Italian in Denver

3601 Arapahoe Ave. Boulder

303-997-8775

Italian, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Sponsor

Chef Kelly Whitaker opened Basta, his first restaurant, in 2010, and has since built a menu based on Colorado meats and produce, a dedication to old-world methods, and freshly milled whole grains from Dry Storage, the company he started with a mission to change the world's food systems (no small task). From top-notch pizza and puffy loaves of piada to whole fish, nearly everything is cooked in a single wood-fired oven. Basta reopened in January 2022 following an eight-month closure, during which the restaurant completed its first-ever remodel, complete with private outdoor yurts and more spacious seating inside.

42 articles

Cucina Colore

3041 E. 3rd Ave., Denver Cherry Creek

303-393-6917

Italian, Recommended, Best Of, Sponsor

Cucina Colore has had an enviable run. As other restaurants in Cherry Creek North have come and gone, this beloved Italian bistro, with its big windows and landscaped patios, has quietly done its thing for nearly thirty years. Founded by Venanzio Momo, who once owned a coterie of Colore-branded outfits, the restaurant fits its well-heeled neighborhood as well as any neighborhood restaurant ever could, and it does so for good reason: Momo has given people what they wanted. That includes veal Bolognese, lasagna made with paper-thin slices of breaded eggplant in place of noodles, peach bread pudding with housemade caramel, and an array of salads – including imported bufala mozzarella and grana-Padano-crusted artichokes with arugula -- that appeal to the lunchtime crowd.

12 articles

D Note

7519 Grandview Ave., Arvada Northwest Denver Suburbs

303-463-6683

Italian, Pizza, Music Venues, Sponsor, Menu

The D Note celebrated its tenth anniversary and a change of ownership in 2012, but this live-music venue and full-service restaurant and bar in Olde Town Arvada is still a favorite local hangout and a tourist attraction for out-of-town visitors. Originally envisioned as a performance space/art gallery, it was expanded to include hot eats and became a hub for local musicians and music enthusiasts. The menu items have some famous names, like the Sinatra salad, the Zappa sandwich and the Penny Lane pasta, and since live-music patrons get hungry too, D Note’s signature pizzas are another edible tribute, with names like Me & Bobby McGee, The Pizza Formerly Known as Prince, and Particle Man. The Hall and Oats dessert plate would make a nice ending to any meal, accompanied by some fine tunes in the D Note's laid-back atmosphere.

12 articles

DiFranco's

955 Lincoln St., Denver Golden Triangle/La Alma

720-253-1244

Italian, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Sponsor, Slideshow

When it comes to Italian cuisine, simplicity, craftsmanship and unassailable ingredients are what count — and DiFranco's, an unassuming, low-key joint in the Golden Triangle that opened in 2012 as an Italian deli, then expanded into a (tiny) restaurant, embraces all of those attributes. It serves a lovely selection of housemade pastas, including a terrific penne specked with fresh parsley and dusted with sharp Pecorino, as well as a textbook-perfect spaghetti and meatballs. The subs, stacked on fresh-baked bread layered with fresh mozzarella, super-high-quality Italian meats and vegetables just plucked from the earth, are equally transcendent, and even the salads deserve your attention. And don't even think about waltzing out the door without trying the meatballs, cannoli or ricotta cookies. But fair warning: With only two tables and a community counter, you could be in for a long wait if you want to eat inside the spot.

21 articles

Gaetano's

3760 Tejon St., Denver Highland/Lower Highland

303-455-9852

Italian, Recommended, Best Of, Sponsor, Menu, Slideshow, Readers' Choice

Most of the red-sauce joints that once proliferated in northwest Denver have dried up, but Gaetano’s is now more than seventy years old. Of course, it’s gone through some changes over the decades after being founded by the Smaldone mob family, who installed bulletproof glass in the front door and ran illegal poker games in the basement. Gaetano’s is now run by Ron Robinson as a true neighborhood joint, one flavored by the traditions of the past but still very much ready to go another seventy years as a Denver landmark.

48 articles

Mickey's Top Sirloin

6950 Broadway North Denver

303-426-5881

Italian, Mexican, Steakhouse, Recommended, Best Of, Sponsor

In 2005 Mickey's replaced its decrepit, decades-old home with a shiny, family-friendly new building on the same lot. The atmosphere is still casual and diner-like, though, and the menu is basically unchanged — which guarantees that you'll get a whole lot of food for just a little bit of money. Most of the fare is solidly Italian and Mexican, especially at lunch; steaks star on the dinner menu. The meat might be choice grade, but the kitchen knows how to make the most of it.

