Such a great experience at El Five! The atmosphere is intimate, and sitting at the chef's bar with beautiful views of downtown Denver made it even better. The smoked burrata was delicious, especially with all the toppings it came with. The sea bass completely surprised me, in the best way. Sweet, spicy, savory, crunchy, with so many different textures and flavors happening at once. The lamb skewers were another favorite. The meat was thinly sliced and secured on the skewer, which made every bite incredibly tender. They were just bomb overall! The drinks were also very well put together and complemented the food perfectly. The server was outstanding. Definitely a place I'm eager to come back to and try more dishes from the menu! read more

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From arrival to departure was exceptional. The amuse bouche really set the tone at the chef's table. It truly blew me away. And from that point on, from first taste, I knew my experience would be exceptional. The service was attentive without being overly attentive, and the chef's were so kind, answering every one of my weird questions about what they were preparing or ingredients that I noticed. I ordered the smoked burrata to start. The balance between the candied pistachio, artichoke pesto, and wagyu cecina really created a well balanced and unexpected dish. The burrata was creamy and the salty and sweet components balanced the aged sherry gastrique and made for an incredible intro to a beautiful performance by the chefs. Next was another small dish, which I wish I remembered the description for (I need to bring a little notebook with me), but it was a perfect segue into the next course, the ibérico presa. Wow. Just wow. White asparagus has got to be one of my favorite vegetables next to artichokes, when done exceptionally well, as they most definitely were. The piquillo peppers and pickled shallots complemented the pork, which was so soft, perfectly. I definitely died and went to heaven at this point in the meal. This is probably when I should've stopped eating because after this point, still pure delight, but my poor stomach was soooooo full. Next was another small bite to lead into my next course, also incredible. Wish I could describe it. My next course was the European sea bass. Now, sea bass is my favorite fish of all time. The perfectly crisp skin, the red onion jam, the spicy sweet balance was perfection. I loved every bite. The olive oil potatoes were a perfect complement. And at this point, I was bursting at the seems... but I still ordered dessert, because you only live once and food is one of the great joys of life. For dessert, I had the crema. The honeycomb on top, the cherries, all leading to a perfect finish. A time was had. Thanks El Five read more

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Sat at the counter (be sure to make reservations). While waiting for our delicious seafood paella, we we served 3 different complimentary hors'derves, all also delicious and unique. Cool atmosphere, view was amazing overlooking the city. Be careful parking, Received a $92 ticket from parking lot we thought we paid in full for... Have fun !!! read more

It's a pretty restaurant!! That's about all I have to write! The food was nothing to write home about and felt very pretentious for not so good flavors. The eggplant fries were probably the most intriguing but they seemed a little well done on this night! Service was great and again it's a great atmosphere! I go to restaurants to eat however so I wouldn't come back read more

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We went for our anniversary last week, and the view alone is the reason you go to El Five. We got there right when they opened and sat on the patio. They only had happy hour (full kitchen starts at 5) but they happy hour bites were perfect! We started with the Lebanese dip and it was delicious! I wish we had more bread with it. Next we had the chicken croquettas which were *chef kiss* delicious!! We also had the bison meatballs and the caviar bites. The waitress brought by some complimentary egg plant fries, and they were probably our least favorite. Everything was scrumptious and service was great. Loved that the patio was in the shade at this time of day as well. We can't wait to go back and try the paella read more

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Small plates with a view in downtown Denver. 4.25 stars Food: 4. Service: 5 Atmosphere: 4.5 Cost to worth it rating: 3 Opentableable: yes Return worthiness: yes Highlights - Madison: so on top of it. Spotted a lack of mint in my niece's grapefruit g&t and a piece missing in our croquettes right away. And into zodiac when checking out IDs which was fun. - Eggplant fries: sounds basic but star of the night. Perfectly fried crispy and glazed. 5 stars - Chicken jamon croquettes: crispy exterior and rich interior. Solid version. 4.5 stars - Carne paella: mix of meats including lamb sausage, salami, and chorizo with some crisp to the rice and shishito peppers on top served in the traditional skillet. Got without aioli as looked like a lot in other pics. 4 stars - Patatas bravas: huge wedges of potato across a large platter. Baked potato like on top of 2 sauces. 3.5 stars - Nice skyline view - Wines: nice unique options - Cocktails: few fun ones and g&ts with the tonic on the side for you to control the amount you'd like Midlights: - Shrimp: 5 head on with 4 sizable shrimp with decent flavor but overcooked. 3 stars - Turkish pizza: just ok compared to the rest. Halloumi could've been a bit meltier or warmer. 3 stars Lowlights: - No Diet Coke: only Mexican Coke in the bottle and we had a diabetic. read more

