Ay Papi

We stopped by Ay Papi on Saturday, July 12 for some drinks—which were good but a bit pricey. We went mainly for the Latin vibe, especially with a name like Ay Papi, but the music was disappointing. There wasn’t much Latin music, and the playlist felt random, which threw off the atmosphere. It’s a cool-looking spot, but if you’re going for that Latin energy, you might be let down unless they update the music.

Ay Papi is all about the vibes! From the moment I walked in, it was very reminiscent of my time at Miami. The good side of Miami! You know, good drinks, well-dressed people, awesome music, dark and moody ambiance. I’m normally a dive bar kind of guy but I love coming here when I want to feel a little more fancy. The drinks are all amazing too. My group ordered 4 different drinks and we ended up sharing our drinks because we all liked them so much. Kudos bartenders! If you’re a fan of mezcal and tequila get the Cinder & Smoke! I can’t wait to go back and try more drinks!

Ay Papi is hands down the best bar I’ve ever been to! The vibes are unmatched—from the music to the aesthetics, everything is on point. The atmosphere is electric yet chill, making it the perfect spot to unwind or turn up with friends. I absolutely love this place and will definitely be coming back more often. Highly recommend checking it out if you haven’t already!

Great well lit but chill spot that immediately transports you into a Tropical Paradise full of fun Island Style cocktails. You feel like you’re in a Luxurious Hotel’s lobby bar and the vibe is just so different to other places in Denver. A great spot for an early evening cocktail or an after dinner cocktail. They also had great fun mocktails as well! The only bummer is that when you leave, you don’t hear the waves break and you aren’t stepping onto the same! Highly recommend for those well needed Staycation Vibes or quick escape! Can’t imagine how magical this place would be in the Winter! Will have to try that for sure!!!

Yesterday, I had an exceptional cocktail experience. As a mixologist from New York, I truly appreciate well-crafted drinks, and the bartender demonstrated remarkable skill. She excelled not only in cocktail preparation but also in reading customer profiles and engaging in effective communication—proving once again that bartenders can sometimes be better than psychologists. The cocktails were outstanding, with a strong focus on molecular mixology techniques that elevated the experience. If you’re moving to Denver and looking for an extraordinary drinking experience, I highly recommend this place. Recommendation: Don’t hesitate to order any rum-based cocktails—they have a deep understanding of rum’s DNA and know how to showcase its best qualities.

With FIVE people working in a nearly dead bar - minus people actually sitting on the “patio” the bartender didn’t even look at us one time. After we stacked our plates, sipping water thought a straw in an empty drink, and having our cards sit on the bar for 15 min, we had to ask a waitress for our check. She didn’t bring it. Yikes and we had to ask another random server / bartender / manager (?) /NPC for the bill. Oh and a 20% gratuity is added without telling you. At one point my friend and I thought we were wearing invisible cloaks. Haha. Anyway not worth $80 for guacamole and whatever that “ceviche” was

What a great surprise this was. Having never been there before, we were lured in by the name. At the door, we were greeted by Connor, who sealed the deal by making us laugh and guiding us to a few perfect seats at the bar. We came for drinks, ended up adding dessert, and left with a new go-to spot every time we are in Cherry Creek.

I got the "Ho Ho Hot Buttered Rum," which was a Christmas special drink. It was supposed to have "Navy strength rum" in it, but basically tasted like hot spiced water. After being asked how it was, I told the bartender it didn't taste like there was any liquor in it at all, and he said, "Oh, it's a strong drink. Just wait for the end." Then proceeded to stir it for me with an umbrella toothpick (after I had already stirred it myself). Of course, it didn't make a difference in taste. My wife also got a drink that was described by the bartender as "light and refreshing," but was syrupy in texture and super sweet with a bitter aftertaste. We were then surprised with a 20% service charge after receiving poor service. So we downed our drinks and left, with me still not feeling any effects of the supposed "Navy strength rum" that was supposedly in my drink.

The food service is great, the people that work here are so friendly and wonderful, and the ambiance is just fantastic the outdoor scene can be beat!

