It’s currently the midpoint between spring and summer, which permits talking about something we all love in Denver: patios. Here in the Mile High city, there is no shortage of patios at coffee shops, breweries, wine bars and more, equipped for relaxing and getting shit done. Sometimes working from home can dry out your concentration and creativity — sitting out on a sunny patio, soaking up vitamin D and getting a change of scenery can be very helpful. Plus we checked, and each space has public WiFi so feel free to bring your computer.
Whether you enjoy a bit of a crowd or a cozy oasis — check out these sunny patios and find your perfect work spot.
READ: 15 Cozy Workspaces in Denver to Get Shit Done
The Infinite Monkey Theorem
Infinite Monkey Theorem. Photo Lucy Beaugard.
Where: 3200 Larimer St., Denver
Hours: Monday, 4 – 8 p.m., Tuesday – Thursday, 4 – 10 p.m., Friday – Saturday, 2 – 10 p.m., Sunday, 2 – 8 p.m.
The Lowdown: When we think of a winery, we think of the usual picturesque field with lines of grapes of vines. But here in Denver, we’ve got an urban winery — The Infinite Monkey Theorem in the RiNo district. The inside has a modern renaissance look, while the patio is huge, lounge-y and provides lots of shade. If you enjoy a glass of wine at the end of the day and want to get some extra work down, this is the place. The bar has a few different wines on tap, canned wine and wine slushies if you want to cool down on an extra hot day.
Rivers and Roads Coffee
Photo by Brittany Werges.
Where: 2539 Bruce Randolph Ave., Denver
Hours: Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
The Lowdown: Settled on East Bruce Randolph Avenue — Rivers and Roads Coffee has brought coffee and love to a much-needed area. Michael and Desiree Keen opened this spot up a few months ago offering community dinners, creative lattes and pastries, as well as a good lunch menu. The patio is nice and intimate with a great neighborhood vibe and distant views of the mountains. The garage doors are open when it’s nice, so you can feel like you’re inside and outside at the same time.
St. Mark’s
Photo by Brittany Werges.
Where: 2019 E 17th Ave., Denver
Hours: Daily, 7 a.m. – 11 p.m.
The Lowdown: Open since 1993, St. Mark’s is an iconic patio for coffee and working. Settled on a quaint strip of 17th street next to the legendary Thin Man Tavern, you can enjoy a slice of the ’90s and perhaps a breakfast sandwich and a latte. The sidewalk patio has several trees surrounding to give ample shade and a nice breeze. When the weather is nice the garage doors open up, so if the patio is full, you can sit inside and still catch some rays. The quirky artwork and liveliness of the place will surely give you the edge to get some work done.
Backyard on Blake
Photo by Bridget Douglas.
Where: 3040 Blake St., Denver
Hours: The Workroom, Open 24 hours; Blue Sparrow Coffee, Open daily from 6:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
The Lowdown: If you haven’t been to the Backyard on Blake yet — you should. It’s a little oasis of shops, eateries and working areas away from the hustle and bustle, but not too far. Blue Sparrow Coffee is settled in here with a tiny indoor space and a patio right outside in the courtyard. We recommend the CBD coffee the shop has on tap. How cool is that? Get it to-go and walk up to Backyard on Blake’s rooftop patio — CBD, caffeine, sunshine and views of the city. The Workroom by the rooftop patio is a shared co-working space where you can rent out an office. But if you want a free workspace, just work on the patio and catch some rays.
Bigsby’s Folly
Photo courtesy of Bigsby’s Folly Craft Winery.
Where: 3563 Wazee St., Denver
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 4 – 10 p.m., Friday, 2 – 11 p.m., Saturday, 12 – 11 p.m., Sunday, 12 – 8 p.m.
The Lowdown: Another urban winery with a killer patio? We can cheer to that. Bigsby’s Folly settled by the railroad tracks on Wazee Street has a classy roaring 1920s feel. The patio is adorable next to a flower and grape garden — it has an optimal wi-fi connection for you workaholics. Of course, there is wine but we have to mention the food menu — antipasto, appetizers, flatbreads and homemade desserts. A great outdoor office space we’d say.
The Weathervane Cafe
Photo courtesy of Weathervane on Facebook.
