This Colorado Speakeasy Guide uncovers the hidden bars scattered across the state. Perfect for travelers, road-trippers, and anyone who believes the best drinks are the ones you have to hunt for.

Admittedly, these are not all going to be speakeasies. But if they call themselves speakeasies, we owe them a look!

Loveland

Sage Speakeasy & Lounge

On our way to Fort Collins, a quick Google search found Sage Speakeasy & Lounge in Loveland, a perfect small town speakeasy.  Our one deterrent was the sign out front (along with a podium holding their menu).  But coming from a small town, we kind of understand the need to be a little more obvious.  No task to get in, obviously, so we do struggle with the speakeasy concept and the lowering of their shaker rating. 

Our experience was an interesting one.  We walked in, there was a large-ish group of people towards the back of the room.  Then this adorable host walks up to us, Josie.  He is friendly and his smile lit up the room; he explained to us that the power was out on the entire block.  They couldn’t serve food, and credit cards would have to be processed the old-fashioned way, by hand. But they were open. And the large, beautiful windows provided more than enough lighting. 

The cocktails were fantastic.  We loved Josie and Jeremy behind the bar.  Their smoked pineapple old-fashioned is one of their most popular signature cocktails.  It was amazing.  I had a Velvet Sunset, peachy, creamy with vanilla vodka.  We hated to one-and-done Sage, but Josie let us know about a low-key, little-known Loveland speakeasy right around the corner. We had to squeeze it in before getting back on the road.

Rosie’s

Ok, now we are talking speakeasy.  Rosie’s is hidden in the back of a barber shop.  There is a mention on the outside sign of cocktails, but no obvious GO HERE sign that we dislike.  The woman in the barbershop said Rosie’s didn’t open for another 20 minutes, but Troy (the owner) was back there if we wanted to go check it out.  Troy was happy to open a few minutes early for us, which we absolutely love and give bonus points for hospitality. 

Rosie’s was definitely eclectic and playful.  With Dexter’s Lab on the projector wall next to the bar, a Mystery Machine poster and some very interesting concoctions Troy had developed.

I opted for a Golden Mummy Golden Bird which had Rum, chocolate & lime cordial, hazelnut liqueur, and an absinthe rinse, which Troy assured me was just to highlight the flavors not to licorice it up.  It was interesting. I’m still trying to figure out if I liked it, but it definitely was exactly what the menu described, you could taste every note Troy said I would.  Peggy opted for a bourbon and hibiscus cocktail called David De La Hoz. But as our driver, she only had a couple of sips before erring on the side of caution and calling it good for a sample.

Fort Collins

The Social

In 2022 and 2023 The Social Fort Collins made the list of 50 Best Speakeasies in America. So this was a must visit for America’s Leading Speakeasy Authority.

There is a sign out front that simply has a clock which says Social on it. We are giving them hidden credit for not mention of being a bar or a speakeasy.  Plus, it is in a basement.  There was a check-in security at the top of the stairs and a hostess at the bottom. So while not exactly a task, it wasn’t just a walk-in situation.

The room is beautiful, yet quite expansive.  It just didn’t feel intimate, like we have come to know speakeasies to be.  The menu was fantastic, and the bartender was cool and informative, and gave us some great feedback on the menu.  We didn’t eat, but we loved that where you sometimes see an open kitchen. The Social had a glass walled charcuterie preparation station.  We love a good charcuterie board, especially seeing cheese and meat cut fresh and not pre-packaged.

There is a great selection of cocktails, and the menu is sectioned between your classic cocktails, your speakeasy-era cocktails, and then their more inventive “Secret Garden” selections.

ssn – and bonus points for a welcome drink!!

We loved our experience.  I’m not sure it would make our list as “best”, but it is definitely on the higher side of our shaker rating system.  And in fairness, we probably would have loved it more if we could have stayed for some serious drinking, and if there wasn’t a cranky, slightly douche-y husband on one side of us (someone else’s husband, not Patti’s).

Salida

Rocky Mountain Mercantile – The Blind Bighorn

This was a happy moment. 

A very happy accident.

There was a sign on the street that said “Whiskey Bar” and an arrow. But when we walked up the street to the sign it was just an upscale western wear boutique called Rocky Mountain Mercantile.  Geared towards the shopping tourist, but it still does say whiskey bar, so we went in.  Great shop with great clothes, and a few cute little home goods and jewelry.  If you keep walking back you will see a cigar case, a knife case, and then yep, a bar. 

The Blind Bighorn

Now, The Blind Bighorn Speakeasy is still in conceptual mode, but the bar was open.  Here we met Jeff behind the bar. He shared that while he was new to bartending, the concept was in development.  And he was learning.  Jeff makes guitars, yes, handmade guitars.  He used to own a rafting company in younger days and spent a great portion of his life outdoors, which is how he ended up in Salida.  He and his business partner, Kurt, who makes ukulele and banjos, decided to open this boutique in the front space of their backroom workshop.  Then they realized that they were drinking enough in this space that they should just put a bar in.

