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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 42 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Innovative
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

  • Phone number
  • 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
  • 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

Experiences

  • Celebration of Spring dinner

    $125.00 per person

    Prepaid

    Mar 26, 2025 only
    Rioja's creative team will feature first-of-the-season food and beverage pairings to toast the coming of Spring.

What 10,510 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Denver / Colorado

    Mediterranean

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Rioja in Denver offers a delightful dining experience with "amazing food and cocktails" and "wonderful service." Highlights include the artichoke tortelloni and creative dishes like octopus and venison. The ambiance is cozy and perfect for special occasions. Despite some service inconsistencies, it's "one of the best restaurants in Denver."

10,510 Reviews
  1. Thomas VIP

    Phoenix21 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Rioja was great as always. Service, food, ambiance is our favorite Denver restaurant. Waitress Vivian was outstanding.

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  2. Shelley VIP

    Denver44 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Dinner before theater at DCPA.. they called me to let me know we could don't in a few minutes earlier than my existing reservation so as not to have to rush. I thought that was really lovely. The food was terrific.

    Is this helpful?

  3. bailey

    Denver2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    incredible service, delicious food and a great location. will definitely be back!

    Is this helpful?

  4. Beverly VIP

    Denver19 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Excellent and creative menu. Food is always excellent.

    Is this helpful?

  5. OpenTable Diner

    Montana1 review

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Artichoke tortellini is the greatest plate. Your bread service is excellent.

    Is this helpful?

  6. curly VIP

    Tokyo15 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I had the salmon flatbread, octopus, and pineapple coconut gateau basque. All were delicious! The flavors were interesting and dishes well done. The rest of the menu was so enticing. I wish I could’ve tried more dishes!

    Is this helpful?

  7. Amanda

    Denver5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The service here is outstanding. I've eaten here twice, and I really enjoy the vibe outside more than the inside.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Elly

    Denver18 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 2, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    80th birthday lunch before the Opera. Couldn’t have been better

    Is this helpful?

  9. AjithD VIP

    Denver3 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on March 2, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 2
    Server was on the edge. Asked her to slow down but then she got more agitated. Spoke to Mgr afterwards but wasn’t very responsive. Concerned as Rioja is one of our go to places. Thinking twice now.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Carol

    Charlotte3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 2, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We went to Rioja while in Denver for one night off a recommendation from a friend. The whole experience was outstanding. The vibe and ambiance was upscale and relaxing. Our waitress was friendly, we connected over recent trips to Breckenridge. Her recommendations for food and drinks were spot on. The artichoke ravioli was the best thing we have eaten in years! Would absolutely send anyone we know to Rioja when in Denver!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Rioja is rated 4.8 stars by 10510 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 42 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Rioja

1431 Larimer Street, Denver, CO 80202

Additional information

  • Phone number
  • 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
  • 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
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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