Where: 1725 E. 17th Ave., Denver
Hours: Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
The Lowdown: The Weathervane Cafe is probably the coziest place ever — so if you love feeling at home, this is where it’s at. It’s straight out of the ’70s with an all-wood interior, vintage decorations and a soundtrack that includes the Beach Boys and the Byrds. It’s a tiny place, but the seating is maximized with downstairs tables, an upstairs area and two patios. The downstairs patio has two big tables and the rooftop has a few retro beach chairs with views of the quainter side of 17th Avenue. The food menu consists of healthy, flavorful breakfasts, sandwiches, coffee and other yummy drinks. Go ahead and spend a few hours.
Aviano Coffee
Photo courtesy of Aviano on Facebook.
Where: 244 Detroit St., Denver
Hours: Monday – Friday, 6:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday – Sunday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
The Lowdown: If you’re looking for a place with excellent coffee and a large shaded patio to set up shop for the day, look no further than Aviano. Serving up Intelligentsia coffee and an array of pastries, this Cherry Creek shop sits on a relaxed street where you’ll find shoppers and businessmen and women walking by. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, so we recommend asking them any of your coffee questions when the line isn’t out the door (although it often is).
Postino
Photo by Bridget Douglas.
Where: 2715 17th St., Denver
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., Friday, 11 a.m. – 12 a.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. – 12 a.m., Sunday, 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.
The Lowdown: Postino in LoHi is a wine bar with antipasti fare like cheese boards and olives, as well as bruschetta and paninis (gluten-free options). They open pretty early every day and happy hour is all day until 5 p.m. which means $5 for any glass of wine or any pitcher of beer. But the even cooler part is the patio — it’s spacious with lots of tables and umbrellas with breathtaking views of the city. This is the perfect place for a work lunch or dinner — or just a relaxing solo wine/work sesh.
The Denver Central Market
Photo courtesy of Denver Central Market.
Where: 2669 Larimer St., Denver
Hours: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. every day
The Lowdown: The Denver Central Market is a great place to have lunch, dinner or just a snack. There are tons of vendors and options for everyone to sit in the same area and enjoy a pizza, sandwich, oysters, salad, fresh-pressed juice, chocolate, ice cream, coffee or a cocktail. But if you don’t want to sit inside — take advantage of the patio out front and be in the middle of the RiNo action. It’s open early every day, so you can enjoy a more peaceful Larimer Street in the morning. If you haven’t been — well, you need to.
Ratio Beerworks
Photo courtesy of Ratio Beerworks.
Where: 2920 Larimer St., Denver
Hours: Sunday – Wednesday, 12 – 11 p.m., Thursday – Saturday, 12 p.m. – 12 a.m.
The Lowdown: Raito Beerworks has a legit patio — it’s big and aesthetically pleasing. The wall art, the blue tables and chairs, the gravel, trees, bar-style seating — it’s just cool. The open garage doors lightly blast music — sometimes punk, sometimes indie, etc.. During the week, you can spend a more quaint afternoon and get some work done with one of its amazing beers — one of our favorites is the Dear You — a French Saison.
Highlands Cork & Coffee
Photo courtesy of Highlands Cork & Coffee on Facebook.
Where: 3701 W. 32nd Ave., Denver
Hours: Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The Lowdown: If you want to feel like you’re in a lush green forest area of the country — Highlands Cork & Coffee has a ‘secret garden-like’ patio to give you all the serenity feels. Situated in the Highlands neighborhood, this quirky cafe is no-frills with breakfast options like omelets and breakfast tacos — and for lunch, paninis and tapas. Go in the morning for your coffee, or later in the day for some vino. Either way, the patio is sure to bring you peace of mind.
Zuni Street Brewing Company
Photo courtesy of Zuni Street Brewing Company.
Where: 2355 W. 29th Ave., Denver
Hours: Monday – Wednesday, 3 – 10 p.m., Thursday, 3 – 11 p.m., Friday – Saturday, 12 p.m. – 12 a.m., Sunday, 12 – 9 p.m.
The Lowdown: Zuni Street Brewing Company is another fun patio playground with good beer in a neighborhood setting. Two patios are always better than one with the first in front near the street and the other is a fenced-in backyard environment. So whatever your optimal beer/work routine is, this place should suit you. As for the beer, there are sours, porters, a Belgian wit and more. A food truck is always on-site as well. Find the schedule here.
Whittier Cafe
Whittier Cafe. Photo by Glenn Ross.
Where: 1710 E. 25th Ave., Denver
Hours: Monday – Tuesday, 6:30 a.m. – 7 p.m., Wednesday – Friday, 6:30 a.m. – 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 7:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.
