Union train station in Denver overlay

Things to Do in Denver at Night – A Guide to Cool Joints You’d Miss Unless You Know They’re There

Posted in City Guides,Moving Tips & Tricks on June 15, 2022

If you’ve just moved to Colorado’s capital and want to have some fun and get to know the area, don’t fret. We can help you find things to do in Denver at night that will entertain, feed, and get you tipsy. Denver’s nightlife welcomes folks from all walks of life, so you’ll feel at home.

We have the ultimate moving guide to Colorado. Besides advising you to book cross-country moving services, choose adequate packing services, and get professional car shipping services, we can also find what you can do after relocating to Denver. Get a notebook and a pen, and write down these fantastic places.

Looking for Things to Do in Denver at Night? Nightlife in Denver Is Fun and Sometimes Unpredictable

You can expect to open a blog such as this and get awesome long-distance moving tips and choices of cross-country movers. However, sometimes it’s worth asking the real questions, such as – what part of Denver has the best nightlife?

We’re all humans here. We love to let off steam, especially when learning to live independently after relocating. No one expects you to move and sit at home all day. Sure, you’ve probably researched the safest neighborhoods in Denver, but your safe place won’t bring new experiences.

Luckily, Denver, also called Mile High City, has a lot to offer. You’ll have some great, old, regular fun and encounter different types of people in many areas. The best nightlife in Denver lies in the hidden gems and unassuming places.

Is There Anything Fun to Do in Denver? Yes, and Denver Nightlife Is Very Diverse

Relocating to a new state where you don’t know anyone (or anything) will make it hard to adapt at first. But in Colorado’s capital, you’ll find something to do whether you travel in winter or summer. We don’t know what you heard, but Denver’s nightlife is crazy good and sometimes just crazy.

You can play golf or hike during the day and then let loose at night in one of many hidden gems. You can even solve murder mysteries over dinner and go to interactive museums. Awesome, right? You also don’t have to worry about the Denver cost of living because most of these entertaining places are affordable and available to everyone.

Does Colorado Have a Good Nightlife? A Museum and a Park Aren’t the Only Cool Places There

The overall impression of Colorado is that it’s boring. Relocating to the suburbs can especially lack creativity, but it depends on where you decide to settle. One of the vital things people forget when moving is to have fun; we want to get you excited about the experiences you’ll have in Mile High City, not just sit at a park and scroll through Facebook and Twitter on a bench.

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If You’re Looking for Places to Get a Drink, Check These Out

One of the coolest parts about relocating alone is the number of opportunities to meet new people and even fall in love. Still, if you are relocating for love and want to find romantic things to do in Denver, this list won’t disappoint you.

Colorado’s capital has the most diverse range of bars, pubs, and clubs in that part of the country. It’s incredible how some of those places combine historical and modern times and surprise people with creativity and charm every day.

Visit the Adrift Tiki Bar and Mario’s Double Daughter’s Salotto for Unique Entertainment

Denver’s Design District has a not-so-hidden gem that you mustn’t missAdrift Tiki Bar. On the outside, it looks like a run-of-the-mill place for making friends in a new place, but when you get in, you’ll be transported to a beach in Hawaii. The walls are covered in sugar cane, and the lounge areas resemble tiki huts. Locals absolutely love hanging out here.

Mario’s Double Daughter’s Salotto is another unique place to drink and dive into Denver’s nightlife. It’s also considered a hidden gem since you must go up narrow stairs on the corner of Market and 16th Street. You can find their menu and page on Facebook; if you don’t use Facebook, try Twitter.

You’ll first be taken aback by the decor of this place and then by the ridiculous cocktail names. If you’re feeling adventurous and want to impress your new Denverite date, get the Succo Vaffanculo di Mario cocktail with 17 different liquors.

The Green Russell Speakeasy and Williams & Graham – The Hidden Bars

While keeping in touch with friends, you must tell them about your experience in the Green Russell and the Williams & Graham speakeasies. These places have a wide range of seasonal and classic drink and food menus; reservations are recommended, as they get busy quickly.

The Green Russell bar is located on Larimer Street, and you wouldn’t know it’s there unless you went there before. You might think the GPS took you to the wrong place, but no – Green Russell is hiding just behind a pie shop. It has an art deco feel (a recurring theme in many of Denver’s bars) and the town’s largest collection of rare whiskey. They also don’t allow phone use and offer you to only make urgent calls via one of their phone booths.

Williams & Graham is similar to Green Russell, except they hide behind a bookstore facade. The place is run prohibition-style and serves handcrafted cocktails and small plates. Reservations are highly recommended here, and each booking gives you two hours to enjoy yourself.

In the video below, you can check out the outside and inside look of the Williams & Graham speakeasy. It was ranked as the best secret bar in America last year.

