Denver Magazine / Denver Magazine Summer 2008 / Dining Alfresco

 Email  Print  Feed

Dining Alfresco

With summer in full swing and Denver's radiant sunbeams and starlit, breezy evenings beckoning us outside, it's the perfect time for open-air dining and imbibing.

The city abounds with carousing rooftops, idyllic garden settings, weathered wooden decks, classic patios and elegant terraces. Whether it's a Japanese-inspired hideaway or a rollicking perch overlooking the spanning skyline, the following alfresco settings will free you from the confinements of a boxed-in dining room, lulling you instead with the sights, sounds and scents of a city worth savoring under the sweep of wide open skies.

Pearl Street Grill

You wouldn't know it from the street , nor from the throng of regulars that belly up to the antiquated inside bar , but this Old South Pearl Street neighborhood hangout trumpets an ambient garden patio on its backside, kaleidoscopic with muraled walls decked out in floral landscapes, a murmuring fountain, mature trees to shield the social scene from the streaming sunbeams and an electric umbrella roof that catches the rain drops. The impressive beer list includes rotating microbrews and the kitchen turns out above-average pub grub, including juicy burgers and sandwiches that approach high-rise status.

1477 S. Pearl St.; 303.778.6475 | pearlstreetgrilldenver.com

Domo

Transporting you directly to Zendom by way of its countrified Japanese cuisine (there is no soy sauce here; don't ask), ceremonious servers and harmonious quarters, this off-the-eaten path food temple is a lesson in reflective contemplation , both inside and out. The backyard rock garden, sometimes tended, sometimes wild, unleashes magic moments of serenity, especially when you're dining near the glistening pond bobbing with bright-hued fish or the bubbling fountain flush with greenery. Meander through the 19th century Japanese folk art museum, which displays ceremonial tea cups circa World War II and other cultural marvels that you won't find anywhere else in the city.

1365 Osage St.; 303.595.3666 | domorestaurant.com

The Tavern Lowry

The menu at the Tavern at Lowry jet sets all over the globe, proffering everything from duck enchiladas and a Mediterranean steak salad to pizzas and prime rib, but the best part about this suburban gathering place in lively Lowry is the open and airy courtyard patio, an architecturally and aesthetically serene oasis, teeming with everyone from hipsters and hell-raisers to couples with tots in tow. It's a gorgeous alfresco setting, festooned with a cascading waterfall, koi pond, rippling creek stocked with river rocks, fragrant flowers and even an arched bridge.

7401 E. First Ave.; 303.366.0007 | tavernhg.com//lowry

LoDo's Bar and Grill

Proving that size does matter, the sun-soaked rooftop deck at LoDo's Bar and Grill recently doubled its original square footage and seating capacity, which means that you and your ever-expanding posse of party-going friends now have a far better chance of snatching a seat. With unparalleled views of Coors Field, framed by the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, more televisions than should be legally allowed and an outdoor fireplace for chilly evenings, it's no wonder the joint is packed to the rafters. The grub doesn't break any new ground, although the fire-roasted jalapeno spinach and artichoke dip generated its 15 seconds of fame on a recent episode of Food Network's Unwrapped.

1946 Market St.; 303.293.8555 | lodosbarandgrill.com

Lola

With a fabulous coastal Mexican menu, courtesy of executive chef Jamey Fader, marvelous, mind-altering margaritas concocted with fresh juices and a raucous patio shrouded in urbanized joviality, there's no better place for brunch, happy hour or dinner than on this open-to-the-sky sizzler. The sought after stools lining the ledge of the outdoor bar often lead to boisterous celebrations with the bartenders, and while the enviable views of Denver's downtown cityscape have been marginally thwarted by pesky across-the-street development, the shimmering night lights still flicker in the distance.

1575 Boulder St.; 720.570.8686 | loladenver.com

Vita

Parading not one, but two very different outdoor respites, Vita boasts the best of both scenes: The streetside patio, ideal for lingering over a romantic dinner, is snug and easygoing, while its far more frenetic counterpart, a sprawling rooftop terrace, is a mingle-fest of fashion-forward city-slickers simultaneously besotted by the neighboring eye-candy, starry skies and mesmerizing views of the downtown landscape. You can swig and swirl from the full bar (the snazzy cocktail roster is excellent) or graze from executive chef Max Mackissock's oft-changing, market-driven, Mediterranean-bent menu.

1575 Boulder St., Ste. A; 303.477.4600 | vitadenver.com

Bistro Vendôme

Take refuge from Larimer Square's retail romp under the candy apple red canopy of this petite jardin, a tranquil Parisian sanctuary garlanded with lush greenery, bright-hued flowers and the leafy branches of towering trees. The intimate bistro tables, shielded from the sun's blistering rays by red and white umbrellas, are ideal for a romantic rendezvous. Picture canoodling habitués smooching across the table while sipping bubbly. Chef de cuisine Matt Anderson's sophisticated French fare intertwines mussels and frites and foie gras with steak tartare and duck leg confit.

1420 Larimer St.; 303.825.3232 | bistrovendome.com

Elway's Cherry Creek

More than just a passing parade of steer and well-heeled stylish barflies, Elway's knows how to put on a show, most notably during warm-weather months when the renowned beefery, named for You-Know-Who, hosts its "Live from Elway's Backyard" concert series, a once-a-week salute to the city's top musical acts. You can groove and jive under the golden sunset on the behemoth plaza, park your tush at an umbrella-sheltered table or join a gaggle of girlfriends on the covered patio. The Railbenders headline the start of the season on June 11 and close out the series on August 13.

2500 E. First Ave.; 303.399.5353 | elways.com

Steuben's

Steuben's, Uptown's hippest watering hole and grooviest throwback to insatiably good comfort food, realized that the sidewalk scene along 17th Avenue always netted a cast of quirky characters, which makes this retro-tooled front patio a perfect perch for people watching. But owners Josh and Jen Wolkon weren't content with just one patio, so they designed another outdoor respite on the side of the restaurant that's larger, livelier and bedecked with a canopy of white lights. No matter which patio you choose, there's nothing better than combining the night's cool breezes with a Lime Rickey and the indelible deviled eggs.

523 E. 17th Ave.; 303.830.1001 | steubens.com

Sengers on the Fax

Like it or not, the open-air rooftop patio at Sengers on the Fax is one of the few outdoor open spaces where you can still light up and practice blowing your smoke rings. In fact, ashtrays are unabashedly placed on every tiled table and at the u-shaped bar. A mishmash of music, rap, heavy metal, classic rock and reggae, streams from the speakers, there's a single flat-screen television if you can't stand to part with the boob tube and while the brown-paneled walls might remind you of your parents' 1970s basement, the rustic white wooden benches that line the perimeter make you feel as though you've just joined a picnicking party.

3014 E. Colfax Ave.; 303.355.0823