Great views, great service and very good food. I spent a weekend eating and playing in Denver and we tried lots of restaurants. This was the best - hands down. We shared "little" plates and they were not that little. Good drinks to too. I heard you needed reservations but we walked right in (we got lucky) and a great table with a view of the city, we then moved inside to great little banket tables and watched the sunset. read more

I wasn't sure that typical mediterranean food would hold it's appeal across 7 or 8 smaller dishes but this place blew me away. Everything had a unique twist to it from the hummus platter to the goat cheese croquettas. I would be hard pressed to be able to choose a favorite. We probably tried at least 1/3 of the menu and each plate was better than the one before it. Go nuts, try it all you won't be disappointed. Views are spectacular. Parking can be a bitch but that area really sucks if you're driving, no two ways about it. Valet was easy enough though. Very cool room, service was incredible. They're all over it, probably my favorite yet from this group. read more

I went here for my birthday this past Monday expecting great views and a great experience but left disappointed. Low expections we're set right when I walked up to the hostess who barely acknowledged us because she was too busy talking to her coworker in the back. I told her about my reservation to which she responded " I don't think they have a table ready for you but I'll check". She phoned someone up stairs and asked if we'd be ok sitting outside, it was really windy that night so I said no. She then said it'd be awhile so I reluctantly agreed to the outside table. The sun was just setting so initially the view was great but after the sun went down there was no lighting at our table and we couldn't even see the food. On top of that our waiter almost refused to serve me any alcohol because my id was set to expire at the end of that day. The server also didn't give us any silverware until after the food had been on our table for at least 15 minutes. Also, the only acknowledgement of the occasion (which I put down on the reservation), my birthday, while we were there was when the waiter noticed my I.D was set to expire on my birthday which kind of sucks experience wise. It was so windy glasses started falling off of the table next to me so when the next waiter (who was not my original waiter) came by I promptly asked if my party could be moved inside, to which they obliged. I never saw my original waiter after that which was probably for the best. The second waiter was kinder which is why I'm giving two stars overall but by that time the damage was already done. I wish I had picked somewhere else to celebrate my birthday. read more

El Five - Ribs were cold by the time we got them, and they are not fall off the bone tender but seasoned nicely. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Denver, Colorado

See all

The view is great and that's it. The music is horrible. Not sure what ambiance they are trying to achieve with this music.

Went at 6:45 and was told it would be a short wait to get a table, but we could get a drink at one of their sister restaurants. Didn't get a text that a table had opened up until 9:30. Will not go again read more

I was in Denver this August and just came back from my second trip in a month. Both times had dinner here and was blown away. I am a tough critic and Mediterranean is my favorite food. This restaurant is top notch. Food, atmosphere, views, sangria, service, etc. Just love it! And we were lucky enough to see the harvest moon over the city. Stunning! #goodpour read more

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

See all

Outstanding!! It was absolutely perfect! As a restaurant professional, I rarely give a place 5stars because I'm SO particular. We sat at the chef's table and had so much fun watching the line create beautiful plates while being very engaging. We started with a whipped garlic spread that was so beautiful and really delicious. Next we had the Spread of Med which was not only beautifully pbut was an explosion of flavors in my mouth. My taste buds were singing. When we sat down to order we asked for suggestions and one was the goat cheese croquettes. My friend said she had tried goat cheese "at least 35 times and HATED it. I laughed to myself because I thought, if I hated something that much I'd probably have stopped at 2 or 3. So I ordered those.. Haha! She said she FINALLY had goat cheese she not only liked, but loved. From the chef's table you could see beautiful city views and as the sun set and twinkling lights came on, gorgeous!! Next time I'm coming with a date. What a romantic spot! Sharing food, a glass of outstanding wine and fabulous mountain or city views. A trifecta! read more

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

The atmosphere and interior is amazing... the food can't be more tasty, service is great .... way much better than linger their sister restaurant, 2nd time here and will be back again .... read more

This is our favorite place in Denver. Get an early reservation to secure the best seat in the house (corner spot for two!) and definitely get cocktails! The Old Turk is a favorite! The Turkish pizza is a can't miss item on the menu. A great date spot or place to show off Denver to visitors! read more

Very swanky spot! Just opened up in Denver. Since I was traveling, I wanted to check it out! It's a pretty interesting atmosphere; you walk into a hotel or apartment? and then go up to the 5th floor for the restaurant. You get to see beautiful views of Denver while eating an array of eclectic foods. Make sure you make a reservation first! It was pretty packed when we went and we had to switch tables in order to seat the 3 of us comfortably. We ordered the Chicken Kofta, Moroccan Lamb Sausage, 2 Femme Fatale's and a whiskey drink. All veryyyyy good! I really enjoyed the lamb sausage, it was exquisite! The flavor is definitely all there. Little on the pricey side, but definitely a great spot for a date night ;) read more