4 articles

Osteria Marco

1453 Larimer St., Denver LoDo/Ballpark/Commons Park

303-534-5855

Italian, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Sponsor, Readers' Choice

In 2007, things like burrata, housemade salumi and Sunday pig roasts weren’t part of the Italian-restaurant lexicon in Denver, but restaurateur Frank Bonanno made them household phrases, serving less common regional dishes alongside pizza and panini to help demystify the more esoteric side of Italian cuisine. These days, Negronis, fresh Italian cheeses and boards of cured meats are popular all over town, thanks in part to Osteria Marco, which is still among Denver’s best.

41 articles

Panzano

909 17th St. Downtown Denver

303-296-3525

Italian, Recommended, Best Of, Sponsor, Slideshow

This is not your usual hotel restaurant. The culinary team at Panzano has as its motto "Chi mangia bene, viva bene" (Those who eat well, live well), and although we can't guarantee how you'll live, or even sleep, at the Hotel Monaco, you can certainly live it up in the elegant, yet comfortable dining room that specializes in perfectly prepared northern Italian cuisine. In addition to the impressive menu, there are regular specials, and the attached bar has both an excellent happy hour and a few very cozy booths that are just the spot to sip martinis.

79 articles

Venice Ristorante

5946 S. Holly St., Englewood Southeast Denver Suburbs

720-482-9191

Italian, Restaurants, Best Of, Sponsor

While owner Alessandro Carollo’s restaurant in LoDo gets most of the attention, his Venice in Englewood is almost always packed – and with good reason. Once you walk in the door of this elegant restaurant, it’s easy to forget that you’re in a strip mall. The surroundings are sumptuous, with white linen on every table and affable servers attending to groups of regulars from around the upscale neighborhood. The dishes are classic, upscale Italian, with an emphasis on specialty pastas and meats. There’s just one drawback: The great happy hour offered at the LoDo Venice is not available here.

4 articles

Abrusci's Fire & Vine

2200 Youngfield St. Lakewood

303-425-6225

Italian, Pizza, Menu

Amante Coffee

1035 Walnut St. Boulder

303-546-9999

American, Coffeehouse, Italian, Tea, Coffee Shops, Menu

1 article

Amante Coffee

2850 Baseline Rd. Boulder

720-612-7901

Coffeehouse, Italian

1 article

Amante Coffee

1612 17th St. Downtown Denver

303-396-1757

Coffeehouse, Italian, Menu

4 articles

Amaro Drinkery Italia

2785 Iris Ave. Boulder

303-443-5100

Italian, Music Venues

While it's squashed into a small mall overlooking a parking lot, the interior feel of Arugula is gracious, modern and warm - and the Northern Italian food turned out by chef/owner Alec Schuler has the same contemporary hominess. The seasonal menu features farm-to-table ingredients, many of them locally sourced; the roster is rich with such rustic pleasures as Colorado lamb and sirloin stew, black-pepper-rubbed pork tenderloin, and seared scallops with a strawberry risotto. The pastas and gnocchi, available in half or full portions, are equally impressive. And the eclectic wine list, which reaches far and wide, is full of fine picks.

3 articles

Americatus Restaurant and Market

2449 Larimer St. Downtown Denver

303-862-9850

Italian, Deli, Critics' Pick

Iain Chisholm, chef/owner of Americatus Restaurant & Market, which opened in the summer of 2012 in the Ballpark neighborhood, is the epitome of an entrepreneur. His first food venture was a lemonade stand when he was in elementary school; he went on to earn two degrees from Johnson & Wales and work for local restaurateur Jenna Johansen. Then he got a gig in the construction industry for three years, learning skills that would help him save lots of money when he finally opened his own place. Although he scrimped on the buildout and still focuses on manageable food costs, he’s dedicated to serving new-world Italian cuisine at affordable prices. The highlights are his housemade pasta dishes; the roster always changes, but the high quality is a constant. Other reliable deals: the sandwiches at lunch, the Monday-night dinner special of roasted suckling pig or linguini, and the Tuesday Cheap Date Night with a $50 dinner for two, wine included.

23 articles

Angelo's Taverna & Carboy Winery

6885 S. Santa Fe Dr. Littleton

720-532-1389

Italian, Recommended

Now well into its fourth decade, this Italian eatery has real staying power, and it's easy to see why. The space, which feels like it's been made to order for the neighbors, is fueled by a quintessential red sauce, a thick gravy of tomatoes that goes well with Angelo's homemade pasta and meatballs. The spot also offers pizza, with a medium-thick crust that holds up under a generous load of toppings. But the can't-miss menu item is oysters: Offered half a dozen ways, including fried (in sliders) and grilled with chipotle-bourbon butter, they're sure to convert the most stubborn ostraconophobe. This second Angelo's opened complete with an accompanying winery, Carboy, in September 2016.