Date night , we got the Paloma which was so refreshing. Followed that with the G&T that was the best one I've ever had. Also comes in a big cup and had me feeling special lol Also the sleeper aka best choice on the menu is the BOOZZY pops! They have 4 flavors daiquiri lime, banana, papaya and root beer. My fav was the banana and papaya but they are delicious and at $5 it's a STEAL!! We had all the people around us ordering them and we bought them all! Service was amazing Gabriella took great care of us!

You're transported to Miami and honestly it's ideal if you're there for the vibes. Drinks were phenomenally dangerous and service was great! You can tell it's a place that serves food because they sorta have to with how expansive their bar menu is -- I'd bet that most of their food is pretty good! All I can speak to was our little panini that did the trick but wasn't anything to write home about. I'll eat any sandwich that has grilled pineapple, so I enjoyed it!

The vibes here are immaculate. Very light, airy, and friendly. Makes you feel like you want to travel somewhere tropical. Menu is interesting but quite expensive. Everything was worth it. Indoor and outdoor seating options. Magical moment was when they started shooting bubbles from a bubble making machine. Would come back.

This place definitely gets you in the tropical mindset! I had a couple of different drinks and they were both good. My friend asked for a pina colada which wasn't on the menu, but they made it for him and I probably liked it more than what I ordered!

Ay Papi is one of my new favorite late afternoon spots in Cherry Creek! Sat at the bar with a friend and enjoyed a few cocktails and apps. Yes, it was pretty pricey (at least $16 per drink) but totally worth the fun, upscale experience. For myself, I got the Spicy Guava Daiquiri and Rum Old Fashioned. SO GOOD! I'm a sucker for anything with guava in it. Speaking of which, my favorite snack was the Guava Cheese Dip. We also ordered the Warm Provolone Dip. Both were tasty. I especially like how bright this bar is. So much natural light. And great demographic (very Cherry Creek) which made me wish I dressed up more. Per usual, there's paid metered parking or free street parking further out. Enjoy!

Caring and Safe environment! I came in for a drink with a friend and was unfortunately followed by some guys who made us feel uncomfortable. I snuck a quick note to the bartender and immediately all matters were handled and even the manager came over to check in on me personally. He assured their objective of maintaining a safe environment and they were above and beyond in proving that. I am so grateful and truly felt cared for and extremely safe the rest of the evening knowing they cared and had my best interest at heart. Thank you for a great evening with amazing drinks and I look forward to having this place to come to more with girl friends knowing we will be safe.

Food: They have small bites and a few sandwiches. (Stuffed Medjool Dates) Pretty good! Had goat cheese in the middle. (Guava Cheese Dip) Sounded pretty good but I didn't think it was that great. It was fine but wouldn't get again. I loved that it came with fried plantains though! Drinks: We got their Christmas popup drinks so I'm not sure they will be in the menu long. But both were delicious! Mine was coconut cream and rum (drool) Service: We sat at the bar but the gal was attentive and kind! They automatically added 20% which was different but fine Ambience: Well it was still the Christmas popup decorations so it was overboard with Christmas decorations so couldn't deny the cuteness. But overall a trendier vibe; being in cherry creek

Ay Papi was such a fun place to grab drinks and snacks with friends! They don't have a huge food menu; primarily made up of shareable plates. The inside has great vibes and natural sunlight. There is also a small outdoor patio area. Would be a great date night spot. They have fun, themed drinks. Wait staff was all extremely friendly and attentive and went around with a bubble machine. Definitely recommend!

Best service to out of town and locals! We were running 20 minutes behind and they don't have a number but I quickly DMed them on instagram and got a response right away that they will wait for us. Upon arrival they greeted our party ecstatic and although we were only doing drinks we got some apps. Their queso was delicious and the variety of drinks they had were fun to choose from. I let them know we were celebrating and they gave us a complimentary shot. The place had fun music playing and the inside is an influencers dream! I recommend for a night out