El Five - Eggplant fries: sounds basic but star of the night. Perfectly fried crispy and glazed. 5 stars - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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El Five is a restaurant that has stood out in my memory for years. Since my first time going, I have been looking for any opportunity to return. On a previous visit, I had met a staff member named Gage. Gage interacted with my party in a genuine and knowledgeable fashion. He had provided us excellent recommendations and had stood out as an additional reason that we returned most recently. We sat at the bar this time and had the absolute pleasure of meeting Jimmy, Mondo, and Kai. Their engagement and observation of my parties needs was one of the most remarkable service experiences I have had. Additionally, regarding food, I do have celiac disease that causes me to have a strict gluten free diet. Gage, Jimmy, and Mondo made sure that the recommendations for both the food and drinks were gluten free and safe for me to eat. This is a rare find for someone with celiac disease. I was extremely thankful for their recommendations and their service that created a safe and enjoyable dining experience. We will absolutely be back to El Five! El Five, you have hired an incredible staff! read more

El Five - Skyline at El Five - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Denver, Colorado

I'm mad. Not at them... at myself. I lived in Denver for over five years and just now made it to El Five, and now I understand why it's such a staple. The menu was recently refreshed and it shows. The mushroom paella was loaded and perfectly cooked, the burrata was a solid start, and the Turkish pizza with halloumi was a surprise standout. The poached cod was also great, especially the sauce. The drinks were just as strong. The L5 margarita with salt foam was really good, and even the frosé, which I usually skip, worked perfectly here. The vibe is a big part of it. The downtown views are hard to beat and the patio is easily one of the better ones in the city. Inside also feels intentional and well designed. Service was excellent. Avery was our server and it was her first day, which you wouldn't have guessed. Carl and Mark also made the experience feel smooth and welcoming. For dessert, the Lisbon chocolate cake and Turkish kunefe were both great. The Basque cheesecake and lobster salad also stood out and had those memorable bites that stick with you. Overall, a really strong experience and definitely a place worth making a reservation for. read more

El Five - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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A great, but not mind-blowing, experience. The views and sultry environs certainly make for a lovely experience, but the food itself just missed their mark. Parking can be a little tricky during peak times, but if you're too impatient to circle the block for street parking, you can also valet. I came with a reservation for three and we got a table next to the floor-to-ceiling windows. Being winter, the balcony wasn't open for seating but we still got to sneak a view of the skyline at night. The whole dining area is decked out in low-lit colors and murals so as to not detract from the view and give a little sense of privacy even when it's packed to the brim (which it usually is). Service is super professional and friendly as with other Edible Beats businesses. Plan on coming with a few people to spread out your choices, and hope that they're not too picky. El Five incorporates flavors from around the Mediterranean but tries to recombine them in new funky ways. We split the Harissa Eggplant Fries, Scallops, Duck Breast, and Mushroom Paella followed by a Basque Cheesecake to round things out. But probably could have done without dessert - the prevailing theme was that everything was cloyingly SWEET after the first few bites. Biting into the eggplant fries and duck breast at first seemed pleasant, but then quickly became overly saccharine. Scallops were also overcooked and the sauce unnecessarily honeyed. I almost wished my cocktail were savory to balance things out. We relied heavily on our paella to save our palettes but even though priced at $40, was really only enough for a small portion between 3. Overall, a nice experience, but not somewhere I would return to regularly for a meal. read more

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Nice atmosphere with a view but the main dining room the tables a stacked on top of each other. Our waitress was very good . A nice wine list. We share the Moroccan Lamb sausage which was really good and the Kaiua Shrimp and the Carne Paella. Everything was very good. A nice place for some small plates/tapas. read more

