El Five Menu Prices 2026: Tapas, Paella & Mezze in Denver

El Five is a tapas-style restaurant, so the total depends on how many small plates you order. A typical dinner runs $60-$90 per person before drinks, tax, and gratuity -- plan on three to four tapas per person plus a shared paella or two. The restaurant also adds a 5% Denver Employee Benefits surcharge to all checks, which supports staff health benefits.

El Five is widely regarded as one of Denver's best date-night restaurants. The fifth-floor setting delivers unobstructed panoramic views of the downtown Denver skyline, and the tapas format makes sharing easy. The restaurant consistently appears on best-of Denver lists for atmosphere. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for weekend evenings. Private event space accommodates up to 175 guests for special events.

The Seafood Paella ($49 small / $76 large) is the most celebrated dish -- saffron bomba rice with shellfish, cooked in the traditional Spanish style with socarrat (the crisp bottom layer). Among the tapas, the Goat Cheese Croquettas ($16) and Patatas Bravas ($15) are consistent crowd favorites. The Jamon Iberico de Bellota ($55) is the premium starting point for Iberian charcuterie enthusiasts.

Yes -- El Five has a strong vegetarian presence. The Spreads of the Med ($20), Lebanese Garlic Dip ($19), Smoked Burrata ($19), Goat Cheese Croquettas ($16), Patatas Bravas ($15), Harissa Eggplant Fries ($16), and Tunisian Couscous ($19) are all vegetarian. The Coliflor (cauliflower) and Mushroom Paella are both fully vegetarian in small and large sizes. All three desserts are also vegetarian.

El Five serves dinner Sunday through Thursday 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM and Friday through Saturday 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM. Happy hour runs daily from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM. Reservations can be made through OpenTable via the Edible Beats website (ediblebeats.com/el-five) or by calling (303) 524-9193. Walk-ins are accepted when tables are available, but reservations are strongly recommended on weekends.

El Five is at 2930 Umatilla St, 5th Floor, Denver, CO 80211, in the LoHi (Lower Highland) neighborhood on the northwest side of downtown Denver. The fifth-floor location provides the panoramic skyline views the restaurant is known for. Street parking is available in LoHi; rideshare drop-off is convenient given the rooftop nature of the venue.

El Five occupies a distinct niche in Denver: Mediterranean-influenced tapas with a rooftop-view setting, in a mid-to-upper price range ($$$ on Yelp). It competes more on atmosphere and Mediterranean breadth than on Michelin-star gastronomy. The per-person cost ($60-$90 before drinks) sits below Denver steakhouse pricing ($100-$150+) but above casual neighborhood restaurants. The sharing format and rooftop views make it particularly popular for groups celebrating milestones.

El Five offers a daily happy hour from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM with discounted prices on select tapas and cocktails. For current happy hour specials, check the Edible Beats website (ediblebeats.com/el-five) or call ahead at (303) 524-9193 -- the happy hour menu rotates seasonally and specific pricing is not published in advance online.

Yes -- El Five is owned and operated by Edible Beats, a Denver-based restaurant group that is 100% employee-owned. The employee-ownership model means staff share in the business's success, and the group is known for above-average working conditions in the restaurant industry. A 5% Denver Employee Benefits surcharge is added to all checks to fund staff health benefits.