Last night, my friends and I ventured into the magical world of Sippin' Santa at Ay Papi, and it was an absolute blast! This place is a Christmas wonderland, buzzing with energy. We were thankful to have reserved a table beforehand because the place was hopping! The decor is charmingly festive, creating a cozy, holiday atmosphere. But what really steals the show are their holiday signature cocktails. Each one is a unique creation, served in adorable, theme-specific glasses or mugs - think Santa mugs and reindeer glasses! These drinks are not only a delight to the taste buds but also a feast for the eyes. And guess what? You can buy these cute mugs and glasses to take home! Even though they were swamped, the staff was incredibly attentive. There was a slight wait for our drinks, but they more than made up for it with complimentary shots - a sweet touch! The music added another layer of cool to the experience. It wasn't your typical holiday tunes; instead, they mixed in trap, dubstep, and EDM, giving a fresh, modern twist to the festive mood. We didn't get a chance to eat at their restaurant this time, but I'm already looking forward to coming back for that. Sippin' Santa at Ay Papi is definitely a holiday hotspot you don't want to miss. Great vibes, delicious drinks, and fantastic decor - a perfect recipe for a memorable holiday outing!

They opened last year on July 4th. The owner, Juan Padro of Creative Concepts is Puerto Rican and has Cuban heritage. Very friendly and inviting cocktail space with a tiled floor, cane wicker chairs and stools with lots of natural light from the overhead skylight and lots of hanging plants. Staff were playful & fun. You need a reservation for an inside seat, so I used the OpenTable app. The app wouldn't let me reserve for 1 person, so I lied. The hostess said no problem. If you don't have a reservation, the patio out front is FCFS. Nice menu of house & seasonal cocktails, frozen drinks, alcohol free and wine by the glass. The food menu has snacks, larger plates and sandwiches. I started with a frozen layered strawberry daiquiri/Pina colada. Tasted good but a bit disappointing being rather small for $16. I added the stuffed medjool dates with goat cheese. A nice counterpoint. I switched to a Rum Old Fashioned with a snack of marinated olives and cubes of manchego cheese. They add a 20% service charge, so no additional tipping is needed. They have a handicap lift from the patio to the main floor for drinks or restrooms. Overall, a great spot for cocktails.

Ok, so the only reason I have 3 stars is the price. I do not recall, ever paying $62.50 for 3 drinks, anywhere in Denver so I was legit shocked when I got the bill. The other reason I was slightly annoyed is they add gratuity to your bill. The server told us they did, but then asked if I wanted to tip more... and it was on the screen when I put my credit card in and it just felt a little tacky... so of course I now have to tip more as she's standing over me waiting. I understand large parties with the tip, but for a few drinks? The ambience is adorable and the staff was great but I'll probably go somewhere else if I want to spend alot on a few drinks.

Ay Papi is a wonderful addition to CC. Their cocktails are delicious and refreshing. Salads are fantastic. Lovely beautiful crowd. The whole place is spectacularly built out...although outside on a warm evening is just beautiful. Stop by and have a cocktail

Super fun spot for some cocktails and a small bite! The decor is so cute: trendy, modern, coastal vibes. There's also outdoor seating just as cute. We went on a Sunday afternoon and there was a dj playing a great mix of music (love that they play latin music). The cocktails we had were delicious and refreshing. We tried the whipped cheese dip and it was just delicious with the banana chips. The food menu is small so wouldn't necessarily come here for a full meal.

I have been to Ay Papi twice now and can't wait to go back. These was a plethora of rum drink options included a rum old fashioned and pinacolada. The pinacolada was small but packed a punch! It was thick and hit fast, made me want to be on a beach! The appetizer of cheese with a papaya sauce served with plantains was unique and delicious. Highly recommend asking the staff for recommendations of you don't see anything on the menu that interests you. They will make any standard drinks as well.

I wanted to like this bar more than I did. Didn't realize it was currently a pop-up holiday bar for the season and this actually made it better. The decor was great with a mix of beach-vibe with Christmas. There were specialty holiday cocktails on the menu with kitschy glassware. The Yule Tide was a fun option. Not a lot on the menu for food.

Oh what a fun spot for a girl's night! The vibe was great. Colorful lights, beautifully decorated space, delicious cocktails. I got a fruity daiquiri and it wasn't out of a premixed spinning beverage dispenser- it was whipped up in the kitchen and so yummy. We sat at the bar and the bartenders were lovely. Food was good too.

