11 Best Nightlife in South Central Colorado, Colorado

Student art still lingers on the bathroom walls of this historic elementary school turned hipster haunt. On one end of the 1916 school, Bristol Brewing Company schools patrons with its microwbrews while creative libations are shaken and stirred down the hall at the Principal's Office. Trendy locals flock to the historic site with large patios and lots of charm for the tastiest cafeteria grub around, with five dining options offering pizza, barbecue, salads, and empanadas in an art-covered hallway between the two bars. Axe and the Oak Whiskey House serve up spirits distilled from local grain at this popular hangout.

This is a favorite hangout for country music lovers and two-steppers.

Be sure to sit at the bar in this Main Street joint and chat up the local bartenders, who serve up opinions on town politics and advice on where to eat, as well as delicious cocktails made from whiskey and gin distilled on-site. Bands liven up Main Street on weekends and throughout the summer, bringing in tourists and plenty of local flavor. The food truck on the patio serves the best fish-and-chips in town.

Remnants of a 19th-century English pub were discovered in a warehouse in New York City in the 1950s and moved to the Broadmoor site where the original mahogany bar, wood carvings, mirrors, and tin ceilings still define the Golden Bee's charm. The old-fashioned bar features a piano player leading sing-alongs. Watch out for the bees—as part of a long-standing tradition, they flick bee stickers into the audience during the show.

A legendary Pueblo dive bar, this quintessential locals' hangout has been going strong since the 1930s.

In the Antlers Hilton Colorado Springs, a stunning wood bar and trim gives the restaurant and bar a rich pub feel. Customers come back for the custom cocktails—like the Mile High Martini with gin, lime and grapefruit juice, and simple syrup or the Metro Tea, a twist on the Long Island iced tea—and a selection of Colorado craft beers are always on tap. Lunch and dinner are also served here daily.

This club showcases live stand-up comedy Thursday to Saturday evening. Some of the performers are nationally known.

In a century-old brick building, this noted brewpub has shuffleboard and billiards in an upstairs hall. There's great pub grub, plus hop-infused desserts.

Located downtown, the Ritz fills up at cocktail hour and has a bistro-style menu for dining. The real action is Thursday–Saturday, when there's a DJ or live music. Locals recommend arriving before 7 pm if you plan to eat.

This consistently jam-packed hot spot is a bar and grill with a good kitchen. They brew their own beer—six or seven varieties are usually on tap, including the Irish Red Ale and PAPA, the Pueblo American Pale Ale. It's especially popular with the after-work crowd.

Nothing will raise your thirst like considering the former occupants of this very cool 1880s jailhouse-turned-craft-beer bar, complete with a cell door, jailhouse knickknacks, and stone walls. It's perfectly situated on Main Street, and the friendly owners, excellent beer selection, and more than 100 American whiskies attract a lively crowd to the large bar and the large outdoor patio.