Brian Nagele
Denver may be far from the coast, but its seafood scene is making waves. Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, this landlocked city boasts a thriving culinary landscape, including some of the best seafood restaurants you’ll find anywhere. From the freshest catches to innovative seafood dishes, Denver offers a delightful array of options for seafood enthusiasts. With a focus on sustainability and quality, Denver’s seafood restaurants pride themselves on sourcing the finest ingredients from both near and far. Whether you’re in the mood for succulent crab, buttery lobster, or perfectly seared fish, these restaurants have you covered. The chefs in Denver infuse creativity into their dishes, offering unique flavor combinations and inventive preparations that will leave your taste buds tingling. Whether you’re a resident or a visitor, this article promises a culinary journey that transcends the city’s landlocked status, delivering a sea of flavors that will leave you craving more.
Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar
1539 17th St, Denver, CO 80202
303-292-5767
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Located just a block northeast from the 16th Street Mall sits Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar. The famous fish restaurant is near Coors Field, Elitch Gardens, and Union Station, in downtown Denver’s heart. Jax Fish House & Oyster bar doesn’t open until 3:30 pm every evening, but the wait is worth it for some of the best seafood downtown! Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar has a simple yet well-executed menu. The Chargrilled Oyster starter is to die for, but you can’t go wrong with the Ahi Tuna Poke! Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar has seasonal entrees for the dinner menu that often include Salmon, Yellowfish Tuna, and non-seafood options to get the freshest seafood. Oysters and caviar are always on the menu!
Stoic & Genuine
1701 Wynkoop St, Denver, CO 80202
303-640-3474
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Stoic & Genuine shares the iconic Union Station building and offers an extensive seafood menu. Its prime location near the 16th Street Mall, Confluence Park, and the Denver Museum of Contemporary Art makes it the perfect spot for a fine dinner after exploring Colorado’s Mile-High culture. Fresh seafood dominates the menu at Stoic & Genuine. Local fish, such as lake trout, find a home on the menu in incredible dishes like the Smoked Trout Deviled Eggs. Don’t skip out on the Japchae, a Korean dish with bay scallops, or the Verlasso Salmon. Stoic & Genuine also has a raw bar with a wide selection of west and east-coast oysters.
Blue Island Oyster Bar & Seafood
2625 E 2nd Ave, Denver, CO 80206
303-333-2462
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In the heart of Denver’s Cherry Creek suburb is Blue Island Oyster Bar & Seafood. It sits across from the Cherry Creek shopping center near the Denver Country Club and is New England dining in the middle of Colorado. Blue Island Oyster Bar & Seafood provides diners with a simple menu, but the seafood is high-quality pier-to-table straight from Long Island. Local trout makes an appearance again, but the Miso-Glazed Chilean Sea Bass steals the show. You can also buy their world-famous clam chowder by the pint or quart for a lunch that’ll make everyone in the office jealous!
Fish N Beer
3510 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205
303-248-3497
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Blink, and you might miss this snug seafood spot off Larimer and Downing near the River North Art District. Fish N Beers’ simple motto of making fish and beer the star of the menu has locals buzzing about this fantastic seafood restaurant. Despite being landlocked, Fish N Beer offers some of the freshest seafood in the state. Fish N Beer is only open Tuesday through Saturday for dinner, but it’s worth the wait! Seafood is clearly the focus, as even the guacamole features seared tuna. The best entrees on the menu are the Alamosa Bass, featuring locally sourced bass, and the Spanish Octopus grilled over a wood fire. Plus, you can finish the whole meal with a coastal-inspired key lime pie that will ruin other pies!
Cafe Brazil
4408 Lowell Blvd, Denver, CO 80211
303-480-1877
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Cafe Brazil sits on the corner of 44th and Lowell in northwest Denver. This fine-dining Brazillian restaurant is just south of Rocky Mountain Lake Park. But this intimate eatery is only open four days a week. Regardless of the limited hours, the seafood is fantastic, especially with Brazilian-inspired flavors! Must-try dishes include the Cazuela Colombiana served with large prawns and chicken breast in a tomato and coconut milk-styled stew. Also worth a try is the Seafood Copacabana with shrimp and scallops, and the Moqueca De Peixe, which has Atlantic cod, large prawns, and scallops.
