small plates, and work your way up to house-made pastas and traditional dishes like Eggplant Parmigiana.
Coperta is a classic and comfortable neighborhood spot with high quality food and a service staff that loves what they do. It’s great for a special occasion or just a weeknight date.
LeRoux- Intimate French Bistro off the 16th St Mall
1510 16th St Mall │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Book A Table │Price: $$$
Classic French Romantic Restaurant
Best Table: Coperta’s rear tables can be dark and a bit claustrophobic. Ask to be seated in the vestibule to the left of entry. You’ll enjoy the classic decor and views of the street.
What you should eat: LeRoux has a dynamic and excellent selection of small plates that you can share with your date. Try the Crudite and the chicken liver mousse to start. The creme bruleed cauliflower puree is a clever and delicious savory twist on the classic dessert.
What you should drink: LeRoux has sparkling rose on tap from local winery Attimo. It’s perfect for a romantic toast to celebrate your date.
LeRoux is a classic French bistro just off the 16th street mall from the team behind Cholon and Yumcha. You’ll find a similar style of classic technique and dishes with modern ingredients to those partner restaurants.
While the food is updated classics, the decor is pure continental luxury with glass chandeliers, candlelit tables and dark blue wood paneling. It combines to make a quiet and calming space that feels intimate and luxurious, perfect for quiet quality time with your special someone.
Tavernetta- Fine Dining Italian at Union Station
1889 16th St Mall │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Book A Table │Price: $$$$
Tavernetta restaurant near Union Station Denver
Best Table: Reservations are strongly recommended. Request the rear of the dining room away from the hustle and bustle of the open kitchen to ensure a quiet and intimate meal.
What you should eat: The menu is highly seasonal but following the traditional structure of sharing antipastio, primi, secondi and dessert will keep you and your date close.
What you should drink: Sommelier Bobby Stuckey has created an incredible offering of regional italian wines by glass or bottle. Check out the great selection of Amaros after your meal.
James Beard Award winning chef Lachlan McKinnon and his long time partner and sommelier Bobby Stuckey offer an amazing fine dining experience just steps from Union Station.
Reservations are necessary though lounge seating is possible on a first come, first serve basis. The incredible service and northern italian cuisine are great for an anniversary or a first date night you want to completely blow out of the water.
Fruition- Farm to Table near Cheesman Park
1313 E 6th Ave │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Book A Table │Price: $$$
Fruition fine dining farm to table near cheesman park
Best Table: Reservations are strongly recommended. The far wall opposite the restrooms has minimal traffic by servers or guests and retains views out the front windows.
What you should eat: The highly seasonal menu sources ingredients from the restaurant’s namesake farm. The kitchen-choice five course Cru Menu is always a great choice.
What you should drink: Cocktails at Fruition will always be made with fresh seasonal ingredients and can be done with their selection of local spirits.
James Beard Award winning Chef Alex Seidel’s original restaurant more than walks the walk when it comes to farm-to-table, sourcing ingredients and producing house cheeses at their namesake farm. Keep an eye out for farm ingredients on the menu and make trying some of Fruition’s cheeses a must.
Dinner is always seasonal and fresh and is a great choice for couple’s focused on sustainability and organic living. The staff is all long tenured and the atmosphere is casual but elevated.
La Diabla- Pozole and tacos near Coors Field
2233 Larimer St │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Walk Ins Only │Price: $$
La Diabla Black Pozole restaurant near the ballpark
Best Table: The restaurant is tightly seated so requesting a table along the right hand wall will make it easier to converse with your date. Keep in mind that La Diabla does not take reservations so you’ll have to put your name in. Attimo Winery across the street is a great place to wait.
What you should eat: While Pozole is the speciality of the house, the street tacos are also excellent. Share a few of each with your special someone.
What you should drink: La Diabla has a variety of great Mezcal based cocktails, but check out their flights including the Pechuga flight which features Mezcal distilled with chicken to add richness and fat.
Jose Avela has been on the ground floor at several extremely successful Denver restaurant concepts including the city staple Machete. In Jose’s first solo venture he has focused on the regional specialty Pozole which is a traditional mexican soup made with hominy; think of it as amazing Mexican ramen. You’ll have your choice of bases and proteins. The black pozole is made with a base of charred guajillo peppers. The servings are large so they can be shared.
