Now that summer’s approaching, there’s something about a restaurant with a patio that draws you in. Dining al fresco has an appeal that eating indoors just can’t offer. Feeling the breeze while you kick back, relax and enjoy your favorite meal is priceless. Whether you’re a Denver local or just in town for a visit, there are several amazing restaurant patios that you should check out.
Domo
Domo offers a full variety of Japanese cuisine that you can enjoy in their unique patio setting. The patio at Domo is much more than just tables and chairs outside. Domo’s patio is an experience within itself. Award-winning gardens line the patio area. When you enter, you feel as though you are in a completely different space, forgetting that you’re even at a restaurant. Create your dish with Domo’s interactive menu; it allows you to create entrée combinations including teriyaki and curry prepared dishes. Domo is open for lunch and dinner daily at their Osage Street location.
Potager
When you pull up to Potager on Ogden Street you may be thinking, patio, what patio? Ahh…but some of the best things come in small packages. An intimate patio area awaits you in the back of the restaurant. Complete with mood lighting and an intimate outdoor garden, this patio is a true hidden gem.
Potager means kitchen garden. Here, chefs draw upon the season and what is locally grown. So, the menu changes with the seasons. Simple, yet tasty dishes like the grilled tender belly pork chop, help to make Potager stand out. Other unique dishes include a pan roasted monk fish picata. Potager is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday.
FIRE Lounge
FIRE Lounge located at The Art Hotel on Broadway has a view of Downtown Denver like none other. The fourth floor patio at FIRE Terrace allows you to the see the Mile High city in all of its glory. A fire pit makes for a cozy atmosphere while you share dinner and drinks with friends. The menu at FIRE is a unique mix of farm-to-table cuisine with a variety of both fish and meat dishes. Try the grilled diver sea scallops or the Angus beef 14 oz. ribeye. FIRE Lounge is open daily for lunch and dinner.
Forest Room 5
If you’re looking for a rustic getaway in the middle of the city, Forest Room 5 is it. The patio here boasts logs and even streams to create a unique patio experience. Often referred to as “outdoor chic”, there are also fire pits on the patio. This is a fun spot to meet friends for drinks or dinner.
The menu here is just as distinctive as the patio. Enjoy a bowl of Colorado chili, which is a mix of Colorado beef, bison, squash, avocado, and sour cream. How about a dish of Smokey Mac ‘N Cheese? If you like oven-roasted mushrooms, smoked gouda, and hickory bacon, this dish is for you. Forest Room 5 is located on 15th Street and opens daily at 4p.m.
Vital Root
Did you ever wonder about the ingredients used in the food you eat when you go out to restaurants? At Vital Root on Tennyson Street, there is no guessing. Enjoy one of two outdoor patios where fresh herbs are growing right in front of your eyes. It’s part of the restaurant’s mission to “keep it real”. Vital Root focuses on vegetable based dishes, supporting more than 55 local farmers and artisans. Here you’ll find unique dishes like the sprout head sandwich and chick n’ pea lettuce wraps. Vital Root serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Sunday.
Dining al fresco in Denver never look and tasted so good!
