Photo: Mercantile
Book Rooftop Brewing Co. first if the group wants live music and a view from a rooftop patio. Book Mercantile Dining Courtyard if the group wants a restaurant table with a wine library and a market under the same roof. Both places in Union Station take reservations, so a host can hold a table before sending the invite. Ask each place how many seats a single table holds and whether a larger group can be placed together. Neither's capacity is stated here.
Restaurants with outdoor seating
Every place on this page takes reservations, has outdoor seating, serves brunch and serves coffee. That makes the first decision easy: any group that wants a booked table, a patio and a morning option can use either one. The choice comes down to the room and what the group wants to do once seated.
Mercantile Dining Courtyard leans toward the restaurant meal. Rooftop Brewing Co. leans toward beer, music and open air. The sections below give each one's booking facts, then set them side by side.
Mercantile Dining Courtyard, a New American eatery with a market
Mercantile Dining Courtyard is the pick for a group that wants to split up before sitting down. Its space holds a New American eatery, a wine library, an artisanal market and a barista bar, all at 1701 Wynkoop St #155. Guests can browse the market or order coffee at the barista bar while the rest of the group arrives. The table is booked ahead, because the restaurant takes reservations.
Hours run Mon-Fri 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sat 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sun 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. A Sunday group should plan for the early close at 2 p.m. Brunch is served, and so is coffee. The price level is expensive, so a host collecting money ahead should set the budget with that in mind.
Outdoor seating is available, and dogs are allowed, which helps a group where a guest wants to bring one. The Mercantile site describes seasonal American cuisine and craft cocktails. Google rates it 4.5 of 5.
Rooftop Brewing Co., a brewery with a rooftop patio
Rooftop Brewing Co. is where a group goes for a long afternoon outside. It pours local beers and spirits and has a rooftop patio with city views, at 1920 Blake St. It takes reservations, so book the patio rather than hope for open seats. Live music is part of the draw.
The business calls itself Tap Fourteen. Its site describes a rooftop beer garden half a block from Coors Field and puts 70 Colorado craft beers on draft. A group with a ballgame in the plan can book here and walk over afterward.
Brunch and coffee are served, so a morning booking works as well as an evening one. The price level is moderate. The entrance and the seating are both wheelchair accessible, which a host can tell guests ahead of time. Google rates it 4.4 of 5.
Choosing between the two for a group
Start with budget. The lowest price level on this page is moderate, at Rooftop Brewing Co. Mercantile Dining Courtyard is expensive. Mercantile has the highest Google rating on the page, 4.5 of 5.
Next, look at who is coming.
- Only Mercantile Dining Courtyard allows dogs and serves wine.
- Only Rooftop Brewing Co. has live music, serves beer, has paid garage parking and is wheelchair accessible.
Parking at Rooftop Brewing Co. is paid street parking and paid garage parking, so a host can tell drivers to expect to pay at either.
A workable plan for a mixed group is to book Mercantile Dining Courtyard for a daytime meal on a weekday or Saturday, when hours run to 9 p.m. Book Rooftop Brewing Co. for the outing built around music and the patio. For more Union Station options, see Bars in Union Station and Brunch in Union Station.
Updated 2026-10-15: removed La Loma Patio and Rhein Haus Denver, whose details no source supports; added the Rooftop Brewing Co. parking and access lines; used the Mercantile Dining Courtyard hours.