After being named the Denver Post’s best new restaurant for 2021 there has been a line every night of the week, but if adventurous regional cuisine would make a memorable evening for you and your significant other, La Diabla is worth the wait.
Olivia- Handmade Pasta in Wash Park
290 S Downing St │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Book A Table │Price: $$$$
Olivia pasta restaurant near Washington Park
Best Table: With only 36 seats in the house, options are limited. We love the booths against the far wall for a quiet and romantic meal.
What you should eat: Pasta is a must at Olivia. A great way to share the experience with your date is to enjoy their seasonal 5 course tasting menu.
What you should drink: Olivia has a unique menu of crafted Negronis. We love the White Negroni with flavors of pear and pistachio.
From a team of fine dining pros with previous experience at Frank Bonanno’s iconic Mizuna, this tiny pasta focused restaurant in the Wash Park Neighborhood south-east of downtown has won immediate acclaim since opening in 2020.
While over half the menu is pasta focused, there are appetizers and entree options as well for the carb-phobic. The interior space is modern in black and white and the restaurant’s small size make a date night there feel intimate and unique. Olivia is not just one of Denver’s best romantic restaurants, its also one of the city’s best.
Work and Class- Mexican by the 1/4 pound in RiNo
2500 Larimer St │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Walk in Only │Price: $$$
Work and Class mexican restaurant in RiNo Denver CO
Best Table: Don’t try to escape the dim and loud interior of Work and Class, use it to your advantage by sitting in the main dining area at the shared tables. It’ll force you and your date to stay close as you talk and share the numerous small plates.
What you should eat: Work and Class’ menu is seasonal so check what protein is newest on the menu. You can’t go wrong with an order of the jalapeno cornbread muffins and the Key Lime Pie is a great finisher to share.
What you should drink: Embrace Work and Class down market drink menu with the variety of options for a beer and a shot.
We love Work and Class for a perfect date night not because its intimate and quiet but because its loud, crowded and fun. The restaurant’s main space is communal tables where you and your date will interact with other diners and sit elbow to elbow as you share small plates.
This is the perfect date night for a couple who love interacting with other diners and with their food. The noise and crush of other diners will keep you and your date close as you talk and eat. It’s a great early date since the action at the table keeps the silence filled, but its also great for long term couples who don’t need to have deep and quiet conversation to have a good time.
Nocturne- Supper Club and Jazz in RiNo
1330 27th St │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Book A Table │Price: $$$
Nocturne Jazz and Supper Club in RiNO
Best Table: Reservations are required for a date night at Nocturne as the majority of the best tables are held for ‘Dinner and a Show’ reservations. The earlier you arrive before the show the more choice you’ll have of which of the reserved tables you can choose. If you love music, you can sit right at the foot of the bandstand. If you want to distance from the music and still be able to converse, check out the tables on the upper balcony above the music.
What you should eat: Nocturne’s primary dining option is a three course dinner with limited ala carte options available to add to your dinner. Your server can walk you through the options on any given night, but we love starting off our meal with a shared Cheese and Charcuterie board.
What you should drink: Given the limited availability of service during the show, we think a bottle of wine is a great move for your date. That said, pre-show, the Pep in Your Step is a bright rye whiskey with Chamomile Honey Pepper Syrup and lemon; it’s bright, spicy and delicious.
If you and your special someone love live music and want a chance to have a more upscale experience than standing around with solo cups on sticky floors, Nocturne is an elegant and intimate jazz club in RiNo serving refined seasonal cuisine.
Reservations are required for their “dinner and a show” tables which feature the best seating. You’ll be given a choice of appetizer, entrée and dessert and additional ala carte items can be added at any time. The bar features an extensive menu of classic cocktails, newer craft creations and a wine list with a focus on biodynamic and sustainable agriculture. Bar seating with a cover is available as well if you just want to drop in for a cocktail and some music after dinner somewhere else.
The Bindery- Airy and Bright Brunch in the Highlands
1817 Central St. │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Book A Table │Price: $$$
The Bindery restaurant in Denver CO
Best Table: The Bindery’s beautifully light and airy space means no bad seats, but if you make us choose we’d opt for a table along the front floor to ceiling window wall to the left as you enter. Reservations are strongly recommended especially during weekend brunch.
