20 of the Best Patios and Rooftops in Denver and Beyond

It’s only April and yet the afternoons are already starting to feel like summer. The good news? That means we have more time to enjoy Denver’s lively alfresco dining scene. On these surprisingly warm spring days, a killer patio is the place to be (and be seen)—hopefully with an equally killer drink.

Below, 20 of the best patios and rooftops for everything from swanky sips atop skyscrapers to sprawling spaces in the suburbs.

Jump Ahead: 

• 54thirty
• Acreage
• Avanti Food & Beverage
• BurnDown
• Chez Maggy
• Cimera
• Corrida
• Eclectic Kitchen and Bar
• Duke’s Good Sandwiches & Burgers
• FlyteCo Tower
• Halo
• Hey Kiddo
• MoodSwing
• Moonflower Coffee
• Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant
• Rook
• Schoolyard Beer Garden
• Sherpa House
• Sorry Gorgeous
• Stellar Jay

54thirty

• Where: 1475 California St., Denver (Downtown)
• Drink this: The Hibiscus Sunrise tastes like summer liquified, or ball out with the $54 Crystal Clear Old Fashioned featuring Maestro Dobel 50 Cristalino Extra Añejo tequila.

Downtown Denver’s highest open-air rooftop bar, 54thirty perches on the 20th floor of Le Méridien hotel at, you guessed it, 5,430 feet above sea level. Awnings and pergolas keep things shady when the sun is out, but after dark (until 1 a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays) is when the fun really happens. The food menu runs on the snacky side, with sliders, tacos, and charcuterie boards, and on the beverage roster there’s an impressive lineup of bubbly by the bottle. With views encompassing the surrounding skyscrapers and the mountains beyond, this rooftop is popular—so be prepared to wait for seats, which are first-come, first-served only. —Allyson Reedy

Acreage

• Where: 1380 Horizon Avenue, Unit A, Lafayette
• Drink this: A Stem Ciders flight, so you can pit chile guava against blueberry lime.

Lafayette’s Acreage presides over the Boulder County suburbs on a west-facing hillside, delivering a panorama of Boulder, the Flatirons, and snowcapped Rocky Mountain peaks. The Stem Ciders production facility and restaurant spill out over the hill with a wraparound deck, patio, and lawn, where you can sample ciders and enjoy the likes of duck confit poutine, lamb burgers, and truffle fries. Psst: Parents—there’s a playground.—AR

Avanti Food & Beverage

• Where: 3200 N. Pecos St., Denver (Highland)
• Drink this: When there are frozés on the menu, there’s not much debate.

Avanti rang in its 10th anniversary last year by remodeling its space. The outdoor stadium seating and patios that offer incredible city views stayed the same, but the interior was updated to accommodate more guests, improve the kitchen spaces, and open a few new concepts (since these stalls are impressively known for turning over into independent restaurants like MAKFam, Pig & Tiger, Quiero Arepas, Bowls by KO, and the forthcoming Madeline.) With plenty of new offerings—the Pizza Bandit, Farang Thai Kitchen, Biker Jim’s, and the oyster-slinging Shuck Brothers—it feels like reason enough to head to this LoHi hotspot. —Sahale Greenwood

BurnDown

• Where: 476 S. Broadway, Denver (Washington Park West)
• Drink this: BurnDown keeps its house margarita on tap, so you can stay refreshed with quick and easy bar service.

Since it opened in 2023, BurnDown has attracted scores of sun seekers to its fourth-floor rooftop bar, which provides 360-degree views of the cityscape below. Lower down, you’ll find walk-out decks facing Broadway on the second and third floors. On every level, the central atrium makes you feel like you’re dining outdoors when you dig into loaded sheet-tray nachos, a hefty fried chicken sandwich, or an extra-thick chocolate chip cookie served warm in a cast-iron skillet. —AR

Chez Maggy

• Where: 1616 Market St., Denver (LoDo)
• Drink this: Order the French 75 to get you settled, and the Maggy Martini (a slightly sweeter spin on a Vesper) once you decide you’re not leaving.

