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12 top restaurants for every kind of date in Denver

A photo of Red logo
by Linnea Covington
Updated January 29, 2024

When it comes to romantic occasions, Denver’s restaurant scene has it on lock. First dates get a flirty and fun setting at an award-winning distillery. Shareable Mexican soul food makes for especially lively group dates. And for when you’re ready to go all in, a caviar and martini bar downtown is a dream proposal spot.

This guide pairs Denver restaurants with romantic occasions from first dates all the way to milestone anniversaries. These are Denver’s 12 best date-night restaurants.

A photo of The Family Jones Spirit House restaurant
4.8
4.8 (430)
$30 and under
Distillery
Highlands
About the restaurant

Woo your beau-to-be at this award-winning tasting room and distillery. Housemade spirits like gin, rye, and bourbon play starring roles in cocktails, and the bubbly drinks go well with imaginative bar snacks including lemon-miso Caesar salad, a seasonal charcuterie board, and deviled eggs. If the evening is going especially well, consider taking a bottle to-go to stretch your date a little longer.


Top review
cam
Dined on Nov 16, 2024
Cocktails were so good. Food was great. Service a bit slow.
A photo of Kawa Ni - Denver restaurant
4.9
4.9 (274)
$31 to $50
Japanese
Whittier
About the restaurant

Izakayas, or informal Japanese bars, were made for laid-back hangouts, so it’s not surprising that Kawa Ni hits all the right notes for an early-in-the-game date. The Denver edition of this Connecticut favorite lives in a former LoHi fire station and specializes in hot and cold small plates. Chat it up over dumplings, sushi, and pickled tofu bao, best paired with cups of warm sake.


Top review
Ryanvip
Dined 2 days ago
Service was incredible! Food was absolutely amazing in particular the dumplings. Only minor negative was the lighting being super low requiring use of cellphone flashlight to see the menus.
A photo of Gattara restaurant
4.1
4.1 (175)
$30 and under
Italian
Uptown
About the restaurant

Add some whimsy to your second date by heading to this cat-themed Italian spot at the Warwick Hotel. There are feline accents for days, including cats hidden in the wallpaper and a whiskered mural by the bar. But you’re really here for the blistered Neapolitan-style pies with locally accented toppings like Colorado lamb chop and elk pepperoni. For an al fresco date, book a table on the freshly renovated patio, complete with a year-round fireplace.


Top review
Karen
Dined 4 days ago
Nathan and the rest of the staff took great care of us for Thanksgiving dinner. We were a lively party of 13. Nathan was friendly, detailed, attentive and the food was great. Some of us ordered from the regular Gattara menu and others from the Thanksgiving menu. We all were happy! Wonderful night!
A photo of Blue Island Oyster Bar - Denver restaurant
4.7
4.7 (2960)
$31 to $50
Seafood
Cherry Creek
About the restaurant

The seafood menu at Blue Island Oyster Bar is impressive but understated, just like a good second date should be. Share fried calamari with Thai chile sauce, Manila clam linguine, and Alaskan red king crab legs and take in the nautical-chic vibes. If you’re not ready for a full-fledged dinner just yet, come for the daily happy hour known for some of the city’s best oysters and refreshing elderflower basil martinis.


Top review
Jelehla
Dined 1 day ago
We moved from coastal Northern California to Colorado a couple of years ago, and really miss buying our own oysters at the docks, as well as the plethora of fantastic seafood restaurants. We were skeptical about any restaurant here claiming to serve fresh seafood, but finally decided to try Blue Island Oyster Bar - and, to our delight, it was amazing. The clam chowder was great, as was my prosciutto-wrapped scallop entree. We’ll definitely return, and soon!
A photo of Jovanina's Broken Italian restaurant
4.7
4.7 (1328)
$31 to $50
Italian
Downtown / LoDo
About the restaurant

Snuggle up at a table for two at this Italian favorite—the spot by the wood-fired oven is the sweetest seat in the house. Rest assured, even if that’s taken, the whole space radiates romance thanks to flickering candles and exposed brick walls. Add comfort food like elk bolognese with fresh pasta and grilled lamb chops with sweet corn farro, and you’ve got a winning formula for a restaurant you and your date won’t ever get enough of.


Top review
Matt
Dined on Nov 23, 2024
Absolutely wonderful gluten free pasta. We got the pesto gluten free and it was easily the best gluten free Italian dish we’ve ever had
A photo of Le Bilboquet - Denver restaurant
4.6
4.6 (1950)
$50 and over
French
Cherry Creek
About the restaurant

Exquisite French plates, refined service, and fine wines keep couples returning to celebrate at this fine-dining faithful. Like the restaurant’s sibling locations in New York, Atlanta, and Palm Springs, the Denver version is a pro at French classics like duck confit and juicy steaks, ideal for lunches or dinners. Add on beef tartare or a pile of crispy fries for the full French effect.


