If you are looking for a nicer Italian restaurant near Denver Union Station, Tavernetta Denver is one of the more well-known options downtown. It comes from the James Beard Award-winning team behind Frasca Hospitality Group and focuses on handmade pastas, Italian-inspired dishes, and polished service.
Tavernetta feels classy and a touch formal. Think warm wood, attentive service, and a smart casual dress level. I definitely think it works well for a date night, anniversary, birthday, or another special occasion. If you are comparing restaurants for a nicer night out, I also included Tavernetta in my Best Dinner Restaurants for a Special Occasion in Denver.
We tried quite a few things from the Tavernetta menu during our dinner, and while not every dish stood out equally, there were a few I would absolutely order again.
We started with the focaccia bread with cacio e pepe butter, and this was easily one of my favorite things we ate.
It sounds simple, but the bread was SO good. The cacio e pepe butter made it even better, and I would absolutely order this again.
Do not skip the bread here.
We also tried the Panzanella, made with heirloom tomato, focaccia croutons, ramp vinaigrette, and bottarga.
This was another standout for me. The tomatoes were so good, and paired with the focaccia croutons and vinaigrette, it sounded fairly straightforward but ended up being one of my favorites of the meal.
We also ordered the Melone e Cetrioli, with cucumber, watermelon, arugula, goat cheese, black garlic vinaigrette, and green coriander.
This gave us something a little lighter alongside the bread, salad, and pasta dishes.
For pasta, we tried two very different dishes.
The Rigatoni came with lamb ragu and Pecorino Romano.
The Balanzoni was made with pistachio mortadella, smoked tomato, and Parmigiano brodo.
Both were good, and ordering two different pastas gave us a chance to try very different flavors instead of getting dishes that felt too similar.
If I were eating at Tavernetta again, handmade pasta would definitely be part of my order.
If food is a big part of how you plan a Denver trip, my DIY Denver Food Tour: Best Places to Eat in Denver Colorado has more of the restaurants and food stops I would prioritize around the city.
We also ordered one of the specials that night.
It was good, but it was probably the least memorable dish we had. Nothing was actually bad; it just did not stand out the way the bread, tomato salad, and pasta did.
That was probably my biggest takeaway from our meal. Tavernetta was consistently good, but there were definitely certain dishes I would prioritize more than others.
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If I could only order a few things again, I would pick:
The bread and heirloom tomato salad were probably my two biggest standouts.
And yes, I realize I just named bread and tomatoes as two of my favorite dishes at a high-end Italian restaurant.
But sometimes the simple things are the things you remember.
Tavernetta is definitely not a budget dinner, but I thought the prices generally matched the quality of the food, atmosphere, and service.
Whether it feels completely “worth it” will depend a little on what you order. Some dishes stood out much more than others for me, so I would focus on the handmade pastas and a few of the signature starters rather than feeling like you need to order everything.
The service was also really good throughout our meal, which helped Tavernetta feel more like a special-occasion experience rather than simply an expensive dinner.
Yes. Tavernetta hits a nice middle ground where it feels elevated enough for an anniversary, birthday, or nicer date night without feeling overly formal.
You can dress smart casual and still fit right in.
The polished service and atmosphere are a big part of the experience, so if you are specifically looking for an Italian restaurant in Denver for a nicer evening, Tavernetta makes sense.
For a very different special-occasion dinner, you can also read my BRUTØ Denver Review: Is the Michelin-Starred Restaurant Worth It?.
Tavernetta takes reservations, which I would recommend if you have a specific dinner time in mind.
There is also walk-in availability for the patio, lounge, and bar, which gives you a little more flexibility if you are already downtown and decide to stop in.
If you are driving, Tavernetta recommends the Union Station Garage at 1881 16th Street.
Parking is listed at $10 with validation, although weekend Colorado Rockies home games can affect garage pricing.