Now it’s a full whiskey bar, with the option to buy full bottles from their selection and lease a locker. Therefore, you can come in anytime and drink from your own supply while you hang out with them.  Fantastic concept for a local’s hangout.  And Kurt and Jeff were fun and informative to hang out with.  We love planners and dreamers and artists; they are those people.  They plan to do a little framing in, add a hidden entry, and turn it into a full speakeasy.  We cannot wait to go back and celebrate its grand reopening with them!  Please send us an invite, Jeff!!!

Velveteen

Another “not a speakeasy”, but we are including it because it lists itself as a speakeasy and the bartender told me “This is literally a speakeasy” (yes, that is a direct quote but she didn’t say it in a rude way).  But this is not a speakeasy: it is not hidden, it is not mysterious, there is nothing speakeasy about this.

It is, however, a great bar.  The cocktails were great.  We loved the feel of the bar and the quirky, literary theme, and it was definitely a comfortable bar to hang out in.  The back outside patio was amazing. They were preparing to set up for live music, there is also a food truck out back serving Mediterranean food.  And we did love that there are plenty of game cards set at each table to provide social interaction and conversation.

So, we do absolutely recommend popping into Velveteen if you are in Salida. Try them but do not expect to find a speakeasy inside the propped-wide-open door.

Colorado Springs

Shame and Regret

This is so close to being the ideal speakeasy.  It is dark, it is moody, it has a little Victorian era dark, witchy vibe to it – picture upscale goth.  Plus, one of the best names ever!

If only there wasn’t a big neon sign outside. 

Down a side alley, so we give them points because you would have to be looking for it.  No task to get in, which I hate to say is definitely becoming the norm for our visits and is sadly taking away from the fun of the speakeasy claim.

However, Shame and Regret has an amazing whisky and scotch selection.  They were definitely on theme with the drink titles like Shame Spiral and Lowered Expectations.  I loved the “You Up?”, their Shame and Regret espresso martini.  And Blackmail is perfect for old-fashioned aficionados.               

District Elleven

This is a bit of a conundrum in our shaker rankings.  We walked down a back alley.  There is a huge painted DISTRICT ELLEVEN painted on the side of a building wall.  So hardly a secret, but sticking to our set ratings, we gave it a half shaker, because it didn’t say what it was.

The inside is cool: black and sophisticated looking, with a little divey-punk feel.  Black aesthetics, dark, leather, whiskey bar.  Our bartender, Alex, was perky and cool.  Again, a conundrum, looking like she (or maybe they, we failed to ask) should be all hard and tough, bald, tattoos, but then sweet, with amazing dimples, a great sense of humor, and could make a stiff cocktail.  An amazing combination.  They were awesome, made great drink recommendations, said anything could be made that we could envision.  We loved Alex! 

The main bar room had insanely high ceilings with great artwork, mirrors, and eclectic remnants of the past decorating the walls from floor to ceiling.  Velvet couches, comfy chairs, and then a side room with booths.  So, yes, we loved it, and it was incredible.

But THEN, we exited through the other doorway, and bang!  It was a T-Byrds Tacos & Tequila.  If you come in through the street side, it is in the back of a Mexican restaurant, and yes, it is completely hidden.  So, bingo-bango-bongo, we have a hidden speakeasy, with full shaker, and full happiness from us!!!

The Archives Underground

Down a back alley, around to the back of the building, there are some stairs leading down to a basement “underground”.  We loved the lunch board that said, “This is the bar you’ve been looking for”. But so very disappointed in the sign next to that which read “The Archives Underground Speakeasy, this way”.

It had a fairly plain interior without a lot of art or eye-catching decor, but we did love the bar and the menu.  Not much for a theme, but three people at the bar were having hamburgers that looked flat out incredible.  The service was good; it had an industrial feel that made us think this would be where you would want to hang out after a tough shift at work.  There were a couple of tables that appeared to be date night clientele. I could see this would be a good date spot, not too loud, not too crowded.

I loved that the menu book also had a spot in the back where people were free to contribute jokes, and that the bartender stayed engaged with the people at the bar, even visitors to the area, not just the locals he knew.

There is an entrance through Colorado Craft that may be more hidden, but we did not check that out.

Allusion

Allusion has two locations in Colorado Springs.  This location is a speakeasy inside the Wobbly Olive downtown, the other inside the Wobbly Olive on Powers.  They change themes every 90 days.  We were skeptical about the ability to rotate themes and have it still be fully executed.  We were wrong to doubt them.

Originally, we showed up on a Wednesday night but were told that they were closed when they changed the theme over from Shrek to Jurassic Park.

