Uchi has been one of my favorite special-occasion restaurants in Denver since it first opened in RiNo. James Beard Award-winning Chef Tyson Cole brought this gem here from Austin in 2018, and I’ve never seen it anything but packed since. Not only is the quality of the sushi always top-notch, but Uchi also has a lot of non-traditional dishes that I absolutely love. You can tell that culinary creativity is applied with a purpose here to create unique sushi dishes with fantastic flavor and texture.
Favorite dishes: hama chili, walu walu, 72-hour braised short rib, foie gras
Happy hour: Daily 4-6:30pm
Nocturne is a very unique venue on this list — as it combines dinner and live jazz music. The venue itself has a very glitzy 20s vibe to it, and you’ll never be out of place dressed accordingly. Reservations here include a dinner that revolves around their 3-course menu, allowing you to “elevate the ‘supper’ portion of your jazz and supper club experience with the seasonal three course menu or supplement your dinner with seasonally inspired small plates or cheese and charcuterie offerings.” Also, if you can, I recommend trying to get a table on the mezzanine overlooking the stage and rest of the dining room.
Check out their music calendar online.
Chez Maggy comes to us from the famed celebrity and Michelin-star Chef Ludo — and it’s inside the new Thompson Hotel downtown. It’s not a huge space, and the tables are french bistro style (round tops fitting a maximum of 4 people). It’s very price, but it’s also very delicious. The best french onion soup I’ve ever had is right here, with perfectly melted, crispy cheese dripping down the sides of the soup bowl. They also have French classics like escargot, tartar, duck breast, confit duck, and many more — all beautifully prepared and plated.
Must try: french onion soup
Matsuhisa is probably one of the priciest on this list — but for good reason. It comes from renowned celebrity chef and restaurateur, Nobuyuk “Nobu” Matsuhisa, who opened his first restaurant in Beverly Hills back in 1987. His original namesake “Nobu” opened in New York in 1994 to critical acclaim, and there are now Nobu locations all over the USA and the world. In 1998, the chef opened his first Matsuhisa restaurant in Aspen, followed by Vail, and then here in Cherry Creek. All the food here is truly special, influenced both by Chef Matsuhisa’s origins and training in classical Japanese cuisine, as well as his life in Peru. The ingredient quality and preparation here is exceptional and a step above anywhere else, making it well worth the price for a special occasion.
Favorite dishes: any of the “live” sashimi dishes (killed to order), black cod in miso (the chef’s signature dish)
LeRoux is a beautiful gem of a modern French restaurant that opened in LoDo at the end of 2018. Right next door to ChoLon, it’s actually also the brainchild of the award-winning Chef Lon behind that restaurant, too. An homage to his roots in French culinary training, LeRoux serves up French classics like french onion soup, evolutions of classics like the onion-crusted short rib, and labor-intensive creations like the mushroom mille-feuille (literally “thousand-leaf”). It also has my favorite dessert in town: the Paris-Brest pastry filled with pistachio mousseline and salted caramel.
Favorite dishes: french onion soup, mussels with spicy sausage, onion-crusted short rib, paris-brest dessert
Happy hour: Wed-Sun 4-5:30pm
Its name literally meaning “naughty girl” in Italian, Cattivella is in my top 2 Italian restaurants in Denver (Tavernetta being the other). It’s the flagship restaurant from award-winning Denver chef Elise Wiggins, who goes to Italy every year to learn classic Italian techniques and recipes and and brings them back to Cattivella. I believe her brother is Celiac (or highly intolerant to gluten) — so she also makes some of the best gluten-free pizza and pasta in town. The centerpiece of the restaurant is the chef’s counter around the wood-burning pizza oven and wood-burning grill — and you can always sit there and watch the staff hard at work.
