Alteño

Name: Alteño
Address: 249 Clayton St, Denver, CO, United States, 80206-4842
Telephone: (303) 532-4999
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.9

4.9 (181)

$31 to $50

Mexican

249 Clayton St, Denver, CO 80206-4842

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 19, 2025

11:30 PM

Booked 67 times today

About this restaurant

Hot spot
Good for special occasions
Great for creative cocktails

From the heart of Michelin-starred Chef/Owner Johnny Curiel comes Alteño. Curiel’s newest creation pays homage to his Jaliscan Highland roots and traditions, incorporating a mix of heritage flavors and rustic preparations that spotlight the cuisine and culture of the iconic Los Altos de Jalisco. The spirit of Johnny’s restaurateur father, the original Alteño, is felt in the very soul of the restaurant.

The campestre influence woven throughout Alteño is inspired by Johnny’s childhood spent in the mountainous region of Los Altos, known for its rolling hills, historic colonial architecture, and wild, untamed land. Chef Johnny and his partner and wife, Kasie, developed the beverage program balancing top-shelf, native Mexican flavors and agave spirits like raicilla and mezcal, with classic cocktails and a wine list that includes a selection of Mexican, European and American wines overseen by Alteño’s in-house sommelier.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Mexican, Contemporary Mexican
Hours of operation
Daily 3:00 pm–11:00 pm
Phone number
(303) 532-4999
Website
https://www.altenorestaurant.com/
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Chef Johnny Curiel

Location
249 Clayton St, Denver, CO 80206-4842
Neighborhood
Cherry Creek
Parking details
Valet

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What 181 people are saying

Alteño reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.9

4.9 based on recent ratings

4.9Food
4.8Service
4.8Ambience
4.6Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Denver / Colorado
Hot spot
Denver / Colorado
Mexican
Denver
Best Food
Denver
Hot spot
Denver
Mexican

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Alteño dazzles with its "incredible" flavors and "exceptional" service, showcasing a sophisticated menu filled with innovative dishes and perfectly balanced cocktails. Guests rave about the "amazing" avocado margarita, "outstanding" carne asada, and "delicious" jalapeño cornbread. The vibrant atmosphere and attentive staff make it a must-visit destination in Denver.

181 Reviews

B
Brittany VIP
Toledo / Northwest Ohio3 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
All but good thoughts about this place. Very thoughtful and curated menu. Server walked us through the menu and helped us choose dishes that would pair well together. We loved the pace of food (you order all at once then they bring out one dish at a time). The cornbread is an absolute must. Chicken was incredible. Flourless chocolate cake was good but I wouldn’t get it again. All in all an incredible meal. We had 4 drinks and 5 food items and it was $180. So an insanely good price for the meal we had. Can’t wait to go back.
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E
Elizabeth
Denver / Colorado9 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Absolutely outstanding! I was excited to try and it did not disappoint. Enjoyed trying many different dishes. The service was excellent, all of the dishes were interesting and delicious in their own way. We tried the cornbread, crab and avocado salad, one of the tacos, and the chicken. Highly recommend! The restaurant itself is a nice vibe as well. Can't wait to go back.
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J
Jordan
Denver / Colorado7 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Chef Johnny is incredible and I was dreaming about dishes the next day. We couldn’t get enough of the Carne Apache, it was absolutely incredible with the bone marrow drizzle. Pretty sure my girlfriend licked the shell the Baked Hokkaido Scallops were served out of. While the oysters were a bit large that night, chef Johnny serves it with three house-made sauces that were all fantastic! Guac is usually guac & is something I sample everywhere… this one with the EVOO and spices was mind blowing. Lastly, the avocado marg was ordered round after round and complimented the food so well. Colleen was our server- she was a pro with the menu, funny, charming and made my birthday girls dinner one I’ll cherish for a long time. New “special” restaurant on my short list.
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E
Eddie VIP
Austin3 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Everything was amazing. The food was so good. The server was great, quick and descriptive of the dishes.
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F
Ferdinand VIP
Denver / Colorado18 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Our experience was fantastic. The food was delicious and the service superb.
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S
Steve VIP
Denver / Colorado18 reviews
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
We finally got to try, popular place! Our waiter Shane was very good, was the main reason for a very pleasant evening. The food was delicious, didn’t get to try all that I’d like so we’ll be back. GM, Becca was attentive to guests and staff, which made the atmosphere and overall experience that much better. Highly recommend!
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D
Darcy
Denver / Colorado3 reviews
3.0
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 5
I had really high hopes for alteño after having dined at Alma Fonda Fina and it was definitely a bit of a let down. Service was not even close to being on par with what they had at Alma, we waited a good 15 minutes from when we were sat to get a drink order in. The food was very hit and miss. Overall very underwhelming for the same pricing as their sister restaurant.
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J
Jennifer VIP
Chicago / Illinois4 reviews
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Impeccable food - especially loved what we ordered from the pre-entree sections. Cocktails were also incredible and unique.
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S
Sandra VIP
Washington, D.C. Area15 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 12, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Beautiful atmosphere, incredible service and even more amazing food. Had four different dishes and each one had so much depth even with simple ingredients.
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K
Krista
St. Louis1 review
2.0
Dined on July 12, 2025
1. Overall 2
2. Food 4
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 4
This was our second time here, and honestly did not live up to our expectations. Our server felt like he was rushing us out the minute we sat down and was kind of passive aggressive - it was very off putting for the entire experience. Food was good, just like all of Johnny’s restaurants.
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FAQs

Alteño is rated 4.9 stars by 181 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 19, 2025

11:30 PM

Booked 67 times today

249 Clayton St, Denver, CO 80206-4842

Additional information

Neighborhood
Cherry Creek
Hours of operation
Daily 3:00 pm–11:00 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Mexican, Contemporary Mexican
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Valet
Executive chef
Chef Johnny Curiel

Website
https://www.altenorestaurant.com/
Phone number
(303) 532-4999

Alteño

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Additional information

Ask Concierge
AI Beta

Menu

What 181 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

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Is Alteño currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information