Los Chingones

Photo: Los Chingones RiNo Facebook

This awesome neighborhood spot is located in the heart of RiNo, short for River North and home to some of the best street art in the city. Owned by popular chef and restauranteur Troy Guard (of Guard and Grace, Tag, Tag Burger Bar and a host of other Denver favorites), the menu boasts delicious tacos, margaritas, lots of locally brewed beers and Mexican street food.

Our favorite is their adobo chicken taco, garnished with fuego takis. Enjoy a drink or a taco on their downstairs patio (great for people watching along Larimer Street) or head upstairs to their rooftop bar and enjoy a nice view of the Ramble Hotel and the surrounding RiNo neighborhood.

Many rooftop bars in the city are pricey, but this is one of the most affordable rooftop bars in Denver. Stop by for Happy Hour (weekdays 3:00 – 5:30 p.m.), and you’ll see a number of $5 menu items like chips and guacamole, house margaritas, borracho street corn and quesadillas.

Learn more about the team behind Los Chingones and visit for a tasting on the RiNo Arts District Food Tour.

54thirty Rooftop

Photo credit: 54Thirty Facebook

54thirty takes home the award for Denver’s highest open-air, seasonal rooftop bar, and Thrillist calls it one of the best rooftop bars in Denver. Located at the top of the Le Méridien hotel on the 20th floor in downtown Denver, the menu focuses on crafted cocktails and globally-inspired bites. The gorgeous views of the Rocky Mountains don’t hurt.

This is a great spot for a Happy Hour drink. Just be sure you time your visit right to catch the beautiful sunset.

The Woods at the Source Hotel

The Woods at The Source Hotel

Located on the rooftop of the Source Hotel + Marketplace in RiNo is The Woods, a great rooftop spot craft cocktails, bites, New Belgium Brews and beautiful views of Denver.

Start your evening with a drink on the roof (The Woods serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and happy hour), and then head down to Safta for award-winning Israeli cuisine from a James-Beard award-winning chef or Temaki Den for a delicious omakase meal of fresh raw fish (order the aburi salmon belly with creme fraiche and you won’t be sorry).

While The Woods has everything you could ask for in a rooftop bar, we always recommend ordering a beer here as the New Belgium brews inside the hotel lobby below.

Make a reservation at The Woods here.

Avanti

Photo credit: Avanti Facebook page

One space, seven restaurant concepts! Avanti F&B, located in LoHi (the Lower Highlands) and now Boulder, CO, calls themselves a “collective eatery” inspired by European markets and food truck roundups. That means you can enjoy food from seven different restaurant concepts (and those concepts rotate out every few months) all under one modern roof.

An added bonus? The most successful concepts that start in Avanti often expand out after, getting their own separate locations, making the eatery a great spot to try brand new and up-and-coming Denver restaurants.

For a cocktail, beer or glass of wine, head to the bar on either of the two floors. And of course for gorgeous views of downtown Denver, head upstairs to their rooftop bars, one of our favorites in the Mile High City.

Avanti is always busy, so come early and be ready for a packed house and a great time.

Fire Terrace

Fire Terrace at the ART Hotel

Enjoy Denver views with a drink in hand at Fire Terrace on the rooftop of the ART Hotel in Capitol Hill. At this year-round rooftop bar you can eat and drink alfresco. Gather around the fire or enjoy a more private setting with couches and umbrellas.

The menu features creative cocktails and seasonal bites from local Colorado producers. The terrace is the best way to experience the cosmopolitan side of the mountain-town lifestyle in a comfortable, upscale environment with beautiful views of downtown Denver.

Done with your drink? There are some great dinner spots within just a few blocks of the hotel. We especially love Leven Deli Co. (part Jewish deli, part Mediterranean restaurant with a killer pastrami sandwich) and City O’ City (a very popular vegetarian local restaurant).

See the full menu and hours for Fire Terrace here.

Red Barber

Red Barber in RiNo

Located on the roof the Catbird hotel in Denver’s RiNo Art District, Red Barber offers an interesting drink menu with 360-degree views above the city. 

Red Barber’s space includes intimate fire pits and yard games, live music and tons of events.

The food menu includes bites like stuffed peppers, beef sliders and chicken wings, and their drink menu includes bottled cocktails, beers and froze.

Reservations are unavailable, but see the full menus here.

Looking to head to dinner after your drink at Red Barber? Just a few blocks away is Hop Alley (award-winning upscale Chinese) and Fish N Beer (lively packed seafood spot).

Historians Ale House

Historians Ale House

Historians Ale House, located in the South Broadway neighborhood (just south of Denver’s central business district), is an approachable, casual spot with a great beer list and fun views of Broadway street below.

Downstairs is your typical bar, but head upstairs for great views from their rooftop bar. Another bonus: Happy hour at Historian’s starts at 11 a.m. everyday Monday – Friday and goes until 7 p.m.!