Top review
Clarevip
Dined 5 days ago
Always fabulous. Consistently our go to after a long flight and before bed
A photo of A5 Steakhouse restaurant
4.7
4.7 (433)
$31 to $50
Steakhouse
LoHi
About the restaurant

Save this stylish steakhouse for a special occasion. Chef Max Mackissock’s phenomenal menu was made for celebrations, thanks to innovative starters like the beef tartare katsu sando—not to mention a show-stopping main selection that includes thoughtfully sourced cuts of beef and the crowd-fave mac-and-cheese croquettes. Luckily, the dining room is far from stuffy, splashed in lively greens, and is a great preview for the restaurant’s contemporary spin on classics.


Top review
Todd
Dined 2 days ago
Ashe, our server, was fantastic - hustling but still gave great personable service. Menu looks amazing - lots of stuff I want to go back and try. Not everything was a hit - Coctel de Camarones was kind of a bland strait forward version, tartare sando had too much bread. The char siu bacon was amazing, the chile crisp fantastic, the fried rice the hit of the night, the picanha/prawn surf and turf was perfect. Overall a great experience. Thanks very much to the team.
A photo of Ace Eat Serve restaurant
4.6
4.6 (921)
$30 and under
Asian
Uptown
About the restaurant

There’s nothing quite like playing around during dinner, especially on a date. At Ace Eat Serve, it’s all about ping pong and creative dim sum, including four types of chicken wings, pork shoulder-stuffed pot stickers, and more (there are larger plates, too). If it doesn’t mess with your backspin, consider the restaurant’s sake flight to round out your fun evening.


Top review
Amanda
Dined 2 days ago
The food was amazing, the drinks were fantastic, and the service was great! We were also pleasantly surprised that they were doing a holiday pop up, so we got to sit in a festive area while enjoying our dinner!
A photo of Matsuhisa Denver restaurant
4.9
4.9 (2741)
$31 to $50
Japanese
Cherry Creek
About the restaurant

It’s not just the world-class sushi and sashimi that bring couples celebrating a big night here. Renowned chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa’s Japanese Peruvian menu also includes beloved hits like the miso-cod plate and uni tempura with shiso and curry. From its Zen garden entrance to the ornate, cut-out screens and custom-designed chopsticks, Matsuhisa is a stunning 7,800-square-foot escape that delivers a transportive meal worthy of any romantic milestone.


Top review
Stevevip
Dined 1 day ago
Overall dining experience was excellent. Eric along with the entire service team were extremely customer centric and Eric’s insight and recommendations were spot on. The food quality and presentation were also top notch. Kudos to the entire Matsuhisa Team!
A photo of Urban Village Grill restaurant
4.5
4.5 (177)
$31 to $50
Contemporary Indian
Highlands Ranch / Lone Tree
About the restaurant

Chennai-born chef Charles Mani puts his own spins on South Asian classics at this innovative Indian restaurant, bringing in non-traditional ingredients like kale and butternut squash. But the real fun happens on the outdoor patio, equipped with grill stations where you can DIY your own brisket, scallops, and paneer for an especially adventurous meal. For a daytime date, come for Mani’s clever mashups like penne tikka masala and Indo Chinese bowls.


Top review
Keith
Dined on Aug 11, 2024
We ordered 4 different things and all were excellent. Highly recommend.
A photo of Call Me Pearl restaurant
4.5
4.5 (77)
$30 and under
Cocktail Bar
Denver
About the restaurant

This sleek cocktail, oyster, and caviar bar inside the Rally Hotel is as elegant as it gets. Plush banquettes and round leather lounge chairs make it super proposal friendly, and so do exquisite cocktails and sophisticated snacks like wagyu sliders and oysters Rockefeller. But the focal point is most definitely a dramatic chandelier made with 1,350 glass orbs that look like pearls—the only thing that can rival them is a diamond.


Top review
Val
Dined 1 day ago
Delicious cocktails and small plates! Ambience was very nice as well. Service from the host and bartender were great.
A photo of Comida- Stanley restaurant
4.3
4.3 (344)
$30 and under
Contemporary Mexican
Stapleton
About the restaurant

Grab your best friend and their SO for a night of tacos and good times. Chef and owner Rayme Rossello’s festive restaurant makes a vibrant destination for a relaxed group hangout. The menu is packed with Mexican soul food, like quesadillas loaded with spicy shrimp, pimento cheese-stuffed jalapeños, mushroom fajitas, and more. Pair any dish with a jar of the house margarita, or spice things up with the pineapple habanero version.


Top review
Susan
Dined on Sep 2, 2024
Stanley Marketplace is a great place to eat and shop. My dinner at La Comida was ok. The margarita was too bitter. The skirt steak burrito filling was delicious but it came warm instead of hot and the tortilla wasn’t even warm or soft. My friend said her tamales were good but not great. The wait staff was friendly and attentive. We enjoyed the ambiance. It was a little noisy but not so bad that we couldn’t talk.
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