Austin

Albert Sanchez | ACL Live

Drink

Find the best spots daily to eat and drink in hipster neighborhoods. Hit the roof, drink a beer and eat delicious at top-tier restaurants. Plan your nightlife adventure with maps and reviews of unknown micro-brews, rooftop parties, and independent drink.

Best Restaurants & Bars - Places to Eat & Drink - Thrillist

We’ve gotta hand it to Austin’s queens.

The Best Drag Shows in Austin

Nation

Cole Saladino/Thrillist

The stuff of easy at home lunches and the ever-faithful sidekick to a cup of tomato soup, grilled cheese sandwiches are the ultimate handheld meal.

The Best Cheeses You Need for Stellar Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Weekend Project Home

Weekend Project is your companion guide to decoding home DIY how-to’s from the best lifestyle experts around. Roll up your sleeves and get ready for a weekend of fun that will turn even the most home-tinkerer-averse into an expert in no time.

Thrillist's Home Weekend Projects Collection: DIY Home Improvement Guides

Design by Maitane Romagosa for Thrillist | Photo by Jean Nel/woodworkjunkie.com

Shopping

Shopping - Deals, New Products & Gift Ideas From Across the Web - Thrillist

Toyota_753291_Jan22

Whether you’re a budding enthusiast or consider yourself a wine expert, the challenge of properly and beautifully storing your wine bottles is a unique one.

How to Make a Simple, Space-Saving Wine Rack

The Outside Hang

Here you'll find picks from obsessive beach-goers, park loungers, party planners, designers, and beyond to make sure your outdoor essentials list is complete.

The Outside Hang: Essentials for Your Next Outdoor Hangout

Design by Maggie Rossetti for Thrillist

LoneRiverRanchRita_845257_May22

The impending summer temperatures will make us wish we could just float in a pool all day.

How to Throw a Pool Party (Even if You Don't Have a Pool)

Los Angeles

Bludso's BBQ

Events

We are nearing the unofficial start to summer in Los Angeles and the city is buzzing with life—rooftop bars are unveiling their new slushy summer cocktails and hotels are pulling the covers off their pools as we all prepare for next week’s three-day weekend.

Everything Fun You Can Do This Weekend in LA

Dallas

Visit Grapevine


If you can get past the already-unbearable heat, this weekend could be one of the best so far in the past two years entertainment-wise.

Everything Fun You Can Do in Dallas This Weekend

Washington DC

Seltzerland

Things are really heating up in DC this weekend—and we’re not just talking about those triple-digit temperatures on the forecast.

Everything Fun You Can Do in DC This Weekend

New York

Photo courtesy of Neat Burger

Vegan fast food has been trendy in NYC for years now, with restaurants like By Chloe (now Beatnic), Superiority Burger, (and coming soon ATL’s Slutty Vegan) leading the charge.

A Leonardo DiCaprio-Backed Plant-Based UK Burger Chain Debuts a NYC Pop-Up

Phoenix

FreezeFrames/Shutterstock

Travel

Explore adventure guides and design a custom itinerary for the destination of your choice in and around the city.

Best Travel Guides, Cool Hotels and Interesting Events - Thrillist

We’ll be honest, summer in the desert isn’t for the faint of heart.

14 Actually Cool Things You Can Do in Phoenix This Summer

Chicago

Photo courtesy of Taco Bell Drag Brunch

We’ve all been there: You wanna spend the weekend drinking Malort out of a can, rocking a concert in a surgery museum, seeing drag shows in a Taco Bell, and partying in the streets with ancient Greek warriors, right?

Everything Fun You Can Do in Chicago This Weekend

Las Vegas

House of Blues Las Vegas

Las Vegas has felt "back on track" for a few months now, and this weekend effectively confirms it.

Everything Fun You Can Do in ‌Las‌ ‌Vegas‌ This Weekend

Atlanta

Live at the Battery Atlanta

There are only two weekends left in May, and even though everyone’s probably already looking forward to all the Memorial Day festivities next week, this weekend’s lineup of events is nothing to scoff at.

Everything Fun to Do in Atlanta This Weekend

La Bouche - wine bar

United States

La Bouche

From taprooms and breweries to cocktail bars and everything in between, here are the best places to grab a drink in Denver.