Jurassic Park, I am so in for that!  I love me some Jurassic Park (minus #2), and Jurassic World (again, minus #2).  We made a special trip back a week later and were floored.

The theme was magnificent.  From the Skeleton on the toilet, to the Raptor eye peeking through the door hole, it was impressive.  All the drinks had movie themed names based on lines from the movies, like “Clever Girl” and “Future Ex Mrs. Malcom”.  I opted for the “We have a T-Rex” and Peggy had the “Life Finds a Way”.  The drinks are served in various dinosaur shaped containers, and one fantastic drink is served in a Barbasol can.  We closed out our experience with the “Really Big Pile of Shit” shot of vanilla vodka, chocolate liqueur and cream served in a poop emoji shot glass. 

Dylan, or Dr. Grant as he told us to call him, was a great bartender, and we absolutely loved our experience at Allusion.

ssn – be sure to make reservations, it was busy and we were lucky to score 2 seats at the end of the bar.

Beaver Creek/Minturn

The Minturn Whiskey Company (Beaver Creek)

Up in Beaver Creek (seasonally in Village Park), the Minturn Whisky Company is relatively new to the Colorado speakeasy scene, and we are thrilled to have made it over to visit them.  Beaver Creek is a super cute (although super bougie) ski village. The kind you can ski right out of your condo and onto a ski lift.  But this was summertime, and there is some cute little shops and restaurants around the area.  A trip to the mountains was just what we needed to get out of the desert heat.

Coming around the corner, you can see through the big picture windows into the bar inside, but the challenge is figuring out how to get in.  We loved the 1970’s themed real estate office front.  All 70’s orange and yellow, very retro décor, we were a little disappointed that there was a sign outside that clearly said “this is a speakeasy” – but it’s summertime and we are understanding of their need to draw in business.

And they are scoring a shaker for how to get in.  But we aren’t going to tell you how that is achieved, it is not difficult, and you should be able to figure it out pretty quickly; however, we are not one to spoil the challenge.

Serving only Minturn Whisky Company whisky, family-owned, small-batch, locally made, plus they have a great cocktail list.  The standard whisky cocktails like a Manhattan and a killer old-fashioned, they also have crafted some of their own, you can also opt for a whisky tasting.  We recommend the tasting because we really liked this whisky.

The Minturn Whiskey Company Wee Dram (Minturn)

Additionally, they have the smallest whisky tasting room in Colorado at their OG saloon in Minturn – the Wee Dram.  Absolutely go find them!  It’s a cute little ski shack, with a tiny fireplace, seating for just about 12 people, and the same cocktails as the speakeasy.  We fell in love with Kyler, and the locals hanging around outside for the live music prior to the rain starting. 

ssn – the Wee Dram won my choice for Best Bar of 2025 in our annual travel awards!

The Minturn Whisky Co. (Beaver Creek) gets high marks from us and would be sky-rocketed to the top of our shaker rating, minus the sign out front.  And the winter seasonal speakeasy is open now (January 2026) so go check it out!

Breckenridge

Canary Bar – Hotel Alpenrock

The Canary Speakeasy Bar was the last stop on our Colorado Speakeasy road trip adventure.  We were excited to be in Breckenridge.  But there were no reservations available for The Canary until 9:15 at night.  We were bummed but determined to push through.  Located inside the Hotel Alpenrock, we showed up early “just in case” and were told by the lobby check-in that they would come get us when our table was ready. 

I was, admittedly, cranky.  I was tired, I was hungry, my family was irritating me from a distance, and I was ready to bail.  That’s when Rob showed up with two champagne flutes with our welcome drinks.  Now, y’all know how much we love a welcome drink!  The drink changes with each guest, but ours was Amaro. 

Canary Bar Entrance

Rob was amazing.  On your way to the hidden entrance (and yes, it’s hidden, we could not find it on our own and circled the common areas a couple of times), Rob tells you about the hotel, the theme, the décor, the thought process.  And let me tell you, it’s pretty impressive.

The hotel is gorgeous but also has been so well thought out to reflect the seasons as you move from area to area.  We get to the Edwin, the upscale restaurant on property.  It is beautiful, summer themed, in a very Colorado ski town way.  And at the entrance they have 4 tree trunks, these are from the one and only tree they had to cut down to build the hotel – so they “live on” inside the property, very cool. 

Then we go back through the restaurant and are pretty sure Rob has tricked us into an evening of dishes in the kitchen when he stops and knocks on a bookshelf – and it’s a secret knock too!! He opens the door to the completely hidden, very elegant Canary Speakeasy.  Dark, rich, stylish, we sit at the bar, disappointed that the caged canary is fake (but I guess that’s to be expected).

