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Lounges are the hippest trend in Denver nightlife. Muted lights, swank digs and signature cocktails all appeal to grown-up clubbers. Sophisticated and hip, Denver lounges infuse the art of drinking with class and elegance, for a price. Drink prices at Denver lounges are, expectedly, higher than other Denver bars. Flow Lounge in downtown Denver’s Jet Hotel boasts shag rugs and retro furnishings for a sleek lounge experience. For the chicest sandbox in town, try the Funky Buddha Lounge for velvet-roped lounging energized by expensive signature cocktails and trend-setting DJs. The upstairs patio is sleek spot for a Denver summer evening. A Denver lounge that stays true to its Western roots is the Martini Rodeo; try the upstairs martini lounge for unpretentious shaken delights.
1515 Market
1515 Market St., Denver, Colorado; Tel. 303.571.0011
Chic Denver urban dining at its best, 1515 market boasts a stunning selection of fresh local ingredients to create their hearty new American cuisine. The only thing that rivals the superb menu at this upscale, yet hiply casual Denver restaurant is the extensive wine list that spans over 375 varieties to tempt even the most veteran of grape aficionado's palate. Live music in the blues and jazz veins covers 1515 Market in a blanket of smooth sounds every Friday and Saturday. |
The 9th Door
1808 Blake St., Denver, Colorado; Tel. 303.292.2229
Denver's fashion plate A-listers and chic hipsters constantly pack The 9th Door for an excellent meal of hot or cold tapas and an extensive list of signature cocktails expertly mixed with premium liquor. The atmosphere at The 9th Door is decidedly swanky with enough velvet, satin and candle light to make any moneyed heiress jealous. As mentioned the menu at this trendy Denver restaurant and lounge is so far above gourmet as to make the coin you just dropped on the tab instantly forgettable. |
B-52 Billiards & Red Monkey
1920 Market St., Denver, Colorado; Tel. 303.383.1941
A sports bar, billiards bar and dance club in Denver, B-52 Billiards and the Red Monkey lounge may seem to be biting off more than it can chew in the Denver bar scene, but this bi-level club has some serious chops. Catering to the sports fan, the clubber, the pool shark and hip loungers, B-52 and the Red Monkey serves up some mean cocktails with nightly specials along with better than average bar fare to satisfy the yens of its diverse crowds. Any given night you can catch the seemingly disparate crowds mingle and become drinking buddies eschewing the cliquishness of high school for the social lubricating found at B-52 bar and the Red Monkey lounge. Also, this Denver club pulls in some hot DJs to man the dance floor decks and, if you're so inclined, pop in on Thursdays for cheap beer and free pool. |
Bar Luxe
231 Milwaukee St., Denver, Colorado; Tel. 303.333.1811
This lush Denver martini lounge draws swankier than swank hipsters and scenesters to its well appointed enclaves to indulge them in A-list cocktails and bar fare. Bar Luxe fills the Denver niche for an upscale, mature lounge where the impossibly sexy service staff perfectly compliments the premium cocktails and posh décor. While technically Bar Luxe posts no dress code to imbibe its booze and partake in the see and be seen designer bar atmosphere, most Denver drinkers show up appointed like they just stepped off the fashion plate runway. |
Blue 67
1475 Lawrence St., Denver, Colorado; Tel. 303.260.7505
Filled to capacity nightly with a good mix of Denver biz pros, A-listers and scenesters, Blue 67 nightclub and lounge offers a cocktail menu that boasts 67 variations on the martini for your inner booze connoisseur and decidedly hip surroundings for your inner self esteem that may need a little image bolstering. If you're really into boozing your way through the drink menu over cruising Denver's see and be seen beautiful set hit Blue 67 during happy hour for nearly half off cocktails and a slightly less than capacity crowd. |
Blue Ice
22 Broadway, Denver, Colorado; Tel. 303.777.3433
