Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Denver / Colorado

OpenTable

Updated May 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Denver / Colorado? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Corrida - Alpenglobe

4.9

4.9 (58)

$50 and over

Spanish

Boulder

About the restaurant

Join us for an under the stars experience in our exclusive, heated rooftop Alpenglobes for a unique & intimate dining experience. Enjoy date night, a family dinner or a business outing. Our globes can host up to 6 guests. There are no pre-set menus & guests will be able to order from our a la carte menu options. Globes will be reserved up to 15 minutes past your reservation time, after which the reservation will be released & charged the cancellation fee. We do reserve the right to charge $50 per person if cancellations are made within less than 24 hours.

Top review

MelissaVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Celebrated my husband’s 60th in an Alpenglobe. Had a lovely time and our server Mark made it very special. We enjoyed our meal and would love to come back again someday. Favorite dish was the pulpo and the bread with special house butter. The mocktails were also lovely. Meat was on the rare side, we ordered medium rare but the center was quite rare. (The pass should have checked for this before sending out.) happy we ordered the Iberico ham. Couldn’t see the Flatirons from where we were, but it was still was a lovely experience.

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Experience

Tapas Hour in the Alpenglobes

Experience

Dinner in the Alpenglobes

Fox and The Hen

4.9

4.9 (100)

$30 and under

Breakfast

Whittier

About the restaurant

Fox and The Hen is inspired by a love of all things breakfast aka #MorningStuff. Here, we believe all the best things happen in the morning: sunrises, coffee drinks, small breakfast burritos tucked in large breakfast burritos and walks of shame.

Born out of Carrie Baird and Michael Fox’s true love for classic American breakfast served with lighthearted twists and an equal passion of all things boozy-brunch-drinks, Fox & The Hen is your new LoHi all-day breakfast concept.

Our focus is bringing friends and family together, incredibly delicious (and fun!) food, creative beverages and having everyone who leaves the Fox & the Hen feel their day is better than when they came in.

We do not seat incomplete parties, sorry.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Mar 15, 2025

Had an amazing time!! The food was phenomenal and our server was absolutely amazing.

Canary

4.9

4.9 (24)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Breckenridge

About the restaurant

Welcome to a world where every detail is crafted with intention, and you’re not just a guest — you’re part of the story. Consider this booking not as a simple reservation, but the start of a journey that can take you anywhere you’d like to go. Will your journey begin with the floral elegance of gin, or the robust embrace of bourbon?
What structure suits your spirit? A bold, stirred classic served neat? Or a lively blend of citrus and sweetness?
To finish: bitter botanicals, ripe fruits, fragrant spices, or delicate flowers?
Watch our bartenders bring this vision to life, presenting a cocktail intended for this singular moment.
This is your night, and we’re here to ensure every moment is magical.

Top review

Nathan

Dined 3 days ago

Best drinks in Breckenridge! JC is a magician. Also, one of the few upscale places in town. Highly Recommend!! Nate

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Experience

Imbibe in a world of explorational delight!

Ukiyo

4.8

4.8 (141)

$50 and over

International

Whittier

About the restaurant

UKIYO is a 12-seat omakase (chef choice) restaurant located on Larimer Square of downtown Denver, curated by chef Phraseuth ‘Paul’ Sananikone. The UKIYO multi-course omakase experience uses Japanese techniques with worldly flavors transforming it into a unique tasting menu where his offerings change based on ingredient seasonality and availability.

Top review

DanVIP

Dined on Apr 17, 2025

Excellent as always - the food is unique and fantastic, service is impeccable.

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Experience

Late Night Nigiri

Experience

Kizuna no Tabemono “Food of Connection” Menu 3

Experience

Toast to Tuna

The Pullman

4.7

4.7 (1299)

$31 to $50

American

Glenwood Springs

About the restaurant

Innovative twists on New American comfort food & cocktails in an industrial yet warm space.

Top review

Candice

Dined 2 days ago

Overall, great experience! Our server was great and the food was pretty tasty. We started with a couple pickled deviled eggs - those are super tasty. For the main course we had the shrimp carbonara pasta - fantastic dish! And the pork shoulder - which was very tender! I do wish the grits had a bit more flavor/seasoning, but besides that, we enjoyed the food and had a lovely time.