I came here with my husband and two of our friends and we all shared everything. This is the way to do it so you can try more. We ordered: - Spreads of the Med - Carbon Culture Mushroom Paella - Matzo Ball Soup Dumplings - Harissa Eggplant Fries - Goat Cheese Croquettas - Bison Meatballs - Mushroom Bourekas - Turkish Kunefe - Crema Catalana - Basque Cheesecake Every single thing was amazing. If I had to pick favorites, it would probably be the eggplant fries, paella, and goat cheese croquettes. I don't usually like eggplant but the crispiness of the fries really improved the texture and the sauce was so good. All three desserts were fantastic. I'm not sure that I can pick a favorite. Linger was previously my favorite restaurant in Denver and now it might be El Five. This restaurant group has some amazing restaurants and I can't wait to try the others. Go with a group and order as much as you can. You won't regret it! read more

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El Five was such a fun dinner experience. We started with the Lebanese garlic dip, harissa eggplant fries, and goat cheese croquettas. The croquettas were creamy inside, and the eggplant fries had a great mix of sweet, spicy, and crispy flavors. The seafood paella was the highlight. It was packed with shrimp, mussels, clams, and rich saffron flavor. We finished with the Basque cheesecake, which was smooth and not too sweet. The rooftop atmosphere was lively, and the Denver skyline looked beautiful at sunset. Our server explained the tapas menu well and helped us choose the right amount of food to share. read more

El Five--much like my experiences with other Edible Beats restaurants--is exquisite. I tried as much of the menu as I could and found that every item was scrumptious. My friends and my wife and I all shared: - Spreads of the Med - Carbon Culture Mushroom Paella - Matzo Ball Soup Dumplings - Harissa Eggplant Fries - Goat Cheese Croquettas - Bison Meatballs - Mushroom Bourekas - Turkish Kunefe - Crema Catalana - Basque Cheesecake Everything we shared exceeded my expectations. My favorite item of the night was the goat cheese croquettas. The harissa eggplant was a close second which is surprising because I'm typically not a fan of eggplant. As for dessert, my favorite was the crema catalana. read more

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Walking in on a beautiful night with a full moon just accentuated the ambiance. The location is a little odd when you arrive because it's not very obvious from the street, then you take the elevator up! This place was great for a night with some girlfriends. Come hungry, and be prepared to share. Order the Palella first because it takes a while to prepare. There were 4 of us and we shared a 1/2. It was perfect amount with all the other items we shared. We started with the Spreads of the Med (the pistachio hummus was delish!), and the Patatas Brava. Then we ordered the matzah ball soup dumplings - seriously, soup dumplings are just next level, and the Confit Chicken Croquettas. We finished by sharing the Crema Catalana. It was the perfect ending to a great meal. Our server was attentive and great with recommendations. Overall it was a great dinner. I will definitely be going back again. read more

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El Five was a perfect date night from ambiance, food and service!! I will recommend this restaurant to everyone I know! First, the views are wonderful! Throughout the restaurant you can see views of downtown. We checked in early for our reservation and were offered a spot at the bar until our table was ready. The server came to the bar and got us when the table was ready. Our service was top notch and the food was amazing!!! We had a few different tapas. Now the prices are rather high but it's worth it for a date night. Make sure you make a reservation!! read more

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What a great birthday dinner experience! Service was excellent and personable/social. Each bite was a flavor to savor. I especially loved the seafood paella (small) and the basque cheesecake! Delicious food in an inspiring environment! Will visit again one day. read more

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Amazing flavor ! Best small plates tapas in town. Emphasis small plates ;) portions are small so make sure to order some pita or carbs to fill up ! Best view and creative delicious drink menu. Romantic ambience and great for date night or a girls night out. read more

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Went here for a work dinner. Great views and casual ambiance. The food was great. We ordered a number of tapas and two paellas. Mezze platter is a must get. The croquettes are excellent. Sea bass, tuna and meatballs were good along with the paellas. Service was great. read more

First time here. Service was great. Rooftop views incredible. Food was delicious! We shared so many dishes. The flavor was incredible!