First time here since they opened and were super happy to stumble upon it. Get the guava cheese appetizer! It is phenomenal with the plantain chips. We went before they switched over their Christmas menu but the hot buttered run cocktail and the rum old fashion were fantastic.

They forgot our food and then told us we had 10 minutes to finish our drinks that also showed up late. Then when they figured out they hadn't put our order in, they told us they'd box it up to go for us because another table was coming in. Am I being Punk'd? Where's Ashton?

The service was great, ambiance was great, cocktails were tasty! Food choices were slim and tasted "okay". What bugged me so bad was the added a 20% service fee to the bill, no mention of it when they handed me the bill. I don't like being able to choose my level of gratuity. I'll never go back-

The ambiance here was beautiful! The bartenders were super friendly and helpful too. Definitely try some of their cocktails.

Such a cute place!! Great music and very friendly staff! I had a Paloma and it was really good!

Came here one night to meet with friends and I was on a break from drinking so I tried the vegan horchata and OH MY GOODNESS this drink slaps! The space is also so cute and bright with a lively energy. I love the way it's decorated with tons of greenery. I was also vibin to the reggaeton music they play in there. I went on a Tuesday evening and it was super busy so it was hard to get a table - I recommend a reservation for more than 2 people. Can't wait to go back and try some of their cocktails!

What a beautiful new place to get a cocktail in cherry creek! We came here over the weekend (Saturday) for the first time and it did not disappoint! They, by some miracle, were even able to accommodate a table of 5 for us. The cocktails were great, the service was fast considering it was busy. This bar is narrow and long, so it could be challenging to walk around when really busy. Friends of ours said they had come the night before and that it was packed. I'm sure we will be back soon, and I'll post more photos!

Pretty atmosphere, delicious cocktails & a lively DJ on the weekend: a TRIFECTA!! Will be back.

Four of us went to Ay Papi for drinks before dinner reservations elsewhere. We were (just) able to walk in at 6pm on a Saturday, no reservation, so that wasn't too bad. DRINKS: Some fine rum-forward drinks. I had a couple of versions of a mojito. We also had at the table a fantastic daiquiri, good cuba libres; a very rummy rum old fashioned, and a few others. Everything was quite tasty -- the drinks are the stars here. FOOD: The food menu is pretty limited, and little of it seemed the natural small plate sort of thing. We did order one of their cubano sandwiches and asked to have it cut in four pieces, and it was very good. AMBIANCE: On the up side, lots of white paint and long skylight give the whole interior a bright, airy feel. That's good, because the building is quite narrow, with bar on one side and small tables on the other and a tight passageway between them. When the place is crowded, it can get a little claustrophobic, even if well lit. Along with that is the sound level, which definitely hits the "loud" level -- but at our tiny four-top, we were able to converse comfortably, so it wasn't too bad. Nice, up-beat Latin music in the background was marred by the blown speaker buzzing and bumping overhead. In addition to the interior, the patio area is chock-a-block with more tables. . SERVICE: Our server was attentive without being pushy, and got us everything we asked for. Of course, we were sitting in the back, near the POS station, so she couldn't exactly avoid us, but she did a fine job. (Note: the bar charges a standard 20% service charge; any tipping beyond that is at the diner's discretion. I had no hesitation adding to the tip.) NET-NET: A fun place for good drinks and, if that's what you are looking for, some tasty sandwiches. Not quite my cuppa, so I don't know that I'll be back, but that's because of what I'm looking for, not because of what Ay Papi pretty decently provides.

New bar, I just happened to stop in the week after they opened it. Love the vibe, it's very tropical and Miami. The music is great, lots of great Spanish music and the drinks were on-point - especially the Mai Tai. I appreciated the Mezcal Mule they made me as well. Bar was really busy so getting help required some work, but it definitely wasn't from a lack of trying on the staff's part, they were just really busy. It was a really fun vibe and a great way to end the work week. The place was absolutely packed. I thought about ordering the Cuban Sandwich, but being a Tampa native, I can't eat a Cuban with pepperoni. Hope someone fixes that next time! Such a great time though, I would return!

Quick biz trip and stuck to the Cherry Creek area. Has a neighborhood vibe to it - but does not disappoint as a special destination for a date night or happy hour spot. Great quality and presentation - drink menu skews towards tropical and tiki style - and were great!

