Wonderyard Garden + Table’s Grand Opening in the Ballpark Neighborhood

Wonderyard Garden + Table, the highly anticipated concept restaurant and bar, officially opened their doors earlier this March. Located at 2200 Larimer St. in Downtown Denver, they are a bar-forward restaurant that specializes in sharable foods, innovative cocktails and mocktails, and nothing short of an abundance of photo-ops. Their space is versatile, the lush garden-themed lounge transforms with the setting of the sun. By day, enjoy lunch or brunch garden-party style. By night, whimsical cocktails and visuals make this a nightlife destination. The space  takes inspiration from literary icons like The Great Gatsby, The Secret Garden, and Alice in Wonderland.

I had the pleasure of attending their VIP grand opening and got to see this dynamic shift first-hand. The restaurant occupies a historic 100-year-old building, a beautiful brick exterior houses an art-deco escape inside. On one wall, a painted mural of chic-dressed party-goers – a scene from a 1920s piano bar. The opposite wall holds a collage of wall hangings: Black and white, vintage photos – some in frames and others brought to life with neon lighting, Mirrors, outstretched fans, even a few framed trumpets. The back wall is a huge screen projecting wall-wall images like hearts, lips, and a magical garden-getaway. Below it, a dancefloor overlooked by a DJ booth. Retro circular booths line the walls and surround the open-concept bar. And of course, a number of plants decorate the interior adding to the garden aesthetic.

Walking outside, the adjacent lot is a courtyard full of intimate conversation pits. Giant pink tea-cups reminiscent of Disney World that guests can sit in, oversized abstract bird cages lined with pillows for lounging, and a carousel-inspired photo booth backed by a floral wall with a bright neon sign reading “Love Begins in Wonder.” The space is enclosed by a white brick fence with a hand-painted floral mural. The center of the courtyard has a raised circular platform that rotates slowly as visitors hangout on crescent-shaped couches. As day turned to night, the courtyard was lit by twinkling lights and firepits. I was excited to see dancers on stilts at the VIP grand opening. Adding to the magical nature of the night, they made their way from the courtyard outside to the restaurant inside, towering over the packed house.

The aesthetic of Wonderyard Garden + Table is so unique, it calls for an equally standout menu. Chef, Jose “Pepe” Rodriguez, the executive chef, brings his expertise to Wonderyard following his tenure at Boulder’s Frasca, a James Beard Award-winner, and Basta, known for its Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition. In a statement Chef Pepe said “At Wonderyard, we’re not just serving food; we’re curating a culinary experience that brings people together,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “Every dish is meant to be shared, which made creating this menu such a different experience than what I am used to. The menu ended up being a homage to the communal spirit of Mediterranean cuisine, yet each dish carries a hint of global flair. It has been so much fun creating a menu that blends traditional techniques with unexpected twists to offer something truly special in Denver’s dining scene.”

The menu also prioritizes local sourcing as Wonderyard has a number of partnerships including 100x Farms, Red Bird Farms, and Buckner Farms, Farmer Bryce Hediger from Golden Prairie Farms. At the VIP event, I tried a few of their menu items – The Chicken Schawarma Handheld and the The Lox in Translation Flatbread. Each were built on Chef Pepe’s specialty: dough made in house using 100% stone-milled whole wheat flour sourced from Langin wheat grown in Northern Colorado. Amid the celebration, I was able to speak with Chef Pepe himself for a few moments about crafting this eccentric menu.

For more information, you can visit Wonderyard Garden + Table’s website.

Tune in to The Morning Set, on weekdays from 7 – 10 a.m. on KUVO JAZZ 89.3FM, on the stream, or the KUVO App.

Stay connected to KUVO’s programs and our community! Sign up for the Oasis E-News today!