Denver Restaurant Openings

Expect a Gin-Heavy Menu, All Things Ham When Ultreia Opens in Late November

The cozy Union Station restaurant will offer a local take on Spanish and Portuguese favorites

by Josie Sexton@josiebsexton Nov 7, 2017, 1:31pm MST

Ultreia promises to be a “gastroteka” and gin tonic bar

Union Station’s new corner bar is starting to take shape as Ultreia readies for an opening in the last days of November. The Spanish and Portuguese-inspired “gastroteka” by the owners of Rioja and Stoic & Genuine will slice imported ham directly from the bone and serve an extensive list of gin tonics, along with vermouth and sherry.

Menu items also are solidifying, including finger foods such as a trio of said dried ham, fried Padrón peppers, and bread with tomato and olive oil. Cured and grilled fish dot the menu, as do Spanish cheeses, and sandwiches, or bocadillos. Nods to Portugal include a piri piri chicken and pastel de nata custard. Food offerings will change with the time of day, allowing diners to stop in for lunch, snacks, or dinner.

Ultreia takes up a small corner just inside Union Station’s main entrance. Mezzanine seating above the tiny open kitchen will add to a handful of booths and tables on the floor below, as well as the full bar area. The restaurant will double its 50-some capacity by the spring when an outdoor patio opens .