Maine Shack
1535 Central St, Denver, CO 80211
303-997-2118
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Maine Shack is just off Interstate-25 and across from commons park in the heart of Denver’s culinary district. The excellent location is great for attending shows or sporting events at nearby Coors Field or Empower Field at Mile High, with dedicated home game concessions stands. It’s also pretty close to Elitch Gardens, and its casual nature makes it an excellent seafood restaurant for families with kids. Maine Shack is famous for its lobster rolls. Each roll comes stuffed with knuckle and claw meat, though some come with lobster tail meat. Lobster rolls aren’t the only incredible seafood roll, as Maine Shack offers fried rolls with scallops, shrimp, or whole belly clams. Fried haddock sandwiches and steamed clams round out the menu.
Ocean Prime
7339 W Sand Lake Rd #400, Orlando, FL 32819
407-781-4880
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Ocean Prime has two locations in Denver. One in Denver Tech Center (DTC) and one downtown. Both sites offer an extremely high-class Denver seafood spot, but only the DTC location provides lunch. The downtown location is in the beautiful Larimer Square, which celebrates iconic old-school Denver architecture. DTC Ocean Prime is more open and light-focused. Ocean Prime offers a chilled menu featuring half-shell oysters, east and west coast oysters, and even chilled whole main lobster. Appetizers are also high-end with a surf and turf with scallops and braised short ribs. Unique entrees fill the menu with options like Florida Grouper, Teriyaki Salmon, and Blackened Snapper. Crab Cakes, Ahi Tuna, and Sea Scallops are available as more common options.
IzakayaDen
1487A S Pearl St, Denver, CO 80210
303-777-0691
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Situated between Washington Park and the Overland golf course are the IzakayaDen and SushiDen. Closed on Monday but open for dinner the rest of the week, IzakayaDen promises some of the most incredible seafood in the Mile-High City. IzakayaDen is the peak sushi destination with the freshest seafood caught daily. The restaurant is so exclusive that four-person reservations are the max, and anything higher requires special approval. You can’t go wrong with any of the amazing sushi or sashimi rolls, even having an option to take out. Each menu uses fresh seafood ingredients and traditional Japanese cooking techniques for an Asian spin on some of Denver’s best seafood! Japanese fish catch of the day and kitchen-produced meals also have dedicated menus.
Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen
7520 E Progress Pl, Greenwood Village, CO 80111
303-740-9449
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On the west side of Interstate-25 sits a seafood restaurant called Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen. This well-known seafood restaurant may be a chain, but it serves some of the best local seafood in Denver. It’s different from other chain restaurants with dedicated trucks that deliver the freshest seafood and continues to be a family-owned establishment. There are even private dining rooms for large parties. What makes Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen unique is the use of Cajun recipes. Popular meals include the crawfish platter, blackened catfish, and the Jumbo Shrimp Brochette. The Mississippi Catfish Opelousas, Rainbow Trout and Shrimp, and Crispy Atlantic Salmon are unique alternatives to the standard seafood fare available at any other restaurant!
Why Trust Us?
When it comes to local restaurant recommendations, we pride ourselves on being a reliable and trustworthy resource. Our suggestions are not just based on our personal experiences, ensuring a more authentic and well-rounded perspective, but also on extensive online research. We diligently searched the internet and reviewed 4 credible sites and blogs, including Trip Advisor and 5280.
We compiled all the findings in one location and sorted them by the frequency of mentions to ensure you receive top-notch recommendations. We strive to present you with a curated list of establishments that truly stand out, allowing you to enjoy the best dining experiences possible.
Interested in the sources we consulted? Check out the list of all 5 sites we referenced below this paragraph, offering transparency and an opportunity for our readers to explore further. Our commitment is to deliver trustworthy and unparalleled recommendations, helping you make informed decisions on your culinary journeys.
https://www.thrillist.com/eat/denver/best-seafood-restaurants-denver
https://denver.eater.com/maps/best-seafood-restaurants-denver
https://www.denver.org/food-drink/restaurants/cuisine-types/seafood/
https://www.westword.com/best-of/2023/food-and-drink/best-seafood-restaurant-16548534
