20 Best Bars in Denver (Where to Drink Right Now)

Best Bars in Denver

Denver, also known as the Mile-High City, is famous for its picturesque landscape and spectacular views of the Rocky Mountains. This world-class city boasts of stunning cultural attractions, a vibrant music scene, and flourishing craft breweries that fuel the city’s nightlife.

If you’re in Denver and are looking for a place where you can either party till dawn or chill out and enjoy some cocktails, check out one of the 20 best bars in the city that will surely make your stay worth the while. Rest assured that all establishments strictly adhere to the COVID-19 protocols set by the state and federal government.

20 Best Denver Bars

Linger

View of a bartender pouring red wine on a wine glass

📍 Address: 2030 W 30th Ave, Denver, CO 80211 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (303) 993-3120
🕐 Hours: 5 pm – 9 pm Mon-Thurs, 5 pm – 1 pm Fri, 10 am – 2:30 pm & 5 pm – 11 pm Sat, 10 am – 2:30 pm & 5 pm – 9 pm Sun

This old mortuary turned gastropub is the epitome of embracing the diversity in food, ethnicities, cultures, and life. Located in the heart of Highland, Linger boasts of a wide selection of food and beverages that showcase the flavors of the world at an affordable price.

Linger’s menu features urban street food staples with flavors from the Americas, Morocco, Turkey, Italy, Asia, and India. Their bar offers handcrafted cocktails made with fresh, local ingredients. You can also select from their vast selection of wines by the glass and bottles from the world’s best wine-producing regions but if you’re a beer person, you can enjoy their local pours on draft and specialty bottles. You can also try their creative interpretations of classic ethnic drinks such as Horchata and Lassi.

Got allergies or food preferences? Give their friendly and helpful staff a heads up so they can have their seasonal menu modified to cater to whatever condition you might have.

Work & Class

View of a tacos and a beer on a table

📍 Address: 2500 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (303) 292-0700
🕐 Hours: 5 pm – 10 pm Wed-Thurs & Sun, 5 pm – 11 pm Fri & Sat, Closed on Mon & Tue

Work & Class is a casual bar and restaurant that offers a “square meal, stiff drink, and fair price.” The place reflects the working-class background and down-to-earth philosophy of its owners, Detroit native Tony Maciag and Dana Rodriguez who hails from Chihuahua, Mexico.

Do not be deceived by the simplistic look of their place and the humble selection of food and beverage. Work & Class delivers high-quality Latin and American menu offerings that keep people coming back for more.

Due to the COVID-19 regulations, Work & Class’ once noisy atmosphere is now silent. But this doesn’t mean that you can’t bring home fun. Work & Class accepts takeouts and deliveries, so you can still enjoy “square meal and stiff drink” at the comfort of your own home.

Avanti Food & Beverage

View of people having a toss with their beer

📍 Address: 3200 N Pecos St, Denver, CO 80211 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (720) 269-4778
🕐 Hours: 11 am – 11 pm Sun-Wed, 11 am – 1 am Thurs-Sat

Inspired by the European Markets, modern communal workspaces, and high-level chefs taking to food trucks, Avanti Food & Beverage is one of Denver’s most sought-after food halls.

This bar and restaurant feature seven different restaurant concepts that showcase an eclectic mix of affordable yet world-class cuisine and their bar is equipped with a bar that serves an extensive selection of premium wines, craft beers, and specialty cocktails.

Avanti has three sections: the main indoor dining area, the covered patio, and the terrace. Wherever you want to stay, there’s a perfect spot for you in Avanti where you can soak in the beauty of the Mile High City and please your palate.

Great Divide Brewing Company

View of a large steel fermentation chambers inside the Great Divine Brewing Company
(photo: Heather Shimmin / Shutterstock)

📍 Address: 2201 Arapahoe St, Denver, CO 80205 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (303) 296-9460
🕐 Hours: 12 pm – 8 pm Sun-Tue, 12 pm – 10 pm Wed-Sat

The Great Divide Brewing Company is every beer aficionado’s haven. What they lack in their food selection they make up with their vast selection of booze. After all, the Great Divide is first and foremost, a brewing company.

