Seven Most Anticipated Denver Restaurants Opening This Spring

We kicked off 2025 hungry for new spots to eat and three months in, some of the year's most anticipated spots have already proven to be hits, including Alteño from the Michelin-starred team behind Alma Fonda Fina, and Leven Supply in Wash Park.

While some buzzy openings are still far from making their official debuts, others are set to start serving this spring.

Here are seven additions we're excited to try soon, in alphabetical order:

Chubby Unicorn Cantina
4180 Wynkoop Street
Projected opening: April
Terry Walsh, whose Rolling Smoke BBQ has four metro Denver locations, is behind this new restaurant coming to the plaza across from Mission Ballroom that's also home to Left Hand RiNo Drinks & Eats. Though Walsh's specialty has been smoked meats since he launched his barbecue business as a food truck in 2014, this spot will serve Mexican-American eats such as tacos and nachos. We're all for more options for pre-concert eats in this area — even one with an odd name.
Emilia
3615 Delgany Street
Projected opening: Spring or summer
While this new spot may not actually debut until after spring, we can dream. The owners of Olivia, one of the best Italian restaurants in the city, are opening another Italian eatery. Emilia will be located on the first floor of the Current office building in RiNo, and will combine inspiration from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy with an emphasis on local sourcing to create what co-owner Ty Leon decribes as "Italian-Colorado cuisine." Think mortadella made with Colorado bison rather than pork, or prosciutto using trout rather than ham flown in from Parma. Count us in.

HashTAG
1125 17th Street
Projected opening: April
Restaurateur Troy Guard introduced his first breakfast concept, HashTAG, in Central Park in 2017. In 2023, he added an outpost in Highlands Ranch and soon, he'll debut the largest HashTAG yet, in the heart of downtown. While other locally-owned downtown spots like Zoe Ma Ma and Eat'Ya Pizza have closed in recent months, Guard says he's all-in on being part of the area's revitalization. He recently renewed the lease at his downtown steakhouse Guard and Grace; last year, he opened wine and cocktail bar Done Deal in Republic Plaza. The new HashTAG includes a rooftop patio and event space, and it will offer happy hour in addition to breakfast and brunch fare.
Kizaki
1551 South Pearl Street
Projected opening: Early- to mid-April
Sushi Den has been a favorite on South Pearl Street for four decades; over the years, brothers Toshi and Yasu Kizaki have expanded their culinary reach on that block with the addition of Ototo and Izakaya Den. Soon, Toshi will add a fourth eatery to what's now known as Den Corner. “Kizaki is my vision of retirement,” says Toshi. “It’s my way of honoring edomae traditions and sharing these age-old techniques with Denver, the community that has embraced my creativity and shown me relentless support for decades. I want to finish where I started—making sushi.” When it debuts, diners can expect a twenty-ish course omakase experience in which the chef will use a range of edomae techniques, including raw, cured, seared and dry-aged preparations. Los Dos Potrillos
4100 East Mexico Avenue
Projected opening: April
In 2023, brothers Daniel and Luis Ramirez shared big expansion plans for the family business that their father founded in 2002. Not all of those plans panned out — a fast-casual spinoff dubbed Los Dos Potrillos Cocina y Cantina in Thornton recently closed. According to Daniel, who is the CEO of Ramirez Hospitality Group, the team realized it's better suited to the full-service model, which is what they're bringing to the first Los Dos Potrillos location in Denver. It's taking over the former home of a Hacienda Colorado, another locally-born Mexican chain that's been shrinking since it was sold to a Texas-based group in 2019. Los Dos remains firmly rooted in family, though, and we're happy that soon, we'll be able to get a taste of its tacos, nachos and burritos within city limits.

Malinche Audiobar
1541 Platte Street
Projected opening: May
La Diabla owner Jose Avila has been busy working on several new projects. First up: Malinche Audiobar in LoHi, which will be a mezcal-focused bar with charcoal-grilled eats. It will also be the only spot where you can try Avila's own mezcal, straight from Oaxaca, which you can sip while listening to his personal collection of vintage Mexican records. He's also working on his own food hall next door to La Diabla, where several stalls will serve everything from handmade tortillas and baracoa to seafood and churros, as well as a restaurant near Union Station. Both of those are expected to open by the end of the year.
SYC Temaki
1573 South Colorado Boulevard
Projected opening: April
Sherry Crossland is a name Denver diners should get used to hearing. Her One Concept Restaurant group, which started with Go Fish Sushi, now has many concepts, including the newest additions, Miya Moon in Lone Tree and Mikaku Ramen & Temaki in Aurora. And soon, Crossland will debut the first concept under her more upscale brand, SYC (her initials). While we're still excited for SYC Blossom, which is coming to the LoHi space that was most recently El Chingon, SYC Temaki will open sooner. Located in the same shopping plaza as another One Concept eatery, the Bronze Empire, the counter-only spot will serve freshly prepared handrolls. Also in the works: SYC Omakase in Cherry Creek North and Sushi By SYC in Broomfield.