Every Restaurant and Bar Opening and Closing This Week

Aren't things supposed to slow down a little at the end of the year, when we take a step back to contemplate what the previous eleven months have brought? Not so for the week before Christmas in Denver — at least as far as restaurateurs are concerned. Ash'Kara and Lou's Italian Specialties both debuted, the former bringing Israeli cuisine to LoHi and the latter adding an East Coast-style deli and market to Five Points.

Also in Five Points, Kuni Sushi is now serving Japanese seafood and small plates in a renovated space near the Welton Street Cafe and Spangalang Brewery.

But this weekend will see a handful of favorites serve their last dinners and drinks. El Charrito, Marlowe's, Lala's and Makan Malaysian Cafe will be closing, after giving their regular customers advance notice so that they could come in one last time.

Here's our complete list of restaurant and bar openings and closings for the week of December 17 through December 23, followed by links to our original coverage.

Restaurants and Bars Opening This Week*
Alma Homestyle Mexican Food, 4111 Kipling Street, Wheat Ridge
Ash'Kara, 2219 West 33rd Avenue
Devour the 303, 1135 East Evans Avenue
Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, 6700 North Gaylord Rockies Boulevard, Aurora
Los Dos Potrillos Mexican Restaurant y Cervecería, 19340 Cottonwood Drive, Parker
Lou's Italian Specialties, 3357 Downing Street
Kuni Sushi, 2752 Welton Street
Maria Empanada, 1700 Platte Street
Wild Corgi Pub, 1223 East 13th Avenue

Restaurants and Bars Closing This Week*
El Charrito (Sunday), 2100 Larimer Street
Lala's Wine Bar & Pizzeria (Sunday), 410 East Seventh Avenue
Lincoln St. Station, 776 Lincoln Street
Makan Malaysian Cafe (Saturday), 1859 Pearl Street
Marion Street Tavern, 223 East 13th Avenue
Marlowe's (Saturday), 501 16th Street

*Or earlier, and not previously reported.


"Memories of Marlowe's, Closing December 22"

"Ash'Kara Brings Israeli Cuisine to LoHi"

"Welsh Corgis Are So Amazing People Are Naming Bars After Them"

"Maria Empanada Adds Fourth Denver Argentinian Cafe"

"The Gaylord Rockies Resort Opens in Aurora"

Before this surprising spate of restaurant openings, we started picking through the newcomers for our favorites of the year. Here's our list of the twelve best new restaurants of 2018 (so far); we'll revisit the list in January so that latecomers will not be overlooked.

We also evaluated the bar scene over the past year and picked ten of the best that are new to town. With the holiday season in full swing, this list provides a handy roster of stops between shopping, eating and entertaining.

Have you noticed any openings or closings not on this list? Let us know in the comments or send an email to [email protected].