10 Amazing Bars In Denver With GREAT Food (Updated)

The Best Denver Bars Serve More Than Beer And Cocktails

I’ve lived in Denver for over thirteen years and think these are the best bars in Denver that put an emphasis on amazing food. Yes, they have amazing drinks, but what’s important to me comes from the types of dishes they serve. From Dives to speakeasies, I cover a wide range of drinking establishments around the city.

Please note that these are the best bars I’ve personally visited. For this article, my wife and I devised a list of our absolute favorites that we think everyone should try while visiting Denver, Colorado.

1. Kentucky Inn – Best Neighborhood Bar 

Located in the Wash Park Neighborhood is the absolutely wonderful Kentucky Inn, serving delicious eats and craft pints since 1954. Despite the legendary reputation, Kentucky Inn is more than just a bar, it’s a neighborhood joint that’s beloved by locals for a weekday meal or a place to watch the game.

The Kentucky Inn Cuban felt equally impressive with a cheesy peppery combo that worked for me in a big way. The generous portion of braised pork was moist and tender.

Combined with the green chile pimento cheese, I found an unusually addicting pair that made the first half of the sandwich disappear in less than a minute.

I discovered bacon nestled between the pork and the toasted baguette, with pickles and spicy brown mustard adding the necessary acid to offset the rest of the sandwich.

Kentucky Inn
890 S Pearl St, Denver, CO 80209, United States
Website : KentuckyInnDenver.com

2. Horseshoe Lounge – Perfect Bar For Cheap Food In Uptown

A favorite among the local Denver drinking scene is the much loved Uptown establishment, the Horseshoe Lounge. The dimly lit bar, pool tables, and domino-topped bar felt like home with a friendly and eclectic staff.

Starting off with House Margaritas, these tall and wonderfully strong cocktails started the night right with a delicious onslaught of food not far behind.

Tonight, I craved something bolder with a little more oomph to go with my drinks.

The Buffalo Chicken Pizza did just that with a nice acidic kick, but still kept a great balance between all the ingredients. The crust was thin and crispy. The cheese was perfectly melted with my favorite part of the pizza coming from the scattered blue cheese chunks that mellowed out the spicy buffalo sauce.

I took gulps of Hamms Beer which felt perfect with all the flavors mingling together.

Horseshoe Lounge showed its unique take on a childhood classic with a staggering 9 different varieties of tater tots suitable to curb everyone’s cravings.

Ordering the Loaded Tater Tots became the best decision I made all week.

I scarfed down those tasty treasures and washed it all down with a mix of delicious cocktails. Now this is what I call satisfying.

Horseshoe Lounge
414 E 20th Ave, Denver, CO 80205, United States
Website : TheHorseshoeLounge.com

3. Sputnik – Great Bar For Vegan and Vegetarian Options

An eclectic dive serving outstanding vegetarian options is Sputnik located on South Broadway. No matter how or what you like to eat, I believe Sputnik cooks up something delish that you will absolutely love.

Despite being a great place for lunch in Denver, I always come back for dinner and drinks late into the night.

We started off with some light summer cocktails, the Fellow Traveler, and the Hibiscus Cooler, both having their own distinct refreshing flavors. 

I come to Sputnik for many reasons, but the Corndog is the true hero that keeps me coming back. This beautiful fried piece of deliciousness hits all the right notes with a crispy outside and a soft interior.

The corndog mixture is made in-house and hand-dipped to order. When a whole evening is dedicated to guzzling libations, I find the corndog is the perfect place to end the night with a stomach full of comfort food goodness. Oh, and they make a vegan option which tasted great in its own right.

Despite the menu full of meat filled options, I loved the Falafel Wrap and recommend it to anyone looking for a meatless alternative or wanting a light meal. 

I appreciated the taste and how it mixed perfectly with the cucumbers and tzatziki sauce. The outside came pressed and lightly toasted which gave a deeper sense of satisfaction with every bite. A complete winner!

Sputnik
3 S Broadway, Denver, CO 80209, United States
Website : SputnikDenver.com

4. Welton Room – Luxurious Cocktails and Bites

The Welton Room on the north side of the Five Points neighborhood embodies the creativity of a craft cocktail lounge. From the leopard print carpet to the black panther statues, those looking for lush and elegance will find the Welton Room as their new favorite spot.

The Spiced Pear Negroni takes the original bitter flavor profile and adds a deep yet refreshing twist with the spiced pear. For those who generally aren’t fans of negronis or are curious to try their first, this negroni came easy to drink without losing character.