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Popular dish

Gnocchi Salad

Sushi Hai

4.6

4.6 (911)

$31 to $50

Sushi

Highlands

About the restaurant

Like the Highland neighborhood we call home, Sushi Hai is refined, with a funky bite to its elegance. Modern with a Japanese flair, and filled with exceptional art created in the neighborhood, this restaurant has a unique style and provides three floors of seating - and every table feels special. We also offer three private Tatami Rooms, which accommodate 8 to 10 diners in traditional Japanese floor-seating.

We at Sushi Hai welcome you to come indulge your senses.

Top review

TracyVIP

Dined on Mar 16, 2025

Everything was great! We really enjoyed our meal and drinks. Service was awesome

Bang Up To The Elephant

4.6

4.6 (271)

$30 and under

Vegetarian / Vegan

Central

About the restaurant

Bang Up to the Elephant blends the intimacy of indoor dining with the natural enchantment of the outdoors, providing a sultry space for escape and rejuvenation. The restaurant’s namesake, a Victorian-era phrase for 'properly done,' is reflected in every detail, from its spirited atmosphere to its thoughtfully prepared dishes, creating one of the more unique dining experiences in Denver.

Prioritizing the well-being of our life-sustaining oceans and land, the restaurant serves 100% plant-based dishes that are considerately crafted. Bang Up to the Elephant’s lush ambiance embodies our passion for focused and always-evolving menus that are globally inspired. With adventurous spices and heat, our ingredients are always vegan, fresh-from-scratch, and carefully sourced.

Amidst the tree–lined heart of our historically artistic Capitol Hill neighborhood, the restaurant hosts local art and entertainers through ongoing events – a must-visit for Denver's socially vibrant dining and arts scene.

Top review

Melissa

Dined on Apr 23, 2025

This place is a total gem. I like giving money not just for great food but for the effort a restaurant puts into bettering the social and biological environment. Bang Up to the Elephant was a great place all around. I was treated so well and would go there again next time I'm in Denver.

FIRE - The ART Hotel Denver, Curio Collection by Hilton

4.0

4 (1054)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Downtown / LoDo

About the restaurant

FIRE, a restaurant in the ART Hotel offers approachable American dishes with a creative modern twist. Serving locally sourced ingredients at the highest quality with an elevated service, complemented by an award-winning wine program and signature craft cocktails.

For parties of six or more, a 25% gratuity will be added to the bill, and we are happy to accommodate up to six separate checks. We greatly appreciate your understanding and look forward to serving you.

Top review

Charisa

Dined on Apr 6, 2025

We really enjoyed our 4th floor beach view. Our server was friendly and very helpful. Our food was beautiful. The kitchen was accommodating. My cucumber cooler was fun and refreshing. The art exhibits that were sprinkled around were an extra special treat. We had a great experience in every respect.

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Experience

Brunch

Experience

FIRE Social Hour 2-5PM

Experience

Sunset Sessions

The Range

3.6

3.6 (44)

$30 and under

American

Steamboat Springs

About the restaurant

Adjacent to Skeeter’s Ice Rink and with stunning views of Steamboat Resort, The Range Food & Drink Hall has the feel of an indoor/outdoor lunch and après lounge along with a fittingly wide range of cuisine options to meet everyone’s palate.

The Range features four different dining options. Twister Tacos serves street-style tacos, Sunshine Bowl warms l with a variety of ramen bowls, Pioneer Pies features pizza, and Why Not Sandwich Shop offers fresh salads and sandwiches.

Escape to a truly unique mountain experience with our custom cedar Stranahan's barrels! Perfect for up to four guests. Enjoy seamless ordering through our QR code menu, with food and beverages delivered straight to your barrel by our staff. Barrels are available on a first-come, first-serve basis until 3:30 PM—after that, reservations are required. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable way to savor the scenery and elevate your day!

Come join us at The Range after hitting the trails or enjoying a scenic gondola ride!

Top review

NewLife7

Dined on Mar 5, 2025

Really awesome experience. Great view. Great food. Quiet and warm inside the barrel. Overall, fantastic dinner. We will return another time.

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