Small Plates in Denver

Bol

141 E. Meadow Dr., Vail Mountains

970-476-5300

Bars and Clubs, American, Pizza, Small Plates, Sponsor, Menu

Caveau Wine Bar

450 E.17th Ave. Central Denver

303-861-3747

Small Plates, Wine Bar, Bars and Clubs, Recommended, Sponsor, Menu

At their worst, wine lists are pompous, stratospherically overpriced, ridiculously long, awkwardly categorized and full of overexposed, yawn-inducing labels. But at Caveau Wine Bar, the 75-bottle list (55 are available by the glass) is an easy-to-navigate document of new discoveries, small producers and familiar but not overrated labels. The polished yet easygoing staff is well-versed in wine education and just as enthusiastic about pushing a $30 bottle of vino as a three-digit one, which is a welcome change to the rigorous sport of upselling. Those prowling for deals know to show up at 4 p.m. for the daily happy hour.

4 articles

The Cooper Lounge

1701 Wynkoop St., Denver LoDo/Ballpark/Commons Park

720-460-3738

Small Plates, Bars and Clubs, Bar, Recommended, Best Of, Sponsor, DrinkHere

When Union Station was renovated a decade ago, the mezzanine was turned into one of the most enchanting bars in town: the Cooper Lounge. In 2024, the elegant drinking destination got a refresh of its own that somehow made it even more lush. It’s a great place to meet up with friends from out of town, but it's also become something of a favorite with locals, particularly on full-moon nights, when you can sit on a barstool sipping a martini and look over 17th Street bathed in moonlight. The view is magical. And you might need to be a magician to secure a spot here: There's sometimes a two-hour wait.

6 articles

Ay Papi

248 Detroit St., Denver Cherry Creek

Bar, Small Plates, Cuban

The Culinary Creative Group is a powerhouse in the local dining scene, and in 2021, it got into the bar game with Forget Me Not, creating a buzzy vibe in a neighborhood that’s not really known for nightlife. Ay Papi, which opened in June 2023, upped the game even more for Cherry Creek with its Latin-inspired atmosphere, rum-heavy drink list and bites like ceviche and Cuban sandwiches.

Barrels & Bottles Brewery

1055 Orchard St. Golden

303-353-9832

Brewpub, Small Plates

Bigsby's Folly

3563 Wazee St., Denver Five Points/RiNo

720-485-3158

Small Plates, Winery, Best Of

In a cavernous brick building that was once a factory, Chad and Marla Yetka built a winery and wine bar named after their departed golden retriever, Bigsby. The wine list at Bigsby's Folly isn't lengthy or built on big-name vintages; instead, you'll find a selection of varietals made from California-grown grapes, some created on site and some crafted at the company's satellite winery in the San Francisco Bay area. A slate of wine-friendly dishes, including flatbreads, sandwiches and antipasto boards, helps round out the experience, so you can judge your favorite food-and-wine pairings before taking home a vintage-labeled bottle or growler filled from the wine tap.

13 articles

Bixo Mexiterranean Bites

3200 Pecos St. Northwest Denver

Fast Casual, Mediterranean, Mexican, Small Plates

1 article

Blueprint Bar

450 E. 17th Ave. Central Denver

303-927-6804

Small Plates

3 articles

Chloe Discoteque and Mezze Lounge

1445 Market St. Downtown Denver

720-383-8447

Mediterranean, Small Plates, Dance Clubs, Menu, Slideshow

Named after a fictitious, jet-setting socialite whose favorite food, favorite design trends, favorite art and favorite music the club embodies, Chloe is a 6,600-square-foot space that's divided into Chloe's Mezze Lounge, Garden and Discotheque. The super-deluxe venue, which is part of Francois Safieddine's Lotus Concepts group of nightclubs, features exotic snakeskin wallpaper, an under-lit onyx bar, a twenty-food LED screen for custom visuals, plush couch-style seating, fireplaces and a whole lot more. There's an outside patio and courtyard component that is the first of its kind, with a high-top fire pit communal table, cabana-style U-shaped couch seating and a fountain. The Mezze cuisine concept executed by Chef Jose Guerrero includes Greek, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine.

13 articles

The Cruise Room

1600 17th St., Denver LoDo/Ballpark/Commons Park

303-628-5400

Bars and Clubs, Small Plates, Bars, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Slideshow, DrinkHere

As Prohibition ended, this bar inside the Oxford Hotel was designed to look like the lounge on the Queen Mary (hence the name), then got a quick remodel a decade later when the frieze with Hitler’s face — one of a dozen international toasts circling the walls — was deemed politically incorrect. In the 1960s, it was the headquarters for a group of carousers known as the Evil Companions; in the ’90s, it was discovered by hipsters. Today you’ll find all kinds of passengers hopping aboard bar stools to bask in the red light and down classic martinis.