Cire behind the bar brings us “guidebooks”, their replacement for a menu.  There are about 4 cocktails at the back by the wine and whisky list, but the front is all about the alcohol, the variety, the descriptor, suggestions for complimentary flavors.  And you tell Cire how you are feeling, what your wheelhouse is, and he creates you cocktail for you.  A hit for Peggy, a little bit of a miss for me, but still a great cocktail.  This is definitely a 5-Shaker experience, and I am so glad we stayed for it.

Durango

Bookcase & the Barber

While we did not make it this trip, a true 5-Shaker experience that you must visit is the Bookcase and the Barber in Durango.  Peggy has been and raves about it.  Tucked behind a bookcase in a working barbershop (hence the name, duh), this literary themed cocktail bar is near perfection.  Not only is the entrance hidden, but you need a password to get in – it can be found on their social media.

It is an intimate, local experience where the bartenders seem to know everyone and are super friendly and chatty.  Also, worth noting that it also makes Fifty Grande magazine’s list of the Coolest Speakeasies in America. 

July 2026 Update

Westcliffe

The Hidden Peak

In the small town of Westcliffe there happens to be a tiki bar.  It happens to be hidden.  It happens to be fantastic.

You are looking for a restaurant called B Social.  It’s right there as you pull into town (assuming you come from the north, which we did). B Social is a two-story wooden building marked as a feed store – small, rural town, naturally you are looking for a feed store. B Social is pretty fantastic, with a big patio, fresh air, TVs, and picnic tables.  It would be a great place just to hang out for happy hour, that is, if there wasn’t a set of stairs leading down.

There is a door off to the side, it was open when we got there and did have a sign on the door.  Given that this is a small town, we weren’t upset about the sign, small town means small business and the need to get customers in the door.  There is no task to get in, just head down the stairs and through the beaded curtain and find Katie and Rian behind the fantastic tiki paradise they have created in the basement. 

Hidden Peak Tiki has a fantastic happy hour if you can get there between 3 and 6 pm.  If not, go anyway, because the drinks were so well done!  We took my husband, who happens to love daiquiris on the rocks – which is a $5 happy hour special – and it was honestly one of the best daiquiris I have had.

Katie and Rian pretty much just opened their home bar to the public, saved up some SPAM cans, and started pouring amazing Tiki drinks. They were awesome, the group of ladies drinking way too many Blue Hawaiians ($7 happy hour price) were awesome, and the decor is fantastically tiki without being overdone or cheesy. Lots of wood, lots of nets, a couple of blown-up puffer fish and a bookshelf of SPAM cans (and they do make SPAM fries, if you like that kind of thing).

We HIGHLY recommend making a trip to this small town.  It is absolutely worth the drive, and we really wish we lived closer!

Cañon City

The War Room

As long as we are talking small town Colorado, Cañon City has this elegant turn of the century style hotel called Hotel St. Cloud.  Katie at The Hidden Peak recommended The War Room, and since we were going to drive though Cañon City on the way home, so we had to stop.

Truly hidden, so we never want to completely give it away and ruin your fun, let’s just leave it as you are looking for a bookshelf.  Find the bookshelf (it’s the only one we saw in the hotel), find the correct book, and figure out what it takes to swing the bookshelf open.

Immediate WOW from us.  The War Room was gorgeous, with mirrors, and lighting, and those fantastic glass shelves taking the bottles all the way to the ceiling.  Marble counter seating, and options of love seats, rounded booths, and full tables around the edges.  Cushy comfy chairs at the bar are always our choice, and they were available, so far, our night is ending well.  Art deco decor and a huge mural of a warm room really outlined the theme and the feel of the room.

The cocktails all had themed names, and we really loved their selection of curated cocktails.  Nothing too weird, yet interesting blends of flavors. Tactical Lounge was my wheelhouse with rum, grilled pineapple, mint, lime, honey, and limoncello, dare I say it would make my top 10 of the year.  Peggy went a little lighter with the Night Watch consisting of vodka, blackberry moonshine lemon, peach, and basil.  Mine was better, but hers was refreshing.

The bartender was nice and engaging with our conversations with those around us at the bar, popping into the conversation when it was appropriate and was on top of the service.  Shockingly enough (especially for those who know Cañon City), this checked every single box, and a 5 shaker was found in an unexpected place! 

Grand Junction

SoCo Social House

I met the owner of SoCo Social House at Tales of the Cocktail 2026. Our conversation was brief: I mentioned that I write a blog specializing in speakeasies, and he replied, “That’s awesome—I own a speakeasy.” That quick exchange put SoCo on our radar, and an August road trip finally brought us to Grand Junction.

Hidden behind a brick building downtown, SoCo is tucked away down an alley or through a hotel parking lot. There’s a small sign on the door, but from the street you’d never know it’s there. Inside, the cozy brick-walled space features a small bar, intimate seating, and a second room overlooking an open kitchen.

