From candlelit basements and skyline views to jazz-filled supper clubs and cozy neighborhood hideaways, Denver’s dining scene offers no shortage of ways to woo. The city’s most romantic restaurants are tailor-made for first dates, anniversaries, and everything in between.
Think intimate settings, shareable plates, thoughtful wine lists, and memorable meals. With that in mind, here’s where to book a truly romantic reservation.
Jovanina’s Broken Italian
With a menu designed for sharing, bring your date to split oysters (a known aphrodisiac), wood-fired pizzas, and handmade pastas like lobster diavolo with a tangy heat thanks to Calabrian chiles. Save room for one of Jovanina’s desserts such as the restaurant’s spin on affogato, featuring espresso poured over pistachio soft-serve. Or summon the bright red amari cart for a post-dinner drink paired with the day’s featured cannoli.
Go one step further and visit the LoDo restaurant’s cavern-like basement. It’s the most romantic spot around and can only be reached by candle-illuminated stairs. 1520 Blake St., Denver, jovanina.com
Ultreia
Bringing the spirit of Spain and Portugal to Denver’s Beaux-Arts Union Station, Ultreia transports diners to romantic European destinations through its shareable, snack-forward menu. Standouts include pan con tomate, the Gilda tapas, bacon-wrapped dates, shishito peppers with whipped feta, and shrimp bathed in Calabrian chili-garlic butter.
The restaurant is also known for its excellent double cheeseburger, the Jamonburguesa, served during lunch time. The secret ingredient is a Portuguese-style Thousand Island sauce infused with fiery, tangy peri-peri. While the inside of the cafe exudes European charm, during the warmer months the patio also gives diners a touch of romance while people watching. 1701 Wynkoop St. #125, Denver, ultreiadenver.com
Nocturne Jazz & Supper Club
Dinner and show, but take it up a notch at Nocturne, RiNo’s intimate jazz and supper club. Book a table for two and tailor seasonal three-course menus with items such as steak tartare, duck leg confit, and passion-fruit tart. Enjoy each bite and sip while live jazz fills the sultry space.
Musicians often play for four to eight weeks, with sets ranging from fast-tempo bebops to relaxed cool jazz. Nocturne is open for nightly performances Wednesday through Saturday, keeping the romance alive all year long. 1330 27th St. Denver, nocturnejazz.com
Barolo Grill
Because Barolo Grill sends its staff on an annual trip to Europe, diners get to enjoy a fine dining experience deeply rooted in Northern Italian tradition and wine recommendations from vineyards the team visited firsthand. Guests can dine à la carte or opt for a four-course tasting menu ($95 per person) that showcases Italian classics with finesse.
For example, braised short rib tucked into housemade tortellini and the Anatra di Barolo, which is inspired by Piedmont and showcases tender duck slowly braised in wine and served with roasted garlic potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and Kalamata olives. Don’t skip the wine pairings (ranging from $65 to $95 per person), owner Ryan Fletter was honored with the 2023 Colorado Sommelier Award from Michelin and it shows. 3030 E. 6th Ave., Denver, barologrilldenver.com
Melting Pot
With locations in downtown Littleton and Louisville, the Melting Pot has long been a go-to date-night destination. Its four-course dinner for two (starting at $130 for both people) begins with warm, melty cheese fondues, like the classic Alpine, that’s followed by a fresh salad course. For the main event, diners select a cooking style, from coq au vin with Burgundy wine, mushrooms, and garlic; to a zesty Caribbean-inspired preparation. Next you customize the spread with shrimp, pork, steak, herb-marinated chicken breast, vegetables, and more.
The evening ends on a sweet note with dessert fondue, featuring fruits and treats dipped into molten chocolate. If it’s been a while since your last visit, there’s lots more unique fondue options to consider, like the dark chocolate and dulce de leche fondue that’s finished with sea salt for a sweet-and-savory combination. 2707 Main St., Littleton; and 732 Main St., Louisville, meltingpot.com
Spuntino
Elliot Strathmann, who co-owns Spuntino with his wife, chef Cindhura Reddy, frequently writes love poems about the dishes put forth on the menu. Those specials, like the 36-layer lasagna, Hatch chili risotto balls, or daily pasta specials, are indeed worth swooning over.
Share the love with a romantic date to this Highland restaurant, which draws influence from both Italian and Indian grandmothers. Cap the night with a housemade digestif such as a saffron liqueur, amaros, and limoncello, all within the warm, cozy spot. 2639 W. 32nd Ave., Denver, spuntinodenver.com
La Forêt
For a date night with a touch of whimsy, head to La Forêt, a French restaurant and cocktail bar on South Broadway. Ethereal lighting, French-inspired fireplaces, Aspen trees dotting the space, and lush greenery create the feeling of stepping into an enchanted forest, earning it a spot on our most beautiful restaurants list.
