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- 🍸 Secret Bars & Cozy Sips: Your Guide to Denver’s Hidden Speakeasies
🍸 Secret Bars & Cozy Sips: Your Guide to Denver’s Hidden Speakeasies
From velvet booths to freezer doors, these hidden bars are perfect for date night magic.
What's Happenin' Denver
April 11, 2025
Hey Denver!
Whether you’re planning a swoon-worthy night out or just looking to impress someone with your insider knowledge of the Denver bar scene, this one’s for you. Behind bookshelves, through back doors, and beneath ice cream parlors, you’ll find some of the city’s most intriguing spots to sip.
These speakeasies don’t just serve cocktails—they serve experience. Think candlelit booths, creative drinks tailored to your mood, and that delightful “wait, is this the right door?” moment.
Looking to level up your next date night or impress an out-of-towner with Denver’s coolest hidden bars? Step through the unmarked doors, bookcase entrances, and ice cream shops (!) to discover these uniquely Denver speakeasies. Cozy up, sip slow, and enjoy a side of mystery with your mezcal.
📍 LoHi | The OG Denver speakeasy hidden behind a faux bookstore. Romantic, refined, and always in demand—definitely make a reservation if you want to snag a seat.
📍 LoDo (inside the Oxford Hotel) | Step into this Art Deco time capsule glowing in red neon. It opened the day after Prohibition ended in 1933 and hasn’t lost its charm. 📍 Tennyson | Order a “vibe” and not a menu item—this cocktail experience lets bartenders freestyle your drink based on your mood and preferences. Big garage-style windows = perfect sunset backdrop. 📍 Behind Sweet Action Ice Cream, Uptown | Sneaky basement bar alert! Order an ice cream, then find the freezer door. Inside: cosmic cocktails and quirky, fun vibes. 📍 LoHi | A lesser-known gem with spice-forward cocktails and sultry decor. 📍 Downtown | While not a speakeasy in the traditional sense, it’s got the low lighting, leather booths, and whiskey menu of your dreams. Bonus: pool tables. | 📍 Dairy Block | Moody and intimate, this underground bar channels vintage elegance with velvet booths and spirit-forward drinks. 📍 Downtown | Craft cocktails and turn-of-the-century Americana vibes. Bonus: the bartenders’ mustaches are part of the experience. 📍 Old Town Arvada | A neighborhood wine shop with a secret speakeasy—perfect for a quiet night of sipping and chatting. 📍 Berkeley | Pop culture nostalgia meets boozy fun. If you love the ’80s, this one’s for you. 🏁 B&GC 📍 Cherry Creek (behind the Halcyon Hotel) | Tucked behind a discreet alley door and buzzer system, this ultra-exclusive bar is worth the hunt. Stellar cocktails, luxe vibe—book ahead. |
📊 Mile High Poll: What Should We Spotlight Next?
We’re always out and about uncovering Denver’s hidden gems—but we want to know what you want more of!
Which kind of local spot should we feature in an upcoming issue? |
👉 Hit reply with your vote—or drop a specific place we have to check out!
Mile High Spotlight 🥪 Local Bite: Mr. Lucky’s Sandwiches
📍 711 E 6th Ave
This isn’t a speakeasy—it’s a sandwich sanctuary. Mr. Lucky’s is slingin’ stacked sammies, fresh salads, and scratch-made specials with serious flair. Their Chicken Dynamite (a spicy monthly feature) is already a local legend.
📸 Their TikTok-worthy spread is a feast for the eyes—and the appetite. Walk in, order online, or just scroll their menu and daydream.
🌆 Mile High Happenings & Weather ☀️❄️
☀️ Break out the sunscreen—at least for Friday and Saturday. Things cool down a bit on Sunday, so maybe keep a hoodie handy for that patio brunch.