What you should eat: The Bindery offers two fantastic versions of the Dutch Baby Pancake. A perfect chance to share with your special someone and to enjoy conversation during the 40 minutes they take to make.
What you should drink: Try the Breakfast Manhattan with bacon infused scotch, coffee liquor maple syrup and bitters. And of course you can’t go wrong with Build Your Own Mimosas…
Romantic brunch?! Sure, why not?
If you and your lover are morning people we think the Bindery’s bright airy space, excellent cocktail and food menu can make for an AM meal that connects you and kicks the day off right. Maybe try brunch before a favorite hike or a drive in the mountains.
The Bindery’s high ceiling and copious natural light mean that tables feel intimate even in a full dining room and whether you want to enjoy a fantastic cappuccino or knock back a couple bloody marys, there’s no reason to wait until the sun goes down to have some one-on-one time with you special someone.
The Ponti- Dinner and Gallery at the Denver Art Museum
100 W 14th Av7e │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Book A Table │Price: $$$
Restaurant – The Ponti at the Denver Art Museum
Best Table: The Ponti’s space can be a bit cold due to its modern aesthetic. The window table around the corner from the bar provides a nice view of the courtyard and a private, quiet space to talk.
What you should eat: The parsnip and smoked apple soup is unique and filling. The burger is also a hit.
What you should drink: The bar offerings are fairly standard, but Ponti has several non-alcoholic cocktails worth trying including a Green-Tea Lavender blend.
The Denver Art Museum opened its renovated campus in 2021 including the relaunch of its in-house restaurant. The Ponti is helmed by James Beard Award Winner Jen Jasinski and housed in a modern space at the base of the south building.
Tuesday night’s extended hours (until 9p) make an ideal date night at the Denver Art Museum. You can visit the Ponti for dinner before or after walking the galleries with your special someone. The space’s are quiet and serene and it can be an oasis of calm where you can connect with your date over food and art.
Odell Brewing- Dinner and a Movie in Sloan’s Lake
1625 Perry St │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Walk In Only │Price: $$$
Restaurant Odell’s Sloan’s Lake Brewhouse
Best Table: Rooftop patio facing the lake! (Of course)
What you should eat: There’s always a great set of rotating seasonal pizzas, but the Hilltop is on the menu year round- Fennel sausage, Mozz and Ricotta. Save some room for one of Alamo Drafthouse’s excellent milkshakes.
What you should drink: Please don’t drink anything but beer here. Flights are the obvious way to go. You can always switch to something heavier when you get to Alamo.
Here’s a version of dinner and a movie for beer lovers: head to Sloan’s Lake and Odell Brewing’s nearby brew house for pizza and flights before decamping to Alamo Draft House for a romantic movie for two.
100% employee owned Odell brewing was founded in 1989 and remains one of Colorado’s best. Their brewhouse in Sloan’s Lake is not only a great place to get pizza while enjoying beer flights and some Mile High sunshine, its also just a stone’s throw from Alamo Drafthouse. If you’re not familiar – Alamo is equally as passionate about big budget action flicks as they are about award winning foreign films. They also have a full kitchen and bar. You and your date can go right on drinking beers from Odell…just make sure to save some room for Alamo’s salted caramel milk-shake.
Corridor 44- Bubbles and Sweets on Larimer Square
1433 Larimer St │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Book A Table │Price: $$$
Restaurant – Corridor 44
Best Table: A booth off the bar offers a great combination of action and intimacy. You also may want to sit outside for great people watching on Larimer.
What you should eat: French style tartines are really just fancy toast but that doesn’t mean they aren’t delicious. Corridor 44 has four of them with our favorite giving off lox bagel vibes with smoked salmon, herbed cream cheese and english cucumber.
What you should drink: Corridor has a variety of champagne cocktails to satisfy your sweet tooth including the Chocolate Cake or the Caramel Apple.
Corrider 44 is Denver’s original bubbles bar. Located on Larimer Square, this bustling space is the place to meet your special someone who loves celebrating all the time. With an extensive list of champagnes, proseccos and sparkling wines by the glass or bottle and a French-ish menu of small plates, this is the perfect venue to celebrate it being Tuesday (or Wednesday for that matter).