Awesome service, cocktails. I hope they add more options or change some options for bar snacks :) so good, great vibe.

My friend in from out of town and I waited 10 minutes to have someone come to our table after our waiter walked past us multiple times. For perspective, there was outside and inside seating still available. I ordered the mai tai and my friend ordered the old Cuban. We waited about another 10 minutes on our drinks, and again, the lounge was not busy. We both are pretty sure the term funky for these drink descriptors means "bottom shelf alcohol mixed with something." Needless to say, our drinks were not good. My mai tai had an added ingredient not on the menu (Mint), an ingredient I was avoiding. The server reluctantly made me a new one as he tried to play off the mint added as a "garnish." Anyone who knows alcohol knows mint impacts the taste even as a garnish. My friend still didn't like his old Cuban but didn't send it back and didn't finish it. I finished the new Mai tai without the mint, but it was still something I'd expect from a dive bar. With 20% gratuity added automatically, it was not at all worth the price of $46 for 2 horrible drinks. Not to mention the person who then brought us our check and cashed us out was not even our waiter, but a different waitress. Needless to say, Walk 2 blocks and go to forget me not.

Ay Papi is a new bar in Denver! We saw this place on TikTok and decided to check it out after brunch at SOL. We really enjoyed the ambience, as it was lively and they had music playing. The staff was really friendly and was able to accommodate our party of 6. It was a bit of a tight squeeze to get us all in their smaller tables but it worked out. The drinks were good but weren't the best of the best. We enjoyed and them and would come back to this place for sure. It was a bit pricey and it took some time to get our drinks, which is why I'm taking off a star. But otherwise we had a good experience.

Ambience was cool but really small. We sat on the small patio for about 1 hour but at least we were served drinks. We were eventually sat on the patio after a long wait but unfortunately it was raining and the patio has zero cover available for rain. The food and drinks were ok, a little underwhelming menu for a place that markets itself as a Cuban/Puerto Rican inspired joint (coming from a Puerto Rican). I will say the concept is cool and trendy and they have only been open a few weeks so hopefully the menu expands and the drinks improve over time

Marty is the best! I told him what we wanted, and he made us the best drinks. Beautiful atmosphere and wonderful music.

My husband and I took our friend here for a bday/Sunday funday and had an absolutely blast. The atmosphere was so much fun and inviting while our service was amazing. We sat at the bar and did a mojito "flight" and every drink was delicious! Definitely will be coming back and recommending

Since this restaurant is new, maybe the servers were as well, but it took us over 30 minutes to get our drinks and they brought out the wrong food three times. Also, when we got there, we had to ask the hostess if we were to seat ourselves, or if they were to seat us as she was ignoring us. I was a bit confused, but she didn't seem to be too worried about anything, so maybe it was just that particular hostess/server. The mojito I ordered was fine and the ceviche was just OK. Nothing very special. It was also very expensive. I will say it was very nice and clean and the ambiance was lovely. Very cute tiles and color patterns! But if you're looking for a good meal and service, this wouldn't be my recommendation.

I went in last evening to try out this new spot. The decor is lovely. My friend and I sat at the bar and searched the QR Code for HH and other menu options. We didn't see any HH options, wine by the bottle, and more than a few menu options. When we asked a few questions, we were told that there is no HH, no wine by the bottle, and to a few questions we received "I don't know" in response to questions. The drinks were all $12 - $18 dollars and wine started at $15. It seemed like they were not really fully opened, engaged, or even aware of customer needs. We made a decision to head to another Cherry Creek option that ended up being perfect in meeting our needs. This was a very disappointing outing.

Food, service, ambiance. It's all bad. Idk how this place is normally. But DO NOT go to this place for the Christmas pop up. Not only are the drinks unfavorable (we tried 6 total), but it's the environment and staff that really ruined it for us. If you're going to take on the task of this Christmas Themed environment, I suggest giving your employees a quick dose of cheer. Not only was the server inattentive and slow, which ultimately wasted time from our 90 minute count down. But the way that they rushed us out of this place, was nothing short of cheerful or holiday kindness. We were aware of the 90 minute limit. But 20 minutes before our time expired, they let us know (rudely) that the next party has arrived. And we were rushed to pay and leave. They also dropped the check 30 minutes prior to our food or drinks arriving. This does not give for a welcoming environment or any joy to the world. Lastly, server guy could benefit greatly from a breath mint.