Celebrity Chef Ludo Lefebvre’s appropriately French Denver outpost, Chez Maggy, unveiled its terrace last year along the freshly revived 16th Street. By 5 p.m. it’s a scene that feels plucked from a Parisian postcard: Denverites tucked beneath shady trees on the terrace, swirling martinis and savoring tuna tartare at an unhurried pace. Thanks to its renovation, 16th Street is buzzing again, and this is easily the most chic vantage point from which to appreciate its renaissance. —SG

Cimera

• Where: 3330 Brighton Blvd., Denver (RiNo)
• Drink this: The lineup of cocktails leans Latin American and delicious, like the guava Negroni, horchata cooler, or hibiscus margarita.

The crown atop RiNo’s Source Hotel wears its jewels well. Cimera, a new spot from executive chef Geoff Cox (formerly at Hop Alley) focusing on Peru, Mexico, and other Latin American locales, boasts the rare rooftop where nearly every direction you look dazzles, including down at your plate. The 180-degree view encompasses the Capitol dome and Pikes Peak to the south all the way to the Flatirons in Boulder. Since Cimera is technically a hotel restaurant, it is open for brunch, lunch, and dinner, and there’s no bad time of day to enjoy the house cocktails, paired with a light and refreshing Peruvian ceviche. And if the evening is chilly, your server will provide you with a sarape to keep you warm. —SG

Corrida

• Where: 1023 Walnut St., Boulder
• Drink this: Good rule of thumb for life: If a G&T cart stops at your table, you should order something from it. This one’s loaded with fresh fruits, herbs, and other garnishes to personalize your drink.

There’s not a bad seat in the glassed-in dining room or on the patio at Boulder’s upscale Spanish steak house, Corrida. Located on the fourth-floor rooftop of the Daily Camera building, the restaurant specializes in dry-aged cuts of Colorado-raised beef, plus tapas, cured meats, specialty seafood, and local produce, all sided by in-your-face Flatirons vistas. —AR

Eclectic Kitchen and Bar

• Where: 304 E. Main St., Frisco
• Drink this: You only need to summit the stairs, not a whole mountain, to earn your beer here. We’re partial to the Mexican lager from Cerveceria Colorado for something light and the graham cracker porter from Denver Beer Company for a heavier pour.

When summer’s green leaves turn to fall’s golden hues (which will likely happen earlier this year given the drought), we’ll look to our favorite leaf peeping spots. Sure, most Coloradans have a secret list of hikes saved to their Alltrails for the special time of year, but if you prefer your fall leaves with fries and beer without having to break a sweat, Frisco’s rooftop at Eclectic Kitchen and Bar offers 360-degree views of some of the best colors close to Denver. The bar food is craft and craveable too. —SG

Duke’s Good Sandwiches & Burgers

• Where: 2748 Welton St., Denver (Five Points)
• Drink this: This place is old-school; stick with the theme and suck down a root beer float.

You know the alfresco experience is going to be good when the entire eatery is nothing but patio. Duke’s has no indoor seating, so dress for the weather and then dig into East Coast–style chopped cheese sandwiches, smashburgers, and hefty Italian hoagies. The back-alley setting feels like a neighborhood secret, but games, cheap beers ($3 Coors Lights; $6 craft cans), and occasional bands keep the vibe lively. —Mark Antonation

FlyteCo Tower

• Where: 3120 Uintah St., Denver (Central Park)
• Drink this: Skip the hard decisions and grab a Flyte (get it?) of four five-ounce pours.

This aviation-themed brewery’s patio is fully decked out with ping-pong, lawn games, and an 18-hole mini golf course (not to mention the arcade, two bowling lanes, and other activities inside the former air traffic control tower), so read up on the prices and reservation policies before you go. The dozen or so beers, slate of house cocktails, and Jumbo Jet (a double-decker burger with bacon and pimento cheese) should keep you fueled for all the fun. FlyteCo also offers tours of the 11-story tower, where you can see planes coming and going to Denver International Airport to the northeast. —AR

Halo

• Where: 6985 E. Chenango Ave., Denver (Southmoor Park)
• Drink this: Order the Tequila Mockingbird and enjoy it from your perch.

