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Rioja, Denver, CO
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Rioja

$31 to $50
Mediterranean

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 35 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Romantic
Chef Jennifer Jasinski's creatively inspired food is influenced by local seasonal products. Rioja is simple, pure food that emphasizes bright flavors and textures. The wines are a collection of fun interesting varietals that complement the cuisine.

Why they're an Icon

Executive chef: Jennifer Jasinski

From the OpenTable editors: Rioja's Jennifer Jasinski is a trailblazer, being the first chef from Denver to win a James Beard Award for Best Chef Southwest in 2013, along with many other accolades. The Larimer Square restaurant recently celebrated two decades, and the open kitchen still fires out rustic Mediterranean fare, from fresh handmade pasta to smoky grilled octopus.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Mediterranean, Fusion / Eclectic
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–2:30 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–2:30 pm Dinner Daily 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (303) 820-2282
  • Website
    http://www.riojadenver.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Catering
    Whatever the occasion, Crafted Concepts has a venue and menu to exceed your expectations. We truly thrive on creating custom events and exciting experiences – the only limit is your imagination!
  • Private party facilities
    The culinary prowess of James Beard award winner, Jennifer Jasinski, is highlighted at every meal served by the talented Rioja staff. A Mediterranean menu with local, seasonal influences is served in semi-private or restaurant-wide events from 20 to 150 handled with Rioja’s award-winning expertise.
  • Location
    1431 Larimer Street, Denver, CO 80202
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown / LoDo
  • Cross street
    15th St; Larimer St
  • Parking details
    Valet available on Larimer Square each night of the week for dinner, $10 off with Rioja validation.A parking garage is located directly behind the restaurant on Market Street. Street parking is available throughout Larimer Square.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Experiences

  • Lunar New Year 2025

    $95.00 per person

    Prepaid

    Jan 22, 2025 only
    It's the Year of the Wood Snake and we're celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year with a four-course special menu paired with outstanding beverage selections from the Rioja bar team.

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 10,463 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Denver / Colorado

    Mediterranean

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Rioja offers a delightful culinary experience with "creative, beautifully presented" dishes and impeccable service. Highlights include the artichoke tortelloni, "fabulous" brunch offerings, and a well-curated wine list. The ambiance is "inviting" and perfect for special occasions. Despite some mixed reviews, Rioja remains a "top-notch" destination in Denver's dining scene.

10,463 Reviews

  1. Katya

    Denver

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    We had an amazing dining experience at Rioja! The food was incredibly fresh and flavorful. We started with the picnic plate as an appetizer, and everything on it was absolutely delicious. Their house-made bread deserves a special mention—it was so good that I wish they sold it on its own. For the main course, I had the black-and-white pasta with seafood. The seafood was exceptional, especially the mussels, which were the best I’ve ever had—tender, fresh, and perfectly cooked. The pasta was equally impressive, tender and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. My husband ordered the grilled Thai pork chop, which was packed with bold, flavorful seasoning and cooked to perfection. All dishes exceeded our expectations, and we left thoroughly impressed. The service was good overall. Justin’s hospitality truly elevated our evening and left us feeling well taken care of. We definitely would love to come back and try other dishes from their menu.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Elizabeth

    Hawaii

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Everything from the food to the wait staff was perfect. Plus, the prices are very reasonable for the prestige of the food and chef.

    Is this helpful?

  3. John

    Fargo

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food and service were amazing!! We had everything the waiter recommended and it was the best choice. Everything tasted exactly as she described it.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Robert

    VIP

    Denver

    22 reviews

    5.0

    22 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great ambience. Varied menu. Great value for the quality.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Maryan

    VIP

    Denver

    128 reviews

    5.0

    128 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fabulous flavorful food beautifully served. Our waitress was very thorough in her suggestions to avoid my lactose intolerance.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Debra

    Denver

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    I have been coming to Rioja for 20 years and it does not disappoint. Their bread selection is the best w/ the lavender sourdough my favorite. We shared the lamb kofta app and had venison and sturgeon main dishes. Paired with a really lovely New Zealand Pinot Gris. And finished w/ the ginger blackberry tart for dessert. Overall just perfect. Service as always was very good.

    Is this helpful?

  7. James

    Denver

    22 reviews

    5.0

    22 reviews

    Dined on January 12, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful experience, service and food were both top shelf. Have dined here previously and will absolutely be back.

    Is this helpful?

  8. William

    Denver

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on January 11, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food with unbelievable table service. I highly recommend Rioja.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Marni

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 8, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My son and his girlfriend treated me for My birthday. He wanted to try just about everything. We ordered a Rioja salad which I loved and we ordered 1/2 orders of the pastas just to try them all. The 2 favorites were the pappardelle with pork and the artichoke tortelloni. We ordered the bacon wrapped cod, the braised short rib (my favorite) and the octopus which was soft and cooked to perfection as entrees. Dessert was a butterscotch buddino and the chocolate citrus mousse. All was delicious and the atmosphere was perfect. Super friendly staff as well and very attentive. Would highly recommend giving Rioja a try.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Kathy

    VIP

    Denver

    49 reviews

    5.0

    49 reviews

    Dined on January 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food and great happy hour. Overall top quality and highly recommended

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Rioja is rated 4.7 stars by 10463 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 35 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Rioja

1431 Larimer Street, Denver, CO 80202

Additional information

  • Cross street
    15th St; Larimer St
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown / LoDo
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–2:30 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–2:30 pm Dinner Daily 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Mediterranean, Fusion / Eclectic
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Valet available on Larimer Square each night of the week for dinner, $10 off with Rioja validation.A parking garage is located directly behind the restaurant on Market Street. Street parking is available throughout Larimer Square.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.riojadenver.com/
  • Phone number
    (303) 820-2282
  • Catering
    Whatever the occasion, Crafted Concepts has a venue and menu to exceed your expectations. We truly thrive on creating custom events and exciting experiences – the only limit is your imagination!
  • Private party facilities
    The culinary prowess of James Beard award winner, Jennifer Jasinski, is highlighted at every meal served by the talented Rioja staff. A Mediterranean menu with local, seasonal influences is served in semi-private or restaurant-wide events from 20 to 150 handled with Rioja’s award-winning expertise.

Featured in

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