Denver, CO
For Italian in Denver, the local food press points to Tavernetta, Barolo Grill, and Restaurant Olivia. Picks from Westword and 5280 Magazine, updated July 2026.
Editor’s picks
Press picks, until locals rank their own Top 5s. Sourced from the local food press. As seen in Westword and 5280 Magazine. Updated July 2026.
Tavernetta · Union Station
The Union Station-area sibling to Boulder's Frasca, open since 2017 with composed plates, carefully paced tasting menus, and a wine program that draws its own following. It reads as a special-occasion room without feeling stiff, and the kitchen's northern Italian leanings show in its handmade pastas and restrained saucing.
Barolo Grill · Cherry Creek
A Cherry Creek fixture serving northern Italian cooking since 1992, with a seasonally shifting menu of veal with tuna sauce, wine-braised duck, and gnocchi. Its deep cellar earned a Wine Spectator Grand Award, one of only a few in Colorado.
Restaurant Olivia · Washington Park
Chef Ty Leon's pasta-forward Washington Park room turns out intricately shaped handmade pasta in a setting that feels both polished and comfortable. The lasagna is available to take home, a small touch that regulars have come to count on, and the menu shifts with what is in season.
Coperta · North Capitol Hill
A Rome-inspired kitchen in North Capitol Hill built around housemade focaccia and classic Roman pastas. The Pollo Alla Diavola, a half chicken with Calabrian chiles, is the signature that anchors the menu, backed by amaro-focused cocktails and a room that leans warm and neighborly rather than formal.
Carmine's on Penn · Speer
A family-style institution since 1994, serving large communal platters meant to be passed around. Tables set with brown paper and crayons keep the mood loose and loud, and locations on Pennsylvania Street and at McGregor Square carry the same passed-platter format.
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