8 articles

Angelo's Taverna

620 E. 6th Ave. Central Denver

303-744-3366

Italian, Recommended, Best Of, Menu, Readers' Choice, Essentials

Angelo's Taverna bills itself as Denver's original pizza and oyster bar — and since it's been serving central Denver since the Nixon administration, it's safe to say that it's the longest-running restaurant of its ilk, though it’s now on its second owners (who opened a second outpost in Littleton). Even if you love oysters raw, Angelo’s makes a compelling argument for a chargrilled preparation, dressing them up with garlic butter, bacon and Gorgonzola or chipotle bourbon butter. There’s also a stacked lineup of Italian fare, but whatever you order, don't skip the housemade limoncello.

24 articles

Angie's Restaurant

6797 W. Ottawa Ave., Littleton Southwest Denver Suburbs

303-979-0645

Italian, Restaurants, Menu

Anthony's Pizza & Pasta

10890 E. Dartmouth Ave., Denver Aurora

303-306-9755

Italian, Pizza, Best Of, Menu

Anthony's got its start in 1984, when Henry Mann opened his first slice shop on the 16th Street Mall. As at any stereotypical pizza shop, the service has always been gruff, though not unfriendly. Know what you want when you get to the counter, order it, and you'll have no problems. In addition to quality pizzas, there's a scattershot offering of other pizza-shop delights: pastas, meatball heroes, salads and appetizers. Though the quality can vary widely from location to location, a simple New York-style red-and-white is always a safe bet.

6 articles

Anthony's Pizza & Pasta

700 Colorado Blvd. Central Denver

303-316-8651

Italian, Pizza, Best Of, Menu

Anthony's got its start in 1984, when Henry Mann opened his first slice shop on the 16th Street Mall. As at any stereotypical pizza shop, the service has always been gruff, though not unfriendly. Know what you want when you get to the counter, order it, and you'll have no problems. In addition to quality pizzas, there's a scattershot offering of other pizza-shop delights: pastas, meatball heroes, salads and appetizers. Though the quality can vary widely from location to location, a simple New York-style red-and-white is always a safe bet.

9 articles

Anthony's Pizza & Pasta

1550 California St. Downtown Denver

303-573-6236

Italian, Pizza, Best Of, Menu

Anthony's is a homegrown pizza empire, and it got its start in this space on California Street that was previously home to another New York-style slice purveyor. Perhaps for that reason, it has more of a vintage feel than most of the other locations that have come since. Inside the small storefront, you might actually feel like you're in the Big Apple, ordering at Ray's. And that's just what Anthony's intended. The chain has pretty much trademarked "New York-style" pizza in Colorado, pumping out big slices and pies covered with fire-engine-red sauce and gooey cheese. (It also pumps out advertisements and billboards galore condemning the major delivery chains.) But Anthony's serves up more than just slices: It also offers heroes, pasta and salads -- and many locations (though not this one) will let you have a beer or a glass of wine with your meal. You certainly can't do that at Domino's.

8 articles

Anthony's Pizza & Pasta

1628 E. Evans Ave. South Denver

303-744-3137

Italian, Pizza, Best Of

Anthony's got its start in 1984, when Henry Mann opened his first slice shop on the 16th Street Mall. As at any stereotypical pizza shop, the service has always been gruff, though not unfriendly. Know what you want when you get to the counter, order it, and you'll have no problems. In addition to quality pizzas, there's a scattershot offering of other pizza-shop delights: pastas, meatball heroes, salads and appetizers. Though the quality can vary widely from location to location, a simple New York-style red-and-white is always a safe bet.

8 articles

Anthony's Pizza and Pasta

3897 Evergreen Parkway, Centennial West Denver Suburbs

303-674-4322

Italian, Pizza, Best Of, Menu

Anthony's got its start in 1984, when Henry Mann opened his first slice shop on the 16th Street Mall. As at any stereotypical pizza shop, the service has always been gruff, though not unfriendly. Know what you want when you get to the counter, order it, and you'll have no problems. In addition to quality pizzas, there's a scattershot offering of other pizza-shop delights: pastas, meatball heroes, salads and appetizers. Though the quality can vary widely from location to location, a simple New York-style red-and-white is always a safe bet.

