The Best Patios for Eating and Drinking Outside in Denver

For outdoor drinking and patios with live music, these are your best bets for al fresco dining in the Mile High.

By Molly Martin, and Erica Buehler - THRILLIST

Updated on 4/4/2022 at 5:39 PM

ACE EAT SERVE
This 17th Ave staple is a known patio spot for catching some of that sweet Colorado sun while snacking on daily happy hour specials from Korean fried wings to Floral Fridays’ $5 Daiquiris. On Saturdays and Sundays, swing through for Japanese pancakes at the best brunch in town, or head over on Thursdays for a Peking duck date night.

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9 of Denver’s Best Asian Fusion Restaurants

From French onion soup dumplings to bao doughnuts, celebrate flavors from across the globe with some of the Mile High City’s best Asian fusion.

ACE EAT SERVE

Uptown’s Ace is all about fun—it’s a ping-pong restaurant after all—and that fun extends to chef Thach Tran’s fusion-filled menu spanning Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai, Korean, and Japanese flavors.
Eat this: Besides Tran’s savory dishes like khao soi ramen with coconut curry broth and Bang Bang Bao with Thai chili and basil, pastry chef Michael Kurowski’s desserts also blend cultures in tasty ways. Take home the sticky toffee pudding that features spicy ginger, a sesame lace cookie, and tahini toffee caramel, or the warm bao doughnuts served with cool lime anglaise. 501 E. 17th Ave., 303-800-7705

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Lunar New Year | Year of The Tiger 2022

🧧 Happy Lunar New Year! The Year of the Tiger🐯 brings bravery, courage, and strength 💪
Celebrate with us this Friday 2/4 & Saturday 2/5 while enjoying holiday specials prepared by our Executive Chef Thach Tran , Executive Pastry Chef Michael Kurowski , and Bar Manager Dave Salvatore.
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📸 Tangerine Crepe Cake: milk tea cream, brown sugar boba, tangerine caramel.

Super Bowl & Valentine's Day Peking Ducks!

Celebrate this Valentine's Day or host the most epic Super Bowl party with one of Ace's renowned Peking Ducks! All ducks come fully cooked and are ready to serve with mu shu crepes, pickled chiles, sliced scallions, sliced cucumbers, apricot jam and sesame hoisin. Option to pick up your duck pre-carved, or whole, to carve at home. Carving and re-heat instructions included. Each duck serves 2 people, but make it a full celebration for 4-6 by adding a few sides and a batched cocktail!

Brunch at Ace Eat Serve

A modern and deliciously unique spin on brunch. This isn't your "typical" brunch experience...It's better. Enjoy Japanese Pancakes, Taiyaki Chicken & Waffles, Kimchi Bloody Mary's, Sesame Balls, Scallion Pancake, Tiger Wings, Taiyaki Ice Cream Waffle Cone, Zero Proof cocktails & more!

Reserve your brunch experience:

The Year of the Duck 😉

This year…

Our team added the Peking duck experience to Thursdays & Sundays in addition to the Peking duck house charity event, thanksgiving, Christmas, and NYE ducks!

All of this meant:

•780+ ducks were sold on Sundays + Thursdays
•100 ducks were sold for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve combined!
•120 ducks were carved during Ace eat serve’s Peking duck house charity event.

TOTALLING 1,000 ducks for 2021!

Thank you for continuing to support our creative team’s delicious ideas!

Ace Eat Serve NYE Peking Duck Experience

Celebrate all your accomplishments this year with our NYE Peking Duck experience. Make your reservation now to celebrate with a whole Peking Duck carved table•side while enjoying our Brussels sprouts, dumplings, green tea mousse for two & bottle of wine for $130.

THE SECRET SAUCE HOLIDAY GIFT CARD DEAL: EARN GIFT CARDS FOR EVERY CARD YOU PURCHASE!

Skip the lines, avoid the last minute stress shopping & give the gift of a foodie experience.
Take advantage of our holiday gift card promo November 11th, 2021 through December 31st, 2021.

Buy a $50 gift card, get an additional $10 gift card on us! or
Buy a $200 gift card for a friend…Get a $40 gift card for yourself!

Peking Duck House Event Raised $15,000!

Thank you for joining us for our 1st Peking Duck House event! While it wasn’t Wings & Whiskey, it was just as successful as our annual wing event…if not more! On Tuesday October 19th we raised $15,000 for Denver Housing Authority’s Youth Employment Academy. This outstanding organization serves young adults in breaking the cycle of generational poverty in Denver communities by gaining personal and economic stability through education, arts and technology and employment training. https://youthemploymentacademy.org

This event was all made possible by you AND our sponsors. Thank you.
Our chefs were suited up with Peking Duck House custom chef coats by Knife Guys. Shamrock Food Service and Tonali’s Meats teamed up to provide delicious ducks, and Shamrock went above and beyond to provide the truck to store the 100+ delicious ducks! Woody Creek Distillers sponsored our crafted cocktails for the evening, while Avery Brewing, Colorado Sake Co, Heaven Hill Distillery and Grand Vin Imports provided refreshing bonus libations. Thank you to Icelantic Skis, The Gravity Haus, YoColorado, Tavernetta, Sunday Vinyl, Avery Brewing, OXB Studio, Topo Designs, The Crawford Hotel, Vail Resorts for sponsoring one-of-a-kind raffle prizes! It’s true what they say, it takes a village…and this is the perfect example of that.

