7 brand new Denver patios for basking in summer sunshine

Chasing Denver’s “300 days of sunshine” is easy when you have an patio reservation.

There are a plethora of rooftop vantage points and restaurant patios across the Mile High City, but you don’t have to have the same idea as everyone else and find yourself on a two-hour waitlist while trying to grab a quick cocktail during golden hour.

Whether you want to bring your dog to happy hour, eat a Japanese meal with Mother Nature, or enjoy a martini in the sun this summer, here are seven new patios to explore around town:

Kawa Ni

Connecticut chef Bill Taibe opened Japanse pub Kawa Ni in a former fire station in LoHi in November. The 24-seat, raised patio offers plenty of shade and an oasis on the bustling 32nd Avenue corner, and dogs are allowed to watch while you feast on shaved broccoli miso goma, crispy karaage chicken or DIY handrolls under the string bistro lights.

1900 W. 32nd Ave., Denver; kawanidenver.com

Corsica Wine Bar

Corsica, from the owners of Barcelona Wine Bar, opened in RiNo at the end of April. Inspired by the namesake Mediterranean island, the small-bites restaurant offers a European escape on its streetside, 30-seat patio. Share a punch bowl of Lambrusco and nibble on charcuterie under bright orange umbrellas until 1 a.m.

2801 Walnut St., Suite 100, Denver; corsicawinebar.com

Gusto and ChoLon Sloan’s Lake

Sit lakeside by a fire pit at ChoLon or Gusto’s new patios. Denver restaurateurs Lon Symensma and Christopher Davis-Massey opened a third ChoLon restaurant, along with their brand new Italian concept, Gusto, in March on the ground floor of luxury condo building Lakehouse. ChoLon offers 24 seats for French onion soup dumpling fanatics, plus 10 Adirondack chairs, while Gusto serves wood-fired pizza and focaccia on the Raleigh Street side with 28 outdoor seats.

1691 N. Raleigh St., Denver; cholonconcepts.com

Alma Fonda Fina

Alma Fonda Fina couldn’t make much use of its corner patio in the heart of LoHi when the upscale Mexican restaurant first opened in December. Now that the sun’s out full-time, it doesn’t take much to persuade guests to take their hamachi crudo and avocado margarita outside.

2556 15th St., Denver; almalohidenver.com

Desert Social

The family behind Adelitas opened Desert Social cocktail lounge down the street from their South Broadway Mexican restaurant in September. The bohemian-style patio is reminiscent of beach clubs in Tulum, serving punchy mezcal and tequila-based libations until 1 a.m. all summer long.

1312 S. Broadway, Denver; desertsocialdenver.com

Wonderyard Garden + Table

Sit in a flower-covered, oversized birdcage, gulp down a pricey cocktail in a teacup booth or warm up around a large firepit on Wonderyard’s whimsical turf patio. The new downtown bar from local restaurateur Francois Safieddine, which opened in March, feels like you’re walking through pages of the “Secret Garden” or “Alice in Wonderland.”

2200 Larimer St., Denver; wonderyard.com 

Honorable mentions:

Parkway Food Hall: Longmont’s first food hall opened on May 20 with a 150-seat patio, where guests can bring food from any of the eight concepts, from Japanese street food to shawarma.

700 Ken Pratt Blvd., Longmont; parkwayfoodhall.com

Sap Sua: Sap Sua made waves with its take on Vietnamese cuisine when it debuted in June last year, and it’s still hard to snag a reservation. This summer, the City Park restaurant added a 12-seat, east-facing patio with plenty of shade for guests to enjoy a sake juice box while they wait for their table.

2550 E. Colfax Ave., Denver; sapsua.com

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