12 hottest Denver restaurant openings of 2023

There’s a buzz in the Denver air, and it’s not just the holiday spirit. The local restaurant scene has been riding high the past year, and new restaurants want to get a taste of the action.

Of course, we’ve had some tough closures, but Denver chefs are still taking risks and offering exciting new happy hours, neighborhood date-night spots or family favorites.

In 2023, food truck operators parked their wheels for brick-and-mortar spaces, while big names like Caroline Glover, Kelly Whitaker and the owners of Michelin-starred Beckon expanded their portfolios with new intimate, cocktail-focused concepts. Local restaurateurs also produced everything from elevated omakase menus to chef-driven, fast-casual spots.

Here are the 12 hottest restaurant openings of the year (that weren’t Casa Bonita).