Nine Most Anticipated Restaurant Openings This Spring

While the local hospitality industry is certainly facing some big challenges right now, including a renewed debate over the tipped minimum wage, sparked by a recent industry report from the Denver Restaurant Liaison Project, the scene continues to grow and evolve. As temperatures rise, so does the number of new restaurants opening as operators aim to capture the crowds that come out in droves after the lull of the winter months.

Among the upcoming openings we’re tracking, these nine have us especially hungry for a taste of what the eateries will offer — and we (hopefully) won’t have to wait too long, as all of them are slated to debut in the next several months, and one will make its debut next week.

Here are the most anticipated restaurant openings this spring, in alphabetical order:

Heretík
1441 26th Street
We’re getting closer to chef Theo Adley’s return to Denver — hiring is underway, and the space is coming together. And we’re not the only ones excited for this opening. Robb Report just named Heretík among the fifteen most exciting restaurant openings in the country. The Mile High last got a taste of Adley’s cooking when he was the executive chef at much-missed RiNo spot the Populist. Since 2022, he’s been impressing diners at his first solo venture, Marigold, in Lyons. According to the chef, a 2026 James Beard semifinalist in the Best Chef: Mountain category, Heretík will be “a simple restaurant, based in tradition and old-school technique of France and Spain. It has existed alongside my dream for Marigold for so long.” And now, that dream is almost a reality. When it debuts, expect a lineup that includes rotisserie chicken, small plates focused on seafood and other poultry such as guinea fowl, squab, duck and quail, and a raw bar.

La Vie En Rose
1336 27th Street
“A little sip of Paris awaits,” promises the website for this champagne bar moving into the former home of natural wine bar Noble Riot. The project comes from Scott and Nicole Mattson, who also own Nocturne, the jazz and supper club next door. “We’re trying to create an evocative place that feels appropriate to open up a bottle of champagne or have a fancy cocktail,” Nicole told Westword when the concept was announced last October. The elegant escape will include a French art nouveau design and a focus on wines from classic French regions like Burgundy, Beaujolais and, of course, Champagne. We’re still awaiting more details on the eats, which are expected to include “champagne-friendly” finger foods and hors d’oeuvres — though we’re holding out hope that a version of the fried chicken that was popular at Noble Riot may be on the menu as well (it is a classic champagne pairing, after all).

Madeline
1313 East Sixth Avenue
In January 2025, longtime upscale favorite Fruition shut its doors. Nearly a year later, we learned that another restaurant would be moving in when chef Quincy Cherrett announced plans to open his first brick-and-mortar, Madeline, in the space; now, its opening is imminent. Cherrett grew up in the hospitality industry as the son of a hotelier and is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in New York. His resume includes the now-closed Colt & Gray, Death & Co., Izakaya Den and Sushi Den. He first struck out on his own with food truck 22 Provisions before moving it into a stall at Avanti, where he most recently operated the bistro-style stall Eloise (which is unrelated to the new Eloise on Tennyson Street). At this new venture, thoughtful sourcing and technique-driven seasonal dishes will star, with a side of “the sense of whimsy and delight that chef Quincy brings to his menu, reimaginging familiar dishes in elevated, yet unexpected ways,” according to the latest social media update.

Maize
3455 Ringsby Court
Chef Johnny Curiel, also a current James Beard semifinalist in the Best Chef: Mountain category, is on an incredible roll, and Maize is poised to be an incredible addition to his growing Fonda Fina Hospitality. The group currently includes one Michelin Star spots Alma Fonda Fina and Mezcaleria Alma, Michelin Bib Gourmand pick Cozobi Fonda Fina in Boulder, Michelin-recommended Alteño in Cherry Creek and the recently-opened Mar Bella Boqueria. Maize will be his first tasting-menu spot, offering an intimate experience centered on masa, fermentation and raw seafood dishes for just eight guests at a time.

Maryjane’s Hideway
5280 West 25th Avenue, Edgewater
On the opposite end of the dining spectrum from Maize is a low-key neighborhood spot in the works from Niko Garza, owner of the tiny Eat Here on West 38th Avenue, where the portion sizes and flavors are big while the prices have remained affordable for favorites like Philly cheesesteaks, chopped cheese sandwiches and carne asada fries. Garza had long-dreamed of opening a bar. After we reported that the owner of this historic space, which was most recently home to Providence at 5280, was looking for a new tenant, he was able to see the place and sign a lease in short order. His plans for the watering hole include transforming it into a “five-star dive bar” that will serve the same food menu he offers at Eat Here. The address will also host Pinks Ice Cream, where Garza will sell classic favorites like Bomb Pops and SpongeBob bars.

Mother Other
675 South Broadway
Over five years of pop-ups, a 2023 win on the Great Food Truck Race, and the launch of Mother Other as a supper club last year have led the Easy Vegan to the brink of a big goal: opening a brick-and-mortar. According to co-owners Taylor Herbert and Alexi Mandolini, this permanent home in the Baker neighborhood comes with “plenty of parking, light rail/bike access, and a patio,” where it will soon debut its plant-based fare as well as a cocktail program.

Odd Rabbit Boulder
5845 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder
Husband-and-wife team Christopher and Ariana Teigland opened Glo Noodle House in West Highland in 2022, serving a ramen-heavy menu of Asian hits that earned it Michelin Bib Gourmand status the following year. Soon, they’ll debut their second concept in Boulder, which is where the two met while working at Blackbelly. Odd Rabbit will be sushi-focused, promising a “traditionally non-traditional” take from chef Stephen Nguyen, who brings a solid resume that includes stints at Temaki Den and Uncle, where he launched that concept’s sushi program.

Paperboy
3940 West 32nd Avenue
We’re always a bit wary of out-of-state concepts moving into Denver, but we’re pretty intrigued by Paperboy, which currently has two locations in Austin. Its Denver outpost will be its first venture across state lines, and brunch lovers should take particular note, as this Texas spot’s reputation is solid for serving boozy midday meals featuring “playful spins on nostalgic daytime favorites made with high-quality, locally sourced ingredients and house-made components.” Paperboy just announced that it will make its Mile High debut on Tuesday, March 24.

Risica
3463 Walnut Street
Denver has seen a rash of new Italian restaurants recently, including Johnny Bechamel’s, Florence Supper Club and Dear Emilia, but we’ve been anticipating the return of chef Andrea Frizzi. After shuttering his longtime spot Il Post, in November 2024 he announced plans to open Risica, a Milanese pizzeria and wine bar, in the new Edit building in RiNo. While plans have been pushed back several times, it appears that the opening is coming close. In the meantime, if you’re curious to get a sneak peek of the food, Frizzi is currently offering catering services.