Denver’s Local Bar Scene

Denver locals are customarily a friendly bunch all that sun and natural splendor create obvious reasons to be cheerful. Add wine, beer and liquor to the mix, and Denverites can be positively jolly. A historical mining town with a long history of drinking and saloons, Denver nightlife is today a varied scene. Legend has it that first building ever constructed in Denver was a drinking establishment and with a high brewery count per capita, Denver specializes in select microbrews and authentic breweries with a local, Western flavor. LoDo, or Lower Downtown, is a hip enclave of see-and-be-seen Denver bars (that lack the pretension of velvet-roped venues in other urban centers) alongside packed sports bars. And saloons still have their place, albeit in this century they sport names like Martini Ranch.

3 Kings Tavern Denver

Calling 3 KingsTavern Denver a rock bar just hints at the entertainment to be found here. From hosting an array of dance nights, burlesque revues and art shows in the basement gallery to presenting a full calendar of top-notch local talent (including a rare appearance by Slim Cessna's Auto Club) and compelling national acts (Red Fang and High on Fire among them), this venue is almost always a sure bet. Couple that entertainment lineup with a staff that's as welcoming to the customers as it is to the bands (which are all treated like rock stars, whether imports or exports), and it's easy to see why this joint has so many fans even if the sound occasionally leaves something to be desired.

Funky Buddha Lounge Denver

Trendy scenesters of the decidedly beautiful and moneyed set flock to the Funky Buddha Lounge Denver to get their pricey booze, velvet roped playtime in. This hip and happening Denver bar hotspot features local artwork adorning the walls incase you needed eye candy other than the abundant human variety, some of Denver's slickest DJs spinning house, trance and hip-hop and an upstairs patio with some kickin' bartenders that throw down the libation gauntlet nightly. You'd do well to arrive at the Funky Buddha Lounge early if you're planning a night of Denver bar drinking and leave your usual dress sweats baseball cap clothes combo at home lest you be left out in the cold with the unwashed masses.

Hanson's Grill and Tavern Denver

Hanson's Grill andTavern Denver isn't your typical Denver sports bar because, even though it can get unruly when a good game is on, the patrons come more for the excellent food and local camaraderie. Hanson's Grill and Tavern serves an upscale bar menu full of American comfort food with some offshoots, but stick to the meat and potatoes classics and you'll never be disappointed. The beer and liquor selection is good and this two-story Denver bar also sports a separate poolroom with foosball for some healthy competition and the upstairs lounge at Hanson's Grill and Tavern has a slew of board games, so when your date whoops your sorry butt at pool you can exact your revenge by sinking their battleship.

Thanks to its wide array of microbreweries, brewpubs and beer cafés, discerning beer drinkers are making pilgrimages to the Mile High City to sample the world's greatest brews.