Huge caveat: This place just opened. It's finding its legs. But surprisingly for a Justin Cucci place, it still has legs to find. At least, that was true on its first official night open last night, when the tables were all full, the service a little disorganized (with a food runner filling in for our server initially on drink orders). The background music cut out a few minutes after we sat down, and nobody on staff seemed to notice until an hour later. Anticipating the normal just-opening instability, we asked if the kitchen was backed up at the outset, and thus if it would be smart to order all our food at once. Yes, we were urged. I'm glad we did so -- this kept a new plate on the table every five minutes or so, but at a tapas place, one of the joys I normally appreciate is being able to order a few plates at a time, which lets your palate wander. The food: solid all around. But only a few dishes really stood out. The Mediterranean standards appetizer had great eggplant, tasty pita (but they were stingy with it) and tangy hummus. The codlox and diablos were great. The best dish of the night was the valencian paella (with rabbit and sausage), fittingly served at the end. The rest of the 10 or so dishes we sampled? Some were a little meh, others tasty but forgettable (sadly, this included the lamb rib small plate, which contained ribs that one friend complained were way too fatty and others in our group of six thought were overcooked or otherwise underwhelming). I'm a dessert guy, and we tried our of the five on offer. But the halva was a complete misfire (also, I think they forgot the creamy dollop another reviewer's photo shows). The kunefe (goat cheese ice cream on bed of crunchy/stringy phyllo-like pastry) was pretty good, the flan with orange flair very tasty, and the best was a hazelnut chocolate pastry dish (I forget the name). Overall, though, the desserts were mostly forgettable. These things will improve, no doubt. I won't knock them on organization and service in the first week, but I still was surprised since Ophelia's seemed great in service and food quality out of the gate. No doubt the food also will improve (though, again, it was all solid -- you will eat and you will enjoy it all, but you may not be blown away at the level you'd expect from an Edible Beats restaurtant). I'll return to this place, and I may return here to give it five stars. But I don't think El Five has earned that yet (despite two earlier reviews that were based on the previews last week). Also, hopefully they're considering more prominent signage on the building or street downstairs (it's tough to find the right access into the building and the elevator lobby/reception). The ambiance: This alone, as one dinner companion said, would get El Five five stars. The views of the city skyline (like Linger had before lower Highland built upward) are expectedly great, especially at dusk. Unexpected was the great view to the west, where we were seated, of sunset over the mountains. The east-facing patio will be fantastic for a nibble/drink stop on summer evenings. read more

Smaller portion but burgers are great. The fries (regular, sweet, and duck fat) are all great.

We loved everything. And it was extremely reasonably priced. The view is amazing, definitely going again when the in-laws come back to town.

Great dining experience and our bartender, Sebastian, was amazing. He made drinks that surpassed our expectations. He is the Monet of the cocktail! read more

Reservations are a high recommendation. El Five creates an experience entailing well crafted cocktails, stunning skyline view, highest praise-worthy dishes. read more

Update: El Five has informed me that their language used on the wine menu is under review. The wine in question is NOT from an illegal settlement. Big relief! The grapes are grown and harvested by Palestinians and vinified by Italian monks in Israel. So I have given them one extra star for their response to this matter. read more

Honestly just for the view, authentic posters and terrace. Food and drinks are overpriced and below average for denver food scene

My girlfriend and I had a weird experience at El Five last Sunday evening. We made the reservation through Open Table for Sunday at 8:45PM a couple weeks prior. Things started to get interesting when they seated us in the NorthWest corner of the restaurant, next to nobody else. It was eerily quiet back there. We politely asked if they had any available seating on the Eastern side of the restaurant facing downtown Denver (it was my birthday dinner), they claimed they did not. You could tell the waitress was waiting for the night to end so she could go home, so we didn't fight it any more. After our first drink and early plates, the manager of El Five and the owner of El Five set up in the back corner a couple tables away from us to discuss business, and we could hear their conversations. They ended up pulling a chef over to their table after he was done with his shift (presumably), and confronted him about sneaking drinks for himself during shifts. We tried to not listen to the conversation, but again, they decided to seat us in the back corner of the restaurant next to nobody else, where they conducted their "business meeting" next to us on a Sunday night. Needless to say, it was awkward. I only come to El Five for the food and the view, it was unfortunate to have the experience that we did. read more

Amazing view of downtown Denver. Best paella in town, get the sausage version. Everything we ordered was delicious, small plates so expect to share. Sit outside and enjoy a great meal with super tasty food. I hear brunch is also excellent. read more

The views can't be beat. A fantastically organized and well run place with excellent food and cocktails. Had a blast and will be there again on my next trip to Denver!!! read more

Good food, dreadfully long waits for drinks. Paella was not caramelized nor crispy on the bottom. Mgr removed from bill so a positive therw. Good tapas. Would not return based on slow service read more

Super cool! The view of the city and nice patio makes this the best new place in town! It has an international vibe...a welcome change from the standard formula bar/restaurants. The Gin de Barcelona is awesome, a great change from the traditional westernized G&T. The elevator line can be a bit annoying, but it helps with crowd control. I will definitely be back...if I can get in! read more

Great! Worth the hype. But fair warning - there is a little bit of hoopla to get in.