Denver

Photo courtesy of Bezel

Yes, there’s a lot of hype over <a href="https://www.thrillist.com/drink/denver/best-denver-breweries" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Denver’s beer scene</a>, but how bout those bars? If there’s any question as to the diversity of Denver’s watering holes, consider that in the last couple months alone we’ve added a vegan death bar, a swanky speakeasy with hourly burlesque entertainment, and a boozy shave ice destination. So yeah, we’ve got some range. Here, 22 of Denver’s best bars, from listening lounges to tiki temples to <a href="https://www.thrillist.com/drink/denver/best-dive-bars-in-denver" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">classic dives</a>.

Yes, there’s a lot of hype over <a href="https://www.thrillist.com/drink/denver/best-denver-breweries" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Denver’s beer scene</a>, but how bout those bars? If there’s any question as to the diversity of Denver’s watering holes, consider that in the last couple months alone we’ve added a vegan death bar, a swanky speakeasy with hourly burlesque entertainment, and a boozy shave ice destination. So yeah, we’ve got some range. Here, 22 of Denver’s best bars, from listening lounges to tiki temples to <a href="https://www.thrillist.com/drink/denver/best-dive-bars-in-denver" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">classic dives</a>.

Just how cool is Yacht Club? You can get a fancy schmancy cocktail made with liqueurs you can’t pronounce, or you can get a Jack and Coke with a hot dog for $8. Your choice. This is the ultimate high-low mash-up, and it gets even better when you hit the Snowballs section of their drink menu. The boozy shave ice options include combos like Vergano Americano with pickled blueberries and sherry with candied orange. Cool, both literally and figuratively.

Yacht Club

If you were just pondering why Denver doesn’t have a goth dive bar/vegan eatery, well, ponder no more. The Crypt opened in January, filling the hole in our city’s vegan death bar scene. There’s a moody vibe, cheap cans and bottles, plus vegan poutine and eggplant Reubens (and burgers for the non-vegans). This isn’t the place for fancy cocktails, but if you want a can of PBR and a shot for $7, this is the death bar for you.

Rido/Shutterstock

The Crypt

Cherry Creek’s Clayton St. has become quite the cocktail destination, what with Forget Me Not and now Five Nines shaking things up side-by-side. Five Nines is especially sexy and ambitious, full of velvet booths, dim lights, and, oh yeah, scantily clad pole dancers shimmying across the stage every hour, on the hour. But don’t let the entertainment distract you from the drinks. The large cocktail menu, created by vets from American Bonded and Poka Lola, is just as seductive as the dancers.

Clayton Members Club & Hotel

Five Nines 

Perhaps the best description of Bezel is that it’s the kind of place that has its own specialty ice program. So yeah, you could order a beer or a shot, but then you’d be missing out on the sophisticated cocktails and specialty ice, and do you really want to waste all that lavish frozen water? Just off the 16th Street Mall inside the Sheraton Denver Downtown, Bezel is glamorous, with prices to match. (Some cocktails are in the $20s.) Go when you’re feeling extra.

Bezel

The music is the focus at ESP HiFI, Denver’s first listening cafe and bar, which is why the drinks are kept hush-hush. (Read: no ice cubes clanking in metal shakers.) The classic, quiet cocktails and natural wines complement the music, which comes from a 500-deep-and-counting vinyl collection curated and spun by your musical host. The 35-seat minimalist room is so cozy you might want to move in.

Photo courtesy of ESP HiFI

Esp Hifi - Cafe & Bar

Everyone loves a good rooftop bar, and The Red Barber, perched above the Catbird Hotel, delivers on vertiginous appeal. With nearly 360-degree city and mountain views, plenty of space, and an indoor/outdoor bar mixing up seasonal cocktails, there are plenty of reasons to head up. While it goes full-on barbecue party vibe during summer’s hot nights, The Red Barber keeps you warm via heat lamps and tents through chillier temps too.

The Red Barber

La Bouche is the Parisian-Denverite love child we all need. Part chic French glamour, but also part relaxed Coloradan sensibility, the new wine bar features a carefully selected wine list, offering the best of the US and France. Hungry? Pair your sips with cheese brule, a financier, or quiche.

There’s a lot going on at Ghost Donkey, the spin-off of the now-defunct New York tequila and mezcal bar. Imbibe magazine’s Cocktail Bar of the Year 2020 opened our Denver outpost last spring, bringing its frisky energy, bright lights, and eponymous donkey with it. The neon explosion of a space whips up original cocktails like the huitlacoche infused margarita and mole spiced negroni. And there are nachos. Lots of nachos.

