Highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Denver by diners
Fine dining in the U.S. isn't what it used to be. Many customers are no longer interested in classic white tablecloths and 16-ounce New York strips; instead, it's about cutting-edge culinary experiences.
Although steakhouses have defined fine dining in America since the 19th century, that started to change in the mid-1990s. Elite chefs like Thomas Keller at the French Laundry unearthed a whole different kind of tasting experience (with 40 courses), and a new age of fine dining was born. Soon, prix fixe meals—a French style of serving with a set menu—became the norm for fine dining in the U.S.
Between the rise of chef's tasting menus and consumers' continued desire to have diverse culinary experiences, the restaurants that grace the pages of top-tier restaurant reviewers like Zagat or the Michelin Guide look very different today than they did 30 years ago. Restaurant goers aren't just looking for high-quality food. They want the type of menu that will tell a story. They want creative ingredients they've never tried before. They want to be transported into a whole new world.
With so many innovative menus and restaurant experiences popping up across America to choose from, it can be challenging to choose where to go for a special evening. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated fine dining restaurants in Denver using data from Yelp. Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself.
Only businesses with at least five reviews and at least level 2 pricing (i.e., $$ to $$$$) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with five or more locations nationally (based on Yelp data) were not included. Restaurants in certain lower-cost categories (like "diners," "buffets," and "food trucks") were excluded. Data is as of Aug. 19, 2024.
Read on to find a potential restaurant for your next special meal out!
#28. Bistro Vendome
- Rating: 4.1/5 (982 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2267 Kearney St. Denver, Colorado
- Categories: French, Venues & Event Spaces
- Read more on Yelp
#27. 801 Chophouse
- Rating: 4.2/5 (285 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3000 East 1st Ave. Denver, Colorado
- Categories: Steakhouses
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Blue Island Oyster Bar and Seafood
- Rating: 4.2/5 (790 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2625 East 2nd Ave. Denver, Colorado
- Categories: Seafood, Live/Raw Food
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Ambli Global Cuisine - DTC
- Rating: 4.3/5 (201 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 6799 East Belleview Ave. Denver, Colorado
- Categories: Tapas/Small Plates, Cocktail Bars, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Odyssey Italian Restaurant
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1378 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 603 East 6th Ave. Denver, Colorado
- Categories: Sicilian, Seafood, Pasta Shops
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Spuntino
- Rating: 4.4/5 (487 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2639 West 32nd Ave. Denver, Colorado
- Categories: Italian, Indian
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Lucina Eatery & Bar
- Rating: 4.7/5 (117 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2245 Kearney St. Ste 101 Denver, Colorado
- Categories: Latin American, Spanish
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Barolo Grill
- Rating: 4.2/5 (433 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 3030 East 6th Ave. Denver, Colorado
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Culinary Dropout
- Rating: 4.2/5 (799 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4141 East 9th Ave. Denver, Colorado
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Mercantile Dining & Provision
- Rating: 4.2/5 (1351 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1701 Wynkoop St. Ste 155 Denver, Colorado
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Rioja
- Rating: 4.3/5 (2750 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1431 Larimer St. Denver, Colorado
- Categories: New American, Spanish, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Water Grill
- Rating: 4.3/5 (324 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1691 Market St. Denver, Colorado
- Categories: Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Williams & Graham
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1026 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3160 Tejon St. Denver, Colorado
- Categories: American, Speakeasies
- Read more on Yelp
#15. The Wolf's Tailor
- Rating: 4.4/5 (265 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 4058 Tejon St. Denver, Colorado
- Categories: New American
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Root Down
- Rating: 4.4/5 (3992 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1600 West 33rd Ave. Denver, Colorado
- Categories: New American, Vegan, Vegetarian
- Read more on Yelp
#13. The Plimoth
- Rating: 4.4/5 (380 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2335 East 28th Ave. Denver, Colorado
- Categories: Italian, French, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Fruition Restaurant
- Rating: 4.4/5 (959 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1313 East 6th Ave. Denver, Colorado
- Categories: New American, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Angelo's Taverna
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1777 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 620 East 6th Ave. Denver, Colorado
- Categories: Italian, Seafood, Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Work & Class
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1811 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2500 Larimer St. Ste 101 Denver, Colorado
- Categories: New American, Latin American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Tavernetta
- Rating: 4.5/5 (744 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1889 16th St. Denver, Colorado
- Categories: Italian
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Uchi Denver
- Rating: 4.5/5 (977 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 2500 Lawrence St. Denver, Colorado
- Categories: Japanese, Seafood, Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Guard and Grace Modern Steakhouse
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1832 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 1801 California St. Denver, Colorado
- Categories: Steakhouses, Seafood, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Somebody People
- Rating: 4.5/5 (322 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1165 South Broadway Ste 104 Denver, Colorado
- Categories: Wine Bars, Cocktail Bars, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#5. The Fifth String
- Rating: 4.5/5 (142 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 2246 Larimer St. Denver, Colorado
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Beckon
- Rating: 4.6/5 (141 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 2843 Larimer St. Denver, Colorado
- Categories: New American, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Jack's on Pearl
- Rating: 4.6/5 (128 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1475 South Pearl St. Denver, Colorado
- Categories: Bars, Steakhouses, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Nocturne
- Rating: 4.6/5 (373 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1330 27th St. Denver, Colorado
- Categories: Jazz & Blues, New American, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Bettola Bistro
- Rating: 4.7/5 (349 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 10253 East Iliff Ave. Denver, Colorado
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Kiersten Hickman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 299 metros.