Full disclosure: I went in with the recommendation that this place is a great spot for a drink and a view, but the food is overrated. I'd say needs and expectations were met and slightly exceeded. Our server was fantastic, very personable and engaging. The drinks were great. I tried their house marg with the salt foam and loved that, a unique experience compared to a salted rim. We sat outside and had a great view of downtown. I assume seating on the other side would give you a view of the mountains but we didn't explore. For the food, we just ordered 2 starters: eggplant fries and patatas bravas. The potatoes were dry and starchy and not crispy like I would hope and expect for the dish, would not order again. The eggplant fries on the other hand were amazing - crispy with a sweet glaze and perfectly tender on the inside. I would come back just for these fries. The seafood dishes looked and smelled amazing as we saw other tables get them and I'd come back to order other dishes just because the views, drinks, and service were so great. read more

El Five - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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I've been looking for a spot like this in Denver; rooftop restaurant, amazing food, view of the chefs, great drinks, vibes, and interior design. Food was delicious and service was great, too. I'm 100% coming back for date night. Spanish dishes; tapas great for sharing and trying a variety of dishes. read more

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Wow! Everything was fantastic. First off the food was absolutely delicious. We loved every bite of everything. Came for a date night with some friends and we had a fabulous time. The tapas are delicious, you definitely need a couple. Then we shared a small paella and it was plenty. Everything was tastey. The garlic dip was by far the most delicious thing we ordered. The paella options were all different and interesting. The goat cheese croquettes were phenomenal. I also loved the crema catalana. It was absolutely delicious. We will definitely be back. read more

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Atop the night sky perches a bustling establishment equipped with view and a cuisine that towers over other Denver eateries. This location, vibe and menu all make a statement. "We're here to have a good time." Cameron, our server was polite, engaged, and knowledgeable, but the busyness of the night took him away after he got our order. No worries thought! The rest of the serving staff were on top of brining our dishes and checking in on us. We enjoyed the Lebanese garlic dip with house made pita (I had gluten free) and it was good! Smooth but I also felt like it was a bit too watery for my liking. The European sea bass had a crispy finish, potato cake, and some truly delicious finishes. The scallops melted in my mouth and were perfectly paired with a purée and fresh cauliflower. The portions aren't exactly shareable but delicious nonetheless. I would definitely return, with a reservation and a jacket. There was an hour wait for a table and 45 minutes for the bar. Rightfully so, this place is popular for a reason. If you like to dine comfortably, bring a layer, they kept the windows open and it cooled down a lot. Also, I need to try that paella! read more

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The view of the Denver skyline and the "Spreads of the Med" were the only two highlights we experienced at El Five. So, it started off super strong and we were very excited. However, then the two entrees were disappointing. We ordered the European Sea Bass & it just wasn't cooked to our liking. We also got the Seafood Paella and it left us a little uninspired. Your experience may be completely different, but we left without any desire to go back. But, if we every get back to Denver and we are with another couple who wants to go, I think we'd stick to the "Spreads of the Med" & maybe try the Lebanese Garlic Dip. read more

I'm at the bar right now. The views are great and breeze is even better. I'm only one drink in. The bartender Jimmy is SO incredible. He's making me feel so at home and comfortable on my first date (I'm gay). I would recommend coming here and even sitting at the bar and requesting jimmy if he's here. 10/10 atmosphere. read more

El Five - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Denver, Colorado

We were lucky to get same day reservations on a Thursday night. The place was packed and we came here for our honeymoon dinner which also ended up being our first meal after landing in Denver. The area has a fun, lively vibe with plenty of parking in the surrounding streets. I walked over from my hotel in downtown Denver and it was such a nice stroll, passing parks and restaurants along the way. Highly recommend if you're staying within walking distance. It took a minute to find the main entrance since it's tucked inside the parking garage near the valet sign. Once you check in at the front desk they'll direct you to the elevator up to the restaurant. The atmosphere is instantly romantic with dim lighting, great music and a full dining room. Service was just as good. Our server Sierra was fantastic! She walked us through her favorites and gave thoughtful recommendations. She even shared some local food spots and things to do around Denver. Here's what we ordered: Zombie ($19) 9/10 - A beast of a drink with 4 oz of liquor. No wonder they limit one per table. Strong but tasty and artfully presented. St. George Gin & Tonic ($17) 9/10 - Great presentation. Nice to be able to pour the gin in yourself. Bison Meatballs ($20) 10/10 - My first time trying bison and it was incredible. No gaminess at all but an obvious different texture from other meats. The sauce brought it all together. A must try. Small Seafood Paella ($49) 10/10 - I've had paella at dozens of restaurants and this one stands out. The sauce tied everything together perfectly, the rockfish was excellent and the rice at the bottom had that perfect crust. To finish the night, Sierra was kind enough to take us out to the patio for some photos. This made the evening even more special. I'll be back the next time I'm in Denver. This is absolutely a spot I'll recommend to foodie friends visiting the city. Sierra's service was the cherry on top. read more

