Entertainment in Denver
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Ogden Theatre
One of Denver's best live-music venues, the Ogden Theatre has a checkered past. Built in 1917, it was derelict for many years and might have been dozed in the early 1990s, but it's now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Bands such as Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros and Lady Gaga have played here.
Harry Houdini performed here in 1919 and it appeared in the movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Jack Nicholson drove his Winnebago past the Ogden pulling into Denver in About Schmidt. If the house is packed, make for the upstairs level, where the catwalk extends on the wings and you'll have a beautiful bird's eye view and plenty of room to move.
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Beatrice & Woodsley
The menu of small plates is whimsical (like the corn-fed scallop – a scallop served with toasted cornbread and spicy slaw) and brunch here is the fanciest on S Broadway, but it’s the cocktails that kill us. The Europa ’51 exemplifies their artistry, combining gin, cynar, apple juice, citrus pepper tincture (whatever that is) and orange.
Beatrice and Woodsley is also the most artfully designed dining room in Denver. Chainsaws are buried into the wall to support shelves, there's an aspen growing through the back of the dining room and the feel is that of a mountain cabin being elegantly reclaimed by nature.
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Sputnik
The Sputnik does it all – it’s simultaneously a plucky brunch spot, a neighborhood dive bar and an excellent place for espresso. Still, it’s never more fun than when there’s a show next door at the Hi-Dive and the indie rockers spill over for strong pours and a seat in the old school photo booth.
If spending a long night of drinks, snacks, and rock and roll still isn't enough for you, the long-running ‘Hangover Brunch’ does it right, with spicy Bloody Marys and lots of ragged morning-after style.
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Thin Man Tavern
The Thin Man is a damn sight more stylish than most neighborhood taverns; it's decked out in all kinds of old Catholic paintings, and vintage lampshades cast the place in a warm, sentimental glow. Since a local magazine named it among the best low-key singles' spots in the city, the crowd is looking a bit more stylish too.
In addition to a good beer selection and stiff drinks, it also hosts free art films in the basement-level Ubisububi Room and, in the summer, show classics flicks outside in the parking lot.
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Grizzly Rose
This is one kick-ass honky-tonk – 40,000 sq ft of hot live music – attracting real cowboys from as far as Cheyenne. The Country Music Association called it the best country bar in America. If you've never experienced line dancing, then put on the boots, grab the Stetson and let loose.
Just north of the city limits off I-25 (you'll have to drive or cab it), the Grizzly is famous for bringing in huge industry stars – Willie Nelson, Lee Ann Rimes – and only charging $10 per ticket.
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Katie Mullen's Irish Pub & Restaurant
Denver's largest Irish Bar – an enormous 11,000 sq ft – maintains a surprisingly snuggled down feel through dark wood, polished brass, book shelves and fireside seating (the faux embers glow even when the heat outside rages). If the environs are a bit mannish, it seems to suit the guys who loosen their ties and talk business over a Guinness.
There's also an extensive menu on hand. Don't mess around with the traditional Irish comfort food; go straight for the halibut.
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Wynkoop Brewing Co
Wynkoop's Rail Yard Ale is the city's most celebrated red ale, and beer fans file into to this spacious brewpub to knock them back while tossing darts, shooting pool or taking in the breeze on the wide porch. The taps change with the season and the menu offers passable pub standards. Call ahead for Saturday brewery tours.
The basement of the brewery hosts a long-running sketch comedy shows on the weekends, and the jokes are appropriate for all ages.
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Comedy Works
Denver's best comedy club occupies a basement space in Larimer Sq (enter down a set of stairs at the corner of Larimer and 15th) and routinely brings in up-and-coming yucksters from around the country. It can be a bit cramped if you're claustrophobic, but the seats are comfortable and the quality of acts is top-shelf.
Performances also take place at the slightly bigger Comedy Works South location across town.
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Red Square Euro Bistro
Even if the vodka list is over 80 bottles deep – including staples from Russian origin, and also surprise sources such as El Salvador – the most creative tipple on offer is house-infused. Horseraddish vodka? Dill? Anise? Garlic? The menu, of meaty bistro fare with an Eastern European influence, includes fancy stroganoff, veal and wild boar chop.
Located back from the street within Writer Sq.
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Appaloosa Bar & Grill
It’s tricky to find a place on the Mall with a local feel, but plank floors, nightly local bands, and kindly bartenders give the employee-owned Appaloosa a unique environment. There’s not whiff of the plastic corporate venture of other nearby bar-and-grill joints. With a killer hummus plate and two daily happy hours (2pm to 6pm and 10pm to midnight) you’ll wobble out satisfied.