Favorite dishes: charbroiled oysters, pasticcio, lamb ragu,
Happy hour: Daily 4-6pm indoor, Monday all night for patio dining
I definitely wanted to include a couple of modern Asian places on my list, and Daughter Thai was the first one that came to mind. It’s not traditional, super-spicy Thai food (go to US Thai for that) — but I also don’t think stomach problems make for a great date night. Daughter Thai offers a trendy, vibrant space with fun, creative cocktails and flavorful, beautifully-plated Thai dishes (that maybe lack a little heat). In other words, it’s the perfect Thai spot for a date.
Favorite dishes: Bangkok ribs, volcanic beef, lamb massaman curry
Happy hour: Hard to confirm online, but they maybe have a happy hour M-Thu or M/W/Th 5–6:30pm at the bar.
El Five boasts beautiful views of downtown Denver from its 5th floor location next to its sister restaurant Linger in LoHi. It also offers something that’s otherwise missing from Denver: a delicious melting pot of Mediterranean dishes influenced by the cuisines of all the countries in that part of the world — from Europe, to North Africa, to the Middle East. Everything here is amazing, starting with something as simple as the jamon ibérico & cheese plate, and ending with the labor-intensive paella. Also, their gluten-free pita is better than regular pita!
Favorite dishes: jamon ibérico & cheese app, hanger steak, paellas
Tavernetta is the other restaurant in my top 2 Italian restaurants in Denver, which isn’t surprising considering it comes from Colorado’s culinary royalty: Bobby Stuckey and Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson, who are behind Frasca in Boulder (and up for a James Beard award in 2022). It opened at Union Station at the end of 2017 and quickly became famous for its fresh handmade pastas, beautiful wine selection, and impeccable service. It also has some of the best gluten-free bread (focaccia) and pasta that I’ve ever had.
Favorite dishes: any of the pasta dishes
Happy hour: Daily 4-6pm
Another modern Asian restaurant that I love for date night is Q House, which serves up delicious cocktails and creative, refined Chinese dishes in a cute little space over on East Colfax by City Park. Every time I’ve come here, I’ve been impressed by everything from the food, to the drinks, to the service. The menu changes throughout the year, but I do believe the Duck Lo Mein has been on it since Q House opened (and is one of my favorite dishes). Take a chance and try something that sounds out of your comfort zone, too. For example, I believe beef tongue & tripe with numbing chili oil is currently on the menu.
Guard & Grace is probably my favorite steakhouse in Denver. It was created by local trendsetter Chef Troy Guard — who you must have heard of if you’ve spent any amount of time in Denver. (He is behind the TAG Restaurant Group, which also owns TAG, TAG Burger Bar, Los Chingones, Bubu, FNG, Hashtag, and others.) Guard & Grace strikes a great balance between trendy and traditional — and it always has impeccable steakhouse service. Funnily enough, some of their vegetable and seafood dishes here are actually also my favorites — not just the steaks.
Must try: the oak-fired carrots and oak-fired octopus appetizer, as well as any of the steaks (topped with a bit of the alaskan black cod, trust me)
Happy hour: Tue-Fri 3-6pm
Lo Stella is a cozy, family-owned little spot you probably missed driving by it in the Golden Triangle. But it’s worth the stop! This lovely family owns the restaurant here in Denver, as well as its sister restaurant in Portofino, Italy. So it’s as authentic as it gets — whether you’re looking for a classic Cacio e Pepe, a hearty bolognese or boar ragú, or coastal seafood options. The service is absolutely wonderful — what you’d expect from a small, family-owned spot. That alone makes me want to come back again and again.
Favorite dishes: Bolognese, wild boar ragu, octopus pasta — or any of the pasta dishes really. And yes, they have gluten-free pasta!
Formerly on the 2nd floor of Zeppelin Station, Koko Ni is a unique farm-to-table omakase dining experience that’s recently reopened its doors as a standalone restaurant in RiNo. Seating just 24 people total, it’s an exclusive dining experience where dishes change every night based on seasonality and Chefs’ creativity. They can feature anything from fresh local vegetables to uni or toro tuna flown in from around the world. Sometimes there are even some crickets on your lamb! Wine pairings available and reservations are required in advance (available Thu-Mon).
Cuba Cuba has been serving up amazing Cuban food and vibes in Denver for more than 20 years. It’s located inside 2 connected bright turquoise residential houses in the Golden Triangle (near the Art Museum) — and it’s absolutely adorable. Big palm plants outside, palm-leaf fans spinning on the ceilings inside, colorful walls, bright wooden furniture, cuban music, mojito pitchers, and traditional Cuban food. It’s one of the few restaurants in Denver I think truly transports you to another place.
Note: Make sure you go to Cuba Cuba Café and not Cuba Cuba Sandwicheria
Brasserie Brixton calls itself “an unpretentious and fun French restaurant with a focus on natural wines and fresh ingredients.” If you like French food, but find most French restaurants too stuffy for your liking, this is the place for you. Located on a quiet corner of a mostly residential street, Brasserie Brixton is inside a little 130-year-old building that used to house a neighborhood market. There are no large tables, so it’s perfect for an intimate date night over some great food and wine. (The duck was fantastic, but the chicken was equally amazing.)
Avelina occupies an elegant, airy space right in the middle of LoDo — with the perfect patio for when the weather is nice. The focus here is on seasonal New American cuisine — with a diverse roster of cocktails, craft beers, and boutique wines. The kitchen is led by Executive Chef Joshua Oakley, who brings almost 10 years of culinary experience to Avelina — from farm-to-table to fine dining. You can always entrust your dinner to him with the chef’s tasting menu. Otherwise, there are currently some fantastic options like wagyu beef carpaccio, a Mediterranean-style roasted cauliflower head, veal bolognese, duck confit cassoulet, and much more. There are also gluten-free pastas and flatbreads available.
I forget about this spot sometimes, because you can miss their beautiful, peaceful patio garden as you’re driving by. But it’s an incredible restaurant, with wonderful staff and phenomenal cocktails and food. The style is New American, the focus is fresh ingredients done well, and the results are delicious. There are also fantastic vegetarian options on the menu, whether done with vegetables or faux meats. The roasted half-chicken is brined for nearly 36 hours and my favorite thing here.
Must try: roasted half-chicken, ribeye cap, buttermilk pie dessert, espresso martini
Happy hour: M-F open–6pm, Sat/Sun 2:30–4pm
Located directly north of City Park, The Plimoth is a wonderful little gem of a restaurant offering beautiful, yet cozy, spaces bth inside and outside. The food is inspired by classic Italian and French dishes, but also local seasonal ingredients. Their dishes are always beautiful, delicious, and have something for everyone (including vegetarians). One of my favorite items, that may or may not be available due to seasonality, is the braised wagyu oxtail with cheesy polenta.
Kini’s is an upscale Greek restaurant that recently opened in Cherry Creek (inside the Clayton Members Club & Hotel). It comes to Denver from the same restaurant group that opened Quality Italian next door (and in New York). It’s a beautiful space serving unique food and wine that makes for a perfect date night. Expect it to be very pricy. Some standouts include the langoustines, octopus, filet mignon kebab skewers, and grape-leaf-wrapped sea bass (although there are also lamb chops and other kinds of fish I’ve yet to try).
D Bar is listed last, because it wins for the last part of the meal: dessert. D Bar was originally a little dessert spot on 17th — and its dessert menu remains the highlight of the restaurant. (You can even just pick up desserts from the dessert counter on your way home, which I’ve done way too many times.) There are great brunch, lunch, and dinner options here too — all set in a bright, open atmosphere in the heart of Uptown. This used to be my regular spot when I lived in the neighborhood, just because I always loved the trendy vibe, friendly service, good wine, and of course the desserts.
Must try: warm Nutella-filled beignets (it’s literally heaven in your mouth)
Happy hour: Wed-Sun 3-6pm