Summer in Denver was made for drinking outside. Not on a rooftop with a velvet rope, not in a staged hotel courtyard, but in a place that actually feels like someone’s backyard. String lights optional. Good vibes mandatory. Here are three spots that nail it.
La Doña Mezcaleria, tucked behind Adelitas on South Broadway, sets the standard. The mezcal-centric cocktail bar serves Mexican street food in rustic, unhurried digs with a patio that feels plucked straight from Oaxaca. Order a Mezcalrita, find a seat, and don’t make any plans.
Just up the street, Joy Hill‘s elevated backyard deck perched above South Broadway offers a breezy rooftop feel without any of the boisterous rooftop energy, with wood-fired pizza, natural wine, and Rocky Mountain views to round out the evening.
For a true beer garden done right, head to Recess Beer Garden in LoHi, where the outdoor space is practically a park—picnic tables, games, fire pits, misters, and a welcoming attitude toward kids and dogs. Twenty-four beers on tap, mostly from Colorado breweries, seal the deal.
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