If you are already staying around Union Station or LoDo, I would honestly walk if you can. Tavernetta is very easy to work into an evening downtown, especially if you are staying somewhere near Denver Union Station.
If you are building the restaurant into a larger trip, my A Weekend in Denver Colorado: The Perfect First-Time Itinerary can help you figure out what else makes sense to do nearby.
Tavernetta currently lists the following hours:
Monday–Friday: 11:30 AM–10 PM
Saturday–Sunday: 3 PM–10 PM
Lunch is served Monday through Friday from 11:30 AM–2 PM.
Happy hour is offered daily from 3–6 PM, and dinner begins at 5 PM.
Yes, I think Tavernetta Denver is worth it, especially if you are looking for a nicer dinner near Union Station.
I think Tavernetta works especially well for a date night or special occasion because it feels elevated enough to make dinner feel like an event, but you can still show up in smart casual clothes and feel completely comfortable.
Would I go back? Sometime. Let me explain, Denver has a long list of restaurants I still want to try, so I may not rush back immediately, but I would have no hesitation recommending Tavernetta to someone planning a nicer dinner downtown.
And if you go, seriously: do not skip the focaccia.
If you end up booking anything for your trip, using my affiliate links helps support my blog at no extra cost to you. I spend a lot of time researching and writing these guides, so I really appreciate the support.
If Denver is part of a larger Colorado trip, start with my Spend a Week in Colorado: The Perfect Denver and Golden Itinerary.
Flying into the city? My Denver Airport Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Denver International Airport covers what to expect at DEN, including some of the things that surprised me.
You can compare flights through Skyscanner, and if you plan to explore beyond downtown Denver, I use Discover Cars to compare rental car options.
For a hotel near Union Station and Tavernetta, see my The Maven Hotel Denver Review: What to Expect.
You can also compare Denver hotels through Booking.com or Hotels.com.
If you are still deciding what to do with the rest of your time in the city, start with my Top Things to Do in Denver Colorado.
A café, bakery, market, and wine shop all in one Phoenix stop 🍊
At La Grande Orange, order the crepes first, they’re the thing I’d go back for. The chicken salad sandwich is perfect if someone wants lunch while you’re still on breakfast, and the red velvet mini cupcake and a chai latte round it out. The sea salt chocolate chip cookie is heartier than gooey, so it’s best for dunkers. It’s counter service with easy parking, and the market has quirky gifts you won’t find elsewhere. Leave time to browse, because you’ll stay longer than planned.
Save this for your Phoenix trip ☀️
“Outside Terminal 3” is not a pickup location at PHX.
Before your driver pulls in, text them four things: your terminal, north or south side, door number, and inner or outer curb. Grab your bags first, then call them in. Drivers can wait free in the cell phone lot instead of circling. Getting through security is easy; getting picked up is the hard part.
Save this for your Phoenix trip ✈️
Come for the architecture, stay for the view.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross has been built into Sedona’s red rocks since 1956. The outside overlooks get busy, but inside is quiet, with huge windows framing the rocks. It’s free, takes 30-45 minutes, and has a paved, wheelchair-accessible ramp. Make sure to bring water in summer.
Save this for your trip planning!
Order it well done. Trust me.🍑🍕
Peach & Pancetta Pizza at Hideaway House in Sedona: roasted peaches, salty pancetta, ricotta, basil, extra-crispy crust. Split the house salad, grab a prickly pear lemonade, and get a patio table facing the red rocks. Skip the bread if you want room for another slice.
Save this for your Sedona trip✈️
Pack your bags, Denver is not just a mountain layover. RiNo alone can eat a full day between the murals, food, and bars. Skip the concert and hit Red Rocks midday instead, you’ll basically have it to yourself. Golden’s a 30-minute trip if you want a change of pace, and if food drives your travel like it does mine, Denver Central Market and BRUTØ deserve real time on the calendar. Give it three days minimum, four if you’re eating your way through it. Save this.
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