Since 1994, Great Divide has been brewing, bottling, and selling uniquely balanced and flavorful beers. From year-round favorites to seasonal offerings, Great Divide has something to offer to every beer drinker in town.

Bacon Social House

📍 Address: 2434 W 44th Ave, Denver, CO 80211 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (720) 550-7065
🕐 Hours: 8 am – 3 pm Mon & Wed-Fri, 8 am – 3:30 pm Sat & Sun, Closed on Tue

Located in Denver’s lovely Sunnyside neighborhood, Bacon Social House offers all-American fare, craft beers, handcrafted cocktails, and premium wines in their retro-cool establishment.

Bacon Social House has a cozy ambiance about it. It’s a great place if you’re planning to have lunch or dinner with your family, or perhaps enjoy a couple of drinks to cap the day and unwind with your friends.

Williams & Graham

View of a bartender serving an alcoholic drink in a bar

📍 Address: 3160 Tejon St, Denver, CO 80211 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (303) 997-8886
🕐 Hours: 5 pm – 11:30 pm Sun-Tue, 5 pm – 1 am Wed-Sat

Williams & Graham (W&G) is one of Denver’s most popular speakeasies. W&G is best known for its funky vibe and an impressive bar that features an original cocktail menu as well a list of over 60 classic cocktails that have stood the test of time, some up to two hundred years old. creative and talented bartenders can also concoct a bespoke cocktail based on your tastes, preferences, and current mood.

The wines and spirits selection at W&G covers a curated list of over five hundred bottles from iconic brands to unknown finds from all over the world. So, if you are looking for a good place to enjoy booze, W&G is the place to be.

Bull & Bush

A glass of beer being poured from the beer tap

📍 Address: 4700 Cherry Creek S Dr, Denver, CO 80246 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (303) 759-0333
🕐 Hours: 11 am – 10 pm Mon-Thurs, 11 am – 12 am Fri, 10 am – 12 am Sat, 10 am – 10 pm Sun

Here is a place where you can enjoy fresh beer, good food, and good music with your friends. The Bull & Bush has been around since 1971 and is best known as the nation’s first Sports Bar. This tavern boasts of a menu full of mouthwatering dishes but it was their very own craft brew that made them into a household name.

The Bull & Bush offers year-round favorites, seasonal offerings, and special limited release craft beers. Their bar also has an impressive list of wines, cocktails, and other beverage specials. Be sure to grab a drink while enjoying the pub’s musical acts or a feature sports event.

My Brother’s Bar

View of burger and two glasses of beer on a table

📍 Address: 2376 15th St, Denver, CO 80202 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (303) 455-9991
🕐 Hours: 11 am – 10 pm Mon-Thurs, 11 am – 11 pm Fri & Sat, Closed on Sun

My Brother’s Bar holds the record as Denver’s oldest bar. This family-owned tavern is also home to the best burgers in town and features a full selection of liquor, wine, and a rotating selection of draft beers.

The pub’s laid back atmosphere sets the mood for a delicious meal with family and friends. Be sure to visit My Brother’s Bar if you’re looking for a place with a casual vibe where you can sit back, relax, and enjoy a cold bottle of beer.

Fire On The Mountain – Highlands

View of a buffalo chicken and a glass of beer

📍 Address: 3801 W 32nd Ave, Denver, CO 80211 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (303) 480-9464
🕐 Hours: 11 am – 10 pm Sun-Thurs, 11 am – 11 pm Fri & Sat

Established in 2012, Fire On The Mountain – Highlands is more of a local family place than a tavern. The stakeholders of Fire On The Mountain – Highlands pride themselves with integrity by serving their clientele with sustainably-sourced beef and chicken, along with the other ingredients used in every dish they serve. Wanna quench your thirst? You’ll be delighted to know that  Fire On the Mountain – Highlands also specialize in local craft beers and delicious specialty cocktails that go well with their best-selling crispy chicken wings.

