Best Restaurants

The definitive list for dining in Denver, including the top 40 restaurants, the sweetest places to brunch, and the swankiest spots to nosh at the bar. Plus, your most pressing dining questions answered.

Eat at the Bar

9th Door Catch happy hour at trendy 9th Door (4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.), where flavorful tapas ring in at $2 to $4 and most cocktails cost just $4. Order the pimientos del pequillo salteados (roasted Spanish peppers sautéed with garlic and extra-virgin olive oil) and the albóndigas (lamb meatballs served in an almond-sherry sauce laced with mint). 1808 Blake St., 303-292-2229

Elway's Order a cocktail from John, the bartender, and over bites of grilled filet mignon and bacon-wrapped shrimp enjoy Cherry Creek's best people-watching. (All this and a chance to see good ol' Number 7.) If you're up for drama, the open flames of the homemade s'mores are always an attention-getter. For a really swanky night out, check out the Elway's at the Ritz-Carlton. 2500 E. First Ave., Unit 101, 303-399-5353

Il Posto Arrive early (5:30 p.m.) or late (10 p.m.) and snag one of Il Posto's bar stools for a bird's-eye view into the kitchen—and a chance to chat with chef Andrea Frizzi. Order a white wine from the Alto Adige region of Italy and a savory crespillina crêpe with buffalo ricotta, fresh herbs, and cream Parmesan fondutina. 2011 E. 17th Ave., 303-394-0100

Izakaya Den At sister restaurant Sushi Den, the bar brims with cocktail-swilling diners waiting for tables. But at Izakaya Den across the street, the spacious bar is a destination in itself. The full menu is available (don't miss the crispy tuna and the Kobe beef medallions with edamame, watermelon, and mint), and the space has a cool vibe and plenty of tucked-away nooks and tables. Perch at the "rail," a sleek high-top table carved from a single conifer tree, for a quick bite. Or request a bar table and make your way through the menu, one small plate at a time. 1518 S. Pearl St., 303-777-0691

The O Room If it's a cutting-edge experience you're after, check out the O Room at the Westin Westminster. This isn't your typical hotel dining—for proof, slide up to the sophisticated front bar and sample house-cured citrus trout bruschetta or fork-tender buffalo short ribs. Chef Ian Kleinman pushes the envelope with the futuristic-sounding molecular gastronomy—try the tableside liquid nitrogen sorbets where, before your eyes, chefs turn ingredients such as strawberry and yuzu, sprinkled with olive oil dust, into delectable frozen fantasies. 10600 Westminster Blvd., Westminster, 303-410-5066

The Oceanaire Seafood Room Sitting at the Oceanaire's crescent-shape oyster bar, it seems only fitting to sip an ice-cold martini, pluck a freshly shucked kumamoto from the platter in front of you, and gently sway to a Frank Sinatra tune. After all, the Art Deco-style restaurant was fashioned after a 1930s luxury ocean liner, and an evening spent dining on the grand shellfish platter—a towering sampler of iced shrimp, crab, lobster, poached mussels, and raw oysters—is decadent and delicious. 1400 Arapahoe St., 303-991-2277

Vesta Dipping Grill The best thing about dining at Vesta's copper-topped bar is that you get to decide the pace. Grab a quick bite—sangria and a Vesta roll—or linger over a glass of wine and the savory madras-grilled venison. Bonus: We always find that chef Matt Selby's dipping sauces make eating more fun. 1822 Blake St., 303-296-1970

Vita We love tucking into Vita's handsome bar and sipping on an inspired cocktail (try the apple Manhattan martini made with muddled fresh apple). A stripe of inset lighting runs the length of the bar top and casts a cool glow over the menu—no need to squint, just order the braised Kurobuta pork belly with figs, potato dumplings, and apple salad. 1575 Boulder St., Suite A, 303-477-4600

Zengo Zengo's trendy space always plays to a hip crowd, which makes eating at the bar all the more fun. Come right at 5 p.m. for a sure-fire seat, or later if you want more company. Ask Kelly behind the bar to pour a mojito Cuzco with freshly muddled mint and cucumber. Follow it up with tuna wonton tacos with pickled ginger and mango salsa, as well as charbroiled black cod with chile chipotle, asparagus, and lemon aïoli. 1610 Little Raven St., 720-904-0965