Ace had a little bit of nostalgia Tuesday night as our duck carving chefs were SSF&B alum from Ace, Steuben’s, and Vesta. All chefs graciously donated their time and talents to support the cause:
•Rooted Craft Kitchen (Nick Kayser, Scott Ericson, Brian Hardy)
•FNG (Charles Rivera)
•Coming Soon: Bodega Denver (Cliff Blauvelt)
•Owner and Proprietor of Kofoed Family Farms (Max Kofoed)
•CPA/Former Ace Sous Chef (Christine Christy)

We transformed our dining room, patio AND pong hall into peking duck experiences complete with 100 ducks carved table-side with a few ducks to•go. Guests enjoyed a three-course experience, won gift cards to Sunday Vinyl, Snooze, Steuben’s, and had four lucky grand prize raffle winners!

Thank you to our community near and far for making your reservations, donating to DHA’s Youth Employment Academy, and continuing to support Ace Eat Serve and the Denver community!

STAY IN THE KNOW FOR UPCOMING EVENTS!

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL FOR ALL ACE HAPPENINGS!

Ace Peking Duck House - Benefiting the Youth Employment Academy

Join us as we transform Ace in to The Ace Peking Duck House. Each table will enjoy a three-course
experience, including our legendary Peking Duck, expertly carved table side.

$100/duck (serves up to 4 guests)

One duck with accompanying courses and sides is perfect for up to four people. Looking to bring in a large group? Simply reserve the number of ducks you need for your party, and the family style sides and desserts are sure to feed the entire crew! (max 4 people per duck) The bar will be open, featuring specialty cocktails by Woody Creek Distillers. Test your skill at one of our Ping Pong table games or enter the raffle to win some fabulous prizes.

All proceeds from the evening will support The Youth Employment Academy, which serves young adults in breaking the cycle of generational poverty in Denver communities by gaining personal and economic stability through education, arts and technology and employment training. https://youthemploymentacademy.org

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:
Shamrock Foods, Woody Creek Distillers, Colorado Sake Company, The Knife Guys, Tonali’s Meats

RAFFLE PACKAGES:
Winter Sports Package: Icelantic Skis, Gift Certificate to Gravity Haus
Denver Staycation: Dinner at Tavernetta, Brunch at Sunday Vinyl, Hotel Stay
Chef Dinner At Ace: Up to 8 guests, at Ace, custom menu from Chef Thach with drink pairings

FOR DUCKS TO•GO EMAIL JESSIE@SECRETSAUCEDENVER.COM

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Can't make it in but still want to give to the cause?

Click “Donate A Duck” below to make your $100 duck donation which will go directly to
The Youth Employment Academy.

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M^ENU

Hot and Sour Lion's Mane Soup

Whole Peking Duck:
mu shu crepes, pickled chiles, sliced scallions, sliced cucumbers, apricot chili jam, sesame hoisin

Golden Fried Rice:
egg yolk, chestnut mushrooms, sweet peas

Jade Stir Fry:
gailan, bok choy, chili garlic soy

Yuzu Tartlet:
yuzu curd, toasted sesame meringue, blueberry sorbet

Mango Coconut Cake (GF):
tipsy pineapple, mango mousse, coconut cake, candied almonds

House Made Fortune Cookie

Mother's Day Peking Duck Feast

Exciting news! Our legendary Peking Duck⚡️is available for your Mother's Day celebration!

Here’s the deets:
•Preorder by 5/1
•Pick up 5/8 between 12pm-3pm
•$61 | serves 4-6 | Price includes tax & 3%BOH fee
•Limited duck availability, preorder now!
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Peking Duck feast includes:
• Reheat instructions
• Whole Duck, Mu-Shu Crepes, Scallions, Cucumber, Apricot Chili Sauce, Hoisin.

