Don's Club Tavern ★ 4.3
$capitol-hill{'monday': '15:00-02:00', 'tuesday': '15:00-02:00', 'wednesday': '15:00-02:00', 'thursday': '15:00-02:00', 'friday': '15:00-02:00', 'saturday': '13:00-02:00', 'sunday': '13:00-02:00'}
Don's Club Tavern on East 6th has run a Capitol Hill dive since 1947, with shuffleboard, pool, a back patio and the cheap drinks reputation that won Westword Best Dive multiple years.
Tip: Open from 15:00 weekdays, 13:00 weekends, last call 02:00. The shuffleboard table runs heavy on Thursdays; weekends fill the patio first.
Bar Standard ★ 4.0
$$downtown{'monday': 'closed', 'tuesday': 'closed', 'wednesday': '21:00-02:00', 'thursday': 'closed', 'friday': '21:00-02:00', 'saturday': '21:00-02:00', 'sunday': 'closed'}
Bar Standard on Broadway is the Art Deco modern speakeasy and dance room with a main floor, two patios and a rooftop deck running touring and local DJs in downtown Denver.
Tip: Open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights, 21:00 to 02:00. Cover varies by booking; arrive before 22:30 to skip the line.
Temple Denver ★ 4.1
$$$downtown{'monday': 'closed', 'tuesday': 'closed', 'wednesday': 'closed', 'thursday': 'closed', 'friday': '22:00-02:00', 'saturday': '22:00-02:00', 'sunday': 'closed'}
Temple Denver on Broadway is the multi-room nightclub with a Funktion-One rig, LED visuals and a touring EDM calendar that brings Afrojack, AC Slater and Kaskade to the Golden Triangle.
Tip: Friday and Saturday only, 22:00 to 02:00. Buy advance tickets via the calendar; bottle service routes you past the door queue.
Club Vinyl ★ 3.9
$$downtown{'monday': 'closed', 'tuesday': 'closed', 'wednesday': 'closed', 'thursday': 'varies by event', 'friday': '21:00-02:00', 'saturday': '21:00-02:00', 'sunday': 'closed'}
Club Vinyl on Broadway is the four-story nightclub with a different genre on each floor and a rooftop dance patio, running house, techno, hip-hop and Latin parties most weekends.
Tip: Friday and Saturday after 21:00, with each floor priced separately. The rooftop opens in warmer months and clears the loudest tier.
The Black Box ★ 4.5
$$capitol-hill{'monday': 'closed', 'tuesday': '20:00-00:00', 'wednesday': 'closed', 'thursday': '21:00-01:00', 'friday': '21:00-01:00', 'saturday': '21:00-01:00', 'sunday': 'closed'}
The Black Box on East 13th is the underground bass and dub club Nicole Cacciavillano opened in 2016 around an Othorn, Funktion-One and Tannoy stack tuned for low-end Denver bass music.
Tip: Thursday through Saturday from 21:00, Tuesday 20:00 for residency nights. Buy tickets in advance; the main room caps small for the bass rig.
Bluebird Theater ★ 4.5
$$capitol-hill{'monday': 'varies by show', 'tuesday': 'varies by show', 'wednesday': 'varies by show', 'thursday': '19:00 doors, varies', 'friday': '19:00 doors, varies', 'saturday': '19:00 doors, varies', 'sunday': 'varies by show'}
The Bluebird Theater on East Colfax is the AEG-run 500-capacity 1915 cinema turned indie music room, with a tiered floor, balcony and tight sight lines between Adams and Cook.
Tip: Doors typically 19:00 with show at 20:00. The balcony rail upstairs is the best seat; floor general admission fills fast.