Nightclubs and Nightlife in Denver
Headed to the Mile High City? Well, Denver is a very exciting place to visit and if you’re looking for some hot nightime fun downtown then you’re in luck, Denver is full of nightclubs and bars. In fact, originally a mining town, legend has it that the first building constructed in Denver was a drinking establishment. Since then things have changed a bit and you can expect to find a more upscale or high class drinking establishment than the mining saloon, but there are more than enough bars to choose from.
Skip the Sunday service and head to The Church for a nighttime celebration instead. This old gothic church has been converted into one of Denver’s most popular dance clubs. No kitsch and clever puns here, its straight up good club sounds with traditional drinks infused with energy shots. For the younger crowd The Church may be a must see as its one of the few bars to offer an 18 and up dance club night which lets everyone in on the fun. Whether you’ve had your fill of the crowd and the thumping tunes or not, take a moment to move on up to the roof top deck and check out this amazing view of Denver.
A noted nightclub for its see and be seen crowd, Hush is actually not a favorite among the locals. So if you’re looking to maybe rub elbows with some of the glitterati, then Hush is the place to be, but if you’re looking for a friendly chic atmosphere with reasonably priced drinks, this is definitely not the place to visit.
For a more down to earth nightclub experience, try Kazmo’s which pretends to be a dive bar. Far from dive, Kazmo’s features great music, good drinks, and service that makes you feel welcome. Kazmo’s will be loud, exciting and wild. One special note, if you’re looking to extend that Saturday night feeling a little bit longer, Kazmo’s opens at 7:00am on Sunday morning.
A good place for great music, Mercury Café is well known for providing visitors with live jazz, swing and other eclectic musical treats. You can not only get your groove on at Mercury Café, but you can also fill your bellies with a pretty varied menu that features some organic treats for the hippy crowd.
Not the traditional nightclub or nightlife scene, but LoDo’s Bar and Grill has its place in the Denver experience. This sports bar is a great way to begin a night of fun and excitement, especially if you’re headed down the street to Coors Field to catch a game. Good bar food and a pleasant sports themed atmosphere make this a comfortable place to begin your night of partying.
Despite its slightly pretentious name, the Martini Ranch is a pretty laid back locale with top notch martinis in the super cool upstairs martini lounge. This establishment is actually a three story club with the downstairs Shaker Room serving as the happening hot spot for dancers, the mid level provides diners with a little sustenance, while the martini bar on the top keeps patrons smiling.
Yep, it’s a theme bar but oh what a theme. This stylish bar actually has spy cameras galore, so if you get lucky enough to hit one of the VIP booths, check out the cameras that let you scan around and zoom in on the rest of the crowd. And a special note to the guys, if you absolutely loved the bond girls who shadow danced in the closing credits, then you’ll love Spy Bar’s own shadow dancers who tease the crowd nightly.
Don’t forget that Denver, for all its peace-loving hippy ways, was a cowboy haven full of miners back in the day. The Grizzly Rose plays up this tradition by turning a converted warehouse into a happening, hotspot for country music. If it’s live music you’re looking for, especially the kind with a country twang, then check out Grizzly Rose as they are known to draw some of the most famous country crooners around.
Sing Sing is touted as a new twist on karaoke, but isn’t karaoke a different twist on what Sing Sing is really all about. Picture friends and family circled around a piano singing their hearts out, yep just like they did hundreds of years ago, or not so long ago at Christmastime. Now you know what makes Sing Sing famous. Don’t worry if you don’t have the voice, all you need is courage and a sense of fun.
Not just a nightclub, Lime is an excellent restaurant featuring American-Mexican fusion cuisine, but the reason the trendy crowd finds lime exciting is the largest margaritas in Denver and the local DJs who keep the patrons hopping. Lime is a trendy, cool dining experience that can easily turn into an entire evening of excitement.
Belly up to the bar at Skylark Lounge, a popular 50′s themed bar that knows how to pour a drink. Local bands are typically what’s on tap, but ever so often you’ll get lucky and a touring rockabilly, swing or alternative country act will slide into town. If you want to do the night up right, feel free to go with a touch of kitsch and dress in 50′s style apparel.
Forget the pretense entirely and pull on your most comfortable pair of jeans for a night at Herb’s. This true grit dive bar is exactly what you need for a night of drinking and socializing with the regulars. No lines, no high priced girly drinks, just a traditional old fashioned bar with quality drinks and a bit of local color. In fact, Herb’s also features live jazz and blues music at times so you can also load up on quality tunes.
One side note for visitors to the Mile High City, obviously Denver is at a higher altitude than most people are used to, even though it doesn’t actually look that way from the city itself. It’s easy to get dehydrated and a little bit of altitude sickness when you’re at these elevations, so try not to overdo it with the alcohol, and keep yourself properly hydrated (with water) so you will be able to really enjoy your visit to Denver.
Getting the right discount on your Denver hotel will fund a night on the town. Click here for the best hotel rates.
(cc: photo credit: mattsantomarco)
Categories: Nightlife