Although Scott wasn’t there, bartender Bo made the visit unforgettable. Friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate, he walked us through the seasonal cocktail menu, explaining the inspiration behind each drink. Most feature house-made syrups and bitters from a Colorado producer, resulting in inventive, beautifully balanced cocktails.

This falls into the category we hate, where the shaker rating does not give the full picture of the experience. Objectively, SoCo earns a 3-Shaker rating. The visible signage and lighter Prohibition theme keep it from scoring higher. But ratings don’t always capture the full experience. Exceptional cocktails, outstanding service, and a welcoming atmosphere make SoCo a place we’d happily return to again and again if we lived nearby.

Colorado Conclusion

In closing, this is our first speakeasy blog focusing on an entire state.  Most of these are still just in the “speakeasy style” and not true to our definition but there were a few standouts – Canary, Bookcase & The Barber, Minturn Whisky Co. And yes, we are still missing one or two around the state (specifically we had to skip Aspen and Vail). 

We love Colorado and all there is to see and experience.  It’s gotten a little long, but hopefully this will continue as a new trend to cover bars outside of a major metropolitan area.  We know some of you are anxious to explore cool places outside of urban expanses.  And we are here for it!

Please reach out and let us know where you think we need to cover next, or if you have any inside information on places, we need to get on our list to visit!

Other Speakeasy Guides

• Ultimate Speakeasy Guide – Ratings & Rankings
• Denver
• Las Vegas
• Boston
• San Diego
• Chicago
• Austin
• Seattle
• Kansas City
• Paris
• London
• Bali

Location

The nightly rate at Populus beat out all our Denver favorite hotels, but it was a little out of our preferred areas. We love the LoHi, RiNo, and Union Station areas.  Populus is just opposite the Capital building, but close to the Denver Art Museum, Colorado Convention Center, and the Denver Performing Arts Complex.  But, what the heck, we had reservations at Casa Bonita, so we were not tied to the downtown area, on a quick one-nighter in Mile High City, let’s try something new. 

Initial Impression

Populus’ mission is a sustainably focused hotel, with the amenities and service of a large hospitality group, but the unique personalization of an independent hotel.  And I cannot stress enough how impressed we were by their level of service, details, and considerations.

The outside of the hotel is unique, and I wasn’t feeling the art deco vibe when we first pulled up.  Later, looking at their website, they detail that the outside was designed after the aesthetic of the local Aspen trees – and now I get it, and it’s pretty cool and very Colorado.

Enter the lobby, restaurant to the left, Little Owl coffee bar to the right, and then the small check-in desk where we meet Nicole.  And she greets us with a big, beautiful smile.   We managed to get an upgrade and then we got the good information: happy hour in the bar, morning coffee in the executive rooftop lounge, water pitchers in the rooms, water fill stations by all the elevators, they will bring you ice if you need it.

And we head for the elevator, where inside the sounds are piping in a recording of a local Aspen Forest noises, it’s very peaceful.

Our Room

Our room, whew, our room was amazing!  The inside is all cement walls, in this smooth grey.  Fantastic wood details, and white linens.  It has a contemporary yet natural feel.  The oval windows line the walls with an incredible view of the State Capital and Civic Park.  We are definitely WOWed and simultaneously bummed that we have reservations and can’t just camp out for the night in this beautiful room.

The Lobby Bar

We had just enough time to grab a drink at the bar before happy hour ended on our way down, we stopped by to tell Nicole how amazing our room is and thank her.  Then we took our free drink token to the bar for a quick vodka soda, before noticing their drink selection.

And we meet Andrea, who was funny and engaging, and she introduces us to Thomas, who tells us how we missed out on his favorite drink:  Milk Punch, Vol 2.  A lemongrass, gin clarified milk punch.  Andrea is just finishing off one of the pre-mixed bottles for another order and poured each of us a taster.  It was fantastic and we were truly bummed we didn’t have time for one (or eight) more.

I loved the nature décor, and above the bar was a strange art installation that looked like animal hides hanging in a row, but it was beautiful and just worked within the space.  Zach was just coming on to shift, and we hated to say goodbye, but plans and reservations called, and we were off.

By the time we returned that evening, everything was shut down for the night, so we were off to a comfy bed and fantastic fluffy pillows.  The next morning was difficult.  It should have been a crime to have to get out of that bed.  It was a happy, relaxed morning just snuggled down under the covers as we both tried to get some work done.

Rooftop Lounge

Finally, the need for coffee and the remembrance of the rooftop “executive lounge access” called us to our feet.  As I mentioned, the hotel is just across from the state capital, the museum, and the Civic Center Park, so the view of the city is nice in the perfect sunny morning.  There was self-service coffee, tea, and water station, as well as a few pastries. 

