With Colorado having so many great restaurants, it does seem like a shame that only a couple make Esquire’s year-end list for the “Best New Restaurants of 2025.” On the other hand, having these two spots in Denver included (out of 20 total,) the state joins only New York State and California as having multiple; that speaks to how great they are.
Whether it be for a great date-night, celebrating a birthday or promotion, or wanting to experience some of Colorado’s greatest dishes. Denver does have some fantastic places to check out. Year after year, you see spots make one list or another. They can range from seafood to Mexican, from BBQ to Italian. If you are a foodie and live in Colorado, you don’t have to look to far for chef’s with great menus and hard-working crews.
Denver Restaurant Named After Father Makes 2025 ‘Best New Restaurants’ List
Two years after opening a Denver restaurant in tribute to his mother (Alma Fonda Fina,) Chef Johnny Curiel’s second spot is in tribute to his father, Alteño. The restaurant specializes in foods inspired by the Jalisco Highlands along the eastern side of Mexico. Not only does ALTENO, feature a small-deliberate food menu with Colorado lamb shank and a 32 oz. porterhouse, but his wife and partner has put together a drinks menu that include top-shelf, native Mexican flavors and agave spirits like raicilla and mezcal; they also have a great wine selection with an in-house sommelier.
OpenTable.com’s estimated per-person cost at ALTENO: $31-$50. The porterhouse does run $139.
Denver Sushi Restaurant Makes 2025 ‘Best New Restaurants’ List
Esquire’s second pick for Colorado, again out of Denver, is a Japanese restaurant: Kizaki. Chef Kizaki’s restaurant is “omakase,” a tradition in Japan which translates to “leave it to the chef.” Kizaki opened Sushi Den in Denver in 1984; that restaurant was one of the first to import fish directly from international markets. This is a chef who knows what he’s doing…