
Restaurant Olivia
A warm, intimate Italian gem crafting exquisite handmade pasta with modern twists and exceptional hospitality. A must-visit in Denver.

Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Best Time
Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

Restaurant Olivia

Highlights
Must-see attractions
A warm, intimate Italian gem crafting exquisite handmade pasta with modern twists and exceptional hospitality. A must-visit in Denver.
"This is a truly special place!! My absolute favorite restaurant in Denver."
Reservations are Key
Book in advance, as this popular spot has limited seating. Walk-ins at the bar are available but competitive.
Explore the Menu
Consider the tasting menu for a curated experience, or explore seasonal specials for new flavors.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Italian
Price
$$$
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Handmade Pasta Perfection
Experience artisanal pasta crafted daily, from pillowy agnolotti to creamy gemelli alla norcina. A true taste of Italy.

Intimate & Romantic Ambiance
A cozy setting perfect for special occasions, with candlelit tables and attentive service that makes you feel like the only one matters.

Exceptional, Personalized Service
Knowledgeable and friendly staff who go above and beyond, offering expert recommendations and ensuring a memorable dining experience.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Reservations are Key
Book in advance, as this popular spot has limited seating. Walk-ins at the bar are available but competitive.
Explore the Menu
Consider the tasting menu for a curated experience, or explore seasonal specials for new flavors.
Don't Miss Pasta Dishes
The handmade pastas are the stars of the show; try classics or unique seasonal creations.
Dietary Needs Welcomed
The staff is attentive to allergies and dietary restrictions, with great gluten-free options available.
Tips
from all over the internet
Reservations are Key
Book in advance, as this popular spot has limited seating. Walk-ins at the bar are available but competitive.
Explore the Menu
Consider the tasting menu for a curated experience, or explore seasonal specials for new flavors.
Don't Miss Pasta Dishes
The handmade pastas are the stars of the show; try classics or unique seasonal creations.
Dietary Needs Welcomed
The staff is attentive to allergies and dietary restrictions, with great gluten-free options available.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Restaurant Olivia is widely celebrated as a top dining destination, praised for its exceptional handmade pasta, intimate ambiance, and outstanding service. Diners consistently highlight the flavorful dishes, the attentiveness of the staff, and the overall memorable experience. While the majority of reviews are glowing, a small number mention concerns about automatic gratuity and feeling rushed, though these appear to be outliers.
"This restaurant is top tier. The menu is always seasonal, incorporating fresh flavors throughout. I’ve never had a disappointing dish. They also change their cocktails seasonally. The old fashions are always a favorite no matter the recipe. The staff is very kind and knowledgeable about their menu and drink pairings."
Maddie Kranz
"Impromptu dinner after the Botanical Gardens… we were lucky and scored 2 seats at the bar at 7pm. Tim was attentive, kind and friendly. Every bit of our experience was delicious and each bite was a flavorful surprise!"
Liesl aka Li Johansen
"This is a truly special place!! My absolute favorite restaurant in Denver. The food, service, and atmosphere are all top-tier. For a party of two, I recommend ordering two starters, two pastas, and two desserts or going all in with their tasting menu, you won’t regret it.
Be sure to make a reservation! Before our meal, we were asked about any allergies or dietary restrictions, which I really appreciated. Kayla was our server and she went above and beyond, an absolute gem. That said, every staff member we interacted with was exceptional.
100/10 — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️"
O Z
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, reservations are highly recommended as Restaurant Olivia is very popular and seating is limited. Walk-ins are accepted at the bar.
The handmade pasta dishes are the signature items. Dishes like Gemelli alla Norcina and French Onion Ravioli are highly recommended.
Yes, the restaurant is known for its accommodating staff who can suggest vegetarian options from the menu. Gluten-free pasta is also available.
The atmosphere is described as intimate, cozy, warm, and romantic, making it ideal for special occasions.
The bar offers expertly crafted cocktails with unique combinations, including olive oil-washed martinis.
Yes, the menu is seasonal, incorporating fresh flavors and changing cocktails throughout the year.
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An understated-yet-elegant Michelin-recognized Wash Park addition that shines with the freshest handmade pasta in half a dozen varieties at any given time, from perfectly pillowy agnolotti stuffed with bison short rib to creamy gemelli alla norcina (pecorino, fennel sausage, black truffle). You’d be hard-pressed to find better tagliatelle in Bologna itself. Why we love it: Everything feels warm and intentional at Olivia, from the greeting to the knowledgeable servers to the menu, which lists the pastas as the headliners followed by the subtext of proteins, fillings, sauces and herbs, and includes thoughtful drink pairings with each dessert.