To Eat Some Great Food, Don’t Shy Away From Denver’s Oldest Restaurant, the Buckhorn Exchange

We’d be disrespecting Denver if we didn’t mention the oldest restaurant in town – The Buckhorn Exchange. If there’s one thing to do after moving, it’s to head there for a nice, delicious dinner and a view of what can only be dozens of stuffed animals. Of course, if that makes you uneasy, you can skip the experience, but we’d recommend going there anyway.

It was founded in 1858 and has served food under the name The Buckhorn Exchange since 1893. They’re the oldest and first bar to get a liquor license in Mile High City. They pride themselves on mastering prime-grade beef steaks, buffalo and elk meat, and Colorado lamb, among many others.

If you need reasons for moving to Colorado’s capital, we will find it perfectly valid to list The Buckhorn Exchange as one. This restaurant doesn’t count as nightlife, but you can prepare for a long evening of partying with a hearty meal here. You’ll have a stress-free travel as soon as you find the best neighborhood to live in Denver and a table at The Buckhorn Exchange.

If You Want to Enjoy Comedy, Arts, and Music, Visit the Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom

You may have expected to hear more about music and art venues when you looked for things to do in Denver nightlife. Well, here come answers to the question, “Where is the party scene in Denver?”

If you are anxious about moving out to a place that doesn’t seem entertaining, you can leave your worries behind as soon as you get to the Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom. It’s located at Welton Street and dates back to the 1930s, during which Denverites could hear Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Benny Goodman on this stage.

Cervantes’ Masterpiece holds nighttime events Wednesday thru Sunday, and the lineups are always diverse. It is a cultural exchange center, arts venue, and late-night concert hall. From DJs to acoustic bands and rap artists, you’ll find whatever your heart desires here.

They have two rooms where they often hold events simultaneously; you won’t be bored if you go back and forth between shows.

The Mayan Theatre Is the Place to Go for Art and Movies

Another not-so-nighttime venue but an excellent place to start a day-long date or adventure is The Mayan Theatre. As soon as you get to the theater, you’ll be transported to a different time; the outside is retro, but considering the Mayan was built in 1930, that’s no surprise.

It was almost wrecked during the 1980s neighborhood renovations, but local support groups saved it from doom, so The Mayan keeps going. The benefits of relocating and living in Denver will be evident once you discover this theater’s art film program and adjacent bar, clad in art deco style with details inspired by Mayan culture.

For People Looking for Some Real Nightlife, Visit Milk, the Underground Club

Moving across the country and not looking up what is there to do in Denver at night can constitute a relocation mistake. Sorry, we don’t write the rules; that’s just how it is. Jokes aside, if you’re young, wild, and free, as the song says, you’ll want to turn up to some of Denver’s most exciting nightclubs.

Ask a local for a great place to party, and they’ll likely direct you to the Milk Bar nightclub. It follows the tradition of Denver’s best places being hidden “somewhere in the back” because the main entrance is in an alleyway behind a bar called Bar Standard.

There’s no entrance fee for most days, except on the weekends. You can find various techno, tech-house, hip-hop, trap, and rock music events to soothe your soul. They also have two rooms, called Green Room and Dark Room, where you can choose the flavor of the evening and switch between parties whenever you like.

Holy Wine Tastes Like a Party in a Parish Turned Nightclub, the Church

Set in an 1889 Episcopal church, The Church Nightclub opened its door to the public in 1996. It combines Gothic architecture’s tall ceilings, beams, and stained glass windows, with a state-of-the-art sound system and light design.

This venue features international and local acts and DJs and is open Thursday thru Saturday. Both Milk Bar and The Church are under the ownership of an organization called CoClubs, and their policies include no touching without consent, no violence, and no illegal substances.

You won’t wonder does Denver have nightlife when you discover places like these two clubs. If you’re moving cross-country and plan to find everything Denver’s nightlife offers, you can also visit Bar Standard and Club Vinyl, both in the same family as The Church and Milk Bar. Club Vinyl has rooftop parties and might be one of the most impressive venues in Mile High City.

A group of friends toasting with drinks at a party
Partying in Denver's nightclubs will make you wish you moved here sooner

No Matter Your Preferences, You’ll Enjoy the Denver, Colorado, Nightlife

These were not your ordinary house-hunting tips, but we hope the list of stuff to do and places to see will help you decide where to live much easier. Denver’s venues are exciting and have many amenities you haven’t seen before. Whether you plan to eat among the numerous animal heads or party in an old church, you won’t be bored, for sure.

All that’s left now is to call long-distance movers, plan how you’ll use their storage services, and create a new apartment checklist to follow. You can move near the venues you like the most and become a Denverite and a regular at a place that suits your taste and mentality quickly. This city has everything and more, so you won’t have to worry about fitting in too much.

Gemma Collins

Gemma is an NJ local that has explored all the US states, making her the perfect person to write about moving.

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