The Lowdown: This place is just really, really cute. Settled in the Whittier neighborhood right by City Park West — Whittier Cafe is a favorite among nearby residents. The patio is really the spotlight of this place, but the inside is cozy as well. Coffee drinks, pastries and breakfast burritos are served, with wine and beer for later in the day. On this patio, you can bask in the sun and smell the aroma of the flowers. You’ll feel right at home, so it’s easy to spend a few hours here.
Amethyst Coffee Co.
Amethyst Coffee Co. All photos by Danielle Webster.
Where: 1111 N. Broadway 101, Denver
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sunday, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
The Lowdown: This place is a gem — no pun intended. In the Golden Triangle neighborhood in a cool building suite with a patio that has scenes of the bustling Broadway traffic. Amethyst Coffee Co. makes its own cashew milk and flavored syrups. You can find vegan doughnuts offered from Beet Box Bakery and cocktails if you need to loosen up. The inside is bright, adorned with plants and cool light fixtures. But now that it’s warm, you can hang on the patio with lots of sunshine and cool views of Broadway. It’s the perfect amount of tranquil and lively.
The Rooftop @ Coors Field
Photo by Kent Kanouse on Flickr.
Where: 2001 Blake St., Denver
Hours: Limited dates and hours
The Lowdown: If you love Baseball and you’re a business person, this is all you. There are only five dates left for this ‘Business Person Special,’ which gets you a ticket to a weekday game up in the rooftop standing room, a CHUburger, one French fry cup and a 16-ounce beer or 18-ounce soda, all for $21. The open dates left are Wednesday, May 9, Wednesday, August 8, Thursday, August 23, Monday, September 3 and Thursday, September 13. Check the schedule here to see which opposing team you want to see. Get some of your co-workers together and challenge each other to see if you can get work done at a Rockies game.
Punch Bowl Social Stapleton
Photo by Kyle Cooper.
Where: 3120 N. Uinta St., Denver
Hours: Monday – Wednesday 11 – 1 a.m., Thursday – Friday 11 – 2 a.m. and Saturday 8 – 2 a.m.and Sunday 8 – 12 a.m.
The Lowdown: In November, the new Punchbowl Social opened in Stapleton and its new huge, awesome patio has just been revealed in time for the warm weather. While Punchbowl is known for bowling and games, it’s also a great place for food and drinks. Bring your laptop and sit in a cute beach chair with a coffee drink or cocktail, depending on your mood. Whatever hunger level you’re on, big or small, you’ll be satisfied. If you’re with a big group of co-workers, there are ‘Big Baller Platters’ that can feed everyone while you knock out that business meeting.
Logan House Coffee Co.
Logan House Coffee photo by Brittany Werges.
Where: 2501 Dallas St #112, Aurora
Hours: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday – Wednesday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday – Saturday
The Lowdown: Although located just outside of Denver, on the border of Stapleton and Aurora, Logan House is worth the trek. Situated in the newly renovated Stanley Marketplace, the shop sits among tons of other businesses so you can eat, shop and drink before or after you get your shit done.
Steam Espresso Bar
Photo courtesy of Steam Espresso Bar on Facebook.
Where: 1801 S. Pearl St., Denver
Hours: Monday – Sunday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Lowdown: The patio at Steam is particularly special. Not only does it have plenty of space and shade, but it also has some interesting decor with a fuselage tucked away in the corner. The hidden neighborhood cafe is a favorite among staff so don’t be surprised if you see one of us typing nearby on a sunny weekend.
Stellas Coffee
Photo courtesy of Stellas Coffee.
Where: 476 S Pearl St., Denver, Colorado
Hours: 6:30 a.m. – 11 p.m. Monday – Thursday, Friday 6:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Sunday 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
The Lowdown: Known as a college staple, Stellas Coffee is a tried and true coffee shop no matter the time of year. With late-night hours and a busy front patio, you can get your work done late into the night while doing some excellent people watching.
Our Mutual Friend Brewery
Photo by Glenn Ross.
Where: 2810 Larimer St., Denver
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 4 – 10 p.m., Friday – Saturday, 12 p.m. – 12 a.m., Sunday, 12 – 10 p.m.
The Lowdown: If you enjoy being around lots of people while the traffic goes by — and of course, beer — try out Our Mutual Friend Brewery. We would suggest bringing some work friends to brainstorm a new project with a couple of IPAs, stouts or whatever suits your palette, you’ll find it here. The patio is small, so we would suggest getting there early to claim a table outside. The funkily painted brick, the string lights and the vibes and action of RiNo are a great recipe for creativity.