19 articles

Deep Roots Winery

2875 Blake St., Denver Five Points/RiNo

720-328-4786

Winery, Small Plates

Desmond Bar & Grill

2230 Oneida St. East Denver

720-542-9035

Mediterranean, Small Plates, Critics' Pick, Slideshow

What neighborhood wouldn't want a Sean Kelly restaurant as its local spot? Lucky Park Hill is home to chef Kelly's latest offering, a spacious and inviting neighborhood eatery that feels like it's been here all along — even though it opened in December 2015. Park Hill resident Kelly — long ago the opening chef for Barolo Grill, followed by stints at his own Aubergine Cafe, Clair de Lune, Somethin' Else and LoHi SteakBar — has always been particularly adept at Mediterranean fare, and at Desmond he takes longtime favorites from the region and turns them up a notch: hummus made tangy and aromatic with the Middle Eastern spice blend za'atar; rich, mustardy potted salmon balanced by peppery radishes; soft-centered falafel broken into pieces and tossed in a tahini-drizzled salad. The shared plates can be paired with an interesting wine from the short but globally inspired list — nearly all of the bottles are available by the glass — and are served in a dining room of dark woods and exposed brick. In other words, it sports the Kelly decor hallmarks of simple, warm and comfortable.

10 articles

The Family Jones

3245 Osage St., Denver Highland/Lower Highland

303-481-8185

Small Plates, Distilleries, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Slideshow, DrinkHere

With luxurious blue velvet seating and a shiny copper still overhead, this is the most stylish distillery tasting room around, especially after a recent refresh of the space and the cocktail menu. The finely crafted bottled spirits from the Family Jones are a treat on their own, but they truly shine when you’re sipping them in concoctions created by the mad geniuses behind the bar. Pair them with snacks like popcorn in rotating flavors and adult lunchables with meat and cheese from So Damn Gouda.

11 articles

Forget Me Not

227 Clayton St., Denver Cherry Creek

720-259-5369

Bar, Small Plates, DrinkHere

When Culinary Creative, the restaurant group behind Bar Dough, Ash'kara and Señor Bear, among others, put its power behind a sumptuous Cherry Creek cocktail bar that opened in March 2021, expectations were high. And they’ve only been exceeded. Forget Me Not, with its lively patio, is a stunner in the summer and offers fun, balanced cocktails year-round that breathe new life into a sometimes stuffy neighborhood.

Hudson Hill

619 E. 13th Ave., Denver Capitol Hill/Uptown/City Park

303-832-0776

Coffeehouse, Small Plates, Recommended, Best Of, Slideshow

This half-coffee, half-cocktail institution somehow manages to be the perfect cozy place on a winter night and an oasis during broiling summer months. No matter the time of year or day, Hudson Hill has something for every visitor. Its rotating specialty cocktails showcase the variety to be found at the bar, which plays music on an actual record player, and its generous happy-hour deals (which are available all day on Sundays) make the spot even sweeter.

13 articles

The Lazy Greyhound

2570 Main St. Littleton

Bar, Small Plates

This bar opened in 2021, but you’ll think it’s been there for decades. Leather-bound books and scents of rich wood fill Kristin and Jason Ungate's upscale cocktail bar and lounge, which was modeled after British gentlemen's pubs in the nineteenth century — though the menu is anything but stuffy. Classic drinks such as Sazeracs, Puka Punch and White Russians are expertly made, while new tricks featuring fat-washed vodka and whiskey taste and feel more like dessert than liquor. The Greyhound can fill up quickly and doesn't take reservations, so race there before the sun goes down for a seat on the couch.

The Living Room

1055 Broadway Central Denver

303-339-6636

Small Plates, Wine Bar, Bars and Clubs, Slideshow

The bubble chairs that hang from the Living Room's patio roof are a fun addition to this hip wine and tapas bar, which gives the Broadway club scene a needed dose of chill. For the more ambitious, a nifty pre-paid "debit card" and in-house wine preservation system allows you to sample and learn about a range of wines. Weekends are hopping here, but nice happy-hour specials await midtown workers Tuesday through Friday. A great place to take a break from the roar of the club crowd, the Living Room is like home - with way better furniture. With a full wine, beer and cocktail list, Mediterranean-style small plates, a dessert menu to die for, regular pop-ins from the coolest of neighbors and an urban patio perfect for people-watching, you might as well make yourself at home in the Living Room.