Blue Ice has the look of a trendy Denver cocktail lounge, but the older set that imbibes there is more interested in seeing booze than being seen. But, just because it's not filled with style over substance wannabes doesn't mean that Blue Ice isn't a good place to wind down after work or pump up for a night out—it just means that you won't have to wade through a sea of self proclaimed hipsters wearing the same striped shirt to get your next heavy handed drink and you can actually have a decent conversation with someone who's sole sociological and political perspective isn't derived from MTV. |
Club Purple
1523 Market St., Denver, Colorado; Tel. 303.607.9209
Denver's Club Purple sports four floors of hip lounging and hot dancing with interceding floors constructed to be a voyeur's dream. Seriously, the floors under Club Purple's dance floors are completely glass—yep, glass ladies—which is kind of an anachronistic ruse, but it seems to work. Just remember fellas that a hottie really wouldn't want to hear "I saw you on the dance floor" unless you where actually within some physical proximity when you "saw" her... besides, she'll have plenty of time to label you as a pervert later. The subterranean lounge area at this Denver nightclub is super chill with separate DJs manning the decks for a lounge vibe over a frenetic dancing one and the top most floor houses the VIP area complete with beds and bottle service, but if you don't get to Denver's Club Purple early be prepared to wait in line...for everything. |
Club Vinyl
1082 Broadway, Denver, Colorado; Tel. 303.860.8469
Club Vinyl is a major player on the Denver nightclub scene sporting numerous bars, a large dance floor and probably the coolest rooftop chillin' lounge we've seen. Some of Denver's slickest DJs man the decks at Club Vinyl and the dance club crowds pack the place on the weekends. Getting drinks is relatively easy at this hip Denver club and, if you're not dressed to impress, you can kick it outside with the doorman while your crew gets it on inside. |
Coral Room
3489 W. 32nd Ave., Denver, Colorado; Tel. 303.433.2535
Fusing chic urban dining and hip lounging, the Coral Room in Denver focuses on beauty and simplicity in both their décor and cuisine. The menu at the Coral Room is Pan-Asian infusing the tastes of the Pacific and melding that with a contemporary progressive wine list and a unique cocktail selection. This swanky Denver restaurant and lounge should be a must on any discerning diner and drinker's list. |
Double Daughter's Salotto
1632 Market St., Denver, Colorado; Tel. 303.623.3505
Inspired as much by a fascination with Goth macabre and geek love as by the artistry of the mind, soul and cocktails, Double Daughter's Salotto is a darkly hip Denver bar and lounge that's done up in what can only be described as contemporary Victorian vampire Gothic chic—if that makes any sense. Well, we really don't care if it does or doesn't because Double Daughter's Salotto is nothing short of a drinking experience for Denver bar revelers that are done with the cookie cutter club scene. Local Denver artists are showcased monthly at Double Daughter's and the cocktail menu boasts selections that rival the uniqueness of the artwork. Also this hip Denver nightclub and lounge features some of the hottest local DJs manning the decks for the curious drinking crowds and die hard, perpetually black clad Gothsters that crowd Double Daughter's Salotto nightly. |
Flow Lounge
1612 Wazee St., Denver, Colorado; Tel. 303.572.3300
If you're looking for a styling night out with plenty of image bolstering, look no further than the Flow Lounge bar in Denver located inside the Luna Hotel. The Flow Lounge brings big city velvet roped swankiness to Denver with their premium signature cocktails, their hipper than thou décor and Flow's visual and aural candy that come together to help grabbing a cocktail here make you look like a moneyed jet setter. Speaking of money, if you're heading to this chic Denver bar and you're not on an expense account, bring some extra change—and not the stuff you just rifled out of your couch. |
Forest Room 5
2532 15th St., Denver, Colorado; Tel. 303.433.7001
Forest Room 5 is a trendy Denver restaurant and bar that roots its cuisine in the Mediterranean order featuring small plate tapas style with their wine and cocktail menus complimenting the food. The chic, contemporary décor at Forest Room 5 will make every designer catalogue ordering wishmiester completely jealous and the view from this hilltop Denver restaurant will probably make every Mile-High dweller jealous as well. Forest Room 5's excellent food comes under the reasonably priced range, but don't go overboard on the bar tab as the drink prices at this Denver bar will make you long for the days when someone else picked up the tab. |
