MODERN EAT

Chef Johnny Curiel’s menu at Alma Fonda Fina is a culmination of a long career dedicated to cooking Mexican food at the highest level, accompanied by a well-curated mezcal selection and decorated with Mexican textiles and succulents for a light, bright interior that matches the flavors in his food. The camote asado (agave roasted sweet potato dressed with salsa macha and tangy fennel whipped requesón cheese) is a must order, inspired by Curiel’s favorite sweet potato street food while growing up in Guadalajara. Adobo seared kanpachi crudo, tacos in heirloom corn tortillas, and mezcal cured lamb rack all pair beautifully with a spicy avocado margarita and Mexican wines. 2556 15th Street, almalohidenver.com

SUDS & SPA

Oakwell Beer Spa is a uniquely Denver spa concept and perfect daytime date, offering wellness therapies alongside a self-serve taproom that appeals equally to men and women. Different Colorado craft breweries are featured each month. Guests fill up a tumbler with their favorite beer, cider, or non-alcoholic kombucha to keep them cool while sweating out toxins in a private infrared sauna or relaxing in a cedar hydrotherapy tub filled with beer-inspired botanicals and a CBD bath bomb. Add a zero-gravity massage after your beer bath for peak relaxation if you enjoy deep tissue massage. 3004 N Downing Street, oakwell.com

VIVACIOUS VIETNAMESE

Husband-and-wife team Ni and Anna Nguyen are the sweet and savory duo behind the Vietnamese-American delicacies at Sap Sua, one of Denver’s hottest new restaurants. The menu is written in Vietnamese and English, and there’s plenty of fish sauce and fermented shrimp paste for diners seeking funkier flavors, along with more approachable bites like fried chicken katsu with mashed potatoes. Hamachi collar glazed in coconut caramel and charred cabbage dressed with crunchy anchovy breadcrumbs are a couple highlights. Anna’s delicate coconut panna cotta with lychee, longan, and almond granita tastes like tropical fairy food and is the perfect way to end your meal. 2550 E Colfax Avenue, sapsua.com

STRAIGHT FROM THE HEARTH

Colorado received its first Michelin guide six months ago and the Wolf’s Tailor was one of three Denver restaurants to earn a coveted star. There’s plenty of Japanese inspiration on chef Taylor Stark’s creative tasting menu, and an entire course dedicated to various fermentation techniques, from hearth-baked sourdough piada to sunomono vinegar-dressed pickles, plus a Colorado twist on umeboshi (Japanese pickled plum) using Western Slope cherries. Along with wine pairings, thoughtful cocktails and non-alcoholic pairings cross-utilize ingredients from the kitchen, with a zero-waste mentality that also earned the Wolf’s Tailor a Michelin Green Star for sustainability. Request table three for a cozy booth with a front row view of the kitchen. 4058 Tejon Street, thewolfstailor.com

HAUTE HISTORY

First opened in 1891, Denver’s most historic boutique hotel features original wrought iron, tile floors, and a grand wood-burning fireplace that greets guests in the lobby. All 80 guestrooms were recently renovated, and complimentary bourbon happy hour and shoe shines hark back to the hotel’s early days when politicos, merchants, and bankers would gather in the dining room to discuss business over cigars. The prime downtown location is just across the street from Union Station, and the Oxford Club & Spa is the best hotel spa in town, with oxygen facials and HydraFacials featuring Dr. Dennis Gross to help your skin recover from Denver’s arid climate. 1600 17th Street, theoxfordhotel.com