The Best Places in Cherry Creek

White tablecloths, candlelight, and a wine list so deep in Barolo it borders on a personal obsession: this Cherry Creek fine dining room has been a northern Italian anchor in Denver for as long as anyone can remember. The front-of-house team takes annual trips to Europe, and it shows in a warmth that never tips into theater. The four-course degustazione with pairings is the move, though grazing at the bar on a weeknight has its own quiet appeal.

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2. Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
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The lamb shank arrives bone-in so you can pull it apart and build your own tacos, which tells you most of what you need to know about this Jalisco Highlands restaurant on Clayton Street. Chef Johnny Curiel draws on the rustic cooking of Los Altos de Jalisco, running from aguachile and kanpachi tostada through soulful mains meant for the table to share. Moody lighting, a lively room, and a Michelin Guide selection.

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2. 5280 Top Chef · Top of the Town · Johnny Curiel
3. Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant

A horseshoe bar built for ordering another round and reconsidering your diet anchors this swanky Cherry Creek steakhouse. The open kitchen is positioned to do exactly what it sounds like, and watching seafood towers and massive chops roll past does tend to loosen the budget. Sushi rolls sit alongside the classic steakhouse trimmings, which is either ambitious or just honest about what people actually want. Save room for the chocolate ganache globe.

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A chef's counter built for multicourse tastings anchors the low-lit, warm-toned room, though walk-ins grazing on tapas fill it just as happily. This is a Spanish tapas spot from the chef behind Alma Fonda Fina, and it flies a little under the radar for it, which means a table here is easier to come by. The cocktail list leans saffron-forward, and the wine picks from lesser-known Spanish regions are worth the detour.

1. 5280 Top Chef · Top of the Town · Johnny Curiel
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1. Westword 2025 · Best Bar in Cherry Creek to Pretend You’re on Colfax · Best of Denver