🏆 Game Time Without the Mayhem: Where to Watch in Denver

Chill spots for playoff vibes without the playoff crowds — plus trivia, events, and springtime adventures.

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What's Happenin' Denver
April 28, 2025

🍻Chill Spots for Playoff Vibes Without the Playoff Crowds

Hey Denver!

Big games bring big energy in Denver — but sometimes you just want to soak up the excitement without getting swallowed by it. Whether you’re meeting family, catching up with friends, or just hoping to hear yourself think during the fourth quarter, we rounded up the best low-key hangouts for stress-free sports watching. Grab a burger, snag a good seat, and let’s keep the game day chaos to a minimum.

Let’s jump in 👇

🍻 Low-Key Spots to Watch the Game Without the Madness

Game days in Denver are electric — but sometimes you just want to watch without getting elbowed at the bar or shouting over the noise. If you’re hunting for a chill spot to catch the action with family or friends, here’s where locals suggest heading:

🍺 The College Inn — Neighborhood favorite with TVs inside and outside for bigger games. Good vibes, manageable crowds if you time it right.

🍔 Cherry Cricket (Tent Area) — Grab a table under the outdoor tent, snack on a legendary burger, and settle in without the shoulder-to-shoulder chaos.

🍻 The Kentucky Inn — Classic dive bar energy, great apps, and typically a little less hectic than downtown hotspots.

🍹 Wyman’s No. 5 — Low-key, laid-back, and a reliable spot to catch a game without the wall-to-wall crowds.

🛋️ Innsider Bar & Grill — Attached to a hotel, so it tends to stay quieter even on busy nights. Solid food, too.

🐾 Monkey Barrel — Great outdoor space, dog-friendly, and known for burger + beer deals. Bonus: lots of TVs outside.

🎯 715 Club or Larimer Liquors — Strong Five Points picks. Good drinks, solid game-watching setups, and still a little under-the-radar early in playoffs.

🍗 Society Sports and Spirits — Wings worth writing home about. If you get there early, you might snag one of the best game-day tables.

🍻 Stanley Beer Hall — Surprisingly chill during playoff games recently. Tons of beer on tap, easygoing vibe.

Pro tip: Playoffs or not, earlier is better if you want a comfy seat and a side of good eats. 🏆

🌼 Looking for more things to do in Denver? Dive into Things to Do in Colorado, Kid-Friendly Hikes, or discover our favorite Colorado Day Trips.

🏀 Mile High Trivia Time!

Which legendary Denver Nugget earned the nickname “Skywalker” thanks to his unbelievable vertical leap and gravity-defying dunks?

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👉 Hit reply with your guess — we’ll reveal the answer at the end of the issue!

🌆 Mile High Happenings & Weather ☀️❄️

Monday, April 28 – Partly Cloudy

🌡 High: 65°F | Low: 37°F

🌬 WNW winds at 13 mph | 💧 2% chance of rain

☀️ Breezy but beautiful — great day for a hike, a patio lunch, or a stroll around town.

🆓 Free Events

🧵 Bowlero And Cars📍 Bowlero | ⏰ 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Monday)

🧵 Family Matters📍 Shoot Indoors Central Park | ⏰ 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM | 🆓 Free (Kids) (Recurring Monday)

🧵 Smarty Party Trivia📍 Avanti F&B | ⏰ 7:00 PM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Monday)

💵 Ticketed Events

🎤 David Sedaris📍 Paramount Theatre | ⏰ 7:30 PM | 🎟️ Varies

🎶 Empire Of The Sun📍 Red Rocks Amphitheatre | ⏰ 8:00 PM | 🎟️ Varies

🎸 Nada Surf📍 The Bluebird Theater | ⏰ 8:00 PM | 🎟️ Varies

Tuesday, April 29 – PM Showers

🌡 High: 66°F | Low: 42°F

🌬 SSE winds at 12 mph | 🌧 41% chance of rain (afternoon)

☔ Morning’s looking good, but pack that umbrella for later — showers could sneak in after lunch.

🆓 Free Events

🧵 Trivia Night @ Spirit Hound📍 Spirit Hound Distillers – Denver | ⏰ 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Tuesday)

🧵 Bingo Night!📍 Waldschänke Ciders | ⏰ 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Tuesday)

🧵 Geeks Who Drink📍 Fuel & Iron Bar | ⏰ 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM | 🆓 Free (Recurring Tuesday)

🍺 Trivia Night at FlyteCo – Weekly brewery trivia with prizes and beer📍 FlyteCo Brewing, 7 PM (Recurring Tuesdays)

💵 Ticketed Events

🎤 Amy Schumer📍 Red Rocks Amphitheatre | ⏰ 7:30 PM | 🎟️ $65+

📚 Alton Brown Book Signing📍 Tattered Cover (Colfax) | ⏰ 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | 🎟️ $30–$40

🎶 Chloe Moriondo📍 The Bluebird Theater | ⏰ 8:00 PM | 🎟️ $25+

🎵 Durand Bernarr📍 Gothic Theatre | ⏰ 8:00 PM | 🎟️ $25.50+

🎷 Kneebody📍 Dazzle at the Arts Complex | ⏰ 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM | 🎟️ $25–$35

🎤 Kyle Gordon📍 Larimer Lounge | ⏰ 8:00 PM | 🎟️ $27+

Where are you heading this week? Tag us in your adventures! 🚀

✌️ That’s the Play-by-Play!

Whether you’re cheering from a patio, posted up at a cozy bar, or just sneaking peeks at the score between springtime adventures, we hope your week is full of wins (and wings).

Need even more ideas? Browse our full guide to Things to Do in Colorado or plan your next day trip adventure from Denver.

Catch you next time — and don’t forget to tell us your favorite low-key game day spots! 📣💚

✅ Answer: C) David Thompson

Known for his insane leaping ability, David Thompson earned the nickname “Skywalker” and was admired by legends like Michael Jordan and Bill Walton for changing the game with his vertical jump.

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