The Duck Croquettes tasted like little crispy pockets of delicious ducky goodness. I loved the breaded and fried exterior that gave way to a wonderfully roasted duck middle. With the additions of the black cherry aioli and fig reduction, my taste buds bounced between salty, sweet, and savory making it work well between sips.

A show stopper in presentation and flavor came from the Smoking Jerez, a drink that comes smoked tableside inside a Spanish wine decanter called a Porron and poured over a singular large ice cube. The rye cocktail tasted deep but balanced with the help of sherry and lemon.

For the final plate, we ordered the Panang Curry Scallop that came beautifully presented on par with Michelin 3 Star restaurants. After the first taste of the curry, I was transported back to South East Asia giving me flavors I hadn’t tasted since that trip years ago. An expert crafted dish for a superb cocktail bar.

Welton Room
2590 Welton St, Denver, CO 80205, United States
Website : WeltonRoom.com

5. Williams and Graham – Absolute Best Cocktail Bar In Denver 

Listen to me. If you love cocktails then Williams and Graham is a must-visit bar in Denver. Few places in the world match the drink creativity and food deliciousness all in a single place.

I must admit, Williams and Graham is more than just a Denver bar for me. My wife surprised me with a special date here at the very beginning of our relationship. It showed her attention to detail to what I love about bars: great food and plenty of great bourbon.

Williams and Graham is a speakeasy that specializes in imaginative cocktails with a new drink menu every few months. This unique drink menu features the latest insights of the mixologists and shows off their ability to highlight specific flavors.

The Blackberry Sage Smash was the first cocktail I tried at the bar back in 2014 and it’s still one of my absolute favorites. The rye whiskey stayed prominent but the blackberry really mellowed out the whiskey for a wonderful cocktail that was hard not to suck down in a single gulp.

For the food, I always recommend the Roasted Bone Marrow With Bacon Jam. Trust me here, you will be so happy. Over the years, I introduced plenty of my friends to this bone marrow and converted them to my side of food obsession; a gateway foodie drug.

The bacon jam pulls off a sweet and savory combo unlike I’ve ever tasted. The balance is wonderful with the bacon giving the jam more substance so it mingles with the bone marrow for a wonderfully power-packed bite of the senses.

I could go on and on about the food, and trust me, it’s worth trying a few options. The Foie Gras Torchon was delightful, and you can never go wrong with their Mac and Cheese or Dry Aged Burger. 

Williams and Graham
3160 Tejon St, Denver, CO 80211, United States
Website : WilliamsandGraham.com

6. Yacht Club – Unforgettable Hotdogs

We visited Yacht Club on a random Monday night with the place filled with locals from around the Five Points neighborhood.

This Denver watering hole serves an eclectic array of cocktails and unique wines in a casual atmosphere meant for everyone. They were even showing the Kung Fu Panda movie in the corner with disco balls illuminating the room. 

For cocktails, we started off with the Lipton Cup and Laughing Bones both of which tasted phenomenal.

The Lipton Cup combined Maker’s Mark, rum, Maderia, apricot, lemon, and mint and made into a fantastic beverage served with nugget ice resulting in a lighter, refreshing drink that I could’ve easily pounded in just a few large gulps. The citrus and bourbon come through nicely giving me a tropical feeling. 

Although the food menu is small, I was surprised to find only hotdogs available. How good can they actually taste?

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. 

The Lorraine felt like the demented cousin of a Chicago dog which came topped with cheese ball spread, celery remoulade, pecans, and pickled jalapenos. Yes, you read that correctly. All on one hotdog.

I have no idea why but I just loved how it all tasted. The cheese spread added creaminess while the celery remoulade added a distinct sharpness. The pecans mixed in well with everything and my confused palette just loved every single bite. 

The Caviar Dog, despite its $20 price tag, is completely worth it. The dog came decorated with caviar, creme fraiche, and chives, all of which you’d normally find with a traditional caviar service at a restaurant.

The caviar tasted slightly fishy, salty, and a tad smokey. Somehow everything worked amazingly well creating an addictive hotdog I would gladly eat again.

Yacht Club
3701 N Williams St, Denver, CO 80205, United States
Website : YachtClubBar.com

7. The Wild Corgi Pub – Smoked Chicken Wings

With a red brick interior and dark wood bar, the Wild Corgi Pub celebrates the love of Corgis in English fashion. Corgi artwork adorns the walls with my favorite depicting a courageous corgi riding a hammerhead shark holding a trident. 

We ordered the Queen’s Chips, a special house beer batter made with jalapeño, onion, garlic, and deep fried for a unique pub snack fit for a queen.

The batter itself tasted amazing with the nuances of the jalapeño really coming through. With a sip of my Orange Crush, I punched through the spicy kick and only wanted to keep eating more.

The surprise item of the night came from the bartender’s recommendation of Smoked Wings coated in the Balsamic Vinaigrette sauce. I remained highly skeptical, but when I took my first bite, I converted over to Team Balsamic for LIFE.

Hear me out. The sweet and tangy combo of the balsamic transformed the chicken wing into a flavor powerhouse. Paired with the slight smokiness, you have a plethora of delicious notes bouncing around.

Trust me, order at least a few of these balsamic wings and you might just find your next favorite wing sauce like me.

The Wild Corgi Pub
1223 E 13th Ave, Denver, CO 80218, United States
Website : WildCorgiPub.com

8. My Brother’s Bar – The Oldest Bar In Denver

For a taste of Denver’s history, look no further than My Brother’s Bar, the oldest bar in Denver serving drinks since 1873. Walking into My Brother’s Bar felt comfortable with the dark wooden bar and floor showing its age with worn character. 

I went for the Hot Bum Steer, a peculiar name for such an awesome sandwich. Imagine a hot ham and cheese had its way with a pastrami and an Italian sandwich, this would be the delicious result. 

This Frankenstein sandwich combines the best parts of three different sandwiches all fused together with melty cheese and brought to life with culinary magic. Yes, it was that good, and all you doubters better try the Hot Bum Steer and be humbled yourself.

If you are visiting downtown Denver and want a true historical institution, drop in My Brother’s bar for a burger and beer. 

My Brother's Bar
2376 15th St, Denver, CO 80202, United States
Website : MyBrothersBar.com

9. Adrift Tiki Bar – Tropical Themed Drinks and Food

For those tropical cocktails and exceptional food, look no further than Adrift Tiki Bar on South Broadway. Adrift was everything I was hoping for with bamboo accents, puffer fish lights, and every type of tropical drink imaginable. 

We dove right in with a Hurricane and a Frozen Virgin Colada. Tiarra was nice enough to be the driver for the evening but still wanted to feel the island experience. 

Despite being labeled as a strong cocktail, which I could definitely taste, the grenadine, passion fruit, and orange mixed well with the blend of rums to make it exceptionally tasty. 

The Virgin Frozen Colada surprised us both with a velvety texture and a beautiful coconut flavor. I enjoyed the cinnamon syrup as it added a bit of warmth to the drink and livened up the whole alcohol-free experience. 

For food, we started off with the Spam Musubi, a classic Hawaiian treat that tasted great and prepped us for the rest of the meal. 

The Jerk Chicken Sandwich took me on a trip to a scrumptious island paradise with no return in sight. Seriously delicious. 

From the spicy Caribbean rub to the grilled pineapple to the Hawaiian roll, everything created a unique chicken sandwich that I never tasted before. 

Adrift Tiki Bar
218 S Broadway, Denver, CO 80209, United States
Website : AdriftBar.com

10. Bierstadt – Favorite Brewery In Denver

In my opinion, the best brewery in Denver that serves the best food is Bierstadt located in the heart of the RiNo district. For years, Bierstadt has served Denver their take on German beers and recently added a killer menu to match their impeccable lagers.

The must-try beer is their wildly popular slow pour Pilsner. For about five minutes, the magical elixir is poured into a tall thin glass and allowed to properly release the CO2 gained during the brewing process. 

The bartender explained that it’s a similar process to decanting wine where the flavors are better tasted and present when given time to properly aerate. 

I loved the slow pour pils and it’s one of my all-time favorite beers. 

The foamy top is nice for those first few sips and the beer itself felt light, crisp, and refreshing. It’s one of those beers you can easily sip on throughout the day without feeling heavy. 

I bet you wouldn’t expect to find handmade schnitzel at a brewery in Denver! The Schnitzel was a great addition to the meal especially since I was looking for a little more substance other than the casual bar fare. 

A light and crispy pork schnitzel stayed tender and soaked up the creamy mushroom gravy. With sips of the Pilsner between bites, I tasted a little bit of Germany right here in Denver. 

Bierstadt
2875 Blake St, Denver, CO 80205, United States
Website : BierstadtLager.com

Final Thoughts On The Best Bars In Denver 

The bar scene in Denver is strong with eclectic settings and sophisticated tastes. After a few days of visiting these bars, you’ll feel like you’ve experienced a little bit of what Denver offers in its culinary scene. 

After thirteen years of living in the Mile High City, I understand the big changes coming and I look forward to what new bars will pop up around the city. 

If you love food like me, these best Denver bars should satisfy your hunger and thirst in a profound way. I encourage you to try these bars on my list and venture out to find your own favorites in this amazing city.