Prohibition may be long over, but speakeasies in Denver are alive and thriving.
Speakeasies came about in the 1920s when the production and sale of alcohol were illegal. Entrepreneurs at the time sold and served alcohol in concealed basements with doors that only open with a secret password.
And because the owners needed to cover up the harsh taste of illegal homemade alcohol with various flavors, often sweet ones. In fact, cocktails such as the Bee’s Knees, the Last Word, and the Mary Pickford were invented during this time.
Over the last few years, Denver has been quickly gaining a reputation for its craft beer and craft cocktails. Luckily, there are quite a number of hidden bars and speakeasies in Denver to sip these unique creations.
Of course, the secrecy and the “hiding from police” elements of traditional speakeasies is now gone, so fans of these places sometimes call them neo-speakeasies.
Here are 12 speakeasies in Denver worth checking out.
The Best Speakeasies in Denver
These secret bars are hidden in basements, alleyways, and in shops selling anything but alcohol. Read on to find out what they’re all about, how to find them, and how to get in.
1. B&GC
Given its hidden location (behind The Halcyon Hotel), hush-hush membership requirements and lists, and period-appropriate décor and furniture, B&GC is often considered the most mysterious speakeasy in Denver.
If you do manage to make it inside, the ambiance is very retro; cozy, dark, with a dash of snobbery.
The interior design and even the menu harkens back to the Mad Men era (martini service and caviar, anyone?).
Reservations are strongly recommended because of the limited capacity.
Essential Information
- Address: 249 Columbine St, Denver, CO 80206
- Reservations: 720-925-8598 (text only, no calls; no later than 3pm on the day you want to go)
- Hours: Wed–Thu 5pm–10pm; Fri–Sat 5pm–11pm; Sun–Tue closed
- How To Get In: Make your way down the alleyway between 2nd and 3rd Avenues, look for the door labeled “Stair 3,” ring an antique brass doorbell, and wait.
- Cost: $$$
2. Williams & Graham
Classy cocktails behind a swinging bookcase?
I’m in!
And I guess many other people are onboard, because this speakeasy is said to be the most popular in Denver.
Williams & Graham is tucked away in a corner bookstore that looks nondescript to the casual passerby, except that they’re open at odd hours.
Handcrafted cocktails, carefully crafted spirits, hors d’oeuvres, entrees, and dessert are all served. You might want to try their Sazerac with crowd favorite Roasted Bone Marrow and their house brownie for dessert.
Reservations aren’t required but to ensure you have a seat; they only have 60 seats available.
Essential Information
- Address: 3160 Tejon St, Denver, CO 80211
- 303-997-8886
- Hours: Mon–Sun 5pm–1am
- How To Get In: Go inside the bookstore, give your name to the staff to add to the list, and wait. One of the bookcases will swing open and you’ll be seated inside the bar.
- Cost: $$
3. Millers & Rossi Speakeasy & Bar
Located in Colorado’s River North Art District (RiNo) neighborhood, Millers & Rossi is a speakeasy you can access through the Ohana Room, a tiki bar with tropical drinks and delicious food.
The house signature drink is a Smoked Old Fashioned, but the Watermelon Margarita is also worth trying.
Reservations are a must, especially when there are events.
Essential Information
- Address: 3542 Walnut St, Denver, CO 80205 |
- 720-257-5342
- Reservations: Tock | Miller & Rossi
- Ohana Room Hours: Wed–Thu 6pm–10pm; Fri–Sat 6pm–2am; Sun–Tue closed
- Millers & Rossi Hours: Mon–Thu 5pm–1am; Fri 3pm–1am; Sat 1pm–2am; Sun closed
- How To Get In: Enter through the Ohana Room, find the camouflaged door in their living wall, give your name to the doorman, and wait to be seated.
- Cost: $$
4. Retrograde
Their astronomy-themed bar is more 1960s instead of 1920s Prohibition, but the secret door at the back of a fully-functional business preserves the speakeasy culture.
You’ll find Retrograde when you enter Frozen Matter, an ice cream shop that offers a selection of both classic and quirky flavors.
But don’t fill up on the ice cream; you’ll want to leave room for the house cocktails at Retrograde. You’ll want to try The Stuff (their take on pineapple rum), The Wicker Man (citrusy gin cocktail with lavender-hibiscus foam), or They Live (brown-butter fat-washed whiskey).
Or you can make it a bartender’s choice: pick a spirit, tell them what flavor you like and dislike, and any allergies or dietary restrictions you have. They’ll whip up a custom cocktail for you.
They only seat 35 people and there’s no standing room, so come early.
