In Venezuelan slang, catira means blonde girl. It’s also the nickname that captures the love story behind this Greenwood Village restaurant.
About a decade ago, Manuel Sucre left Caracas, Venezuela, and landed in Boston. That’s where he met Clare, a Denver native and a certified catira. Their relationship sparked a simple but powerful idea: bring the flavors of his hometown to hers.
Today, Catira Venezuelan Kitchen & Cocktails sits at 5370 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., and it’s so much more than a restaurant.
The food is the real deal
Manuel didn’t raid his family recipe box to build this menu. He gives all the credit to his kitchen staff, whose handed-down recipes anchor every dish. This is Venezuelan street food, home food, comfort food, the kind that wraps around you like a warm hug.
Most Americans haven’t explored Venezuelan cuisine yet. Manuel knew that. So he kept things accessible. He chose familiar ingredients, easy-to-spell menu names, and dishes that feel welcoming rather than intimidating.
Most items are naturally gluten-free, since corn forms the backbone of the cuisine. It’s not spicy, either. Think warm, satisfying, and honest.
Start with Catira’s specialty Cachapa, a sweet corn pancake folded over salty cheese and topped with butter, or try a flight of mini empanadas. You can mix and match flavors — chicken, beef, cheese or impossible beef — to meet everyone’s desires.
Order the signature Catira cocktail: rum, lime juice, and unrefined cane sugar. It’s simple, bright, and refreshing.
More than a meal
Walk into Catira, and you’ll hear Spanish flowing from the kitchen and the bar. You’ll feel something that’s hard to manufacture: an easy, unhurried energy where people linger, laugh, and connect. “We want to be an ideal example of Caribbean hospitality,” he says.
They know they have tables to turn. But they’d rather you feel like a guest than a number. That’s the vibe.
A community built on culture
Denver’s Venezuelan community has grown significantly in recent years. Catira became a gathering point, a place where culture, music, and food intersect.
After political events brought Venezuela into the global spotlight, curious diners searched for connection.
“They googled it and we popped up,” Clare says. “They wanted to support us and be part of the culture.”
Clare describes herself as a student of her husband’s homeland. On Instagram, she runs what she cheekily calls “a gringa’s guide” to Venezuelan food and culture, breaking down dishes and traditions so anyone can walk in and feel at home.
Manuel is also committed to using Venezuelan vendors, from Florida-based beer and rum suppliers to nearby Aura’s Bakery, which provides the restaurantap tequeños: cheese sticks wrapped in dough.
What keeps people coming back
Denver Tech Center office workers grab lunch on Tuesday. They return on Saturday with their families. That loyalty says everything.
“If running a restaurant was easy, everyone could do it,” Manuel laughs. “It’s so fun.”
He’s serious, though. You can feel it in every plate.
Manuel loves Venezuela. Catira is how he shares that love with Denver, one arepa at a time.
RESTAURANTS
Catira Venezuelan Kitchen & Cocktails
Address: 5370 Greenwood Plaza Blvd. #107, Greenwood Village
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Website:
Quiero Arepas
Address: 1859 S. Pearl St., Denver
Hours: 10 a.m.-1:45 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m.-7:45 p.m. Monday-Saturday
Website:
Avanti-Denver
Address: 3200 North Pecos St., Denver
Hours: 10 a.m.-7:45 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m.-8:45 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9:45 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-9:45 p.m. Saturday
Website:
Avanti-Boulder
Address: 1401 Pearl St., Boulder
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday, 11 a.m.-10:45 p.m. Thursday-Saturday
Arepas House
Address: 5505 W. 20th Ave., Edgewater
Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m-9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Website:
Empanada Express Grill
Address: 4301 W. 44th Ave., Denver
Hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday
Website:
ArepasCO
Address: 550 McCaslin Blvd., Unit 1008, Louisville
Hours: 5-9:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday
Website:
Auras Bakery
Address: 970 S. Oneida St., Unit 11, Denver
Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Sunday
Website:
FOOD TRUCKS
Taguara Venezuelan Food
Address: 10593 E Mississippi Ave., Aurora
Hours: 5-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 5-9:30 p.m. Sunday, 5-9 p.m. Monday and Thursday, 6:30-10 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday
Venezuelan Flavor
Address: 13801 E. Mississippi Ave., Aurora
Hours: 5-9:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Fuego y Masa
Address: 2260 S. Xanadu Way, Aurora
Hours: 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Sunday
Rincón Andino
Address: 185 Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood
Hours: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5:30-10 p.m. Thursday-Tuesday
Sara B. Hansen is a Denver-based freelance writer.
