Denver's five best rooftop patios

Linger

The rooftop at Linger.

We usually have long Indian summers here in Colorado, but yesterday's temperature plunge, while welcome, was still a warning shot that summer is on its way out. Translation: you've got a dwindling number of chances to drink on a deck.

This weekend, though, the forecast for the city is back in the mid-eighties and sunny -- so get out there and embrace one of Denver's rooftop patios before you're stuck complaining that it's no longer patio weather. Here are the five best:

West End Tavern

The West End Tavern rooftop, set for an event.

5. The West End Tavern
There are two sides to this Boulder spot's rooftop deck: One is a sunny, open space for diners that features views of the Flatirons. The other is a shaded -- but breezy -- bar area where you can grab a high table, order up wings and a beer and catch sports on TV. And when the bar side is enclosed during the colder months, it makes a cozy spot for football watching later in the fall.

Vita

4. Vita
Rooftop patios have proliferated in Highland this year, but Vita gets the prize for doing it first. The large deck, outfitted with umbrellas and glittering lights at night, looks over the city, offering panoramic views of the skyline. Bonus: Vita offers a killer happy hour, with cheap drinks, two-for-one wines by the glass and a list of $5 appetizers you could easily build a meal from.

Shela Burgess

3. Fainting Goat
When we're seeking a rooftop without pomp and circumstance, we head to the Fainting Goat, which is one of the most low-key places we know. This multi-leveled dive's roof, which features its own bar, is often inhabited by a rather eclectic crowd; it's a place where you could easily while away several hours with a cold beer and a good conversation.