We had an amazing evening at El Five! The views of downtown are awesome, the drinks were strong and delicious, and the food was so tasty. We had three appetizers and the paella and were totally stuffed. Pricey meal but worth every cent! read more

When I first heard about El Five, I knew it was going to be 1 of 2 things: boujee and overrated or actually swanky and hip. Considering most restaurants in Denver attempt the latter but end up with the first, I didn't have high expectations. El Five really hit the mark for what they were going for. Immediately you feel transported into the Echo park/ Silver lake part of LA with the chic decor, dim lighting, street art murals and slight industrial edge. Just the ambience alone is worth going even if only for a drink. The view makes Denver seem so charming in a way I honestly had not noticed before. My biggest criticism was the bathrooms! I couldn't believe that so much effort had been put into the ambience everywhere... besides the bathroom. the giant shared sink situation that's open to be seen by the rest of the restaurant. Weird. Uncomfortable. Would try to avoid. Now onto the food. It was good. Like really good. The sauces were such a nice touch on all the dishes and never overpowering. The potatoes were slightly over cooked, but so tasty regardless I almost didn't care. The lamb ribs were full of flavor the perfect balance of fat to meat ratio. The one dish that just didn't quite hit the mark was the paella with lobster and jamón. The flavors were all there and I did enjoy the dish, but for $45 I just expect more. There was probably 3oz of lobster meat and half a pound of rice. Again, it was super tasty, but I would never pay $45 for that dish again. As far as drinks go, I was honestly really put off by all the articles I read highlighting the "low water usage" cocktails. I am a bartender and I am someone who studied/works in the realm of sustainability as well. This was the most gimmicky thing I've ever heard as an attempt to gain brownie points with anyone who thinks the color green equates to good for the earth. As a conscious consumer I want to see the most sustainable sourcing of ingredients, support farmers who have low water usage, highlight ingredients on the menu that have low water usage, don't pull the "ice=water so let's do away with that". Needless to say I did not have a cocktail (I had wine) and even though I feel this way, I probably would still try one of these gimmicky waterless cocktails the next time I go. Overall I was pleasantly surprised with the entire experience. I will be back and I am excited to try different dishes and maybe even a cocktail. read more

See all

We went for dinner on a Saturday night and it's definitely "the scene"... couldn't tell if there were ANY locals but that's the general status of Denver these days. Food was great- we sat at the bar with an amazing view of the city. The bartenders are true experts- very knowledgeable and attentive! We ordered the Med Sampler and it was a large portion for $22- enough to almost fill up me and my fiancé- and we loved the charred carrot hummus, yum! We also ordered the small seafood paella to share. The seafood was cooked perfectly and the flavors were great. Also a good portion to share and this $35 dish filled us all the way up. I'd recommend this place indeed! I'll go back to be able to try the tapas and smaller plates- I heard the cauliflower is amazing, as well as charred octopus. If you can get through a trendy scene where the "beautiful" people go to be seen, I absolutely recommend this place for the food. read more

See all

My close friend and colleague were in town from LA for a conference and found this place on yelp. It certainly did NOT disappoint, the service was great (and fast, especially compared to LA standards), the food was dynamic and tasty, and the cocktails were great. The view was perfect on a summer evening. read more

I visited this past Tuesday evening with a old friend and must note, this is one of the best restaurants in Denver. We were greeted on the bottom floor by an amazing hostess then greeted again on the 5th floor. We were able to be seated right away, which I can only imagine would be much harder later in the week. We sat at the bar and had a great view of the city and were well taken care of. One of the best views in Denver. Great atmosphere. Great service. Great food. Great drinks. Price point is high, but worth the superior experience which was executed flawlessly in every manner. I'll definitely be back. read more

Cool, buzzy bar vibe from fun hipsters to cooled boomers. Great deck with downtown view. Nicely accomplishes well crafted drinks and tapas.