The Kimpton Claret hotel at Belleview Station boasts some big selling points: Italian restaurant Saverina; its chef, David Gross (formerly of Panzano); and the highest (by elevation) open-air rooftop bar in Denver city limits. Halo sits on the 19th floor of the Claret at 5,817 feet, so the views of the Rockies, the southern suburbs, and the DTC skyline are without equal. And the food menu is fairly substantial, as bars go, with smaller bites like mac-and-cheese balls or house-made potato chips with caviar, and meal-size dishes from a brisket burger to wine-braised short ribs with mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts. —MA

Hey Kiddo

• Where: 4337 Tennyson St., Suite 300, Denver (Berkeley)
• Drink this: Go light with the zero-proof sour, a tropical but not overly sweet blend of fresh mango and passionfruit juices with earthy cilantro and tomatillo.

The sunset view from Hey Kiddo’s fourth-floor rooftop amid the venerable treetops of the Berkeley neighborhood is nothing to scoff at, but creative dishes are still the star at chef Kelly Whitaker’s Michelin-recommended restaurant and cocktail bar. Snacks are on order on the rooftop, with customer favorites like popcorn chicken, a Caesar salad, East and West Coast oysters, and milk rolls as soft and fluffy as Grandma’s. For more eats, head downstairs for Korean-influenced dishes that combine ingredients in surprising ways, such as the pork belly with red koji (a fermented rice), ginger oil, and hot mustard. —Rose Cahalan

MoodSwing

• Where: 3625 E. 48th Avenue, Denver (Elyria-Swansea)
• Drink this: Celebrate smashing the competition with the black basil margarita; the blackberries are as muddled as your opponent.

Move over Number 38, we have a new biggest patio in town. MoodSwing came to play with 33,000 square feet of outdoor entertaining space in addition to its massive indoor area and outdoor pickleball courts. MoodSwing didn’t drop the ball when it comes to the food either, thanks to a menu designed by chef Nick Dalton of Brasserie Brixton. The pizzas are great for sharing with friends while you sip house favorite cocktails and craft beers. Work up a sweat at the indoor or outdoor pickleball courts and reap your rewards on the turf patio where picnic tables, stadium seating, and cornhole bring the space to life during the day. String lights and fire pits keep it glowing during golden hour and beyond. Happy hour runs from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and all day Wednesday. An outdoor stage is in the works, which will have a full lineup of programming, like yoga in the mornings and DJs after dinner. —SG

Moonflower Coffee

• Where: 4200 W. Colfax Avenue, Denver (West Colfax)
• Drink this: Embrace the hipster vibe by testing out a trendy menu item like the ube latte, sage lavender matcha tea, and signature campfire cold brew made with black sesame chocolate and marshmallow oat milk cold foam.

This might be a hot take given that it sits right on Colfax, but Moonflower’s patio has been popping off ever since the coffeeshop reopened last year. The old-school gas station aesthetic invites javaphiles to enjoy their Okinawa black sugar latte on the outdoor picnic tables. Inside, the indie vibe continues with lampshades dangling from the wood rafters, brick walls dotted with open-concept shelving, vintage furniture filling the space, and garage doors that make every spot a patio seat. A rotating lineup of food trucks helps relieve the caffeine shakes after you’ve sampled your way through the offerings. Every Tuesday morning, BYOC (bring your own craft) to the crochet club with “Mama” or wax poetic at Wednesday morning’s writing club. —SG

Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant

• Where: 1101 Walnut St., Boulder
• Drink this: You’re here for one thing: the legendary Classic Rio margarita, a citrusy thunderclap that’s rumored to pack two-plus shots of tequila—and a soft three-drink limit (also rumored).

Of all the reasons to be jealous of Boulderites (trail access, Pearl Street, the Flatirons), its cluster of rooftop bars might top the list. Within a few blocks downtown, you’ve got sky-kissing perches like Avanti, Rosetta Hall, and the West End Tavern. For legend status, grab a table at the Rio, a staple at Broadway and Walnut that has been fueling sun-soaked afternoons since 1989. A 2019 reno brought a brighter, more modern feel, but the formula on the third-story deck remains unchanged: strong margs, Flatirons views, and an always-lively crowd. Umbrellas block the sun and misters hum overhead, chips and salsa are constantly resupplied, and the margaritas—well, pace yourself. —Maren Horjus

Rook

• Where: 3770 Walnut St., Denver (RiNo)
• Drink this: Try one of the House Rules cocktails, like the G.D.T.J.D.N.P.G.D.N.C.T.H.D. and the bartenders might just tell you what it stands for.

Inventive cocktails that lean into the theme? Check. Instagrammable ambience? Check. An impressive library of board games? Check(mate). Nestled on the seventh floor of the Catbird hotel, Rook is dedicated to spirits and strategy. After you pull yourself away from views of RiNo, Five Points, Cole, and Elyria-Swansea below, claim one of the curved velvet banquettes inside and challenge your crew to everything from Codenames to Candy Land. Outside, flex your college frat skills with cornhole or your steady hand with big Jenga. Food centers on a grilled cheese menu that ranges from simple to stacked. Rook also hosts various game nights, like Guess Who tournaments, Thursday chess night, and pool parties (don’t wear your swimsuit; it’s billiards). —Jessica Giles

Schoolyard Beer Garden

• Where: 1115 Acoma St., Denver (Golden Triangle)
• Drink this: Yes, this is a beer garden, but sometimes we’re just not in the mood for suds. A brief cocktail menu from the cafe side offers a handful of spritzes; ask about the variety of the moment.

Schoolyard is the perfect place to play hooky under the shade trees of the beer garden. Enjoy bratwursts and burgers alongside your favorite Colorado brew, or try a poke bowl or basket of Wisconsin cheese curds. Well-behaved parents, kids, and dogs are welcome, so make it a family outing. —MA

Sherpa House Restaurant and Culture Center

• Where: 1518 Washington Avenue, Golden
• Drink this: Tea is a popular option here, or try one of the unique house cocktails like the Himalayan Heatwave, which uses a traditional distilled spirit called raksi.

Denver takes its patio season so seriously that it borders on religious. And at Sherpa House, you’ll find something close to a divine experience. Whether you’re piling everything from the all-you-can-eat lunch buffet on your plate or ordering dinner à la carte, this Golden restaurant transports you straight to the Himalayas. Modeled after traditional Sherpa homes in Nepal, the space surrounds you with fluttering prayer flags, intricate sculptures, and tranquil water features. —SG

Sorry Gorgeous

• Where: 1350 40th St., Denver (Cole)
• Drink this: Splurge on a seasonal cocktail as luxurious as your surroundings.

If you feel like you’re at the edge of civilized Denver and traveling through a residential apartment building to get to Sorry Gorgeous, that’s because you are: The 12th-floor cocktail bar tops Novel RiNo, a building with more than 450 units near where Walnut Street dead-ends northeast of downtown. The benefit of being on the fringe is unobstructed sight lines of Mile High City skyscrapers and the mountains, but good luck tearing your eyes away from the endlessly Instagrammable interior. Thankfully, the space is long and narrow with accordion glass doors, so you can lounge on the emerald green banquet inside while still soaking in the sunshine and views afforded by the open-air patio. —Jessica LaRusso

Stellar Jay

• Where: 240 14th St., Denver (Golden Triangle)
• Drink this: the Apricot Daiquiri tastes like a tiki drinks’ classy cousin: a little sweet, a little tart, and totally transportive.

Rising behind Civic Center Park like a tree amid the concrete, the Populus Hotel offers city dwellers a breath of fresh air and an infusion of biophilic design into the urban landscape. And the rooftop patio, Stellar Jay, on the 13th floor is the best way to forest bathe in it all. The double-sided bar opens onto a patio and perfectly frames a stunning view of the State Capitol building. At sunset, its golden dome gleams, the well-suited crowd of downtown workers and hotel guests trickle in, and the drinks disappear dangerously fast as you chat, snap photos, and admire the architecture that makes every angle worth documenting.—SG