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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 44 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

  • Celebration of Spring Dinner

    $125.00 per person

    Prepaid

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

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 10,471 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.

10,471 Reviews

  1. Margaret

    VIP

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined today

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fantastic food! Pork belly and artichoke tortellini and Thai chili pork and short rib entrees. All super tasty!

    Is this helpful?

  2. Denny

    VIP

    Seattle

    50 reviews

    5.0

    50 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always a great choice! We enjoy Rioja for lunch and dinner. Highly recommend!

    Is this helpful?

  3. Michael

    Denver

    6 reviews

    4.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Great food, as always. But very slow service, making the dinner 50% longer at 3 hours than the Rioja normal of 2 hours. Long waits up front and between courses. The "paired" wines came long before the actual course. The personal touch of Jen personally welcoming each table was lost as she was MIA and all communication from chef and sommelier came over speakers with no person visible. The waitpersons were friendly, as always.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Michelle

    VIP

    Denver

    27 reviews

    5.0

    27 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent meal and service!! We went for the Lunar New Year dinner and loved it!

    Is this helpful?

  5. Orlando

    Denver

    24 reviews

    5.0

    24 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    My wife and I had a wonderful dinner. I had the sturgeon and she had the steak. All of it was very delicious.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Gita

    Denver

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We loved everything about this restaurant. Service and food was excellent. I absolutely loved the artichoke tortelloni, just so light and flavorful. The assortment of the bread basket is always a nice touch as well.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Katya

    Denver

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days 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?

  8. Adam

    Denver

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I have been to rioja several times and it never disappoints. Fantastic food and great service.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Elizabeth

    Hawaii

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 7 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?

  10. Jamal

    Denver

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was incredible. Their smørrebrød transported me back to Copenhagen. Absolutely delicious. The staff were top notch. They were on top of everything. Will definitely be going back soon. Thank you!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Rioja is rated 4.7 stars by 10471 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 44 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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