The 49th

📍 Address: 4550 S Kipling St #6, Denver, CO 80127 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (720) 255-2021
🕐 Hours: 11 am – 9 pm Mon-Sun

Get a taste of Alaskan-inspired food and beverages at The 49th. It is a cozy spot with a friendly and casual setting that brings to mind the rugged and carefree spirit of the Alaskan wilderness.

The 49th is equipped with a full bar that offers wine and specialty cocktails. This pub is also proud to bring to Denver Alaska Brewing Co.’s beers on draft, rotating cans & bottles.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, The 49th is currently open for takeout and weather-dependent patio seating. Order online and experience a taste of Alaska in your home.

🍺 Read More Bar Guides:

Esters Neighborhood Pub

Group of friends tossing with their glass of beer and a pizza on the table

📍 Address: 1950 S Holly St, Denver, CO 80222 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (303) 955-4904
🕐 Hours: 11 am – 10 pm Mon-Fri, 10 am – 10 pm Sat & Sun

As its name suggests, Esters is a nice little neighborhood pub that serves its own iteration of artisanal pizza, classic dishes, and American pub food. Their bar showcases more than 20 rotating craft beer taps, most of which are from the state of Colorado.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Esters is not offering dine-in services but they cater to takeouts and online orders.

The Post Chicken & Beer – Rosedale

View of The Post Chicken & Beer sign  on Denver
(photo: APN Photography / Shutterstock)

📍 Address: 2200 S Broadway, Denver, CO 80210 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (720) 466-5699
🕐 Hours: 11:30 am – 9 pm Mon-Fri, 10 am – 9 pm Sat & Sun

If you are in search of a place in Denver where you can enjoy the classic chicken and beer combo, then look no further. The Post Chicken & Beer is home to the famous Colorado-style fried chicken by Chef Brett Smith. What makes this pub cut above the rest is how their brewers deliberately designed their own craft beers to pair perfectly with their fried chicken as well as the other offerings on their menu.

The Post Chicken & Beer is open for dine-in but you have to make a reservation first. They are also offering a touchless payment option to minimize physical contact amongst their staff and customers.

Prohibition

📍 Address: 504 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80203 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (303) 832-4840
🕐 Hours: 4 pm – 2 am Wed-Sat, 11 am – 6 pm Sun, Closed on Mon & Tue

Prohibition is a 1920s -inspired gastropub situated in the heart of Denver. Dubbed as the newest pub in town, Prohibition offers great food and a curated list of drinks which includes their very own hand crafted cocktail, local craft beer, premium wines and liquors.

What’s great about Prohibition is that they offer excellent food, drinks, and services at a very pocket-friendly price! Stop by and enjoy its laid back and relaxed atmosphere along with some of their mouthwatering fares and beverages.

Lowry Beer Garden

📍 Address: 7577 E Academy Blvd, Denver, CO 80230 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (303) 366-0114
🕐 Hours: 11 am – 9 pm Sun-Wed, 11 am – 10 pm Thurs-Sat

Nestled right in the middle of its very own 9,000 square feet garden, Lowry Beer Garden brings to mind Oktoberfest-style picnics that celebrate the State of Colorado’s craft beer culture.

Lowry Beer Garden serves up everyone’s favorite casual fare of fresh salads, freshly-baked pretzels, and locally-made gourmet sausages to name a few. What sets Lowry Beer Garden apart from its competitors is its thoughtfully-curated list of beer selections with a focus on Colorado’s handcrafted brew.

Lowry Beer Garden is currently open for outdoor seating, take-out, and delivery only.

Union Lodge No.1

View of a cocktail with an apple on a bar

📍 Address: 1543 Champa St, Denver, CO 80202 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (720) 389-0447
🕐 Hours: 5 pm – 1 am Wed-Sun, Closed on Mon & Tue

Union Lodge No. 1 is one of Denver’s premier specialty cocktail bars that celebrates the American bars of the late 19th century. Their bartenders put a special focus in crafting their very own cocktails that will surely take you back to the origins of the special cocktail movement.