Friday, April 11 – ☀️ Sunny High: 84°F | Low: 52°F 💧 0% chance of rain | 💨 SSE 6 mph 🆓 Free Events🎨 Dog Caricatures | 4–7 PM @ The Maven Hotel | Frame your fur baby with a portrait by Alias K. Masters Studios—plus fun photo ops. 🎭 Free Comedy Night | 8 PM @ Spirit Hound Distillers (Denver Tasting Room) | Doors at 7:30. Great spirits + hilarious stand-up = perfect Friday. 🎬 Anti-Hero Film Festival | 6–8 PM @ Holiday Theater (by MCA Denver) | Short films, spoken word, and teen-led storytelling that challenges the narrative. 🎟️ Ticketed Events 🍻 Beer & Macaron Pairing | 2–9 PM @ Bruz Off Fax | $35 | Self-guided beer and macaron tasting—four pairings, full flavor. 🎷 Joshua Trinidad Quartet | 7 PM @ Spangalang Brewery | Visionary jazz meets post-rock energy. 🎸 Dragondeer & Drunken Hearts | 8 PM @ Bluebird Theater | $25+ | With The Patti Fiasco. Presented by 105.5 The Colorado Sound. 🎧 Elderbrook | 6:30 PM @ Red Rocks | Price Varies | Electronic magic with Hugel and Vandelux. 🎙️ Larkin Poe | 8 PM @ Ogden Theatre | 16+ | Southern rock sisters bring the blues heat. 🎶 Indira Paganotto | 8 PM @ ReelWorks | $29.50+ | Psytrance queen drops beats that move mountains. 🎻 Haunted Like Human & Clare Elich | 8 PM @ Swallow Hill | $24.68 | Haunting harmonies and indie-folk goodness. 🎤 Locash | 8 PM @ Grizzly Rose | $20+ | Country vibes on their Hometown Home Tour. 🎶 Sam Grisman Project | 8 PM @ Swallow Hill | $45+ | Bluegrass legacy, live. 🎹 Tonguebyte | 10–11:30 PM @ Dazzle | $15–$20 | High-voltage jazz from Denver’s young stars. | Saturday, April 12 – 🌤️ Partly Cloudy High: 88°F | Low: 49°F 💧 0% chance of rain | 💨 SW 15 mph 🆓 Free Events🎶 Alley Soundscapes: Drift Co. | 12–2 PM @ Dairy Block | Weekend alley vibes with local artists. 🎸 Lagerhaus Live: Float Like a Buffalo | 8 PM @ Bierstadt Lagerhaus | Free live show—lager in hand, groove on. 🎟️ Ticketed Events 🎷 Gabriel Santiago Orchestra | 6:30–8 PM @ Dazzle | $25–$35 | Brazilian rhythms meet big band jazz. 🎤 Jo Koy | 8 PM @ Ball Arena | $39.50+ | Comedy titan takes the big stage. 🎵 Reed Foehl & Putnam Murdock | 8 PM @ Swallow Hill | $30+ | Colorado folk favorites. 🎶 Covenhoven: The Color of the Dark | 8 PM @ Swallow Hill | $30+ | Album release with Before the Sun. 🎤 Theresa Caputo | 7:30 PM @ Paramount Theatre | The Long Island Medium live! 🎸 Vincent Antone Live Band | 8 PM @ Ogden Theatre | $24.95+ | Funk, soul, and jam—Denver-style. 🎧 Wax Tailor DJ Set | 8 PM @ Bluebird Theater | 20th anniversary tour—turntables and storytelling. 🎶 Wooli: Mammoth Mountain 3 | 6 PM @ Red Rocks | $45+ | Bass-heavy night with LEVEL UP & friends. 🎷 The Marion Powers Quintet Honors Billie Holiday | 6–10:30 PM @ Nocturne | $36–$110 | Billie Holiday’s legacy, reimagined. 🎹 Baz Gillen Trio | 10–11:30 PM @ Dazzle | $15–$20 | Late-night jazz with a fresh twist. | Sunday, April 13 – ⛅ Mostly Cloudy High: 67°F | Low: 37°F 💧 24% chance of rain | 💨 ENE 14 mph 🆓 Free Events🎶 Alley Soundscapes: Thom LaFond | 11 AM–2 PM @ Dairy Block | Live music in the alley, again? Yes please. 🎨 Music in the Galleries | 12–2 PM @ Clyfford Still Museum | Featuring Barry Osborne & Niki Tredinnick. Performances at 12 & 1. 🎟️ Ticketed Events 🍷 Colorado Wine Walk | 11 AM–6 PM @ Dairy Block | GA $50, VIP $100 | Sip the best of Colorado’s vino scene. 🎹 Gypsy Lab: Sessions | 7–8:30 PM @ Dazzle | $15 |Community meets creativity through music. 🎸 Matt Andersen with Julian Taylor | 7 PM @ Swallow Hill | $33+ | Big voice. Big soul. 🍳 R&B Brunch | 12–4 PM @ Spangalang Brewery | $0–$188.58 | Live band, brunch bites, and cocktails = Soul Sunday. 🎹 Sunday Jazz Jam! | 11:30 AM–2 PM @ Fortissimo Dueling Pianos | $5 | Reserve your seat for this jam-packed brunch set. 🎭 Rocky Horror Picture Show | 7–9:30 PM @ Meow Wolf | $31.75 | Immersive. Interactive. Iconic. 🎭 Ryan Long | 7–8:30 PM @ Comedy Works Downtown | GA $30, VIP $35 | Skewering culture with fast wit and killer timing. 🎷 The Adam Gang Quartet 6–10 PM @ Nocturne | $26–$98 | Modern jazz grooves at a classy Denver staple. |
🎉 That’s a Wrap—Cheers to the Weekend
Whether you’re chasing down a hidden bar or discovering new favorites like Mr. Lucky’s and Ceramics in the City, this weekend is all about vibing local. Got a favorite hidden gem we must spotlight next? Hit reply and let us know. —The What’s Happenin’ Denver Team Want to find more great local experiences? Check out Take More Adventures’ guide to the best things to do in Denver. 🎧✨ |
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