Ghost Donkey - Denver

Ghost Donkey

Too often in bars, a sophisticated vibe means dark and speakeasy-y. Not so at Jake Soffes’s bars. Capitol Hill’s Hudson Hill, LoHi’s Lady Jane, and now the newest, Union Station’s The Wild, are bright, relaxed, and cool. They’re spots at which you want to sit and stay awhile, as much for the welcoming atmosphere as for the interesting drinks. The Wild’s cocktail menu is divided into Light/Refreshing, Coffee/Tea, Boozy/Spirit Forward, and Classics, and you’ll find surprises in each section. Amp yourself up with a Middle State coffee drink to fuel your sipping.

The Wild

Forget Me Not has only been open for about a year, but its bright, airy vibe and top-notch cocktails quickly made it a Denver favorite. While the drinks are definitely the draw—from the large format cocktails for sharing to the upscale mocktails to the creative glassware and garnishes that gussy up the expansive cocktail menu—the space is one of the city’s spiffiest and the food (a hot dog shares space with caviar service) is fun too.

Forget Me Not

Another 2021 addition to Denver’s bar scene, the industry vet owners of The L, Adam Hodak and Alex Lerman, took over the space of a former pet food store on Broadway and transformed it into a cocktail destination with neighborhood bar vibes. This place is not only for cocktail snobs, but if you are one, you won’t be disappointed. And while there’s no food on the menu, you can order from their neighboring Full Afterburner Calzones for all the drinking sustenance needed to go ahead and order one more cocktail.

The L

Named for the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, which legally defined American Whiskey and ensured its quality, you can be sure to find a damn good Old Fashioned here (and for only $6 during happy hour) along with a lineup of top notch craft cocktails with a variety of spirits, best enjoyed on their rooftop patio.&nbsp;

American Bonded

It’s safe to say that pretty much everyone could use a tropical getaway right about now. But you don’t have to go anywhere near the airport to get a taste of vacation life. At this South Broadway tiki bar, the island vibes are immaculate. From tropical classics like mai tais and the macadamia nut chi-chi to original creations like the lychee seventy-five, they’ve got photo-ready cocktails covered. Plus you can also order up bites like Spam musubi and Volcano fries for sharing. All that’s missing is the ocean breeze, but at least you can pretend to be by the sea on their spacious back patio.

Adrift

Adrift Tiki

From the team behind Queens Eleven and Blue Sparrow, this bar on Platte Street opened in late February 2020, right before you-know-what shut it right back down. But despite less than ideal timing, it’s just the lush escape we need right now. Based on a fictional character,<a href="http://www.ourmillyparker.com/" target="_blank"> Milly Parker</a>, whose flapper-era adventures inspired the decadent decor, menu, and vibe, Room for Milly captures the energy of another time and place—one where the cocktails are fun, the seats are covered in velvet, and you’ve (finally) got an excuse to dress up a little for a night out.

Room for Milly

Room For Milly

It was big news when one of the world’s most famous bars moved into Denver in spring 2018. A few years and one pandemic later, the hullabaloo has died down and what we’re left with is a stunning space in which to drink some of the city’s tastiest and most imaginative cocktails. While the pages-deep drink menu is fun to explore, don’t skip the almost equally good food menu.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Death & Co.

Death & Co

Denver’s gotten some great wine bars in recent years—see Attimo Wine, Sunday Vinyl, and Bigsby’s Folly—but Noble Riot is one of the best. Beyond the quirky, lesser-known bottles, the sommelier-owned Riot teaches you all about the juice at Wine School and boasts a fried chicken-filled food menu. Ask the crew about their spirit grapes, because this crew has put a lot of thought into their spirit grapes.

Phot courtesy of Noble Riot

Noble Riot

Not to be confused with the other Roxy in town, this is the second iteration of an Encinitas, California-based concept. If you’re missing live music (and who isn’t), this is a great spot to get a fix, no tickets required. From jazz and rock to indie and experimental acts, they’ve got it all on the schedule so you can enjoy the classic drinks and a show combo. And when we say drinks, what we really mean are expertly made classic cocktails that let their simple ingredients shine. While the space has a tiny kitchen, they manage to pump out a pretty robust list of eats that range from snacks like extra crispy truffle fries, to full on meals like the pan seared salmon.

Broadway Roxy

The Roxy

This cash only Colfax classic is a Denver dive must-visit. Screw ambiance. You're here for the strong drinks (plus the free shot and rose for ladies), the jukebox that's likely had the same selection for the past 20 years, and the strangers who will soon become friends... if only for the night.