Decor and fit out is inviting and modern. Sat at the bar with a girlfriend on a Wednesday afternoon around 300pm. Bar tender may have been having a bad day but there is no excuse for continual surly service. We asked for a limoncello spritz and were told no lemincello here - "we're not an Italian bar". Fair enough. But when you have Aperol, Italicus and Vermouth on the shelf there's the chance a good cocktail server could suggest an alternative. No, not here! When we asked about the Italicus - we were told - no idea about that bottle, it hasn't been opened. Ok, so maybe the cocktail waitress didn't know what we were referring to. We asked for a spritz based on Italicus, with a splash of Prosecco and soda to which we were told "I know how to make that". Great, then why did we need to ask for soda to be added? By this stage all we could do was laugh. The service was so abysmal. A service charge of 20% is automatically added to the bill - not mentioned by our server, the other bar tender or the person who processed our bill. Thank goodness the company was excellent otherwise this would have been an extremely disappointing experience. Would not recommend and reluctant to return.

The Christmas pop up is awesome! We got the merry spritzmas and the guava cheese dish. Delish!

The drinks and the ambiance were great! Service was sub par, bartenders were very unfriendly. We ordered the sea bass ceviche and the pineapple Cuban. The ceviche was okay, nothing special but for $26 the portion was tiny and the flavors were not there. The Cuban was overwhelming of pineapple, not great.

Good drinks and food. Service was mediocre. Don't love 20% requires tips on drinks. Place was quite crowded and noisy, which isn't a bad thing

Food and drinks are $$$ but to be fair, the cocktails are pretty damn good. Food is delightful, but nowhere as good as their drinks. Tip is included in the cost, 20% service charge is automatically added. It's a great place to visit for Cherry Creek, but it could break the bank if you plan on making this a weekly occurrence. Do be mindful this is Cherry Creek, so expect the clientele appropriately when considering the ambiance. My cocktail recommendation is the Miami Vice, it's sublime!

Very nice place to hang with friends! But they over charge you drinks in your bill ,(which drinks are little to priced) we told our service guy and he said nothing that he can do because all drinks was delivered!! Last night we decided never go back again

Went to this "hot spot" with two girlfriends. Unfortunately it goes down as one of my worst service experiences ever. The female server was very unfriendly, extremely slow and surly. Interesting that I have seen "surly" in several other reviews of this place. We ordered drinks and two appetizers. The first was the stuffed dates, which basically were dates stuff with velveetta. Very lack lackster. The second was a dip that never came. When we asked our server if she was bringing the dip, her answer was, "you never ordered that!" My friend responded patiently, " yes we did" and the server again barked "no you didn't." Second round of drinks never surfaced. Nor the dip. I went to host at the door to share our experience and he magnanimously deleted from the bill the dip that never came. Wow. A few other drinks were knocked off, but what still remained was an automatic 20 percent tip. I guess we know why the service is so bad? Upon asking him to remove that, his attitude came out as well. For the record, I am a VERY good tipper and I appreciate the service industry is tough. But this was so dismal. If you want to try to this place go soon because it will be out of business in 6 months.

We were very excited to try this new establishment in Cherry Creek, but were severely disappointed. We had a horrible experience - the second we walked in we saw men grinding on extremely young women in the middle of the bar and then prying on other women. After ordering a martini and asking for a new one due to it being nothing like a martini I was told there was nothing they could do and I need to go find whoever made my drink. Later in the night a man ran into our table and knocked 2 drinks off of our table. The staff was dismissive and rude in response to this happening, when we informed them the manager said "that is not the issue" and told us "unfortunately I can't go ask him to buy you new drinks" and walked away. They brought us complimentary shots, which we did not want or order, and did not come near the ridiculous price of $20 per drink. Buyers beware... they also add a 20% tip without notifying patrons, so another tip was added without them telling anyone. DO NOT recommend this place. I would give it 0 stars if I could!!!!!