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Dim lighting. A sultry soundtrack. Menus that double as conversation starters. Nearby cocktail bars or comedy clubs to extend the evening…. There are so many elements that make a place the right choice for an intimate outing. Whether you’re trying to impress a first date, celebrate an anniversary, or just do something (anything) without kids in tow, Denver has no shortage of restaurants that deliver on romance.
Here, 12 of our current favorite date night spots around Denver.
BearLeek
- Where: 2611 Walnut St., Denver (RiNo)
- Hours: 4:30–10 p.m., Monday through Saturday
- Price: $$$
Walking down the stairs to this subterranean RiNo eatery feels like you’re being let in on a sexy secret. Graffiti covers the concrete walls, while neon blue and red lights beckon you to the dining room. A seat at the chef’s counter offers a direct look at how the globally inspired raw dishes and easy-to-share “middies” and hearty mains come together. Whimsical touches, like the bear-shaped butter that accompanies warm-from-the-oven brioche rolls and passionfruit BearPop for dessert, make for a lighthearted meal even as the service and plating give fine-dining vibes. BearLeek is where you go for a lively night out: The music will be loud (but not audaciously so), the space will be full, and you’ll feel miles away from Denver.
Read More: RiNo’s BearLeek Gets Playful With Dessert
Cimera
- Where: 3330 Brighton Blvd., Denver (RiNo)
- Hours: 11 a.m.–11 p.m., daily
- Price: $$$$
A good view does more than impress: It sets the stage for a revealing evening. Cimera boasts one of the best in town, situated as it is on the top floor of the Source Hotel & Market Hall. Whether you’re dining under the stars on the patio or surrounded by murals inside, the eatery’s seductive, tropical vibe and pan-Latin American menu will whisk you south to Mexico and Peru. Booze-forward cocktails and shareable eats like anticuchos (coal-fired meat skewers) and whole-roasted bass are certain to inspire conversations about bucket-list trips and memorable meals. Make a night of it with a show at Mission Ballroom down the street or, ahem, by booking a room downstairs.
Hey Kiddo
- Where: 4337 Tennyson St., Denver (Berkeley)
- Hours: 5 p.m.–close, Tuesday through Sunday
- Price: $$$$
If there’s one thing Kelly Whitaker, Michelin-starred chef-owner of the Wolf’s Tailor, knows how to do, it’s embrace elegance while avoiding the stuffiness associated with higher-end restaurants. Hey Kiddo—with its blond wood finishes, tucked-away booths for two, and third-story perch overlooking Tennyson Street—is a prime example.
Mainstays of the shareable, Asian-inspired menu include both Korean-style popcorn chicken and market-price “bling bling” caviar. The drink choices, which encompass plenty of bubbles and sake, are ample, and the moderate noise level still allows for conversation. Our tip: Surprise your date with a pre- or post-dinner drink at Ok Yeah, Whitaker’s secluded back bar where the cocktails are almost too pretty to drink and you can join in a round of karaoke.
Read More: Hey Kiddo’s Eclectic Menu Shines with Sustainable Ingredients and Global Flair
Kawa Ni
- Where: 1900 W. 32nd Ave., Denver (Highland)
- Hours: 4–9 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday; 4–10 p.m., Friday; 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. and 4:30–10 p.m., Saturday; 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. and 4:30-8:30 p.m., Sunday
- Price: $$$
If you’re looking for a spot that’s both cool and sophisticated, look no further. This “Izakaya-inspired Japanese pub” transformed a former LoHi firehouse into a cozy, wood-paneled space that’s beautifully sunlit during weekend lunch and summer happy hour (best enjoyed on the front patio) and sultry and alluring after dark. Kawa Ni’s menu of sushi and sashimi, creatively prepared vegetables (we’re still sighing over the blistered shishitos with wasabi labneh), and rice and noodle bowls is anything but ordinary and designed to be shared. If you want to add a little spice to the evening, the lamb dan dan noodles are the way to go. Cool off with a sake or a cocktail infused with Asian flavors. Request a booth for a dash of privacy—Kawa Ni is popular.
La Forêt
- Where: 38 S. Broadway, Denver (Speer)
- Hours: 4–11 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday
- Price: $$$$
Prince Charming may be a made-up character, but you can whisk your date away to a real Enchanted Forest right here in Denver. Some of the design credit goes to Beatrice & Woodsley, the previous occupant of the space from 2008 to 2021, but La Forêt owners Mike Huggins and Lenka Juchelkov built upon the aspen tree theme for their restaurant with even more greenery, marbled walls, and curving leather booths that invite lingering when they took over in 2024.
As does the classic French menu and sophisticated cocktail and wine list. Suggest a happy hour meet-up (4 to 5 p.m.) to sample anise-flavored pastis, an uncommon aperitif in town. Or bring the heat at the end of the evening with the café brûlot, a cognac- and orange-laced coffee drink that’s flambéed tableside.
Read More: La Forêt Transports Diners to the Forest With French Fare and Cocktails
Major Tom
- Where: 2845 Larimer St., Denver (RiNo)
- Hours: 5–9 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday; 5–9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 4–8 p.m., Sunday
- Price: $$$$
Some love stories are written in the cosmos; others get their start at a cosmic-themed restaurant. That’s not to say that Major Tom is kitschy. Far from it. The Five Points eatery is the more casual sister to Michelin-starred Beckon next door, so instead of a set menu at a chef’s counter, you can dig into more approachable bites—oysters, fries, a juiced-up baked potato—made with the same technical precision. The wine list leans toward aphrodisiacal bubbles (there are 40-plus bottles to choose from, and the offerings change regularly). With its moody ambience and warm service, Major Tom is a clear winner for an anniversary—or any evening when you want to make sure that special someone knows they’re, well, special.
