The moment you’ve been waiting for is here: the everything-food-and-drink list to end all lists. We’re undertaking a rather ambitious project—a year-long endeavor that lays out our flat-out best picks of the most exceptional culinary experiences in Denver and Boulder.
We’ll cover the usual suspects: tacos and ramen, for example. Pizza and burgers, too. But think of this as the Herculean version of Denver and Boulder’s gastronomic universe. Over the next 52 weeks (give or take), we’ll post 104 different lists, wherein we’ll give you the lowdown on the very best neighborhood restaurants, bottle shops and butchers, food festivals, pop-up dinners, industry nights, cooking classes and kitchen stores, chef counters, spice shops and cake shops, Cuban sandwiches, Chinese hot pots, and even the best food from truck stops. Who knows? We might be compelled to feature a fantasy-filled list of strip club grub that goes beyond thighs and breasts.
You won’t find any bona fide strip joints on our list of Denver’s best bars that serenade us with live tunes, but a former brothel-turned-music-venue comes close. That lair, coupled with these hallowed haunts, seductive newcomers and no-frills joints, are where we go to dance, drink and savor the sounds on stage.
1. Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox {1215 20th Street, Denver; 303.993.8023}
Photo credit: Ophelia’s
The ambience is expressly smutty: exhibits of pin-up girls, soft-core cinema posters; red-light district lighting. The cocktails have names like “Sex Machine,” “Never Enough” and “Lust Tycoon.” There are seductive black-velvet paintings dotting the basement walls, crushed velvet banquettes ideal for PG-13 foreplay, and old sex-show booths re-purposed as hostess stands. But while the brothel decor provides more than enough eye candy, live music is the the main draw at Justin Cucci’s high-performance “gastro brothel,” where bands that zigzag from soul to jazz, ’80s alternative to outlaw country, take center stage several nights a week and during weekend brunch. Some of the acts don’t require a cover charge, but even those that do—including the Goonies, a local ’80s cover band—are more than worth the nominal ticket prices. Tables, both upstairs and down, can be reserved in advance, as can VIP booths. Dancing is highly encouraged, but even those who are too shy to publicly shake their booty sway to the music from their stools.
2. Globe Hall {4483 Logan Street, Denver; 720.668.8833}
Photo credit: Globe Hall
Squirreled away on a swatch of asphalt in the Globeville ‘hood, Globe Hall is a come-one-come-all bar, Texas-style barbecue joint, and concert emporium all rolled into one. Swaying to an unpretentious vibe, this is the kind of place where you can knock back a shot, a thrifty (and potent) cocktail that doesn’t involve a litany of hard-to-pronounce spirits, or a lightweight beer that channels college keggers. The music hall, open Wednesday through Saturday, hosts a hearty lineup of ticketed concerts (the prices are cheap) that feature folk rock, alt-country, blues, Steely Dan tribute bands, and everything in between. It’s a ramshackle, intimate venue with communal seating, but once the bands begin to jam, it’s time to get off your duff and dance to the music.
3. Dazzle Jazz {930 Lincoln Street, Denver; 303.839.5100}
Since the day it opened nearly 20 years ago, this classy bar, restaurant, and concert haunt has owned the title of Denver’s crown jewel for unassailable jazz, blues, and soul talent, consistently booking local legends (Delta Sonics, for example), upcoming artists-in-residence, and big-name acts that command sold-out crowds. This is where retro cocktails, vodka-infused martinis that tickle the liver, and music seamlessly intersect, both in the showroom lounge that hosts jam sessions during the Friday lunch hour (there’s also a $11 three-course lunch deal) and in the “Dizzy Room” (named for American jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie), where everyone from Manuel Valera, Brian Blase, and Joshua Redman has graced the stage. There’s a reason why DownBeat magazine named Dazzle one of the world’s top 100 jazz clubs: It ballyhoos brilliant talent seven nights a week, excellent acoustics and a cozy interior seething with history.
4. Nocturne Jazz & Supper Club {1330 27th Street, Denver; 303.295.3333}
This beautiful bi-level jazz-meets-cocktail bar in RiNo isn’t the kind of club where you sling shots and stomp on the tables. The space, ridiculously perfect for a swanky date night, is civilized and elegant, its clientele a steady diet of upscale jazz enthusiasts inspired by the tunes of soloists, duos, trios, quartets, and quintets that take their craft seriously. The curved stage, framed by a brick backdrop, is often composed of artists-in-residence, all of whom play for a duration of eight weeks and concentrate on the music of a singular iconic artist, a particular era within the jazz genre or their own original compositions. And because Nocturne strongly believes in supporting local musicians, the club charges $5-$10 per person for all artists-in-residence performances, the proceeds of which ensure that local talent continues to be front and center. And that’s not all: The kitchen trots out a five-course “Renditions” tasting menu each month, the dishes of which are influenced by classic albums. The forthcoming tasting menu takes its culinary cue from drummer and bandleader Art Blakey’s Moanin album; sommelier Scott Mattson pairs each course with wine and cocktails.
5. Ziggies {4923 West 38th Avenue, Denver; 303.455.9930}
While there may be plenty of places in the Mile High City to hear bands belt out the blues, Ziggies, a fixture since 1964, is a genuine blues institution that doesn’t miss a beat, consistently booking accomplished local and national acts that play to appreciative crowds seven nights a week. The sound system is top-notch, the dance floor is properly cramped with sweaty bodies, extremely cordial bartenders pour inexpensive drinks, including craft beers (order the Abita Pecan Harvest) and cocktails. Sunday through Wednesday gigs are bereft of cover charges (Thursday through Saturday performances are usually priced between $5-$10), revelers can play a game of pool in between sets, partake in acoustic open-mike sessions on Monday and jam out on Sundays. This is a club where musicians love to play and where blues enthusiasts of all walks of life love to linger. Go for the music, stay for the charismatic conversation.
6. The Crimson Room {1403 Larimer Street, Denver; 720.639.6987}
It’s easy to waltz right past this inconspicuous Larimer Square lounge and music venue that squats below street level, but to do so is a mistake. Sexy, sophisticated, soft-lit and truly worthy of a celebratory night out, The Crimson Room, with its magical mystique, is an incubator of superb musical talent, hosting the likes of the Ellen Rucker Trio, Veronica Swift Trio, and resident pianist Stu MacAskie, who hosts Thursday jam sessions and whose impressive repertoire of tunes beautifully amplifies the jazzy vibe. Tuck into a sunken booth, order the charcuterie plate and a Manhattan from the rolling vintage cocktail cart and bask in the candlelight. Bonus: Happy hour runs daily from 7-9 pm and features heavily discounted pricing on beer, wine, and cocktails, plus food specials, including the addictive truffled popcorn.
Below is a master roster of our flat-out best lists published to date.
Best Beer Caves in Denver
Best Barbecue in Denver
Best Ethiopian Food in Denver
Best Reuben Sandwiches in Denver
Best Butcher Shops in Denver and Boulder
Best Food Carts on the 16th Street Mall
Best Rooftop Patios in Denver
Best Dishes at Avanti Food & Beverage
Best French Dips in Denver
Best Clam Pizzas in Denver
Best Cocktail Bars in RiNo
Best Thai Restaurants in Denver
Best Vietnamese Restaurants in Denver
Best Sushi Restaurants in Denver and Boulder
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