PS Lounge Denver

PS Lounge

Bask in the red glow of this old-school Denver legend that's officially been open since the day after the repeal of Prohibition. With sleek, art deco decor, and killer martinis, Cruise Room in the Oxford Hotel can’t help but make you feel classy whilst you sip the night away. The bar itself was modeled after a bar on the Queen Mary and takes the shape of a wine bottle. It’s a hotspot, especially since it’s been the longest continually open bar in Denver.

The Cruise Room

Cruise Room

With a rotating cast of characters, this local favorite is by all definitions a dive. Let’s hit the checklist: cheap drinks ($4 daily specials), entertainment (Buck Hunter), and the unique ability to emulate a home you actually didn’t grow up in but feel effortlessly comfortable in nevertheless. Don's biggest downfall is that it masquerades as a Chiefs bar on Sundays, but we can forgive that based on their vending machine selection alone. It's stocked with the only food you'll find here: a random and ever-changing assortment of everything from frozen White Castle burgers (there's a microwave) to Spam.

Don's Club Tavern

From the outside, this spot has dive written all over it (read: a large, nondescript Budweiser sign). But you won’t find any Buds on the menu. What you will find is a small menu of balanced cocktails including one of the best Old Fashioneds in town, a schedule of unique events, food truck pop-ups and yoga sessions, and quirky decor.

Fort Greene Bar

Fort Greene

Walking into this bar, it’s easy to picture Jack Kerouac or Neal Cassady bantering away in a corner while sipping strong whiskey cocktails. And indeed, they did. This is Denver’s oldest bar, and it remains today what it’s always been: a dependable, low-key place to enjoy a cold drink and hot burger.&nbsp;

My Brother's Bar

Probably the only bar on this list that you enter through a bookshelf, Williams &amp; Graham set the standard for Denver cocktails bars when it opened a decade ago. Just as important today, the dark speakeasy is the place to go for a good, stiff drink. Choose from a menu of classics or staff creations, marvel at the 500 spirit strong library of bottles, and settle in for a while. There are 500 bottles after all.

Williams & Graham

<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/authors/molly-martin" target="_blank">Molly Martin</a>&nbsp;is a Denver-based freelance writer. Follow her @mollydbu on Instagram and Twitter for more updates on food, fun, and life in the Mile High.

<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/authors/allyson-reedy" target="_blank">Allyson Reedy</a> is a Thrillist contributor.

Beverage Director

Beverage Director: Find the Best Bars to Drink at in Your City

Beer

The Absolute Best Bars in Denver Right Now

Best Bars in Denver: Cool New Places to Get Drinks At

From classic dives to swanky cocktail lounges, this is where you should be drinking in the Mile High.

Yes, there’s a lot of hype over Denver’s beer scene, but how bout those bars?

La Bouche

Featured In

The Absolute Best Bars in Denver Right Now

More From Thrillist

The Best Drag Shows in Austin

Celebrity impersonations are just the beginning of the Austin drag scene.

The Best Cheeses You Need for Stellar Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Not all gooey, melty fromage is created equal.

How to Make a Simple, Space-Saving Wine Rack

Display your favorite bottles in style with this modern, DIY solution.

How to Throw a Pool Party (Even if You Don't Have a Pool)

No pool? No problem.

Everything Fun You Can Do This Weekend in LA

BBQ, beer fests, and Just Like Heaven Fest hits the Rose Bowl this weekend.

Everything Fun You Can Do in Dallas This Weekend

We’ve got you covered with more festivals than you can shake a rib at.

Everything Fun You Can Do in DC This Weekend

Drink your way through a hard seltzer festival or score vintage finds at a massive community yard sale.

A Leonardo DiCaprio-Backed Plant-Based UK Burger Chain Debuts a NYC Pop-Up

Located inside the Urbanspace food hall, it’s set to run for the next six months.

14 Actually Cool Things You Can Do in Phoenix This Summer

These are the most fun activities, tours, farmers markets, events, and more to make the most of the season.

Everything Fun You Can Do in Chicago This Weekend

These are all your local must-hit music, food festivals, events, movies, markets, deals, and concerts to help you make the most of your weekend.

Everything Fun You Can Do in ‌Las‌ ‌Vegas‌ This Weekend

EDC is here. Pearl Jam isn't.

Everything Fun to Do in Atlanta This Weekend

These are all your local must-hit music and food festivals, events, movies, markets, deals, and concerts to help you make the most of your weekend.