Best patios and rooftops in Denver

The Platte is the perfect escape from the city grind. The outdoor patio has a spectatcular view of nature and the parking lot has a view of some of the finest custom cars and motorcycles around. While the aura has a feel of a biker bar, the nature setting softens the overall blow of the occassional rough character who looks like they just rolled over the wrong side of a cow dung heap. This is a great spot to hangout with friends on a warm afternoon.

Denver's new posh Four Seasons Hotel is all about luxury and enjoying a night out on the town. They just opened Level 3, which is their new poolside bar—perfect for taking a dip, having some cocktails and mingling with Denver's social crowd. Check out Level 3 over the summer for one of the Four Seasons pool party that are set to go down every Thursday night.

The love child of the Breckenridge and Wynkoop breweries, Ale House at Amato’s is the kind of place you expect when two great beer minds put their heads together. They pour 40 craft beers on tap and serve a full menu of your typical bar bites. The rooftop patio is sure to become the place to sip suds on sunny summer afternoons.

Absinthe House is the hottest new nightclub in Colorado. Located in Downtown Boulder at 1109 Walnut St., Absinthe House features a true European style nightclub experience with International House DJs Thursday-Saturday. Select from the largest selection of genuine absinthe in North America, a list of over 40 import and domestic beers, and some of the best bar service anywhere. Oh, and they probably have one of the best views of the Flatirons from their rooftop patio.

It is amazing how many people can squeeze onto the rooftop patio at Lodo's Bar and Grill. During the summer, they're known to get rowdy up there, that is for sure. Definitely a blast to grab some cocktails and party the night away. Try it out before a Rockies game and you'll be set.

A three-deck rooftop patio, thunder bowling, pool tables and plasmas! This place gets packed during summer days...and nights. Across the street from Lodo's Bar and Grill, the two patios compete with each other. If you're on one, you look at the people on the patio across the street and think, "Our patio is cooler." This is what drinking and partying in Colorado is all about; the patios. And guess what? They fully just renovated their entire rooftop so now it is bigger and better than ever!!

The neighborhood smokehouse and bar with bikinis and beer to boot. Their patio is the lesser known in the world of patios. With an outdoor bar, who can complain? Fine, maybe your fair-skinned friend (lobster back) hates it.

People will drink on any patio they're handed. But when you have a super nice patio, with comfy chairs, heat lamps, TV's and a nice bar, you get a party. The Lazy Dog is the patio we just described.

A sports bar, moments from Coors Field's front door, that knows no bounds. And they have one of the best patios and rooftops around, trust us on this one. The patio has astro turf and bars in every corner so you never have to worry about going drinkless before, after or during a game this summer! They also often have rooftop patio parties so check in often to get the scoop (we're talking bikini contests!)

This patio has a lot going for it. Loads of beer running through the walls of the building, close to Coors Field and somehow always seems to be facing the sun just when you need it, this patio definitely makes our list of best drinking patios.

So, it's located within the gates of Coors Field. Who can deny the power of Blue Moon and America's favorite pastime of baseball? This beer garden is one that will get your patio undies in a bunch, that's for sure.

Besides the big damn brick wall blocking a lot of the view, The West End still reigns as having one of the best patios in Boulder. On some nights, they screen movies on that big damn brick wall, too. So at least they turn a crappy thing into something positive.

K's China is one of the more popular student hangouts for cheap beer and good food. The venue isn't much with regard to appearance but the inexpensive food and and five hour long happy hour make it a popular place for the university crowd. K's also has a rooftop patio where you can see a wonderful 360 degree view of Boulder. Definitely worth checking out for the view.

In the up and coming Golden Triangle area, the Funky Buddha Lounge is a trendy nightspot usually packed with upwardly mobile young professionals looking to revel in a New York City-esque club atmosphere. They have a covered rooftop patio with heat lamps, a huge bar and on most weekend nights, there will always be a DJ bringing the beats!

The name of this place should say it all. The Living Room is another fabulous bar from the owners of The Church, Bar Standard, City Hall, Funky Buddha and Mo's. If there is one thing SoCo Clubs knows, opening great bars is it, and The Living Room is just thata great bar. They have a front patio and back patio with hanging chairs, cozy chairs and a fire pit to socialize around!

This bar is bound to extinguish your thirst. They have a great patio out front, but be careful if you go during high volume hours (like during huge sporting events or for their kick ass happy hour), because it is the first thing to fill up and getting a seat is nearly impossible. But, it gets packed because it is such a great patio...so it's worth the risk of checking it out!

Come in walking a straight line and leave wobbling down Pearl Street. It happens to all of us after visiting this Mexican restaurant. With a 3 margarita limit, you have got to realize they don’t skip on the good ol’ tequila when mixing up these intoxicating bev’s. The Boulder Rio has a “Mezzazine” style bar area and a fabulous dining area. They also have an amazing patio to sip your inhibitions away during the summer. Yes, sometimes life just calls for the intoxicating power of tequila.

Escape the occasional hazards of lower Broadway at The Fainting Goat, an Irish tinged pub with two floors and a rooftop patio. A neighborhood joint, the bar is welcoming and the staff is friendly.

This is a sports bar for sports fanatics. It is the official sports bar of the Colorado Rockies. Their rooftop patio totally rocks with a huge bar and crazy views of the city. Definitely swing by here if you're downtown on a nice summer day!

The Irish sports pub’s uniforms consist of short kilts, plaid push up bras and a little white collared shirt to top it off. During the hot summer months, their patio along the 16th Street Mall is open for business! It's a great spot to unwind at while drinking beer and look at hot girls in short kilts. Need we say more?

Stoney's Bar and Grill boasts all that you can ask for in a fun-loving neighborhood bar. Good greasy food, epic events (like their luau party where 'everyone gets laid') and even one of the best patios in Denver! Stop by for a great time and even better drink specials!