Our team is setting you up for success with a pre•roasted duck, so when you’re ready just read the instructions provided & reheat to perfection👌

Ace Patio Après - Free Live Music

We teamed up with Woody Creek Distillers to kickoff the New Year with a mountain getaway giveaway we know you need!...A night off & trip to Woody Creek Distillery in Basalt, CO!
The package includes:
• 1 night stay at The Element Basalt
• A tour of Woody Creek Distillers
• Drinks at the distillery
• And a Woody Creek SWAG bag
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Here's how to enter:
•Join us Saturdays from 3:30pm-6:30pm for our ACE PATIO APRES party to enter.
•Fill out your ticket on the patio.
•One entry every Saturday...more visits + more entries=better chances of winning
•Winner announced 2/13/21 @ 5pm
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•Must be used by the end of 2021
•Limit 2 people, must be 21+ to enter

Here’s your Ace Winter Game Plan as we head into the New Year:

•Book your igloo for January before slots fill up
•Join us Saturdays from 3:30pm-6:30pm for FREE LIVE MUSIC
at our Ace Patio Après parties🎿🥂
•Order takeout 🥡 or delivery 🚚 if you’re staying cozy at home
•Enjoy hot ramen 🍜 & hot sake
•Make a reservation at our fire🔥pits🤘
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NYE HOURS: 3pm-9pm
NYD HOURS: 3pm-9:45pm

Denver Restaurant Week | Nov. 13th - Nov. 22nd

Our talented Executive Chef Thach Tran and Executive Pastry Chef Nadine Donovan have created one of the best Denver Restaurant Week menus that you can’t miss out on.

Experience this unique $25 three course menu now through Nov. 22nd! After satisfying all your savory & sweet cravings, elevate your visit and play a few rounds of competitive ping pong!

Call us at 303.800.7705 to make your ping pong reservation.

Click (HERE) to make your dining reservation!

The Secret Sauce Holiday Gift Card Deal: Earn Gift Cards for Every Card You Purchase!

If you needed another reason to order takeout or enjoy another night out, here’s your reason.
Take advantage of our holiday gift card promo now through December 31st, 2020.

Buy a $50 gift card, get an additional $10 gift card on us! or
Buy a $200 gift card for a friend…Get a $40 gift card for yourself!

Live Music Saturday Evenings on the Patio

Here's your ticket to the perfect weekend staycation happenings.

1.) A large patio
2.) Incredible cocktails
3.) Delicious bites
4.) Great live music line up by:

•10-10s | featuring members of Sound Travels | Saturday, September 12th | 6pm-9pm

•Kim Dawson Duo with Jobel Charles | Saturday, September 19th | 6:30pm-9pm

•Shawn Eckels of Andy Frasco and the U.N. | Saturday, September 26th | 6pm-9pm

Weekend Groovin' With DJ PEACH

He's back! DJ PEACH IT BACK!

Celebrate a safe night out by enjoying a set by DJ PEACH on our patio Saturday August 29th from 6pm-9pm.

You know the drill, but here's a quick reminder:

•If you're safely dining with us, masks required when not at your table, respect other humans around you, enjoy the evening.
•If you opt for takeout, give us a little dancing shimmy while picking up your order *shimmying not required •Craving potstickers, wings, sake, ramen or specialty cocktails? We have you covered there too.
•Batched cocktails, sake & other boozy fun is available on-the-go
•Get your crew and make a patio reservation by clicking (HERE)

DJ K-NEE & DJ BAO TAKEOVER THE PATIO

Our patio is the perfect space to experience the great outdoors while sipping on a few cocktails & enjoying delicious food. Keep things simple, make your patio reservation & join us for DJ events.

You know the game plan, but here's a quick reminder:
•Make your patio table reservation, 👉 (HERE)

•Grooving in your seat is strongly encouraged, and please remain in your bubble to respect social distancing.

•If you get up from your table, you are required to wear your mask.

•Sip on a few summer cocktails

•Order a few savory & sweet bites for your table

•Enjoy the evening

Live Music by Kim Dawson on the Ace Eat Serve Patio

Soak up the most of summer and groove with us to Kim Dawson's eclectic mix of R&B, neo-soul, funk with a love-laced passion for all things jazz on our patio Saturday, August 1st from 7pm-9pm.
CLICK (HERE) TO SHARE THE EVENT & GET SOCIAL.

Here's the game plan👇:

•Make your patio table reservation, click (HERE)
•Grooving in your seat is strongly encouraged, and please remain in your bubble to respect social distancing. •If you get up from your table, you are required to wear your mask.
•Sip on a few summer cocktails
•Order a few savory & sweet bites for your table.
•Enjoy the evening.

Check out more of Kim Dawson here👉 http://www.kimdawsonmusic.com/

Soaking Up Summer

We’re here to help you make the most of summer. Whether you need an oasis, a cocktail to set the mod, a sweet bite by Executive Pastry Chef Nadine Donovan, or enjoy savory favorites from Executive Chef Thach Tran we have you covered. On top of this, our team is taking all the necessary and advised safety precautions to make your dining experience worry free.

Here's what to expect:
• Tables are 6ft apart
• Your table is your space, remain inside your bubble
•Guests are required to wear their mask when they get up
  from their table
• Servers come complete with masks, and smiles (under the mask)
• Delish food
• 'gram worthy moments and photos