Eating outside is one of the easiest ways to enjoy a Colorado summer, whether that means brunch in Denver, tea in Boulder or a burger with a mountain view in Ouray. Here are nine spots around the state where the patio is part of the appeal.
Fox and the Hen
Fox and the Hen brings a daytime patio stop to Denver’s LoHi neighborhood. The all-day breakfast restaurant co-managed by Chef Carrie Baird, who has been featured on popular cooking shows like Bravo’s “Top Chef” and the Food Network’s “Beat Bobby Flay,” serves pancakes, breakfast burritos and eggs Benedict, along with coffee drinks and brunch cocktails. Itap a good pick for a summer breakfast catch-up sesh with a friend, or a slower-paced brunch outside.
2257 W. 32nd Ave., Denver;
Postino 9CO
Postino’s 9CO location has inviting outdoor patio seating and lounge space at Ninth Avenue and Colorado Boulevard. Charcuterie fans can settle in with bruschetta boards, salads, paninis and wine on a warm evening outside.
830 N. Colorado Blvd., Denver;
Lumen8 Rooftop Social
Lumen8 sits above downtown Colorado Springs, with a rooftop patio facing Pikes Peak and the skyline. The menu includes shareable plates, craft cocktails and bigger items like flatbread, a bison grilled cheese and a smash burger, so there are plenty of bites to enjoy while you soak up a view of the mountain that inspired Katharine Lee Bates to America the Beautiful.
402 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs;
Culinary Dropout
Culinary Dropout keeps things loud and busy at 9+CO. The enclosed patio features a designated cornhole game area, which pairs nicely with a menu of soft pretzels with provolone fondue, BBQ pork belly nachos, hot wings and weekend brunch, plus the live music and cocktails the restaurant is known for.
4141 E. 9th Ave., Denver;
The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse
The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse already has one of the state’s most recognizable dining rooms, and summer pushes more of the attention outside. The patio sits on the north side of the front entrance to the teahouse, and you can indulge all of your senses surrounded by 45 aromatic varieties of roses and a nearby creek. The menu gives people several ways in, from tea service to brunch to small plates such as Indian samosas and Persian dolma bademjan.
1770 13th St., Boulder;
La Mariposa Mexican
La Mariposa’s Longmont rooftop patio opens daily at 4 p.m. as an open-air botanero bar above the main restaurant. The restaurant is considered a northern Colorado staple for Tex-Mex and traditional Mexican food, with menu items like flautas and tacos dorados.
2033 Ken Pratt Blvd., Longmont;
Ouray Brewery
Ouray Brewery has a rooftop patio with stunning views that could only exist in the Switzerland of America. The space offers nearly 360-degree views of the surrounding canyon, and the menu offers classic pub food, burgers and house beer.
607 Main St., Ouray;
The Dish Room
The Dish Room in Burlington has a charming downtown patio to enjoy, if you find yourself visiting Colorado’s eastern plains. The restaurant highlights hand-crafted food and farm-to-table ingredients, with house-ground burgers, hand-cut steaks and smoked salmon dip among the menu items.
218 S. Lincoln St., Burlington;
Cafe Sol
Cafe Sol brings a quieter patio stop to Main Street in Grand Junction. The restaurant invites diners onto its sunny patio for fresh-tossed salads, homemade soup and hot-off-the-grill paninis, with a menu built around local, organic and high-quality ingredients.
420 Main St., Grand Junction;