Read More: Major Tom Lets Diners Embark on an Odyssey into the Champagne Universe
Mezcaleria Alma
- Where: 2550 15th St., Denver (LoHi)
- Hours: 3–11 p.m., daily
- Price: $$$
Ever since landing a Michelin star, it’s been nearly impossible to get reservations at Alma Fonda Fina. Luckily, chef Johnny Curiel opened Mezcaleria Alma next door as a more casual offering. Now, of course, this one went and got its own Michelin star and a spot on the New York Times’ list of the top 50 restaurants in the country. So your date will likely start at 9 p.m. or later, but who cares when that means you get to dig into Curiel’s uni and scallop aguachile or tostada de toro, for example, and taste test from a list of agave spirits too extensive for us to keep count in a space that feels both old and new, Western and south of the border.
Nocturne Jazz & Supper Club
- Where: 1330 27th St., Denver (RiNo)
- Hours: 6–10 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday; 6–11 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 6–8:30 p.m., Sunday
- Price: $$$$
At RiNo’s Nocturne Jazz & Supper Club, the soundtrack is always smooth. Make reservations for dinner and a show at the restored, exposed-brick warehouse to enjoy a live jazz set alongside a three-course meal, with optional wine or cocktail pairings. From duck confit with masa dumplings to a dark-chocolate-and-hazelnut dessert, the seasonal menu manages to be sumptuous but not too heavy. For a more casual option, sit at the bar and order from the à la carte snacks. A variety of spirit-free drinks are available for those who don’t imbibe, or there’s a trio of “platinum edition” tipples for those hoping to make an impression.
Read More: Jazz Club Nocturne Celebrates 10 Years in RiNo
Pig and Tiger
- Where: 2200 California St., Denver (Five Points)
- Hours: 5–9 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday; 5–10 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 5–9 p.m., Sunday
- Price: $$$
There’s a lot of fun to be had at Pig and Tiger. The menu at the Taiwanese-inspired restaurant is playful (see: the Baobing Sour, a twist on the margarita that’s poured over shaved ice), distinctive (you won’t find jellyfish salad many other places in town), and concise enough that you can try a little bit of nearly everything. The Five Point eatery’s industrial-chic vibe—dim lighting, exposed brick, open concept—and upbeat soundtrack are ideal for a laid-back date. Plus, with neighbors like Woods Boss Brewing Company and Denver Comedy Underground, it’s easy to keep the evening going long after you’ve laid down your chopsticks.
Read More: Pig and Tiger Brings a Taste of Taiwan to Five Points
Restaurant Olivia
- Where: 290 S. Downing St., Denver (Washington Park)
- Hours: 5–9 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday
- Price: $$$$
Love is at the heart of Restaurant Olivia: The elegant Wash Park trattoria is named after the daughter of co-owners Heather Morrison and Austin Carson. Fair warning: After one bite of chef Ty Leon’s pastas, you may start to fall in love, too. The hand-made shapes change with the season, and you’ll likely find a new-to-you noodle or stuffed pasta on the menu, such as twisty gemelli or zippered culurgiones. The open-concept pasta station allows diners to watch the chefs at work—a surefire conversation starter. Pair your pick with a creative take on the Negroni (hello, preserved watermelon).
Looking for a more hands-on date? Sign up for a monthly pasta-making class.
Read More: Restaurant Olivia Just Got Serious About Sustainability
Somebody People
- Where: 1165 S. Broadway, Denver (Overland)
- Hours: 5–9 p.m., Monday to Thursday; 4–9 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 4–9 p.m., Sunday
- Price: $$$
Not every date calls for candlelight and steak knives. Sometimes, you just want to relax over a good meal, and Somebody People’s bright, tropics-inspired space and inventive zero-waste menu definitely brings the joy. The Overland eatery’s cocktail list has both boozy and zero-proof options (try the tequila-mezcal blend in Down at the Lah de Dah), and its vegan menu showcases seasonal produce at its peak, as well as grains, legumes, and preserved veggies. For a great deal, we recommend the $42, six-course Sunday Supper special. Or shake off the Monday blues with the new Enoteca menu ($35 per person) that includes half-off bottles of wine.
Yuan Wonton
- Where: 2878 Fairfax St., Denver (North Park Hill)
- Hours: 11 a.m.–3 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday; 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and 4–6 p.m., Thursday and Friday
- Price: $$
Don’t sleep on the fabulousness of a day date. At Yuan Wonton, you’ll be seated at a high top that you’ll likely slop soy sauce all over because you’ll be so focused on devouring the chili oil wontons, Szechuan eggplant dumplings, and pad krapao potstickers that James Beard–nominated chef Penelope Wong makes by hand with her team every day.
The vibe at your nooner may be light and casual, but there’s an obvious commitment to quality and thoughtful service (kind of like what you want your relationship to develop into). Our only caution: You’re going to want to order everything. Try not to get into an argument as you attempt to whittle down the menu to something manageable.
Read More: Your Guide to (Almost) Every Yuan Wonton Dumpling