We had not explored the rooftop restaurant, Stellar Jay, the evening before. This restaurant carries the nature vibes and gorgeous interior as the downstairs more casual dining restaurant, Pasque, but with an upscale elegant, intimate feel.  Two chefs prepping the daily menu ingredients, and even they were incredibly welcoming and nice.  There is an amazing back room for private groups that is done in a gorgeous apricot and cream color with that same beautiful view.  There was a slight smokey wood burning smell in the background which led me to believe that dinner in this elegant restaurant was going to be amazing.  Next time, we will be staying for dinner.

It was an absolutely perfect morning, enjoying coffee on the rooftop patio!

Breakfast Time

Back to the room for showers, with a wonderful walk-in shower with controls to use the wall spigot, overhead rainfall head, or the handheld shower head, incredible smelling toiletries, and finally we needed real food.

Down to Pasque for breakfast, and again, with incredible service. This time, we met Brandon.  He was amazing, funny, and connected with our need for the perfect bite and a cocktail for breakfast.  He was not available for adoption, but I did ask.  We actually spent a good part of the meal trying to figure out what drugs the staff were required to take that they were all so happy and kind.  He assured us that they really did like their job. This speaks huge volumes for us in recommending a place (The Virgin Hotel Dallas had the same vibe).

And Zach (from happy hour) was back tending bar, and we finally scored the Milk Punch, Vol 2.  And it was incredible.  The breakfast menu was fantastic with fresh, local, seasonal ingredients – everything sounded so good, we opted for a couple of the toasts!

Oh, and then we ask about the hanging animal hides.  And Zach tells us that they are actually sheets of wild mushroom processed into leather-like material that is used in their decorating.  Yes, VEGAN LEATHER in their quest to further their sustainability level. This leather is used throughout the hotel and it is gorgeous (no, it doesn’t look like the hides that are hanging above the bar)!!

Our breakfast was running a little long, so without question they extended our checkout time for us.  Yes, sadly, we had to leave, and I was left with the same feeling I had in Langkawi, we screwed up, one night was not enough.

Sadly, Time to Checkout

For those that value sustainability, I wanted to share this from The Populus website: 

“At Populus, we believe protecting the planet is a collective responsibility and journey.  The heartbeat of Populus is a deep reverence for nature.  It started at the beginning with the biophilic architecture and use of locally-sourced, recycled, or sustainably-certified building materials during the construction process.  It extends throughout the guest experience, with One Night One Tree initiative, a commitment to source food from regenerative, organic farmers, and an on-site biodigester that composts 100% of food waste.  At Populus, we have a deep reverence for nature.  As stewards of the built environment, we believe we have a responsibility to offset our impact.  That’s why, for every night you stay at our hotel, we’ll plant a tree.”

This has entered the top of my list for favorite stays.  We cannot thank the staff enough for the incredible service and we cannot wait to make it to Populus Seattle in October.

Check out more: Our Favorite Places to Stay

tl;dr: If you want to jump to our Complete List of US Speakeasies, Click here

Or they may use a descriptor of “speakeasy vibes” in order to show up in a Google search. 

Our requirements to be considered a true speakeasy include a secret entrance or at least hidden out of plain sight.  And if you have a challenge to get in, we are all on board. Give us a password or a “must know” secret way to gain entry and we are in! (See Las Vegas Speakeasy Guide for our favorite entry to a speakeasy to date)

The Best Speakeasy in Denver

Williams & Graham

Let’s start this off strong, and tell you right up front where you need to go in Denver.

Coming in as our number one Denver speakeasy, Williams & Graham.

It took us several trips to Denver before we could fit it in and get a reservation.  And you need a reservation. 

Sister Side Note (ssn) – Yes…it seems like having a reservation system kind of takes away from our definition. But it is hard to find a speakeasy that doesn’t recommend reservations these days.

On a street corner in the Highlands is a wood and glass door that looks to lead you into a small book shop.  There’s an old-fashioned cash register and book shelves with an eclectic variety of books.  Give your name to the lady working the register and she will check your ID, take your coat, and press a button on the wall.  A green light comes on above the bookshelf.  When that light goes off, she will open up the book case and allow you entry to the back room where you will be greeted by your host.

We had early reservations which got us a seat at the bar.  Rhianna welcomed us, introduced us to Cade and Hayden (Cadenhaden?), who set a small glass in front of us.  Every drinking guest is given a welcome drink. It changes nightly depending on what the bartenders have developed for the day. Ours was a whiskey cocktail with honey and lime, and it was perfect for setting our expectations for the evening.