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If you’ve been planning on finally confessing some deep feelings to someone and need a white tablecloth to do it over, come to Restaurant Olivia. Especially if that certain someone likes quiet, candle-lit dining rooms, excellent service, and pastas with ingredients like prosciutto and plum or caramelized onions and gruyère fondue. As with everything else here, the cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks are spot on, featuring combos like olive oil-washed martinis and a Manhattan jazzed up with chai and angostura bitters.
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Austin Carson, Heather Morrison, and Ty Leon bought Cafe Marmotte near Wash Park in late 2019, and reopened to much well deserved buzz in January 2020 as Restaurant Olivia. While it’s normally tough to score a reservation, now you can get a taste of what they’re cooking up curbside. In addition to a to-go menu of prepared dishes, you can also grab to go kits featuring Leon’s impeccable handmade pastas and a choice of sauce.
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The founders of this spot may have cut their teeth at Frank Bonanno's string of upscale Denver restaurants, but they made names for themselves for offering top-notch hospitality and some of the best Italian food this side of the Atlantic at Restaurant Olivia. Handmade pastas like the gemelli alla norcina—pasta twists served with Umbrian sausage, confit cherry tomatoes and pecorino cream—are the star of the menu, but everything is perfection, from the arancini to the eggplant Parmesan. Save room for the pear and polenta cake for dessert (or if you simply can't, just bring home the kitchen's take-and-bake chocolate chip cookies).
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Ever since Restaurant Olivia opened in January 2020, making exceptional pasta has been its watchword. Its program of extruded, twisted, and hand-folded noodles is superlative within Denver’s Italian restaurant scene, which was loaded with first-rate options even before Olivia’s opening. This past May, the Washington Park hot spot unveiled a 1,200-square-foot expansion that, among several other structural changes, moved its entrance, doubled its seating capacity, and, most important, introduced an open-concept station where dedicated pasta chef Emily Boyd rolls out around 100 pounds of pasta each week.
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Snuggle up to your sweetheart, sip from a bottle of bubbles and proclaim your courtship in this beautifully romantic nest in Washington Park headlined by three local restaurant pros, including superstar chef Ty Leon. One of the city’s most coveted destinations for approachable refined Italian cuisine, Olivia is all about intoxicating handmade pasta dishes such as black truffled spaghetti paired with butter-poached lobster, unassailable stewardship from the waitstaff, a wondrous wine collection to get the heart racing and cozy quarters frolicking with amorous couples.
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The finest restaurants make you feel as if you're the only one who matters, and that's how Ty Leon, Heather Morrison and Austin Carson treat diners at Olivia, which opened in January 2020. While Leon is in the kitchen folding pasta into intricate shapes for your wonder and amusement, Carson is mixing a cocktail just right for your tastes, and Morrison is gliding between tables to check on your every need. The food must be perfect, too, so that your dinner is a smooth trip in a luxury sedan, not a wild ride of highs and lows.
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Pasta perfection: That’s what you’ll find at this Washington Park restaurant from the culinary dream team of Heather Morrison (front-of-house hospitality expert), Austin Carson (who heads up the bar) and pasta-making pro Ty Leon. Olivia opened in January 2020 — terrible timing for a fine-dining establishment. But it made it through the pandemic one lasagna to-go at a time, and now it’s back to focusing on what it does best — which includes Leon in the kitchen folding pasta into intricate shapes for your wonder and amusement.
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Restaurant Olivia has “one of the city’s hottest tables,” according to Colorado’s inaugural Michelin guide. Chef/owner Ty Leon’s specialty is his modern take on classic pasta dishes, like the French onion ravioli, which tastes just like a warm bowl of French onion soup. Every ingredient is well thought out and sourced, like the burrata shipped two days after it’s made on a farm in Italy, or venison from a conservation organization in Maui that’s only served at two other U.S. restaurants.
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The new owners of the space that was Cafe Marmotte in the Wash Park neighborhood have turned it into a sweet spot for all things pasta. The interior has a fresh, light look but all of the warmth and intimacy remain. Recommended for Romantic Dining because: Olivia Restaurant has nicely refreshed the former Cafe Marmotte space without sacrificing warmth and intimacy and the pasta-focused menu will not disappoint.