Funky Buddha Lounge
776 Lincoln St., Denver, Colorado; Tel. 303.832.5075
Trendy scenesters of the decidedly beautiful and moneyed set flock to the Funky Buddha Lounge in Denver to get their pricey booze, velvet roped playtime in. This hip and happening Denver bar hotspot features local artwork adorning the walls incase you needed eye candy other than the abundant human variety, some of Denver's slickest DJs spinning house, trance and hip-hop and an upstairs patio with some kickin' bartenders that throw down the libation gauntlet nightly. You'd do well to arrive at the Funky Buddha Lounge early if you're planning a night of Denver bar drinking and leave your usual dress sweats baseball cap clothes combo at home lest you be left out in the cold with the unwashed masses. |
Lotus
1701 Wynkoop St., Denver, Colorado; Tel. 303.718.6666
Lotus is a trendy Denver dance club and lounge located in the mecca of trendy nightclubs: LoDo. Lotus gets some of Denver's hottest DJs to man the decks nightly and keep their pricey booze fueled dance party going for the beautiful set. The cover charges at this Denver nightclub range from non-existent to double digits, but Lotus does take care of those willing participants by offering nightly specials, some seriously good beats and, on Tuesdays for the ladies, probably one of Denver's best Ladies Night promotions—we're talking no cover and an open bar from 9pm to 11pm. |
Martini Ranch
1317 14th St., Denver, Colorado; Tel. 303.534.6100
A kicked back local Denver bar, the Martini Ranch offers 50 kinds of specialty martinis, all expertly mixed, for the T-shirt and jeans sophisticates that crowd this three-level LoDo destination spot for drinkers, diners and dancers. Slick rotating DJs man the decks in the downstairs Shaker Room and on the main floor a wide array of American rooted stellar bar style food is offered, but the real attraction at this casual yet chic Denver bar hangout is the upstairs martini lounge. |
Monarck
1416 Market St., Denver, Colorado; Tel. 303.888.0655
An upscale chic lounge in Denver, Monarck serves up premium cocktails to the beautiful set that don't mind shelling out some dough for a heavy dose of hip nightclub imbibing. The design touches at Monarck are striking in their swanky minimalist yet lush aesthetic and the stone-capped bar is expertly manned by some premier Denver mixologists. DJs spin a variety of mood music to compliment Monarck's velvet roped pretentiousness meaning that if you want to bolster your image by boozing in this trendy LoDo Denver lounge, you'd better come dressed in something other than your faded Broncos sweat-suit and ball cap that marks your usual wardrobe. |
Moscow Underground
1800 Glenarm Pl., Denver, Colorado; Tel. 303.295.3232
Steeped in Czarist decadence, Moscow Underground is a hip Denver nightclub and lounge that caters to cool clubbers and vodka aficionados. Seriously, Moscow Underground sports more vodka choices than the Politburo had; any one of which will pair perfectly with their authentic menu of Russian inspired comfort food. Down-tempo DJs take care of the beats at this Denver nightclub and Moscow Underground features nightly drink specials for the bevy of wannabe Reds that imbibe and lounge in their mod confines. |
Mynt
1424 Market St., Denver, Colorado; Tel. 303.825.6968
Ultra hip and chic, Mynt lounge in Denver features a long list of classic and modern cocktails to wet your palate, but you'd be at a severe loss if you didn't try their signature mojitos that are offered in the traditionally classic Cuban originator style and more trendy variations. Denver club denizens, A-listers and scenesters have been crowding Mynt's inviting designer depths for kicked back lounging to the sounds of down beat Denver DJs providing a perfect backdrop for sipping on cocktails and noshing on Mynt's gourmet appetizers. |
The Red Room
320 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, Colorado; Tel. 303.830.7050
The Red Room is a hip kicked back Denver bar that's seriously packed from open to close with an eclectic mix of Cap Hill regulars and boozers tripping up and down Colfax. This two story lounge, restaurant and bar reaps the best aspects out of swankier joints, meaning you won't find any pretentious attitudes in the staff, patrons or prices, but you will find well poured premium cocktails and excellent food at the Red Room. Perhaps the biggest draw at this Denver bar is the staff who're are always quick with a smile and your drinks. |