Historians doesn’t take reservations, but you can see their hours and full menu here.

Heading to dinner in the neighborhood after your rooftop drink? We love Sputnik (great Cubano sandwich) and Beatrice and Woodsley (romantic spot great for a date night).

Tap Fourteen

Tap Fourteen

Located just steps away from Coors Field in the Ballpark neighborhood of LoDo, Tap Fourteen is a rooftop bar and beer garden just above Hayter’s & Co that boasts 70 Colorado beers, over 50 Colorado whiskeys and a Colorado-sourced food menu.

Not a beer or whiskey fan? They have a menu featuring nine signature cocktails as well. Bites from the kitchen feature Colorado raised beef, pork and chicken.

Tap Fourteen doesn’t offer reservations, but you can see their full menus and hours here.

Looking to head to dinner nearby after your rooftop drink? We love Kachina (Southwestern fusion on the new Dairy Block) and Marco’s Coal Fired (authentic wood-fired Neopolitan pizza).

Kisbee on the Roof

Kisbee on the Roof

Located on the top of the Jacquard Hotel in Denver’s upscale Cherry Creek neighborhood, Kisbee on the Roof features curated cocktails and small bites with stunning mountain views.

The rooftop pool is also open for overnight guests of the hotel, but you can stop by the bar for a drink and appetizers any time.

Make a reservation at Kisbee on the Roof here.

Looking to hear to dinner in the neighborhood after your rooftop drink? Check out Quality Italian (upscale, modern Italian) or Cherry Creek Grill (lots of good wood-fired menu items).

ViewHouse Eatery, Bar and Rooftop

ViewHouse, Ballpark

ViewHouse Ballpark opened in 2013 in Denver’s Ballpark neighborhood across from Coors Field and quickly became a local favorite for game day (and non game day) fun and drinking festivities.

The rooftop bar has since expanded with three other locations in Centennial, Littleton and Colorado Springs.

ViewHouse Ballpark has a fun, lively atmosphere with indoor and outdoor flatscreens and a variety of bar activities for sports fans, backyard-game-junkies, and casual diners.

Make a reservation at ViewHouse Ballpark here.

Heading to dinner after your rooftop drink? The Cherry Cricket Ballpark (fantastic burgers and Colorado beers) and The Original (upscale funky diner on the brand new McGregor Square) are just blocks away.

El Five

Photo credit: @haleyboerema

Aptly named El Five because of its position on the 5th floor of their building, this sexy modern hang out boasts spectacular, unobstructed city views of Denver’s skyline.

This makes it the perfect spot for a drink and dinner with unrivaled sunset views.

You can choose to dine inside (menus are focused around Mediterranean cuisine), or opt for a seat on their large open-air patio. This LoHi hot spot never fails to disappoint and is definitely one of the best rooftop bars in Denver.

Make a reservation at El Five here.

Heading to dinner at a different spot after your rooftop drink? Mizu Izakaya (super yummy Japanese pub) and Cart Driver (wood-fired pizzas and delicious oysters) are just a few blocks away.

Linger

Photo credit: Linger’s Facebook

It’s only fitting that we plug Linger right after El Five as the two are under the same, popular restaurant group in Denver. Like its sister, Linger offers stunning views from its LoHi location as well as an eclectic food menu including everything from bao buns (the BBQ duck buns are amazing!) to yellowfin tostadas.

In addition to the fun, funky vibe, diners and drinkers love Linger’s history. In 1908 the building was first built as a mortuary for the Rocky Mountain region, and its original sign has been adapted from “Mortuary” to Linger’s current “Eatuary.”

Make reservations at Linger here.

Heading to dinner at a different spot after your rooftop drink at Linger? Cantina Loca (new Mexican spot run by one of our beloved chefs Dana Rodriguez) and The Bindery (another female-chef run upscale spot) are very closeby.

Izakaya Den

Photo: Izakaya Den’s Facebook

Izakaya Den is Sushi Den’s sleek little sister, located next door on Old South Pearl Street in Denver.

This local spot has taken home the American Architecture Award for its refined design that pays homage to its Japanese roots.

Head to the second floor, and you’ll see the retractable glass ceiling, making it the perfect spot to eat and drink al fresco. The menu features global cuisine and freshly sourced sushi.

This is both a full restaurant and rooftop bar, so we definitely suggest staying for dinner!

Elevated

Photo: Halcyon Hotel Facebook

Located on the roof of the Halycon Hotel in the heart of Cherry Creek, Elevated is the perfect spot if you want to get out of the center of downtown and into one of Denver’s more upscale neighborhoods.

With unobstructed views of the Rockies on all sides, this is the perfect rooftop bar to catch the sunset and sip a cocktail, beer or glass of wine.

Despite its location inside a hotel, you’ll meet both travelers and locals here.

Heading to dinner after your rooftop drink? Toro (Latin American is a sleek space) and Elway’s (beloved local steakhouse) are just steps away.