I met a friend for dinner at El Five, since we arrived right at 5pm we were able to choose a prime table on the SE window with a splendid view of the sunset! Our server Carlos was superb. Carlos told us that the mezze section is large portions, feeding 3-5 people, so for the 2 of us would be too much. He suggested getting multiple selections from the Tapas section of the menu. We loved the goat cheese croquettes, the crispy cauliflower yufka, and ash roasted Carrots (salad). The yufka is so yummy! The diablos and chicken kofkas were fine but not great. The location is beautiful, the staff was welcoming and great, and we will come again and bring friends. Justin Cucci has a fantastic concept and Chef Jeremy Kittleson has an innovative menu! You can taste his food in March at Great Chefs of the West Gala, along with 20 of Denver's finest restaurants on March 15, 2018. Tickets http://kidney.org/greatchefswest read more

This place is OUTSTANDING. The food is on point and the Matzah Ball Soup Dumplings are truly a treat that melt in your mouth. They have good wines and cocktails. The staff is very friendly and made sure we had everything we needed all night! If you're a lover of city views. El Five wins the award for the greatest views of Downtown Denver. I will be back..... many times read more

Check this place out! Waiters are extremely knowledgeable and are great with recommendations. Food was awesome and the views are some of the best in Denver read more

As far as ambiance goes i would say it is "cool" but there is no flow to the dining room and if you are in the bar area plan on moving for people walking by every 20 seconds. The service was great, the food was just ok for the pricing. Tapas were just ok, way too many flavors being forced on the plate. Steer clear of the paella, expensive, mushy, and underwhelming. read more

Good. Great. Grand. Wonderful. Everybody on the bus! The El Five bus. Sat at the bar, drinks out of this world, view out if this world, smells and eats out if this world. Ignore others, this place is exquisite. The miss vaughn of denver haunts. read more

The food was okay and view was absolutely incredible here, but the ambiance was taken away by the horrific service. I was there on a calm, monday evening and was not even greeted once sat for 20 minutes. I had to wave over a busser to ask for waters, who proceeded to not even bring us any. By the time nearly 30 minutes had rolled around without anyone coming over, the server dropped waters, no apology, did not introduce herself, and seemed like she could have cared less. When we asked to order another round of drinks, she legitimately just stared blankly at us. I could not believe how abysmal the service was for the price you pay. Additionally, they love to put random charges on your receipt, including a COVID charge (which I fully support if it is EXPLAINED) and an anniversary drink charge? So frustrating. read more

We booked a table for 2 on the patio ~30 mins before sunset. It was busy for a weekday but not packed inside. I was able to easily book a same-day reservation that morning. We each had 2 cocktails. I enjoyed the sangria. We had two tapas to share: lamb ribs and cauliflower yufka. Both were great! I wish we could have tried more tapas but wanted to share a paella also. The tapas portions were fairly small for 2 people to split. We had the sausage paella. The seafood definitely looked like more of a signature dish, but we were in the mood for a sausage one. It was excellent! We probably had a little too much food for 2 people but it was all delicious and reasonable priced. read more

Feisty, gorgeous, sexy, inviting, fun...that's how I'd like to be described BUT those are the words my party used to define El Five. The views are outstanding, the decor resembles authentic middle eastern movie posters and set items. The staff was attentive and friendly. We sat inside for a delicious dinner (we shared four tapas and a large paella - every dish was )! Dessert was even better...you MUST MUST MUST have the goat cheese ice cream and the flan. Life changing. After dinner, we headed to the bar that opens to the deck overlooking the gorgeous Denver skyline twinkling away in the night sky. We had such a great evening that we didn't want to leave - so one after-dinner drink turned into three. El Five is bound to be one of Denver's epic dining spots. read more

Sadly this was the worst food I've had in my short time in Denver. There was a wait for a table, but that was fine. It was Saturday night and we eventually got one on the terrace, with a fantastic view of the Denver skyline. The view, our server and the friendly host working downstairs are the reason for a 2*, instead of a 1*. My wife and I shared 6 tapas dishes. The diablos were not at all to my tasting, but my wife liked these (the only dish that either of us liked all night) - the blue cheese is the dominant taste. The chicken kofta was disappointing, 3 pieces of meat (hardly for sharing), which lacked seasoning. The patatas bravis was uninspiring - thick potato slices, again lacking seasoning & also flavor, even when dipped in one of two sauces. Then the worst part - the soup dumplings, the cured cod and the lamb ribs. We failed to finish any of them. The ribs were all fat, no meat. The cod and soup dumplings were not at all to our liking. Again- whilst the food was not at all to our liking. The service was good. I think our server could see that we were not enjoying our meal and he waived the half eaten portion of ribs and offered to waive the cod, but we did not accept this offer. We really liked Linger, so didn't see this coming. read more

Beautiful view. Pricey, but worth it and a Denver must especially if you are hoping to experience the city in a weekend! Be sure to get there at 5PM so you can grab a seat at the bar before the sun sets. read more

Great views of the city combined with incredible food and great service! Doesn't get much better than this. I love to cook! When I'm served foods that I know I could not replicate at home, I have found a place to revisit. Our server was great with his recommendations, as well. I'm excited to go back and try their cocktails instead of having wine to explore if they transfer the same mixture of flavors into their drinks as they did with their great food! read more