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Church
There's nothing like ordering a stiff drink inside an old 1865 cathedral. Yes, this club, which draws a large and diverse crowd, is in a former house of the Lord. Lit by hundreds of altar candles and flashing blue strobe lights, the Church has three dancefloors, a couple of lounges and even a sushi bar! Arrive before 10pm Friday through Sunday to avoid the cover charge.
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Crú
This classy Larimer Sq wine bar is decked out in wine labels and posters, with dim lighting and gentle music. It looks so bespoke it’s surprising to learn it’s a chain (Dallas, Houston); there's another Denver branch at Park Meadows. Wine flights are the perfect way to sample some of the world’s best plonk. The kitchen serves dishes designed to compliment and share.
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Prime Bar
Among all the area lounges with identical pedigrees – patio seats, creative cocktails, fancy french fries, tons of see-and-be-seens – the Prime Bar is a classy stand out. Maybe it’s the carved deer heads and wood paneling, lending it the feel of a post-modern hunting lodge, or a playlist mixing electronic patter with the Velvet Underground, but it simply works.
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INVESCO Field at Mile High
The much-lauded Denver Broncos football team and the Colorado Rapids soccer team play at Mile High Stadium, 1 mile west of Downtown. This stadium is also home to the Denver Outlaws lacrosse team and has an eclectic schedule of events including major rock concerts for superstars like U2. Stadium tours are organized through the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.
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Corner Office
The cheery sensibility of this excellent retro-style lounge is demonstrated in the wall of clocks frozen at 5pm and waggish menu of cocktails (‘The Secretary’ comes with a rim of grape Kool-Aid powder). It’s perfect for a quick, sophisticated bite before the theater and the chicken and waffles are highlights of a killer brunch menu.
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Crema Coffee House
Noah Price, a clothing-designer-turned-coffee impresario, takes his job seriously, selecting, brewing and pouring Denver’s absolute best coffee. The espresso and french pressed are complete perfection, but it’s the oatmeal latte, delicately infused ice teas, and toast bar – with a mess of jams and toppings – that puts this place over the top.
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Croc's Mexican Bar & Grill
This bar and grill is central to the Market St stumble, a cavernous space that turns out passable Mexican food in brawny portions and pipes in big-screened sports from every corner of the world. When the party goes off, winsome waitresses stomp down the bar pouring tequila down patron's throats under the glassy gaze of Hal, a giant stuffed alligator.
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Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery
Drinkers are met with the gleaming stainless sheen of brew kettles as they enter this chain brewpub, perched on the prime real estate of the 16th St Mall. It’s outgrown 'micro' status and is not so hot compared to smaller craft brewers in the region, but the award-winning Red Rock Red and people-watching from the patio make for a pleasant afternoon.
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Jet Lounge
Designed to blend into the Jet Hotel's lobby, this lounge is the place to see and be seen in Denver. There is a bedroom-meets-house-party vibe: candles, cozy couches, a weekend DJ and lots and lots of beautiful people. Jet Lounge was a favorite with the Real World Denver housemates. Order bottle service, sit back and melt into the party.
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Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret
Bawdy, naughty and strangely romantic, Lannie's Clocktower Cabert is a wild child standout among LoDo's rather straight-laced (or at least straight) night spots. A table right up near the front will get you in the sparkling heart of the action, and if you parse the schedule closely, you might get a glance at the sexiest drag queens in Denver.
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El Chapultepec
This smoky little old-school joint attracts a diverse mix of people. It's a dedicated jazz venue where the music is the main focus. Since it opened in 1951 Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Ella Fitzgerald have played here, as have Jagger and Richards. Local jazz bands take the tiny stage nightly, but you never know who might drop by.
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Great Divide Brewing Company
This excellent local brewery does well to skip the same-old burger menu and the fancy digs to keep their focus on what they do best: crafting exquisite beer. Bellying up to the bar, looking onto the copper kettles and sipping Great Divide’s spectrum of seasonal brews is an experience that will make a beer drinker's eyes alight.
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Denver Performing Arts Complex
This massive complex – one of the largest of its kind – occupies four city blocks and houses several major theaters, the historic Ellie Caulkins Opera House and the Seawell Grand Ballroom. It's also home to the Colorado Ballet, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Opera Colorado and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra.
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Sing Sing
This lively dueling piano bar is very popular with bachelorette parties. Sing Sing fills quickly; arrive around 6:30pm to score a table near the pianos. It's pretty noisy (don't expect much talking) but the atmosphere is fun. Song requests are taken (usually accompanied by $5), but many folks request the same songs.
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Mezcal
Sure they serve food, but we won't to lie – we come here to drink. They have a bundle of tequilas (though, strangely, not much mezcal) and the margaritas pack a punch. After a few and you will inhale the $1 tacos, which are available after 10pm. It's a great place warm up before a show at the Blue Bird Theater.
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