4 Best Nightlife in Denver, Colorado

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.

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.

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

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.