Essential Information
- Address: 530 E 19th Ave, Denver, CO 80203
- 720-772-7843
- Hours: Sun–Wed 5pm–12am; Thu–Sat 5pm–1am
- How To Get In: Go inside Frozen Matter, head to the back, find the walk-in freezer door, turn on the light switch, and wait.
- Cost: $$
5. The Cruise Room
Opened the day after Prohibition was lifted, The Cruise Room is the oldest speakeasy in Denver still in operation.
The interior features Art Deco décor preserved since they opened and a jazz soundtrack, making you feel like you stepped into the 1930s.
Order one of their classic martinis with oysters on the half shell, and let the ambiance take you back in time.
Essential Information
- Address: 1600 17th St Denver CO 80202
- 303-262-6070
- Hours: Sun–Thu 5pm–10pm; Fri–Sat 5pm–11pm; hours may change so call in advance
- How To Get In: Head into the lobby of the Oxford Hotel, go into the Urban Farmer, and check in with the host/hostess. The Cruise Room is to your right.
- Cost: $$
6. Peaks Lounge
Located inside another hotel (the Hyatt Regency), Peaks Lounge is a cut above the rest of the Denver speakeasies on this list, literally: it’s on the 27th floor.
While the location, ambiance, and menu are contemporary, it’s unlikely you’ll ever find this bar unless you already know about it.
Have one of their Colorado cocktails (try The 27th Floor) and one of their small plates while you enjoy views of the Rocky Mountains and the lights of the Mile High City.
Essential Information
- Address: 650 15th St, Denver, CO 80202
- 303-436-1234
- Hours: Mon–Sun 4pm–11:15pm
- How To Get In: Go to the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center and take the elevator up to the 27th floor.
- Cost: $$$
7. Cooper Lounge
Denver’s busy Union Station is primarily a transportation hub, but there are plenty of restaurants, pubs, and coffee shops to explore.
An unexpected treat is the Cooper Lounge, right up on the mezzanine overlooking The Great Hall.
Okay, so this isn’t really a conventional speakeasy in Denver, but it’s a quiet, hidden bar in the middle of a busy place.
You can have good food and creative cocktails in this modern, chic lounge while having a quiet conversation with friends or simply people watching by yourself.
Get here early and enjoy happy hour. Must-try cocktails include the Cooper Lounge Mai Tai and the Primrose Fizz, best paired with their antipasti board.
Essential Information
- Address: 1701 Wynkoop St, Denver, CO 80202
- 720-460-3738
- Reservations: Tock | Cooper Lounge
- Hours: Mon–Sun 4pm–12am
- How To Get In: In Denver’s Union Station, make your way to the main floor of The Great Hall, head to the south side, and look for the Cooper Lounge desk.
- Cost: $$$
8. Reynard Social
Located on the sixth floor of the Thompson Denver hotel, Reynard Social is one of the newest speakeasies in Denver, boasting of a great view of Denver’s Lower Downtown (LoDo) neighborhood and the atmosphere of Aspen or Vail, without the four-hour drive.
It features a fully functional fireplace and a cozy seating plan, giving the ambiance of a modern chalet but in an urban setting.
Must-try cocktails include the Black Diamond and the Après Ski, best paired with the Wild Mushroom Fondue.
Reservations are highly recommended, and you can reserve a table right on their website.
Essential Information
- Address: 1616 Market St, Denver, CO 80202
- Hours: Sun–Thu 5pm–11pm; Fri–Sat 5pm–12am
- How To Get In: Go to the Thompson Denver Hotel and take the elevator up to the 6th floor.
- Cost: $$$
9. Run For The Roses
Run For The Roses offers a truly unique underground lounge experience, complete with classic and seasonal cocktails, as well as sophisticated nibbles, all in a chic yet cozy setting.
This is one of the hardest to find speakeasies in Denver, and some visitors are turned off by how difficult it is, but it’s worth the treasure hunt.
Essential Information
- Address: 1801 Blake St Ste 10 Denver, CO 80202
- 720-573-9155
- Hours: Thu–Sun 5pm–12am
- How To Get In: Enter the Dairy Block through the alley on 18th Street, follow the mystical roses that lead to an elevator. Walk along the hallway until you see a betting window and check in with the host.
- Cost: $$
10. Union Lodge No.1
Union Lodge No.1 is a slinky speakeasy serving 19th-century-inspired cocktails in glam, Prohibition-era environs.
Perfectly located in the historic 1889 building, Union Lodge No.1 honors the Golden Age of cocktails in 1800s America and recreated many classic cocktails along with their contemporary-flavored offerings – all of which are made from scratch.
Must-try’s include their Gin Fizz, Sazerac, Tom Collins and Martinez
Essential Information
- Address: 1543 Champa St.
