It’s officially 2026 and new restaurants are coming in hot. We’re talking about a themed bar, new Spanish restaurant, and an eater-tainment spot with food from a celebrated chef. Over the holidays a Japanese favorite surprisingly closed, and we just got word of downtown’s hottest tiki bar shuttering. Read on for more openings and closings in the Denver metro area and send us any tips via Instagram or by emailing info@diningout.com.
Openings In and Near Denver
Denver now has its own immersive cocktail den, which opened at the end of January at 101 N. Broadway, #9. Dubbed Adventure Time Bar, the concept centers on a rotating-theme, starting with Neon City, a take on futuristic Tokyo and Japanese anime.
Get ready Denver, chef Johnny Curiel of the Michelin-starred Alma Fonda Fina and Mezcaleria Alma is launching his fifth concept this coming weekend. But unlike his other four spots, Mar Bella Boqueria is a sleek Spanish bistro and wine bar with a focus on Spain’s coast. It’s opening in the Clayton Hotel & Members Club, right across the lobby from his last new restaurant, Alteño.
Moodswing is now open at 3625 E. 48th Ave., bringing pickleball food and drink, live music, and an outdoor patio spot to Elyria Swansea neighborhood. The large venue also promotes co-working hours and offers event space. The restaurant menu was developed by Nicholas Dalton, chef and co-founder of Brasserie Brixton, and features brick-oven pizzas, salads, and plenty of sharable plates.
Brews N Birdies is another eater-tainment spot that opened with the new year. Located in Denver’s Ballpark neighborhood at 2156 Larimer St., the venue serves up indoor golf, cocktails, and beer.
Coming Soon
We heard Highland’s Convivo Café plans to open a second location in LoDo come February. Kristin Lacy and Vivi Lemus opened their charming Guatemalan-inspired coffee shop in 2022 as a hub for different cultures and the Spanish language. The new outpost will follow the same ideas when it launches at 1536 Wynkoop St.
Also this February we can expect to try Casa Juani, a new Spanish restaurant opening in Boulder in what used to be My Neighbor Felix. Two former Frasca Food & Wine chefs, Eduardo Valle Lobo and Kelly Jeun are running the show, with a planned menu of tapas, seafood, rice, and other classic dishes from Valle Lobo’s home in Madrid.
Chef Quincy Cherrett, formerly of Eloise American Bistro and 22 Provisions in Avanti Denver, has a new and bigger home. Welcome Madeline, a modern American restaurant set to open in the former Fruition space this spring.
Restaurant Closings
The owners of Okinawa Japanese Cuisine decided to shutter the popular East Colfax Avenue eatery at the end of 2025. The team also runs Ma’s Kitchen next door, which opened to many praises at the beginning of November. While they gave no insight into the closing, the owners did tease a new concept for the space coming soon.
In Downtown Denver, Honor Farm will shutter, while its sister space Hell or High Water, which is the bottom half of the venue, will move to a new location. The bar isn’t quite closed yet, but the remaining dates are sporadic and will be announced via social media.
