14 Best Nightlife in Denver, Colorado

Known for its chicken-fried steak, big burgers, and even bigger breakfasts, the Bear Creek Tavern is a plain-spoken fixture favored by bikers and locals. It's a 40-minute drive west of downtown Denver. The views near O'Fallon Park are spectacular.

This high-end microbrewery is on the site of the old Union Pacific Railroad headhouse—with the train paraphernalia to prove it. It's a bit expensive for a brewpub, but if you hang out after Broncos games you might encounter local sports celebrities celebrating or commiserating, and certainly you will find fellow fans.

This fluorescent-lighted, bargain-basement Mexican dive with a checkerboard floor and pool tables in the back feels cramped. Still, the limos parked outside hint at its enduring popularity: "the Pec" is where Ol' Blue Eyes used to pop in, and where visiting musicians, including the Marsalis brothers and former president Bill Clinton, still jam after hours. Cash only.

This nighttime spot distinguishes itself with two outdoor rooftop bars for dancing and mingling, and DJs four nights a week. On Sunday during the season, the flat-screen TVs broadcast the football games.

Sitting south of downtown, this theater came of age in the early '90s, with a steady stream of soon-to-be-famous alternative-rock acts such as Nirvana and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It still showcases the old and new, from Morgenshtern to T-Pain and Neko Case, but also operates as a community venue for theater, music, and charity events.

Classic-rock bands are big here, as are country acts big and small. The Grizzly Rose has miles of dance floor, hosts regional and national bands, gives two-step dancing lessons, and sells plenty of Western wear, from cowboy boots to spurs. Sunday nights are for all ages until 11 pm.

Drag queens rule the scene here on weekends, with events such as "Mary-oke" and the town's premier drag revue, all of which take place on the stage side of this restaurant/club. Other digs farther east on 17th Avenue in City Park feature a sportier, classier look than the previous location, and the restaurant crowd, gay and straight, seems to agree that this bar offers one of the town's best burgers, with tater tots as a side option. The huge patio out back is always a party.

In a south Denver neighborhood, down-home Herman's Hideaway showcases mostly local rock, with a smattering of rap, reggae, and blues thrown in.

In performances by the Impulse Theater, the audience is invited to participate in interactive improv comedy and theater, and touring stand-up comics and local acts provide entertainment through physical comedy and other routines. Previously held downstairs in the Wynkoop brewpub, the performances have been staged at Avenue Theater and elsewhere around town as Impulse searches for a new home.

Near the 16th Street Mall, Mynt Mojito Lounge has established a chichi reputation with its namesake mojitos, Miami-style pastel colors, Cuban food, and fruity martinis—try the refreshing cha-cha, with fresh raspberries.

This is a perennial favorite, thanks to its rotating special brews and reasonably priced pub grub.

A vintage-style poolroom is just one reason to stop by the beloved Skylark Lounge, which counts live music, pinball machines, comfortable seating, and friendly staffers among its many charms.

This suburban country club and bar is a cavernous boot-scooting spot, with dance lessons, live Mexican and Spanish music several times a week, and Wednesday Ladies Night.

Denver's first licensed cannabis lounge, no-frills Coffee Joint is open daily from 8 am to 10 pm and allows customers age 21 and up with a valid ID to vape, consume edibles, and ingest dab concentrates using vape pens or an electric nail, all legally. No cannabis is sold here, but a few area dispensaries will deliver, and the $5 entry fee is waived if you purchase from the dispensary next door. The first cup of coffee is free, and tea, pastries, and other munchies-friendly snacks are available for sale. Guests can use the ping pong and foosball tables too. Bring your own supplies; smoking weed, open flames, and alcohol are not allowed.