6 articles

Armando's Ristorante Italiano

5428 S Parker Rd. Aurora

303-690-6660

Italian, Pizza, Recommended

While some pizza joints strive to present an authentic version of the Italian pizzeria experience, Armando's is a museum-quality reproduction of the classic (and, some would say, nonexistent) fantasy neighborhood Italian joint, serving amazing red-sauce spaghetti and meatballs. The dining room always seems to have the buzz of a big holiday meal -- the floor overcrowded, everyone smiling and talking and eating with no self-consciousness at all.

2 articles

Arugula

2785 Iris Ave. Boulder

303-443-1365

Italian, Restaurants, Slideshow

While it's squashed into a small mall overlooking a parking lot, the interior feel of Arugula is gracious, modern and warm - and the Northern Italian food turned out by chef/owner Alec Schuler has the same contemporary hominess. The seasonal menu features farm-to-table ingredients, many of them locally sourced; the roster is rich with such rustic pleasures as Colorado lamb and sirloin stew, black-pepper-rubbed pork tenderloin, and seared scallops with a strawberry risotto. The pastas and gnocchi, available in half or full portions, are equally impressive. And the eclectic wine list, which reaches far and wide, is full of fine picks.

34 articles

Bar Dough

2227 W. 32nd Ave., Denver Highland/Lower Highland

720-668-8506

Italian, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Slideshow, Readers' Choice

Open since 2015, Bar Dough feels like a longtime staple in LoHi, where the Italian eatery offers pasta, pizza, small plates and a top-notch happy hour. In the summer of 2024, chef Stefy Devita took the helm, bringing a fresh take on this spot's impressive fare.

41 articles

Bar Red

437 W. Colfax Ave. Central Denver

720-296-7130

Bar, Bars and Clubs, Italian, Slideshow

Cliff Young and his son, Zach, opened the doors of Bar Red in late 2013. But beyond those doors was a stunning renovation of an old stone building at 437 West Colfax Avenue, just around the corner from CY Steaks, which Cliff also ran until 2018 (he passed away in 2021). More than just a bar and lounge, Bar Red also has a grab-and-go area for breakfast and lunch. In the evening, guests can use the discreet alley entrance to enter the speakeasy-like lower-level bistro for drinks and dinner.

17 articles

Barolo Grill

3030 E. 6th Ave., Denver Cherry Creek

303-393-1040

Italian, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Slideshow, Essentials

Since 1992, Barolo Grill has served upscale Northern Italian fare in Cherry Creek with charm and sophistication — and a generous amount of vintage wine. Ryan Fletter, who worked there for nearly as long as it's been open, took over from Blair Taylor as owner in 2015 and quickly installed executive chef Darrel Truett in the kitchen, where he continues to oversee upscale favorites available either à la carte or as a four-course tasting menu. Fletter has also continued the tradition of taking the staff on annual trips to Italy, and Barolo's truffle dinner remains one of Denver's most indulgent culinary nights of the year.

43 articles

Bettola Bistro

10253 E. Iliff Ave. Aurora

303-750-1580

Italian, Menu

2 articles

The Blue Parrot Restaurant

640 Main St., Louisville Boulder

303-666-0677

Italian, Recommended

For almost a century, people have been coming to the Blue Parrot for spaghetti and meatballs, for ravioli and sausage sandwiches, for simple Italian food cooked by the same family for generations. And though Louisville itself is changing -- from an old mining town to a bedroom community -- the Blue Parrot is not. Even the Wopburger -- a sausage and cheese sandwich -- is staying put, recently famous after the owners refused to rename it something more politically correct.

6 articles

Bravo's Italian Restaurant

10691 Melody Dr. Northglenn

303-920-5191

Italian

Brik on York

2223 E. Colfax Ave. Central Denver

303-284-6754

Italian, Music Venues, Wine Bar, Menu, Slideshow

In this era of craft beer, Brik on York stands out for its focus on wine. Chef/owner/sommelier Travis Gee offers an eight-page wine list, with old- and new-world wines by the half-glass, glass, half-bottle and bottle, and informative tidbits about each region. Wine isn’t the only focus, though. The menu includes an array of Neapolitan-style pizzas prepared in a wood-fired oven imported from Italy, plus salads and build-your-own meat-and-cheese plates. On weekends, musical acts perform in the dining room, making for a lively, unpretentious way to enjoy drinks centered on grapes, not hops.

19 articles

Brodo Italian Scratch Kitchen

7167 W. Alaska Dr. Lakewood

Italian

2 articles

Italian in Denver

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