Our roster (in alphabetical order) of ten great outdoor decks in metro Denver includes both the very old and the very new. Here's where to get grounded right now in the Mile High City:
Bon Ami Bistro
295 South Pennsylvania Street
If you're looking for a more relaxed patio atmosphere, head to Bon Ami. The intimate French bistro has a shaded outdoor seating area where you can gorge on crepes, escargots, mimosas and more. We'd consider this spot more upscale, so don't expect to find any beer-chugging bros or loud music. Bon Ami is where you can have a full, delicious meal with great happy-hour wine deals outside in a peaceful atmosphere, which sends us straight to France. It's a perfect spot for taking visiting family members, a chill brunch with the girls, or first dates. Bon appétit!
Chill at Champagne Tiger, right off Colfax.
Champagne Tiger
601 East Colfax Avenue
The words “caviar,” “champagne” and “Colfax” may all start with the letter “C,” but such fancy fabulousness has historically been in short supply along the avenue that Playboy (allegedly) called “the longest, wickedest street in America.” Champagne Tiger changed all that when it moved into the former Tom's Diner in August 2024. The interior is classy yet cozy, but the real draw is that outdoor patio, a capacious space perfect for socializing with a few dozen of your closest friends or simply enjoying a solo break. Colfax may be just beyond the fence, but it seems a world away.
FIRE Restaurant & Lounge
1201 Broadway
If you're feeling fancy, look no further than the FIRE Restaurant & Lounge at the ART Hotel, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this summer. You don't have to be a guest at the hotel to enjoy its year-round, four-floor bar equipped with plenty of fire pits for ambiance and warmth in the chilly months. Enjoy fine dining, drinks and fresh air all day while you look out over Broadway — the open terrace is made of floor-to-ceiling glass windows, and the restaurant serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, snacks and dinner. We recommend the plate of cheese and cured meats, which comes with pickles, crostini and spread.
Illegal Pete's
10009 West 26th Avenue, Wheat Ridge
Crown Hill Park is one of the jewels of Jefferson County Open Space, adjacent to the Olinger cemetery, featuring a bird sanctuary, a penned-in horse corral, tribes of coyotes and deer, and a shimmering lake. It’s a runner’s paradise, less trampled than Sloan’s, with extensive trails – but you don’t need to get sweaty to enjoy Crown Hill. At West 26th Avenue and Kipling, you’ll find an Illegal Pete’s at the newly renovated Gold’s Marketplace with a big patio overlooking the western edge of Crown Hill. The drinks are reasonable if not cheap, the margs legendarily strong and the view incomparable.
Joy Hill
1229 South Broadway
Take a friend to Joy Hill, and there's a good chance you'll run into that friend on your next visit. Take a seat on the elevated backyard patio during the sunset, and it's a virtual guarantee. This South Broadway pizza joint has a welcoming two-level interior and fantastic menu of drinks, salads and sourdough pies and appetizers, but a seat outside makes the experience (and view) addictive. As you order pepperoni rolls or a green goddess salad, split one of Denver's best pizzas and enjoy dessert with a creamy pistachio sour cocktail — all while sherbet skies highlight the Rocky Mountains — you'll realize that you're on the ground floor of something special, while sitting two stories above the street.
My Brother's Bar
2376 15th Street
Although the name has changed and sometime during the last century and a half the building lost a second story, My Brother's Bar just keeps getting better. This is the oldest continually operating bar in Denver, having opened in 1873, somehow survived Prohibition, and then fended off developers eager to grab its prime corner near Confluence Park. Along the way it's been patronized by everyone from Neal Cassady (Jack Kerouac's Beat inspiration who may still have an open tab) to working-class folks in the '70s to a new generation that's discovered its cool historic interior (no TVs!) as well as its secluded patio in the heart of the city. Fair warning: There's no sign on this bar, but it doesn't need one.
Platte River Bar & Grill
5995 South Santa Fe Drive, Littleton
Who needs a beach when you have an outdoor patio like this one? Platte River Bar & Grill's sprawling patio is dog-friendly, with frequent events and plenty of TVs for those who don't want to partake in live music or trivia. The lunch specials are a deal, but the real draw here is happy hour and then the hours beyond, when people come out to play and party. And yes, there's even water nearby, although you're better off wetting your whistle than plunging into the Platte.
Raices Brewing Company
2060 West Colfax Avenue
Since 2019, Raices has served the Sun Valley neighborhood with both free events and craft beer, focusing on building connections within Denver's Latino community. The patio that backs up to the South Platte River is the highlight of the space. There are plenty of tables, space for kids to play and shade on hot days. Whether you thirst to sit quietly and enjoy the river rushing by or hang out at a community table and meet a new friend, Raices's patio always satisfies. Though the beers are top-notch, heading to Raices isn't just about the drink: stepping into the brewery feels like entering a warm, family home where every day is a celebration.
Schoolyard Beer Garden
1115 Acoma Street
Class is in session every afternoon and evening at the new Schoolyard Beer Garden — which is just what the Golden Triangle needed, even if we didn't realize it. Since opening in April, this expansive patio outside the renovated, historic Evans School has been packed, drawing neighbors as well as people from around town who find it a convenient place to meet (think Racines). You order your drinks and snacks inside, then take them out into the beer garden, where you're bound to run into someone you know. Or many someones you know: This is a great place to make connections and celebrate community. Or just enjoy some classic Colorado craft beers and cocktails.
Ultreia
1701 Wynkoop Street
Want to get a real taste of Denver? Head to Ultreia, the charming "gastroteka" inside Union Station. The intimate interior is lovely, but we go straight for the patio, a perfect place for downing a gin tonic or three, enjoying dishes off the tapas menu, and doing some major people-watching as you drink up all the sights and sounds of the city. While brunch is always a treat and the paella nights are prime in the summer, happy hour is our favorite time on this patio. All aboard!
