Grab a drink at these great outdoor spaces across the state

By David Young

Spring in Colorado is unpredictable. Snow, wind, rain, sun and everything in between are on tap for the season. However, one thing you can count on is the start of patio season at breweries and restaurants across the state.

The new Halo Rooftop Bar is 19 stories up on the roof of the Kimpton Claret Hotel in Denver.

After spending a long cold winter inside, it always feels great to ride a bike to a local brewery or bar and enjoy a craft beer on a patio bathed in the glow of the high-altitude Colorado sunshine.

One of the newer patios to explore this spring is the Halo Rooftop Bar at Belleview Station – 19 stories up on top of the Kimpton Claret Hotel in Denver. Day or night, the bar offers great drinks, food and entertainment with a birds-eye view.

Iona Lee, director of food and beverage for Kimpton Claret Hotel, said that Halo offers an elevated rooftop experience with a stunning 180-degree view of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.

“It’s the highest open-air bar in Denver,” Lee said. “It’s really become a social hub for the area due in large part to the setting but also the curated cocktail menu and the live music and DJs. It offers the perfect mix of urban charm and relaxed sophistication.”

We’ve explored some of the best patios in Colorado for this time of year. From the Front Range to the high country, here are great patios for enjoying a beverage this spring. And, knowing we can’t capture everything here, let us know what your favorite patio is.

Front Range

A bird’s-eye view of the huge Number Thirty Eight patio.

Number Thirty Eight in Denver

Dubbed the “best patio in Denver,” Number Thirty Eight has 20,000 square feet of patio space to sip on one of the 121 taps showcasing Colorado’s best brews. The dog-friendly patio also has volleyball, bag-toss games and tons of TVs with Colorado sports.

Lowry Beer Garden in Denver

The Garden is home to a 9,000-square-foot outdoor space with open-air seating and a covered pavilion. Lowry can accommodate 500 people with its long Oktoberfest-style picnic tables. And the beer garden has an array of Colorado brews and local fare.

Denver Beer Company in Denver

With five locations across the Denver metro area, Denver Beer Company has plenty of patio space this spring for everyone to enjoy a craft brew in the sun. The DBC not only serves beers in the Colorado sunshine, but is also powered by it. The brewery is 100 percent solar-powered.

Acreage Ciderhouse (aka Stem Ciders) in Lafayette

If you are more a fan of cider fan than beer or spirits, check out Acreage Ciderhouse. Located in Lafayette, they have a deck and cider garden for patrons as well as a full lawn area for larger events. The dog-friendly patio has spacious views of the Front Range.

Odell Brewing in Fort Collins

Tucked away from the core of Old Town, Odell’s large spacious patio invites guests to breathe fresh air and enjoy an Odell beer or two. The beer garden is so spacious it often hosts festivals, concerts and other events throughout the year.

Lumen 8 Rooftop Social in Colorado Springs

Further south in the heart of Colorado Springs, Lumen rises above the rest with its rooftop patio with amazing views of Pikes Peak. Serving everything from local beers and cocktails to a rooftop brunch, this patio is a great place to take in springtime in the Springs.

Halo Bar in Denver

One of Denver’s newest patios is also the highest. Sitting atop the Kimpton Claret Hotel in the Belleview Station area, the open-air bar is 19 stories high. The views of the mountains from Longs Peak to Pikes Peak and surrounding Tech Center are unparalleled. The bar offers craft cocktails and small plates created by Chef Christian Graves.

Beyond the Front Range

The Barrel in Estes Park

In the heart of scenic Estes Park at the doorstep of Rocky Mountain National Park, The Barrel offers up a spacious Bavarian-style outdoor beer garden and patio space. Open May through October, the dog friendly outdoor bar has 64 rotating taps and has Prospect Mountain as a backdrop.

Viceroy in Snowmass Village

Few places in the world compare to Aspen, and the Viceroy is right in the heart of it with a patio that juts up against the ski slopes. Between Toro and the Nest Bar and Grill, you can imbibe craft cocktails, such as their signature smoked old-fashioned, right under the chairlifts.

The Centennial Cellars patio has great views of Palisade and the Grand Valley.

Centennial Cellars in Palisade

The views on the Western Slope are unlike anything else in Colorado, and Centennial Cellars offers Colorado wine in the sunshine on its patio. Set in Grand County, the Talbott Farms winery and vineyard has a farm market in addition to the winery for visitors to explore.

Outer Range Brewing Co. in Frisco

Located in Frisco in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Outer Range Brewing Co. has a patio with a view unlike most breweries. In addition to fresh Colorado brews on tap, the brewery is also home to Bird Craft and Mountain Dweller Coffee Roasters, offering food and caffeine in one scenic spot.