The Denver cocktail scene is growing faster than you can say "hand carved ice." House-made ingredients from juices to bitters, fancy glassware, and an obsession with new and creative garnishes are the elements that make our cocktail world better every single day.
This list focuses on cocktail bars but some restaurants with exceptional cocktail programs have also been included. Did we miss your favorite? Drop it in the comments of send it down the tipline.
Disclosure: the editor is married to one of the developers behind The Source.
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Less than a year old, Ste. Ellie, sister bar to Colt & Gray, quickly became a favorite of cocktail aficionados. Bar manager Kevin Burke makes stunning classic cocktails and rotates a list of original drinks that seem to have something for every taste. Any riff on the Negroni is worth a try here.
Recently named the Best American Bar at the Spirited Awards, Sean Kenyon's speakeasy has become a Denver institution. The signature cocktail menu changes with the seasons so try the summer offerings now before they get retired.
Sit at the bar or in the dining room, but always get a cocktail at this popular RiNo restaurant. Bar manager Alex Parks along with owner and mixologist Bryan Dayton serve drinks like the Blessed Satisfaction, with Hendrick's, Drambuie 15, cardamaro and Dram Apothecary chamomile bitters.
The LoDo speakeasy serves Prohibition era-themed cocktails in a cozy environment. Tell the bartender what you like and allow him or her to work some magic into your crafted drink.
Bryan Dayton, co-owner and well-recognized mixologist, built a cocktail program that keeps Boulderites coming in for another one. Highlights include low alcohol cocktails and house-made fizzes like this season's melon chamomile soda.
You can enjoy a cocktail at the bar, in the dining room, or on the patio where one may be made from the bar cart located there while the weather is still warm. Give the Redheaded Stranger - a combination of tequila, Aperol, watermelon, and sparkling rose- a try.
Bartender Mclain Hedges leads the cocktail program at this spot popular with industry folks. Try the Birds of a Feather, a drink that mixes Pisco, Ruby Port, hum, lime, and gum syrup.
Classic is what the Cooper Lounge is all about. Get a martini and enjoy the stunning space plus table-side prepped dishes like Caesar salad or steak tartare.
Opened earlier this fall, Bar Fausto is the spot to be for creative crafted cocktails. There are ten signature drinks on the menu plus 30 classics to choose from.
This Uptown modern diner has always maintained one of Denver's top cocktail programs. Grab a barstool or sit at a table but always give the "favorites" section a shot.
Sure sister bar Ste. Ellie gets more attention on the mixed drink front, but if you grab a seat at this five year old restaurant, you are sure to get a top notch cocktail.
Less than a year old, Ste. Ellie, sister bar to Colt & Gray, quickly became a favorite of cocktail aficionados. Bar manager Kevin Burke makes stunning classic cocktails and rotates a list of original drinks that seem to have something for every taste. Any riff on the Negroni is worth a try here.
Recently named the Best American Bar at the Spirited Awards, Sean Kenyon's speakeasy has become a Denver institution. The signature cocktail menu changes with the seasons so try the summer offerings now before they get retired.
Sit at the bar or in the dining room, but always get a cocktail at this popular RiNo restaurant. Bar manager Alex Parks along with owner and mixologist Bryan Dayton serve drinks like the Blessed Satisfaction, with Hendrick's, Drambuie 15, cardamaro and Dram Apothecary chamomile bitters.
The LoDo speakeasy serves Prohibition era-themed cocktails in a cozy environment. Tell the bartender what you like and allow him or her to work some magic into your crafted drink.
Bryan Dayton, co-owner and well-recognized mixologist, built a cocktail program that keeps Boulderites coming in for another one. Highlights include low alcohol cocktails and house-made fizzes like this season's melon chamomile soda.
You can enjoy a cocktail at the bar, in the dining room, or on the patio where one may be made from the bar cart located there while the weather is still warm. Give the Redheaded Stranger - a combination of tequila, Aperol, watermelon, and sparkling rose- a try.
Bartender Mclain Hedges leads the cocktail program at this spot popular with industry folks. Try the Birds of a Feather, a drink that mixes Pisco, Ruby Port, hum, lime, and gum syrup.
Classic is what the Cooper Lounge is all about. Get a martini and enjoy the stunning space plus table-side prepped dishes like Caesar salad or steak tartare.
Opened earlier this fall, Bar Fausto is the spot to be for creative crafted cocktails. There are ten signature drinks on the menu plus 30 classics to choose from.
This Uptown modern diner has always maintained one of Denver's top cocktail programs. Grab a barstool or sit at a table but always give the "favorites" section a shot.
Sure sister bar Ste. Ellie gets more attention on the mixed drink front, but if you grab a seat at this five year old restaurant, you are sure to get a top notch cocktail.