The food is just as transportive. Think baked brie with spiced fig jam, finished with a drizzle of sage honey, followed by tender, fall-off-the-fork beef bourguignon served with mushrooms, onions, carrots, and crisp fried parsley. 38 S. Broadway, Denver; laforetdenver.com
El Five
It’s hard to beat the views at El Five, especially at golden hour when diners can soak in the Mile High sunsets and a twinkling skyline from this fifth-floor LoHi restaurant . Framed by expansive windows and a breezy patio, it’s one of the most romantic spots to be in.
The menu leans Mediterranean, with Spanish tapas perfect for sharing. Start with charcuterie with jam, ciabatta, cheeses, and jamón Ibérico; then move on to heartier plates like paella that’s available with turmeric chicken, seafood, lamb and chorizo, or a mushroom-forward vegetarian take. For an extra-special night out, spring for the caviar flight. 2930 Umatilla St. Unit #500, Denver, ediblebeats.com
Bon Ami
Bon Ami brings French charm to Washington Park with its cozy creperie and restaurant, softly lit for an inviting, intimate feel. Start with escargot awash in garlic-herb butter or a cheese plate featuring a half dozen imported French cheeses with honey and fruit.
The dinner menu highlights savory crepes and comforting classics like red-wine-braised beef bourguignon and pork medallions in a rich mushroom cream sauce. When the weather warms, the restaurant’s charming outdoor patio is an added draw. 295 S. Pennsylvania St., Denver, bonamidenver.com
Odyssey Italian
Odyssey Italian just secured a spot on Yelp’s list of America’s most romantic restaurants. Set inside a Victorian house on Capitol Hill, chef Ignazio Mulei draws from his Sicilian family recipes to craft a deeply personal menu. Standout dishes include arancini stuffed with green peas, mozzarella, Parmesan, and gorgonzola, along with penne bolognese made from a closely guarded family recipe, and a Colorado bone-in lamb shank finished with a Chianti wine reduction. 603 E. 6th Ave., Denver, odysseyitalian.com
Kumoya
In Japanese, Kumoya translates to “cloud shop” or “valley of clouds,” and this LoHi sushi spot lives up to the name. A dreamlike mood is set with cloud-like hanging lanterns and a sultry red interior. As dry-aging fish gains traction in Denver’s dining scene, Kumoya chef Corey Baker embraces the technique with a dedicated aging cabinet, enhancing rich, fatty fish like toro and ocean trout.
Settle in and let the restaurant’s skilled chefs lead the evening with an omakase experience, whether it’s an 18-piece sashimi selection or a six-course kaiseki inspired by traditional ryokans, or Japanese inns. The kaiseki progression highlights seasonal ingredients and includes appetizers, sashimi, nigiri, temaki, chawanmushi, and dessert. 2400 W. 32nd Ave., Denver, kumoyadenver.com
Restaurant Olivia
Pasta lovers are in heaven in this Washington Park restaurant, where chef Ty Leon focuses on classic Italian dishes inspired by flavors and recipes around the world. To wit, the French onion ravioli with caramelized onion, gruyère fondue, and crispy parmesan that’s become a fan-loved menu staple. Diners can also participate in a five-course tasting menu, with a wine-pairing option.
For an extra-romantic and creative date, book one of the private pasta-making classes and create noodles of love together. The restaurant also has take-and-bake lasagagans you can bring home along with focaccia and cookies for a cozy night in. 290 S. Downing St., Denver, oliviadenver.com
Mar Bella Boqueria
The idea for Mar Bella Boqueria was born while chef Johnny Curiel and his wife and partner, Kasie, were traveling through Spain. There they fell in love with the Basque coast and its pintxos culture with small, beautifully crafted bites meant for sampling and sharing. They brought that spirit back to Denver with the opening of Mar Bella Boqueria last month.
Take a seat at the intimate 12-seat chef’s counter for an omakase-style experience ($125 per person) that changes with every visit. One night you may get seafood tapas, dry-aged fish, thinly sliced jamón Ibérico, and pan con tomate. Gin and tonics and sangrias anchor the cocktail program. The restaurant is located in the Clayton Hotel & Members Club, where couples can extend the night with a stay in the stylish hotel and enjoy a staycation in Cherry Creek. 233 Clayton St. Denver, marbellaboqueria.com
Bistro Vendôme
Paris may be known worldwide as the “City of Love,” but you can tap into that Parisian romance without leaving Denver at Bistro Vendôme in the Park Hill neighborhood. Menu highlights include mussels bathed in a buttery white-wine broth fragrant with herbs, served with a crusty baguette for soaking up every drop; pan-seared pork chops paired with an apple brown-butter purée; and steak frites, crowned with crisp potatoes lightly glazed in a Champagne gastrique.