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We arrived approximately 9 minutes late to our reservation because we took too long at the previous happy hour. They said no worries, and sat us in the bar until our spot at the chefs counter was ready. The grapefruit was a tad too citrusy but juniper drink was bomb. For dinner we ordered the queso y charcuterie and the kauai shrimp. Before we ordered, as part of the chefs counter experience, they brought us a delightful little bite of which we cannot recall any details other than it was yummy. Presentation was excellent but we didn't eat a lot because we took too much adderall before dinner. P ate mostly the white beans from the shrimp dish. Collectively J ate about 4 shrimp. Great crowd. P met some girly bops in the joint male female sink area and got some nice lip gloss that made her lips nice and plump. Service was fantastic and skyline views from chefs counter pristine. 10/10 read more

El Five - Juniper Jones and Ford's gin & tonics - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Denver, Colorado

The owner is Israeli which we found out after eating unfortunately, the place looks nice and the food wasn't rly good

Would definitely recommend!! Has a good view, cute vibe, and the food was different than anywhere we have been in Denver so far. read more

El Five - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Denver, Colorado

We were celebrating a friends birthday while in Denver, and his wife picked El Five for the celebration and made the reservation. It would be impossible to get a table for a big group without a reservation. We had a back section to ourselves which was fun. We started with Spread of the Med, Moroccon Lamb Sausage, and Smoked Burrata. All our Mezze items were amazing, we enjoyed them all. I also got a Pineapple Cucumber Collins and enjoyed it a lot. All our friends enjoyed the drinks they got. We then got Colifor and Seafood Paella. Wow, they were both good. The kids too ate the veggies without any complaints. We finished the meal with the Seasonal Chocolate cake, and enjoyed it. read more

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I made a reservation for a Friday night at 8:30pm, which I definitely recommend in case it gets packed. Parking on the street was a little tricky, so plan to get there early and save yourself the stress! Once we got inside, the view is absolutely stunning, probably one of the best in the city. We ordered the confit chicken croquette, seafood paella, eggplant fries, and the European seabass. Everything was delicious, but my personal favorite was the sea bass which was packed with flavor, hint of spice, sweetness and tartness, and it was cooked perfectly. The eggplant fries were also a fun surprise, light and crispy. The seafood paella was a bit salty and the clams meat were really tiny, but the muscles were very good!! The croquette was good, I loved the sauce because it went well with the croquette. Overall, amazing food + unbeatable views. Definitely worth it for a special night out in Denver. read more

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We couldn't to get into El 5 on a Saturday night, so we got here early to get a seat at the bar. We walked for a half an hour a mile and a half crossing three bridges from downtown Denver to get here. We gave our name downstairs and took the L up to the fifth floor restaurant. IIt's like we're on top of the world with a fabulous views of downtown Denver & the mountains. Everybody at the bar was so interesting and friendly. The restaurant was very open, breezy, artsy & trendy. The fabulous murals are all scenes from movies . Prices were reasonable for the quality of food presented. The menu looks yummy. I was told to get the Matzaball soup dumplings & my husband order the ham cheese croquettes. When the soup dumplings came to the table, I was told not to bite into them to put the whole dumpling into my mouth as the soup is inside. The bison meatballs came on a kale purée with a Parmesan cheese crust, just incredible! Our food was exceptional, very different interesting flavors. The menu was interesting with bison meatballs, goat cheese Serrano, ham croquettes, smoked tuna, bison hanger steak, paella ... read more