They also specialize in satisfying a sweet tooth with numerous fruit and dessert themed champagne cocktails as well as an extensive collection of desserts including truffles, creme brulee and cheesecake. The space is high-ceilinged and bright with classic chandeliers and mirrors hanging over the oversized classic bar. Due to its location on Larimer Square it can get quite busy; reservations are recommended.
Annette- Award Winning Scratch Cooking in Aurora
2501 Dallas St │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Book A Table │Price: $$$
Annette Restaurant Denver CO
Best Table: The majority of the restaurant’s traffic moves along the aisle between the bar and the dining area so try to get seated along the exterior wall away from the hustle and bustle. The exterior patio has tons of plants and can feel like its own little garden room.
What you should eat: The menu at Annette is renowned for its seasonality so ask your server whats fresh and in season.
What you should drink: We’re not saying drink four of them but Annette’s oyster shooter is the most complex and interesting version of this drink we’ve come across including sake, celery root liquor and shoyu.
Chef Caroline Glover has received a James Beard Award nomination every year since 2020 for Annette which is her first restaurant. Food and Wine named her one of the 10 best chefs in the US, Bon Appetit named Annette one of the 50 best restaurants in the country. Eater Denver named it its restaurant of the year and it’s sat on 5280’s list of Denver’s top 25 restaurants since it opened in 2017. So, yeah, it’s pretty good.
The space at Annette is organic and warm, with plants and dark wood. It can get bustling and full but the incredible farm to table cuisine will ensure you and your date are focused on what’s happening right at your table. Happy Hour is every night from 4:30p-5:30p and all night Tuesday.
Quality Italian- Staycation and Florentine Steaks in Cherry Creek
241 Columbine St │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Book A Table │Price: $$$$
Quality italian restaurant in Cherry Creek Denver CO
Best Table: If the Legacy Room is open when you are dining we love sitting on the wall-booth two-tops beneath the antique portrait photos. It’s quiet and perfect for an intimate conversation with your date.
What you should eat: The pasta is handmade, the table shared apps are great, but the highlight here is really Florentine style steaks. If you’re both lumberjacks with a trust fund consider the 40oz dry aged bistecca.
What you should drink: Bryan Schneider formerly of Monkey Bar runs the beverage program here. We love the fusiony Negroni Fumoso with Negroni flavors on top of Mexican spirits.
Quality Italian is located at the base of the Halcyon Hotel in Cherry Creek and provides the perfect opportunity for a delicious Italian steak dinner. Afterwards, ditch the Uber and just sleep off that bottle of Chianti in the Halcyon’s modern appointed rooms. Check in early at the Halycon before dinner and you can access the Gear Garage where you can check out a Piaggo Motor Scooter to explore Cherry Creek.
Quality Italian has a variety of dishes designed for two, perfect for you and your special someone. Check out the chicken parm for for two or the massive 40oz dry aged bistecca steak. We also love their Italian twist on guacamole made with basil and pine nuts. The restaurant’s steel and wood aesthetic merges old school steakhouse with industrial chic. Service is top notch and the wine staff is helpful and knowledgeable. If one of you is a carnivore and the other is a carb-ivore, there’s no better spot for your special night out.
Frozen Matter/Retrograde- Ice Cream and a Secret Speak-Easy in Uptown
530 E 19th St │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Walk Ins Only │Price: $$$
Retrograde restaurant and cocktail bar in Uptown Denver CO
Best Table: Seating is extremely limited at Retrograde, so you won’t have much choice but we love watching the bartender’s work their magic so bar seating works for us.
What you should eat: Frozen Matter is a part of Sweet Action, one of Denver’s best ice cream shops. Their offerings are seasonal but don’t be afraid to try their vegan ice cream which is one of their specialties.
What you should drink: Retrograde’s cocktails give Tikki vibes with tropical flavors and fruits. We love the smokey, boozy heat of the Transmorpher made with a chili-Campari and smoked pineapple.