Time your visit with one of the bistro’s Monday movie nights when a full-length film is paired with a four-course prix-fixe menu for $65 per person, and yes, cuddling is allowed. 2267 Kearney St., Denver, bistrovendome.com
Malinche Audiobar
For a vibey date night, try Malinche Audiobar, the latest from chef Jose Avila of La Diabla Pozole y Mezcal and one of the hottest openings of 2025. Inspired by Japanese listening bars, which are intimate venues where in-the-know crowds enjoy vinyl on high-fidelity sound systems, the space sets the mood.
Avila’s take includes small-batch mezcals, poured beneath a statue of Mayahuel, the goddess of mezcal, while vintage records from his own collection spin behind the bar. The Nikkei-Mexa menu layers Japanese techniques with Mexican flavors, with dishes like smoky, umami-forward octopus glazed in miso and Yucatecan chilmole. Or catch the taco truck outside for al pastor tacos you can bring inside. 1541 Platte St., Denver, no website
King Dumpling
On a winter night, what’s cozier than clutching mugs of hot tea and sharing soup-filled dumplings with your loved one? Tucked into a strip mall in Louisville, King Dumpling serves plump Northern Chinese–style dumplings worthy of a road trip. And while the casual space doesn’t exude romance at first glance, you’ll fall in love the moment those steamed dumplings hit the table.
Specialties include black truffle soup buns steaming with hot broth, vegetable dumplings wrapped in green dough naturally colored by spinach, and crisp shrimp fried dumplings. Everything from the dumplings to the noodles to sauces like sriracha get made right there. Round out your meal with scallion pancakes, beef noodle soup, or shrimp fried noodles. 316 McCaslin Blvd., Louisville, kingdumplinglouisville.com
Mizuna
A go-to for special celebrations and date nights, Mizuna is chef Frank Bonnano’s restaurant where he puts French techniques on display. The kitchen gives the chefs room to experiment with seasonal ingredients, resulting in inventive dishes like plum miso cod in a brown-buttered mushroom bouillon and roasted eggplant finished with a miso–cashew emulsion. A perennial favorite, the Beef Wellington arrives this time of year with spiced carrots, oyster mushrooms, and subtly sweet kabocha squash. Bonus, it’s fun to share one. 225 E. 7th Ave., Denver, mizunadenver.com
Wildflower
One of the city’s most beautiful restaurants, Wildflower in LoHi leans into a Mile High Victorian mood with dried florals tucked into candelabras and cowboy-themed art lining the walls. Dim lighting and cozy booths set the tone for a menu focused on plant-forward cooking, drawing heavily on herbs, produce, and edible flowers, many of which are picked from chef Aiden Tibbetts’ family garden, alongside a thoughtful selection of natural wines.
The team can also build tasting menus, featuring four to six small plates and one to two larger dishes, priced from $75 to $92 per person. Expect to try scallop crudo with passion fruit leche de tigre, sunchoke tortellini, pork belly with guava and tomatillo crema, and picanha wagyu finished with mezcal and caramelized onion. 3638 Navajo St. Denver, wildflower-lohi.com
Tavernetta
An expertly curated Italian wine list and a cozy dining room anchored by a hearth fireplace sets the stage for a dreamy date night in Union Station. The Michelin-recognized Bib Gourmand Italian restaurant turns out housemade pastas like rigatoni with lamb ragù and long ribbons of tagliatelle with rich bites of Maine lobster. Try one alongside polished mains such as branzino accented with lemon and capers and osso buco made from a Colorado bison shank, brightened with pomegranate and finished with a pistachio gremolata. 1889 16th St., Denver, tavernettadenver.com
Jimano’s
For some, romance looks like cuddling up on the couch with a bottle of wine and takeout. Enter Jimanos, a pizza shop with locations in Englewood and Lafayette. The pizza spot serves its signature thin crust pizzas as well as deep-dish pies. But what makes it so romantic is the heart-shaped pizza that pops on the menu around Valentine’s Day and is the perfect order for pizza lovers of all types. 2950 S. Broadway, Englewood; and 385 Crossing Drive, Suite 105, Lafayette, jimanos.com