- (720) 389-0447
- Hours: Sunday to Wednesday (5pm to 11pm), then Thursday to Saturday (5pm to 1am)
- How To Get In: Nothing fancy, just walk in. They don’t do reservations and serves on a first come first serve basis.
- Cost: $$
11. The Arvada Tavern
If you’re looking for an authentic Denver speakeasy experience, nothing can beat a visit to the pre-Prohibition style cocktail bar and restaurant, The Arvada Tavern.
After all, it has been open since April 7, 1933 when the town of Arvada allowed the legal sale of alcohol to the public for the first time in history.
There are several things to like about this place, including the live music, happy hour food, handcrafted Colorado-brewed beers, and the best-trained bartenders in Denver.
Essential Information
- Address: 5707 Olde Wadsworth Blvd.
- Hours: Sunday, Mon-Thu (4pm-11pm); Fri and Sat (4pm-12am)
- How To Get In: The tavern accepts reservations for the tiki bar and tavern dining.
- Cost: $$
12. Nocturne Jazz & Supper Club
Nocturne is Denver’s modern jazz place with live band nightly. It harkens back to the era of supper clubs and offers one-of-a-kind seasonal three course meals.
Set in an artfully-restored warehouse in the RiNo Arts District, Nocturne offers a good mix of good food, good ambiance, good music, and fun selection of cocktails.
Essential Information
- Address: 1330 27th Street Denver, CO 80205
- 303.295.3333
- Hours: Closed on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Open on weekends and Wednesdays from 6pm to 10pm.
- How To Get In: The “dinner and show” experience must be pre-paid during reservations. The fee includes a three course dinner and artist fee for live music.
- Cost: $$$
13. The Thin Man
The Thin Man is a cozy tavern with an outdoor patio, wood-burning fireplace, live music downstairs and funky décor that lures both locals and passing by travelers alike.
As a drinker’s go-to spot, Thin Man is known for their in-house vodkas, decent draft list, and other affordable cocktails to sample.
Don’t miss the happy hour at 3pm to 6pm.
Essential Information
- Address: 2015 E 17th Ave, Denver
- +1 303-320-7814
- Hours: Doesn’t accept reservations, but they’re open daily, from 3pm to 2am.
- Cost: $$
The Best Speakeasies in Denver that Closed Down
What happened to El Chapultepec?
El Chapultepec was Denver’s iconic jazz club known for Mexican food served on paper plates, late hour cocktails, and a ton of musicians calling the place home.
Legend has it that even before it officially opened in 1933 (the year prohibition ended), El Chapultepec was already operating during Prohibition as a speakeasy.
Unfortunately, the lockdowns caused by COVID-19 resulted in the permanent closing of El Chapultepec.
What happened to Green Russell in Larimer Square Denver?
Green Russell closed their doors in late 2020 after serving awesome food and handcrafted cocktails for 12 years.
The chef-driven cocktail joint was known for their curated whiskey flights, such as the “Jet Setter” that got you a selection from Taiwan, India, and Japan.
What happened to Five Nines inside Cherry Creek’s Clayton Members Club & Hotel?
This speakeasy-style lounge only opened in early 2022 with a lot of good reviews. Despite claiming “not to be a speakeasy,” it opened enshrouded in mystique and a modern-day Denver speakeasy ambiance that locals loved.
With famous cocktails like Road to Jerez and Pornstar Martini that weren’t too pricey, Five Nines quickly became a go-to spot and was packed almost daily. By mid-2023, it quietly closed and was replaced by Chez Roc after new management took over the F&B outlets on the ground floor of the Clayton Hotel.
What happened to Luci’s Shambles and Provisions in Platte street?
Luci’s Shambles and Provisions was only a newcomer in early 2022 when its intimate lounge became another exciting speakeasy-style cocktail bar in Denver.
Named after Lucifer and described the venue as “a dungeon of sin,” Luci’s Shambles and Provisions was promising with their famous cocktails (or as they call it, “shambles”) like the Original Sin and the Black Dahlia paired with their succulent beef tartare.
Unfortunately, Luci’s Shambles and Provisions closed in June 2023.
Visit a Denver Speakeasy Soon!
Denver is filled with memorable locations and experiences, and you can add visiting these speakeasies to your list.
We’ve come a long way from needing to evade the police, having to “know a guy who knows a guy,” and giving a secret password, but today’s speakeasies with a modern-day Prohibition concept offer an alluring sense of mystery and exclusivity that remains irresistible to today’s bar patrons.
Here are other trips you can take that allow you to experience tradition and history with enjoying alcoholic concoctions:
