1,994 reviews
#13 of 2,664 Restaurants in Denver$$$$, International, Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options+1 303-820-2282+ Add websiteImprove this listing
Hours
Sun
10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Mon
11:00 AM - 2:30 PM4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Tue
11:00 AM - 2:30 PM4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Wed
11:00 AM - 2:30 PM4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Thu
11:00 AM - 2:30 PM4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Fri
11:00 AM - 2:30 PM4:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Sat
10:00 AM - 2:30 PM4:00 PM - 11:00 PM
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
Travelers' Choice 2024
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Food and ambience
Local cuisine, International, Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
“... ingredients to come up with celebration for flavor and this restaurant ha...”
“I had the delectable carrot soup, duck breast, and fig beignets.”
“... and my husband ordered the gnocchi with lamb which he said was excellent.”
“We also had their beet salad with goat cheese and I had the fig beignets.”
Can a vegan person get a good meal at this restaurant?
Details
About
Chef Jennifer Jasinski's creatively inspired Mediterranean food is influenced by local seasonal products. Rioja is simple, pure food that emphasizes bright flavors & textures. The wines are a collection of fun interesting varietals that compliment the cuisine.
PRICE RANGE
$41.00 – $80.00
CUISINES
International
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Late Night
FEATURES
Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Valet Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service
Contribute
4.5
1,994 reviews
Excellent
1,412
Very good
373
Average
148
Poor
37
Terrible
24
derrickwg36
Seattle7777 contributions
Jan 2021 • couples
Rioja is an amazing restaurant. The food and service was incredible. When we first arrived we were seated outside of the outdoor dinning tent, which was very cold due to the high winds. I requested to be seated at the bar and my request was accommodated. We began our meal with drinks and both drinks were amazing, the drinks called The Dude and bourbon mulled cider were noteworthy. We ordered the rioja “picnic” for an appetizer and it was delicious and definitely an appetizer for 2 people. For our main course we ordered the Grilled Lamb T-Bones and black truffle red wine braised beef short ribs, both meals were phenomenal. The chef at Rioja is world class. I highly recommend this restaurant for a special occasion or just if you are in the mood for a first class meal. The prices are very affordable for the quality of food and service you receive, also the portions are very large. We did not have room for dessert. I highly recommend Rioja for any occasion.
Written January 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andy K
Denver160 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
Took my girlfriend here for dinner to cap off a day off romance. Turned out to be a spectacular decision. From the appetizers, I had the small portion of artichoke tortelloni, to the mains, she had the lamb shank and I opted for the crispy duck confit, each dish was superbly prepared and presented. The chocolate, chocolate, chocolate desert was every bit as good as the rest of the meal. My girlfriend is gluten free and our server, Whtiney, brought out a lovely plate of sorbet for her desert. Service was spot on, Whitney was great, water glasses were refilled promptly, and the bread basket made regular rounds. We both loved it and will definitely keep this on our A-list for special occasions.
Written January 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
702casandrah
Thanks for celebrating your day of romance with us Andy! Whitney just joined our team and is terrific. I will make sure to pass along the kind words to the staff.
Written January 25, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
OlFeedback
Denver11 contributions
Jul 2020 • none
We went to Rioja when the resturant reopened for in resturant dining. The staff and service was great, food and wine excellent, and an excellent experience. All of our meals were prepared just the way we like them. We had several appetizers, and also ordered a main as a shared appetizer which worked out very well. We were not rushed and the staff was very attentive without be intrusive. We will be back often.
Written July 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
eve1950
New Jersey249 contributions
Aug 2021 • family
Lovely location and setting, we ate outdoors on a delightful evening. The service was excellent with a lot of nice touches along the way. Selections from a bread basket was nicely presented, with a small container of salted butter. We each had an appetizer, all of which tasted delicious (I had the tuna tartare, which was very refreshing). My only negative experience was the tagliatelle, which was extremely spicy and hot (wouldn’t have known from the description), and for me personally just too much so. I really wanted to like it, but could not (even one of my fellow dinners tasted the pasta and noted how hot it was). When the server asked how it was, I did mention my issues and to her credit, she removed it from the bill (well done). Coming from out of town, I was also hoping for something that had a bit more of the southwest influence and point of view in its cooking (which I thought the name indicated). I think this is a fine restaurant, with very good food and service and worth the try with imaginative starters. Desserts also looked good, but we were too full.
Written August 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ryan H
Tampa1619 contributions
Jun 2020 • none
A really good restaurant with exceptional service and awesome food.
I did some research on Denver restaurants and found this place.
You get an overload of bread pre-meal with homemade butter.
I tried the house salad. Very good. And the pasta as a side - tortellini.
The halibut was phenomenal. A great cut of fish with tasty sides.
Written June 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Scottee Meade
Littleton57 contributions
Jul 2021 • none
My husband and I had an early dinner here last night and it was wonderful! Every dish we tried was delicious, and we are extremely particular diners. We started with an appetizer of Rabbit Two Ways with a carrot puree. Next I had the "Fresh Bacon" appetizer of crispy pork belly with curried garbanzo bean puree. My husband had the tortellini with artichokes. My entree was Colorado Lamb "T-Bone": two perfectly grilled (medium-rare) glazed lamb loin chops accompanied by spring peas, fava beans, and sunchokes. Husband had taglietelli with Manilla clams. He said it was delicious, but was spicier than he expected. His dessert was a strawberry fromage blanc Napoleon. I had sorbets.
Service was attentive and warm, and I especially appreciated the care our server, Josh, took with ensuring that everything I ate was gluten-free (I'm cursed with celiac disease). That block of Larimer Street is currently restricted to pedestrian traffic, and a valet parking stand on 15th serves all of the businesses on the block, making things very simple.
I can't believe it took us several years to finally visit Rioja, and we are looking forward to returning very soon!
Written July 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lovetotravel147321
Mayaguez217 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
We arrive without a reservation and they have the option of sitting at a bar next to the chef station. Service there was outstanding. I had the cauliflower soup (A+), the clam pasta with pesto (A+++) and finish with the 16 oz Ribe Eye (A++). Delicious Food and OUTSTANDING service.
Good Job
Written February 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
702casandrah
Thank you for the kind words! I have passed this along to the rest of our staff. We hope to see you again soon!
Written February 7, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Martine C
Ouray55 contributions
May 2023 • couples
We were there a few nights ago for my husband’s birthday. I had arranged with the manager to bring in a homemade birthday cake. He said that was perfectly fine. They don’t charge for cutting a cake just let them know and they’ll put it in the refrigerator -when the bill came they charged us $20 for bringing in our own cake much to my amazement. I called Restaurant twice never heard back, my husband ordered the special of the evening which was an arctic char. It smelled like dirty fishy sneakers sent it back and we had to wait about half an hour for a chicken dish and that was yummy. When the bill came they charged us for the cake $20 they charged us for being in Larimer Square they charged us a fee called DMW I don’t even know what that is additional fees for dining in this restaurant without them telling you is $40 so just know that ahead of time . House salad nine dollars a bowl of oily arugula, a drop of Gorgonzola cheese, and maybe an eighth of a piece of date really nothing -completely lackluster All in all chicken was good is it worth 35 or $40 for a piece of chicken? You be the judge but will we go back sadly no -we’ve been there many times before but we will not go back again the management could care less the food is OK they have really really gone downhill !!!
Written May 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paige R
Nashville394 contributions
Nov 2021 • none
I had several people recommend Rioja, but I never made a reservation; my schedule was so full, I didn't know when I'd have time to eat. I found a small window and called, knowing I'd be lucky to get a reservation. Lucky for me that I was just a party of one; they got me right in!
Zach was a wonderful and attentive server. I had the Rioja House Salad, Seared Venison and Warm Fig Beignets. Every. Single. Bite. was delicious!
One disappointment, though... when I made the reservation, I was told it would be at the "chef's table" and would be very interactive. I was seated at a bar facing the brick oven and wasn't interactive at all except to watch the bread guy get the bread and butter trays ready to pass around. It was a little weird.
So the ambience was very lackluster, but the food and service were great!
Written November 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tori V
5 contributions
May 2021 • family
All three of us were very impressed by Rioja’s cuisine. My daughter had the Wagyu beef, my husband the pork chop, and I had the evening’s Surf and Turf special. The special was scallops and duck sausage dumplings with mushrooms and spinach. Our meals were all exceptional, and I rate my dish as one of the best I ever had. We shared the artichoke tortellini, which had a delectable filling. I highly recommend this restaurant— sooooooo good!!
Written May 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
F00lishTraveler
Savannah275 contributions
Aug 2021 • none
Several reviews here rave about dinner at this place, but lunch is really nice too. We had focaccia avocado toast (with some substitutions due to dietary sensitivities) and spicy green bowl (basically arugula and other greens mixed with seeds and goat cheese and served with avocado slices and 2 boiled eggs, halved) with grilled chicken added. Food was splendid - we inhaled every bite. Jess did a nice job serving us at the outdoor tables. A sprinkle started and one of the wait staff immediately opened the umbrella for the table for us. If you don't want to spend the time or $$ to go here for dinner, go here for lunch. Barely $25 for what I just described (we partook of no drinks).
Written August 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Armina H
Sarasota1230 contributions
Oct 2021 • couples
White linen service in a warm inviting setting. Smiling staff the Green Breakfast Bowl is fill with fresh greens crunchy seeds avocado and was simply perfection. I would give more stars if I could. Wonderful brunch💜
Written October 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Oldsalt4
Duxbury58 contributions
Jan 2020 • couples
Exceptional prepared, presented and served meals.Each of our visits here surprises our taste buds. Starts with a choice of great wines,wonderful starters difficult to decide entrees and always tempting desserts.
The wait staff are very knowledgable of all their offerings including the wines.
This is our favorite Denver Resturant.
Written January 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
702casandrah
Thanks for the great review. We are so glad you enjoyed your time with us. We hope to see you again soon!
Written January 25, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kjsmarley
El Paso48 contributions
Oct 2020 • couples
We went to Rioja for my birthday. When we arrived at the restaurant, the hostess stated I had not reserved a table on the patio. I’d made the reservation a week or so prior, and most definitely had requested outdoor when reserving. We were seated in the back of the restaurant towards the kitchen. At the time, there was no one else there, so we actually felt more comfortable there. It’s important to note that the tables seemed quite close outside, and people are walking very close to you as they’re walking down Larimer Square. Many were not masked. Staff were wearing masks. Food was delicious, especially the bacon and gnocchi. Portions are small. Wine was way overpriced, but good. We paid $15/glass for a wine we later found out is $15 a bottle at Total Wine. Service was good. Overall, though, it was a fun night!
Written October 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James M
Lakeland1069 contributions
Oct 2021 • couples
Fantastic atmosphere and the service was excellent!!
My wife and I walked 1.5 miles to come to another restaurant when we stumbled upon Rioja.
Our server recommended the artichoke pasta (fabulous) and the saffron shrimp gnocchi (pretty good), and the celery truffle soup (my wife liked it). We finished with the fig beignet (delicious).
The rioja fashioned was great as well. It definitely worth the stop, and so glad we found it; stop in you won’t be disappointed 😋
Written October 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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