Looking for an authentic Spanish meal near you? Whether for a special occasion or just a quick bite with some drinks, these four top choices have you covered.
Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top Spanish restaurants around Denver, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of where to fill the bill.
1. Rioja
Topping the list is the upscale Rioja, named for Spain's premier wine region. Located at 1431 Larimer St., the downtown staple is the most popular Spanish restaurant in Denver, boasting 4.5 stars out of 1,831 reviews on Yelp.
Rioja comes courtesy of James Beard Award-winning chef Jennifer Jasinski and specializes in creative Mediterranean and Spanish fare like pork belly with cardamom and chickpea puree. It also offers a wide selection of handmade pastas, including artichoke tortelloni and saffron angel hair with prawns.
2. Gozo
Gozo, located at 30 S. Broadway in Baker, is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the Spanish, Italian and Mediterranean eatery four stars out of 333 reviews. Diners rave about its truffle fries, burrata (cream-filled cheese), smoked beef short ribs and roasted beets with Gorgonzola. Pizzas baked in the wood-fired oven are also available.
3. Barcelona Wine Bar
Barcelona Wine Bar, a Spanish spot offering tapas and more at its location in RiNo, is another much-loved go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 58 Yelp reviews. Head over to 2900 Larimer St. to check out the small plates and wine by the half-glass its patrons love. The tapas bar — with locations in eight states — has nearly 400 wines on its extensive list. Menu offerings include lamb stew with cannellini beans, feta and mint, swordfish with salsa verde and seafood paella.
4. Ultreia
Last but not least, check out Ultreia, from the same group behind Rioja, which has earned four stars out of 59 reviews on Yelp for its takes on Portuguese and Spanish cuisine. You can find the tapas bar inside Union Station at 1701 Wynkoop St., Suite 125. Try the traditional Portuguese soup of linguiça sausage, kale, potatoes and leeks or the roasted pork shoulder with olive-brined carrots and almonds.