Inside this outpost of Sweet Action ice cream shops is a mysterious freezer door. Flip the light switch outside and a host from inside will escort you into Denver’s only secret speak-easy hidden in a walk-in freezer. The ice cream shop is Frozen Matter and the cocktail bar is Retrograde and both are worth your time. Together they make a fun and whimsical date to satisfy your sweet tooth and your booze tooth (that’s a thing, right?).
It’s cool to think of a ‘secret’ cocktail bar, but the reality is the majority of the time when you enter Frozen Matter you’ll see 10 or 20 people standing around waiting their turn to enter the bar. Since the bar has no reservations, you’ll want to plan around this wait or go during off hours. Frozen Matter is more than just a glorified waiting room though, Sweet Action is the best vegan ice cream in Denver and the regular ice cream is just as good. Once you get inside Retrograde, be aware that both you and your date must order drinks, though they also make non-alcoholic libations for non-drinkers.
Ash’Kara – Vegetable focused Israeli in the Highlands
2005 W 33rd │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Book A Table │Price: $$$
Restaurant: Ash Kara israeli Restaurant Denver CO
Best Table: Booths to the left of the bar are usually reserved for parties of four or more, but if you can snag one, they feel intimate and comfy.
What you should eat: We’ll never eat at Ash’Kara without getting a side of the amazing house pickles and one of the dips. We love adding the Mushroom Conserva which is savory, acidic and herby at the same time.
What you should drink: The bar has great cocktails but we think the house blended wines that use Colorado and Nevada grapes are a really unique offering. They have rose, white and red.
The wood fired oven in this funky and colorful space turns out life changing pita bread and other modern Israeli and Middle Eastern dishes. With a focus on vegetarian and vegan dishes and a commitment to creating great food for people with dietary restrictions, Ash’Kara is the perfect spot for a couple focused on healthy living or anyone with dietary restrictions and allergies that can make normal restaurants risky or limiting.
The space is bright and colorful with natural woods and patterned wallpaper. Lighting is soft and fixtures have a modern middle eastern feel. Service is warm and familiar with a careful sensitivity to guest’s dietary limitations and preferences. Ash’Kara makes no compromises while creating sustainable and delicious food for a date night you can feel good about.
Arvada Tavern – Old School Cool in Arvada
5707 Olde Wadsworth Blvd │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Book A Table │Price: $$$
restaurant Arvada Tavern
Best Table: Grab one of the classic leather booths across from the bar.
What you should eat: The grilled 10oz pork chop is classic and delicious. The rich and salty mustard cream sauce on the plate is a perfect contrast.
What you should drink: The Tavern makes tremendous classic cocktails along with riffs on them. Check out the Lemon Almond Rye. It’s rye whiskey and lemon with house-made orgeat (an almond sweet syrup).
Established in 1933, the Arvada Tavern had the first liquor license issued in Arvada at the repealing of Prohibition. It’s been in operation ever since. The building’s art deco design was originally based on the 1934 Chicago World’s Fair and has remained unchanged – but maintained – since the 1940s.
The menu and the bar both rely on American classics. If you and your special someone want to relax in the nostalgic vibe of post war Americana while enjoying crafted cocktails and supper club classics, the Arvada Tavern is the spot for you.
Mizuna- The French Laundry in the Rockies
225 E 7th │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Book A Table │Price: $$$
Best Table: Depending on the seating setup for the night, you may be able to snag a table in the wine room which is a great and quiet spot for you and your date.
What you should eat: Mizuna is a tasting menu only restaurant. The three course provides a range of appetizer, entree and dessert, but the chef’s menu is the way to go. It’s more expensive but worth it.
What you should drink: Mizuna always has an interesting set of seasonal cocktails but the 1000 day aged Negroni or Old Fashioned are must tries. Mizuna’s staff can recommend wines for dinner.
French inspired new American from Frank Bonnano, this French Laundry in the Rockies has been a Denver fine dining stalwart since it opened. Consistently named not just one of the best in Denver, but the best in the Western United States, Mizuna is a perfect special occasion venue for you and your special someone.
The decor is light wood and white table cloth and the staff provides some of the best service in the city. Reservations are a necessity and the menu changes monthly to reflect the season’s bounty.
Join us for a food or cocktails tour, and we’ll take you to our favorite local spots to eat and drink in the Mile High City.