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There's a lot to love about El Five and we had a great time taking some out of town friends here for a fun night out. We had a late reservation for 9:30pm on a Friday and it was still buzzing when we got there. It's got a modern artsy vibe with dim lighting and good energy. There's both indoor and outdoor seating with a big open window in between giving a rooftop view to the whole restaurant. Our group sat by the window near the bar. Drew was our server and he did a great job. I love the variety of tapas on their menu and we really wanted to try some paella which Drew let us know would take around 40-45 mins to prepare. That was perfect to give us some time to have a few cocktails and tapas. The red sangria was so good! Bright and refreshing and not too acidic. I ordered a few and it was the perfect drink to go with the delicious food ahead. For the table we ordered the smoked burrata with ciabatta on the side, the Confit Chicken Croquettas (with an extra because the order comes with 3 and we had 4 people in our group), the lamb shawarma ribs, a half size Seafood Paella, and a half size Carne Paella. Everything tasted great and the croquettas and ribs were a table favorite. The paellas were good too, but we didn't feel they had enough rice and on the carne paella a lot of the rice stuck to the pan which was a little tough to scrape off. We preferred the flavor of the seafood paella and the fish was cooked perfectly. The ribs were incredible and would absolutely order those again and again. That kefir dipping sauce balanced the sweetness of the glaze so well. Please keep these on the menu! El Five is definitely a fun place to have a night out, date, celebration, etc. The parking in the area is a little tricky but they do have a valet service which is right near the entrance of the restaurant. Knocked off a star for price vs. portion and the inconsistency of the paella. Will absolutely be back. read more

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El Five was such a treat! We did have the pleasure of winning a gift card that paid for part of this giant meal we got! We celebrated our anniversary 18 years wahoo! And this was the best way to celebrate! The Chef's Table Experience was next-level...huge thanks to chefs Baley, Kyle, and Willy for making it so special! Shoutout to our awesome server Corey, and to Logan at the front who welcomed everyone with a smile. Cecina & Queso Valdeon ,Bison Hanger Steak, Seafood Paella, Lisbon Cake, and some surprise bites from the chefs (like that goat cheese croqueta and breaded olives)... Cocktails were also on point ... Margarita and "the tall drink of water" every single thing was a win. El Five is part of the ediblebeats Denver family, a 100% employee-owned restaurant group committed to sustainability and community. Everyone was not just kind to us and all the people eating here, but we could really feel a kind and joyful vibe that everyone working here seemed to get along well with each other. People sometimes really underestimate how that can set a tone for an entire business, especially a restaurant. read more

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We went here for NYE and enjoyed the specially prepared prefixe menu. The iberico pork was our favorite. Though it was very busy, the service was great. We will come here again which I'm sure will be even a better experience since it won't be as busy as it was that evening. The view is superb. read more

The seafood paella was superb! And shoutout to our server Cameron! He really took care of us and was very attentive. He even made us these special drinks and they were phenomenal! He was great! Thank you man! read more

El Five - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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The service & ambiance are fantastic. Very friendly staff, and the view is lovely. The food was so-so. The dishes sound great on the menu and look good on the plate, but the flavors left a lot to be desired. For those prices we expected to enjoy it more, and it just didn't do it for us. read more

We came here on our anniversary the evening before Thanksgiving. This restaurant immediately made me feel sexy and very intimate. The lighting is low and the city skyline lights the background through the large windows. There are groups that ate here, but I think this is best for a date night or something that is a very intimate experience. I did not take photos of the tapas that I ordered because I truly was enjoying my experience which included amazing food and service. I recommend five plates to share between two and enjoy one at a time. We also had two specialists cocktauks each which were delicious. I definitely wanna come back here to celebrate special occasions and I would even come back here just to sit at the bar. I also I want to come back here during the summer to sit on the outdoor patio to enjoy the Denver skyline view. read more

El Five - The cinnamon stick was literally on fire! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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I love El Five! Food is amazing, the ambiance and decor is great, and sunset on the patio is incredible in the summer! Definitely get the Toum - it's incredible. read more

Everything about this place is phenomenal. From the food to the drinks to the service to the views to the ambiance. I was absolutely blown away. I'd recommend this place to anyone! read more

El Five - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Denver, Colorado