Rise
1909 Blake St., Denver, Colorado; Tel. 303.383.1909
Easily the funkiest trip in Denver's trendy LoDo dance club scene, Rise nightclub features some of Denver's top DJs manning the decks on a nightly basis to keep the dance party going. And don't worry if you're an arrhythmic slouch because Rise has a couple of areas to accommodate including the Sky Bar upstairs patio and the Shadow Lounge for chillin' out with some prime Denver club eye candy. Rise sports five full service bars to keep the booze flowin', a state of the art sound and kaleidoscopic lights, go-go dancers and VIP bottle service for the droves of Denver club denizens, A-listers, scenesters and trendsetting dance party drinkers. |
Rox Infusion Lounge
1701 Wynkoop St., Denver, Colorado; Tel. 303.573.1303
The Rox Infusion Lounge doesn't really get kickin' until the sun is far over the horizon which makes this Denver bar and martini lounge a good place for an intimate pre-clubbing cocktail. Even when the late night hours roll around and the Rox Infusion Lounge heats up there's still an air of mature calmness presiding over the party. Some of Denver's slickest DJs spin a variety of tunes and always seem to hit their mark for the revelers on the dance floor and a small, but really good, menu provides snacks to those that need it. |
The Shelter
1037 Broadway, Denver, Colorado; Tel. 303.534.0222
This Denver club for the scenester set sports three separate rooms plus two patios to get your booze fueled party on in. The Shelter is a premier nightclub for dancing in the main room to some of Denver's most coveted DJs or just chillin' out to down beat grooves in their lounge. The rockin' basement at The Shelter showcases up and coming local Denver bands fresh out of the garage. This Denver nightclub, live music venue and lounge is a perennial favorite of local hipsters that pack in nightly for The Shelter's all-inclusive party action. |
Spy Bar and Lounge
500 16th St., Denver, Colorado; Tel. 303.623.9663
Voyeurs, wannabe secret agents and commonplace paranoids now have a swanky Denver lounge in which to nurture their delusional theories in at Spy Bar and Lounge, a not-so-lame theme bar that actually is a cool place to hang out and booze it up with the see and be seen and be seen right back crowd courtesy of the spiffy spy gear. Seriously, the VIP booths at Spy Bar and Lounge have closed circuit cameras that you can control to search out that hottie, peek in on other scenesters or keep a watchful eye out for that nut job ex that's stalking you. If you're in for less creepy eye candy at this Denver club, Spy Bar and Lounge employs Bond-esque opening credit shadow dancers shaking it behind lighted screens to the sounds of slick Denver DJs. |
Swimclub 32
3628 W. 32nd Ave., Denver, Colorado; Tel. 720.889.7946
Swimclub 32 is a posh little restaurant and lounge in Denver that sets their culinary and libations marks high and consistently deliver with an eclectic fusion menu and a globe-trotting quirky wine list. With low-slung designer furniture, candle lit tables and a hip stone bar; Swimclub 32 is making a name for itself in the trendster scene with better ambiance and gastronomical clout that you're likely to find at larger fashionable restaurants. |
Tryst Lounge
1512 Larimer St., Denver, Colorado; Tel. 303.629.0544
Sleek and sophisticated, Tryst Lounge in Denver is the velvet roped meeting ground for posh drinkers into premium cocktails, down tempo DJ tracks and sushi. Tryst Lounge is nightly hotspot for Denver's fashion plate set, so if your normal drinking attire is ballpark chic, you've got some shopping to do if you want to hang with the Denver bar beautiful set. The ultra-premium cocktails at Tryst Lounge can beat up your wallet, but consider it a valuable lesson in the fact of life that states: designer decadence rarely comes for free. Well that is unless you work in the bar biz; this Denver nightclub will be your Sunday night hangout because the club courtesy prices for drinks plummet dramatically. |
—Denver bar and club reviews by Ryan Osterbeck
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