Denver’s dozen best patios|Creating the proper bar patio always has been an art form, but it’s more pronounced than ever in a post-smoking-ban Denver, where any shoddy piece of ironwork bolted to a sidewalk is considered a patio.
Even amid such aesthetic atrocities, some bar proprietors are keeping the art of patio drinking and dining alive. One of Colorado’s most gifted – yet sometimes snakebitten – patio pioneers is Dave Query, owner/chef at the Big Red F Restaurant Group.
His West End Tavern in Boulder was renowned for its dramatic views of the Flatirons – until a building went up next door and killed the view. His LoLa in Denver’s East Highland boasts a patio with a striking view across the Central Platte Valley and into downtown. Sometime this autumn, that view will be decimated by a loft complex going up across the street.
“And at that point, music becomes really important, and it becomes all about the environment of how comfortable is it on the patio.” Query said. “It used to be you’d have some umbrellas from liquor purveyors out on the sidewalk, but not anymore. Now patios are residential with comfortable seating and flat-screen TVs.
“It’s all about how much thought you put into making it, really, as comfortable as the inside of your restaurant.”
With warmer weather finally arriving after a particularly brutal winter, here are a dozen of Denver’s brightest patios.
LoLa
1575 Boulder St.; 720-570-8686
Scene: It’s a scene, so arrive early. But the happy hour menu – and the stunning angle on Union Station and downtown – makes your early arrival worth it. The view will vanish in a few months, so act fast.
Wahoo’s
225 E. 20th Ave.; 303-292-0850
Scene: Don’t let the cheap patio furniture fool you. It’s far enough outside of downtown to give you the illusion you’ve escaped. The Everclear-fueled margaritas are wicked, and the fish tacos are fresh.
Moon Time Bar & Grill
846 Broadway; 303-831-4034
Scene: This is a summertime-only visit for many, who admire the seductive rooftop patio and its top-notch service. Down the street is the Funky Buddha, sure, but this patio’s clientele is friendlier and less concerned about the wind mussing their hair.
Tamayo
1400 Larimer St.; 720-946-1433
Scene: Beyond the restaurant is an upstairs patio, playing off sandy colors and canvas furniture that make you wish your feet were submersed a foot deep in the Caribbean.
El Noa Noa
722 Santa Fe Drive; 303-623-9968
Scene: Sitting in the heart of the Santa Fe Arts District, this patio is known for its quick service and the ubiquitous margarita pitchers that grace nearly every table. The fountain is a nice touch, too.
Streets of London Pub
1502 E. Colfax Ave.; 303-861-9103
Scene: It’s hardly scenic – but this patio, it is friendly, wild and hidden. To find it, take the hallway past the bathrooms and hang a right. The smokers congregate back there and revel in their unsupervised glory. There’s no table service, so get your own darn beer.
Domo
1365 Osage St.; 303-595-3666
Scene: The key word here is authentic. More formal than many of these selections, Domo is all about the authentic experience. And so the patio, set amid a gorgeous traditional Japanese garden, is one of the prettiest places in Denver.
Senger’s on the Fax
3014 E. Colfax Ave.; 303-355-0823
Scene: One of Denver’s more glamorous new rooms now has a patio to match. As the place slowly rolled out its soft launch, Senger’s has smartly unveiled the calculated beauty that will surely make it a favorite for years to come.
Parisi
4401 Tennyson St.; 303-561-0234
Scene: The only spectacular thing about Parisi’s patio, other than the fact that it’s home to delicious food, is its location. Tennyson Street is like South Broadway, only with about a 10-year edge on its development as a hot spot. Grab wine by the glass or bottle and take in all the goodness of north Denver.
Larimer Lounge
2721 Larimer St.; 303-291-1007
Scene: Picnic tables and a back bar are all you need at this rock club, known for its full calendar packed with big-name national acts and up-and-coming locals. Check the website, larimerlounge.com, to see the schedule of ever-popular daytime weekend barbecue shows.
Potager
1109 Ogden St.; 303-832-5788
Scene: The most elaborate patio in Capitol Hill is also one of the most comfortable. Amid these beautiful gardens are many of the herbs that contribute to the delicious seasonal freshness of this restaurant’s menu. Wine prices, by the glass or bottle, aren’t outrageous.
Rise Nightclub
1909 Blake St.; 303-383-1909
Scene: The only LoDo inclusion in this bunch is its own beast. On a gorgeous summer weekend night, good luck wedging your way onto this patio. It’s all about being seen, but even that’s easier than getting a drink in this popular dance club.
Staff writer Ricardo Baca can be reached at 303-954-1394 or rbaca@denverpost.com.
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A dozen Denver-area bar patios that nearly made the cut:
Bistro Vendome: 1424 Larimer St., Suite H; 303-825-3232
Cuba Cuba: 1173 Delaware St.; 303-605-2822
Pasquini’s: 1336 E. 17th Ave.; 303-863-8252
Campo de Fiori: 300 Fillmore St.; 303-377-7887
Steuben’s: 523 E. 17th Ave.; 303-830-1001
Irish Rover: 54 S. Broadway; 303-282-4643
Bang!: 3472 W. 32nd. Ave.; 303-455-1117
Thin Man: 2015 E. 17th Ave.; 303-320-7814
My Brother’s Bar: 2376 15th St.; 303-455-9991
Earls: At Glenarm on the 16th Street Mall
Forest Room 5: 2532 15th St.; 303-433-7001
Chama: 425 S. Teller St., Lakewood; 303-935-5170
– Ricardo Baca
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Around Colorado A dozen hot patios elsewhere in the state:
Chautauqua Dining Hall, Boulder
Rhapsody’s at Clear Creek, Golden
Dog Bar, Cuchara
Ajax Tavern, Aspen
Morrison Inn, Morrison
Wildflower, Vail
Dillon Marina Tiki Bar,
Dillon
Mishawaka Amphitheatre, Bellvue
Bongo Billy’s, Salida
Crown Pub, Fort Collins
Golden City Brewery, Golden
Centro, Boulder
– Ricardo Baca