Their menu changes seasonally, but I had the Calm Before the Storm, which was a carbonated rum milk punch. Peggy had the Falling Through Thyme (Gin, grapefruit, thyme and lemon, definitely her wheelhouse). There were many great choices, and we were thrilled that not all their cocktails included weird and off-the-wall items. Enough with putting peppers in cocktails for me!

ssn – Williams & Graham was just an all-around success. The staff was soooo chatty, the drinks and the menu were fantastic and everyone in there was happy and friendly. And I love a good welcome drink!.

We ordered the bone marrow appetizer. They provided gluten-free toast for me, so a win for the gluten-free options.  AAANNDDDD, as a bonus to the bone marrow you can add on the “luge” at the end – whiskey or sherry poured down the bone into your mouth. Fantastically fun. We were Cade’s first luge. So he got the honor of pouring our drinks down the bone – mine was poured too slow, Peggy’s too fast, but big kudos for Cade and his learning curve.

ssn – down the bone into your mouth, hahahaha

And as we were settling our bill, suddenly our coats magically appeared. We were directed to exit through the back of the room.  Side note, the bathroom is covered in little notebook pages with people’s drawings, advice, and humor, and I loved it.

ssn – if you are in DIA (Denver International Airport), Williams & Graham is now open in the A terminal. You enter through a bookcase just like the original, and you can count on great cocktails and food!

From First to Worst

The Cruise Room

Well, that was too harsh. But going from our best experience to our least favorite visit. You know we hate to bad mouth any business, especially when it’s a small locally owned joint.  We know people have very different experiences at places and we can only give you the story of what we experienced. We feel we owe our readers our honest review when something doesn’t live up to our experiences or online reviews.

As is the case with The Cruise Room inside the Oxford Hotel.

First off, it shows up on many speakeasy lists, so we are including it in our even though the entrance is not secret nor hidden. It is much more of a lounge than a speakeasy.  The Cruise Room opened the day after prohibition was repealed in 1933 (we LOVE that!) and has remained open ever since, thus it is the longest running bar in Denver.

We did love the décor.  The theme is inspired by the Queen Mary, a little art deco, unique and quirky. High back booths and a jukebox.  However, it is a long skinny room and it felt very cramped.

ssn – and don’t forget RED. Just completely red ambient lighting.

We didn’t like that it was crowded and loud and just had a very pretentious feel to it. The service was terrible, our server was not friendly, and we couldn’t flag them down for a second round so we were one and done just out of frustration.  The drinks were clearly trying too hard to be original and inventive. But we would have worked our way through the menu more had we been able to get service.

ssn – we have both seen multiple recommendations on travel boards for The Cruise Room. Did we miss the thing that makes it so good? We may need to give it a second chance. Please give it a try and let us know!

Best Speakeasy Entrance in Denver

Retrograde

This honor was hands down: Retrograde

Just east of the Central Business District, in a cute little neighborhood is an ice cream shop called Frozen Matter.  There’s a big glass window with a guy cutting up ice and doing ice cream stuff.  There are freezer cabinets with ice cream choices, it’s super cute. 

And there’s a big freezer door. And a little switch you need to flip right next to it to gain entrance.

On the other side of the freezer is an adorable retro-science fiction looking room.  Think sixties/seventies era Sci Fi: Aliens, planets, all purple-y and green.  The drinks are all titled to sound like terrible sixties era science fiction movies, like My Alien Girlfriend, Vegas in Space, Time Chasers, and Alien Apocalypse.

The bartender was clearly overwhelmed and alone. So there was a definite lack of attention or time for chatting about the concept.

While we found the drinks to be a little over the top, and we struggled to find things we liked due to the weird ingredients, we applaud their commitment to their theme.

ssn – Our drinks were really good once we decided on something. But the ingredients and combinations really are out there!

Important to note, they do not require reservations and you will be carded before entry, so make sure you bring your ID.

Other Denver Speakeasies

B&GC

We hit up B&GC on our most recent trip to Denver.  It’s in a back alley, in the Halcyon Hotel in the Cherry Creek neighborhood of Denver.  Look for a delivery door with a distinct doorbell (you have to ring the same bell on their website).

You are greeted at the door and are taken down a long hallway to a second door where the speakeasy is.  It is a cute back bar (I loved the ceiling and the feel of the room) with great drinks, great service, great atmosphere. It has an elegant feel and a little retro, think Mad Men.

ssn – now this is a great entrance. We may have been a little deep into our evening to have fully enjoyed it but looking at the interior pictures, it was beautiful. This is one you definitely need reservations for so check out the website for instructions.

The drinks we had were amazing, but there is also the “take a chance” option where you roll the dice, the bartenders will also whip up something based on your preferences for flavors and liquors.  Peggy had the It’s Always Foggy in London, served in a tea cup giving us throwback to our sushi bar in Penang. I had the Something Sunny, and it was clean and perfectly balanced for an end of evening drink. Next time we will start our evening here.  Apparently, the bathrooms are something you are supposed to visit, but we didn’t find that out until later, so looks like we have a reason to go back!