21 articles

Misfit Snackbar

3401 E. Colfax Ave. Central Denver

201-679-7079

Small Plates, Critics' Pick

Chef Bo Porytko was half of the duo behind Rebel Restaurant, which served some of Denver’s most thrilling cuisine for three years before closing in 2018. Now he’s manning his own tiny kitchen inside the Middleman, where he turns out a dizzying array of small plates and bigger dishes, with no regard for culinary tradition or international borders. Never expect the same thing twice (except for the menu staple — one of Denver’s best burgers), but always expect a balance of the delicate and the audacious.

4 articles

Neighbors Park Hill

2202 Kearney St., Denver Park Hill/Mayfair/Lowry

303-333-1149

Wine Bar, Small Plates, Bar, Best Of, DrinkHere

To find a cafe that offers nearly thirty wines by the glass is always rewarding. To find those offerings in the congenial and homey locale that is Neighbors is nothing short of wonderful. This Park Hill cafe opened in 2011 and has been embraced not only by the neighborhood, but by diners from all over town looking for a well-curated and unusual wine list. The beer list is smaller but equally interesting, the cocktails are on point, and there’s a good selection of small plates and charcuterie. Neighbors is as crowd-pleasing as it is comfy.

2 articles

Prelude & Post

1335 Curtis St. Downtown Denver

720-227-9984

Small Plates, Menu

The Red Barber

3770 Walnut St., Denver Five Points/RiNo

720-707-4040

Bars, Small Plates, Best Of

Size does matter. Located on the roof of the new Catbird Hotel in RiNo, the Red Barber boasts (nearly) 360-degree views from its perch six stories above the city. And while there are many other rooftops in town with both city and mountain views, this one has 3,300 square feet of open, inviting space in which to sip cocktails, enjoy light bites and play a game of cornhole. Comfy couches are prime spots for lounging, or opt for the grassy picnic area or a spot near a fire pit — there's even amphitheater seating for live music performances. This is basically the ultimate backyard, in the sky, staffed with bartenders.

1 article

Rising Sun Distillery

1121 Dillon Dam Rd., #1, Frisco Mountains

970-455-8976

Small Plates, Distilleries

Roxy on Broadway

554 S. Broadway East Denver

720-456-7041

Small Plates, Bars and Clubs, Best Of, Readers' Choice

The music never really stopped when Syntax Physic Opera transitioned to the Roxy on Broadway under new ownership in the summer of 2019. Owner Paula Vrakas brightened up the space and added a slate of reasonably priced, retro-inspired classic cocktails to accompany variety shows, comedy, open-mic nights and plenty of live music. Go early if you prefer a tranquil setting, or stay for the entertainment if you need a joyous night out.

11 events 17 articles

Sketch Food & Wine

11 W. 1st Ave. Central Denver

303-484-9305

Appetizers, New American, Small Plates, Wine Bar, Recommended

Sketch is an exercise in simplicity. There is no kitchen here, no real menu. But there is a sleek, comfortable dining room; a nice wine, liquor and beer selection (with bartenders who actually know a little something about the booze they're pushing); a good downtown vibe; and a short, tight menu of cured meats, cheese and high-grade bar snacks. Making an entire meal of this stuff can get expensive fast, but for a quick appetizer before the main course or an after-dinner stop for a last glass and a final nibble, Sketch is ideal.

29 articles

Trellis Wine Bar

2868 Fairfax St., Denver Park Hill/Mayfair/Lowry

720-707-4288

Wine Bar, Small Plates

Voghera Ristorante & Apericena

3963 Tennyson St., Denver Berkeley/Sunnyside

Italian, Small Plates

Wolf + Wildflower

7190 W. 38th Ave. Wheat Ridge

720-507-7120

Bar, Small Plates

Just inside this wine bar that debuted in the summer of 2023 is a neon sign with the Tom Petty lyric "You belong among the wildflowers." The women-run Wolf + Wildflower is owned by longtime friends Sarah Galloway and Tamara McTavish, whose husband is the owner of Rocky Top Tavern, a bar with totally different vibes. Here the two women have created a welcoming space, with feminine touches and a patio that’s prime for people-watching in the neighborhood.

Zivix Five Points

2736 Welton St. Central Denver

860-798-0453

Small Plates, Menu

Small Plates in Denver

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