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Restaurant Olivia is THE spot on our guide to Denver’s best Italian restaurants for a cozy, intimate, and upscale date night. We highly recommend the tasting course, but if you’re not ready to go full food coma, we recommend ordering appetizer sizes of a few entrees so you can taste more than one!. Lobster and spaghetti are consistently on the menu but everything else changes seasonally.
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Olivia is a modern Italian restaurant in Denver’s Washington Park neighborhood, known for its contemporary take on traditional Italian dishes. Chef Ty Leon has created a menu that blends classic flavors with modern techniques, resulting in both familiar and innovative dishes. The ambiance at Olivia is warm and inviting, focusing on creating a comfortable and relaxed dining experience.
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Delicious Italian food made from scratch using top-quality ingredients is at the heart of Restaurant Olivia in Denver. Homemade pasta is the star of the menu, with everything from the basics, like classic lasagna and creamy four-cheese tortellini, to the unexpected, with dishes like buttery lobster spaghetti. Order some house-baked focaccia bread to soak up your sauce.
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Restaurant Olivia in Wash Park prides itself on being a neighborhood gem that captures the essence of Italian hospitality. Helmed by Chef Ty Leon, this restaurant offers a seasonal menu that highlights the best produce and flavors of the region. Their inventive use of ingredients elevates classic dishes like Gnocchi and Branzino to new heights.
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The warm ambiance in Restaurant Olivia makes it one of the top choices for an upscale dining experience in Denver. The pasta-focused restaurant has some of the most authentic Italian in the city. Every year, the staff of Restaurant Olivia takes a trip to Italy so that they can personally experience, taste, and see what inspires the menu.
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For all the pasta-loving couples out there, Restaurant Olivia(290 S Downing St)would have to be the first restaurant for you to check out when visiting Denver for a romantic dinner. Restaurant Olivia is a pasta-focused Italian restaurant situated in the Wash Park neighborhood. All pastas are made fresh and in-house.
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Firstly, let me just say that the moment I stepped foot into Restaurant Olivia, I was captivated by the warm and inviting atmosphere. The dim lighting, elegant decor, and cozy seating all create the perfect ambiance for a romantic evening. The top notch service only added to the overall enchanting experience.
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In this restaurant, you will experience a friendly, laid-back option for traditional French cuisine with contemporary twists, local beer, and beverages. The meal experience will be made even more pleasurable and special by the courteous and competent staff. The best part of a meal is the appetizer.
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Located in Denver’s Wash Park neighborhood, the menu draws influence from Italian classics and elevates plates with precision and love for home cooking. Each ingredient is carefully sourced from local producers and is organic whenever possible. The drinks menu is also a joy.
Noodles — Restaurant Olivia, Handmade Pasta in Denver Colorado
After graduating high school in 2007, he moved to Denver, Colorado to attend Johnson and Wales University to study culinary arts and restaurant management. After graduating in 2011 he moved to Saratoga, California to work in the Michelin starred restaurant The Plumed Horse.
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Restaurant Olivia has a unique take on classic French cuisine and drinks. The menu features artistically crafted dishes that have both traditional and modern touches. The cozy atmosphere and lip-smacking food are sure to please your love of life.
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290 S Downing StreetDenver, CO 80209(303) 999-0395 Visit Website See Menu Open in Google Maps. Restaurant Olivia is a comfortable establishment offering a locally sourced, Italian-focused menu, crafted cocktails, and wine list.
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Restaurant Olivia is located on the Northwest corner of Washington Park, in an easily accessible location for most in Denver. Chef Ty Leon opened this fresh pasta haven in January 2020. Originally, it was a French restaurant.
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290 S Downing St │ Restaurant Website │ Menu │ Book A Table │Price: $$$$. Olivia pasta restaurant near Washington Park. Best Table: With only 36 seats in the house, options are limited.
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- Rating: 4.5/5 (196 reviews)- Address: 290 South Downing St. Denver, Colorado - Categories: Italian, Wine Bars- Read more on Yelp
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