Lincoln’s

Somewhat newer on the scene, Lincoln’s is a fantastic secret bar! It is truly hidden behind a glass door entrance on Wynkoop St. The doors look like they lead to an office building, but just inside and down the stairs is a large, unmarked industrial door. Open the door and down the stairs, you enter Lincoln’s.

Lincoln’s is a dark and lively underground space. Larger than you would think, with a lot of seating but a fairly small, simple bar. All ordering is done at the bar, it is cash only, and all drinks are $5. Nothing fancy at all – beer on tap, 10 spirits, 10 mixers, and 1 special barrel aged Old Fashioned, the “Lincoln Continental”. That’s it.

We absolutely loved Lincoln’s. It has the best vibe, nothing pretentious, and just feels like someplace you want to spend the whole evening. Because it is such a well-kept secret, I’m not going to give much of the location away!

Run for the Roses

The Speakeasy we want to like! Peggy originally hit up Run for the Roses without me, and while not blown away, felt we should definitely go together for the blog’s sake.

In the Dairy Block of downtown Denver, there is simply a door with a red neon sign above it that says Cocktails.  The floor is painted with a string of roses that leads you to an elevator to the basement. 

The basement takes you down a long corridor to big glass windows with roses etched into them. And then to what looks like a betting window where you must check in.

The interior is pretty, but not over the top. I’m left wondering how it fits in with the theme of horse racing.  It has big, cream colored walls and a low ceiling, the chairs are all blue velvet pub chairs, with couches around the outside.

What I loved was that they give you a deck of cards.  The numbers correspond to choice of liquor (all the twos are vodka drinks, three are gin, etc), then the suit denotes the strength or kind of cocktail (bright or fruity or bold or classic).

Our only complaint is that the bartenders were not friendly or engaging and we were seated at a very cramped bar.  Well, to clarify, the seats at the bar were crammed so tightly together we could barely squeeze in. There were about 30 chairs at the bar and they chose to seat us between two other couples while the entire other side of the bar was empty – picture 6 of us elbow to elbow and then 20 empty seats. 

ssn – this one is disappointing to me because it should be fantastic. It has all the things. I honestly have to wonder if it because we are not their target customer – young and hip (just the fact that I said “hip” is proof). And it is below Bruto – one of Denver’s Michelin 1 star restaurants. I want to love it.

Emerald Eye

Admittedly, it is hard to even go into Larimer Square and not be reminded about our previous favorite, but now closed, The Green Russell. But we had to brave it to try the Emerald Eye. I saw someone call it “Denver’s Sexiest Speakeasy”…while I am not sure I agree, it is does have a certain something.

The entrance from Larimer (there is a second around back) should be hidden. The doorway has the neon eye above it and no other signs, however, on this night there was a sandwich board pointing the way. You know how we feel about the sandwich board…unnecessary loss of a shaker!

Once you enter the doorway and down the unmarked staircase, you enter a dark, tropical space. There are multiple rooms, comfortable seating groups, booths, a stage area and a beautiful bar. The decor is 1955 Caribbean – think rich colors, leafy plants, and rum specialties (among other themed drinks).

Not Quite a Speakeasy, but. . ..

The Roosevelt Room does not have a secret entrance.  It has the speakeasy feel, and we are including it in our list because the bathrooms have secret entrances, and we loved it.  So, it’s here.

Now this will be brief, because we were on the high side of drunk by the time we hit The Roosevelt Room, but we were enamored with it.  It is a beautiful bar, very modern, with big floor to ceiling bookshelves.  It was elegant, the staff was amazing, and the drinks were impressive.

And the bathrooms are hidden behind the bookcases, so you should go just for the fun of that.

Cooper Lounge

The Cooper Lounge deserves a mention. While not technically a speakeasy, it is hidden-ish. The Cooper Lounge is on the upper level of Denver’s Union Station and unless you know it’s there, you would not stumble across it. Take the stairs up to the second level and there is this beautiful, bright, airy bar that overlooks the bustling station below. The service, the drinks and snacks were all fabulous but the energy of Union Station just adds something.

Do a Little Something Different in Denver

Speakeasies are always a fun experience for us, and we love finding new places in new cities.  Denver has a great speakeasy scene. But as mentioned, you do need to read through your lists carefully as there are several bars we will cover in our Day Drinking Denver Blog that describe themselves as speakeasies that are simply not. They are just “speakeasy” feel, which I assume they mean quiet, elegant, prohibition theme spaces.  But take our word for it, we are your voice of experience for a good time and plenty of giggles.

Others in our Speakeasy Series

• Our Ultimate List & Ratings of American Speakeasies
• Las Vegas
• Chicago
• Kansas City
• Seattle
• Boston
• Austin
• San Diego