The ambiance inside this pub sets the right mood for drinking the night away with your friends.which makes it a great hangout place to relax as you enjoy every sip of your cocktail.

Union Lodge No.1 is open nightly from 5pm until 2am.

Adrift Tiki Bar

View of a tiki cocktail on abar

📍 Address: 218 S Broadway, Denver, CO 80209 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (303) 778-8454
🕐 Hours: 5 pm – 11 pm Tue-Thurs, 5 pm – 12 am Fri & Sat, 5 pm – 10 pm Sun, Closed on Mon

Adrift Tiki Bar is truly one of a kind. It is perhaps the only  Polynesian craft cocktail bar around the city of Denver.

Adrift takes pride in making their food and cocktail mixes from scratch with the best exotic ingredients one could ever find. You’ll be pleased to find a wide selection of spirits, handcrafted cocktails, and food to match.

The interiors exude a tropical vibe that lets you experience a perfect island getaway right in the heart of Denver.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

📍 Address: 2907 Huron St, Denver, CO 80202 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (303) 226-1540
🕐 Hours: 11 am – 12 am Mon-Wed, 11 am – 2 am Thurs & Fri, 10 am – 2 am Sat, 10 am – 12 am Sun

If you’re a music enthusiast looking for a place where you can have a good drink while listening to great music, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is the right spot for you.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is a locally-owned pub that offers a simple yet delectable menu that complements their handcrafted cocktails and other carefully-selected spirits. The pub also boasts of a unique blend of music. Whether you enjoy classic blues, rock, soul, and funk, the music selection along with the pub’s comfortable ambiance creates a memorable experience for their guests.

Irish Snug

A bottle of liquor with a candle on it on a bar
(photo: Marc Braner / Shutterstock)

📍 Address: 1201 E Colfax Ave #100, Denver, CO 80218 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (303) 839-1394
🕐 Hours: 11 am – 10 pm Tue-Thurs, 11 am – 11 pm Fri & Sat, 10 am – 9 pm Sun, Closed on Mon

Experience Irish hospitality here at the Irish Snug. This bar is quite small and tends to get packed before the pandemic happens.

The Irish Snug is right for you if you are looking for a place away from the prying eyes of the public where you can enjoy your evening whiskey in peace.

Blue Moon Brewing Company

View of different blue moon beer
(photo: Barbara babala / Shutterstock)

📍 Address: 3750 Chestnut Pl, Denver, CO 80216 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (303) 728-2337
🕐 Hours: 11 am – 9 pm Sun-Thurs, 11 am – 10 pm Fri & Sat

Blue Moon Brewing Company is your all-American beer pub and brewery. Their brews are crafted specifically to satisfy the American palate.

From their humble beginnings back in 1995, Blue Moon strived to create a distinct taste in their craft brews.  This is the only place where you get a bottle of Blue Moon along with a unique garnish of an orange wheel to bring out the citrus aroma of the beer for an enhanced drinking experience.

Blue Moon Brewing Company strictly enforces the legal age limit. You have to be at least 21 years old before you can even access their website.

For an elevated beer drinking experience, go to Blue Moon Brewing Company.

Lowdown Brewery + Kitchen

📍 Address: 800 Lincoln St, Denver, CO 80203 (Google Maps)
📞 Phone: (720) 524-8065
🕐 Hours: 11 am – 10 pm Sun-Thurs, 11 am – 11 pm Fri & Sat

Lowdown Brewery + Kitchen is yet another neighborhood pub that offers laid back and casual dining and drinking experience to its patrons. What’s great about this place is that you will find healthy food paired with your favorite craft beer.

While they only offer a limited number of brews on their list, you’ll find a unique blend in every brew that is sure to please even the most discerning beer drinkers around. Drop by their place and you may even have the chance to meet and chat with the two brilliant men behind the success of Lowdown Brewery + Kitchen. They just love talking about beer as much as you do.

🍺 Read More Bar Guides: