Denver's Top Theme Bars

Denver is known for its casual approach to most things, and this includes bars. Still, that doesn't mean that the folks in Denver don't like to get creative. If you're new to town or just tired of drinking on the same old stool, why not try out some of the best theme bars in Denver for a change of pace?

The Dive Lounge

700 Water Street
Denver, Colo. 80211
(303) 561-4450
www.aquariumrestaurants.com

The Dive Lounge, located on the lower floor of the Denver Downtown Aquarium, hosts a Happy Hour and design that will make you feel like singing "Under the Sea." Designed as a choral cave fitted with barnacles, sea urchins and schools of other replicated underwater creatures, the bar further opens the underwater atmosphere to the guest through a large window into one of its enormous seawater tanks. With a Happy Hour drink and food menu running from 3 pm to 6 pm, The Dive Lounge is not only Denver's best theme bar, it is the only place you can drink with the fishes. The Dive Lounge is open Sunday through Thursday, 11 am to 9 pm; Friday and Saturday, until 10 pm.

Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret

1601 Arapahoe Street
Denver, Colo. 80202
(303) 293-0075
http://lannies.com

Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret pulls the guest into a Rococo atmosphere that recalls the theater of the absurd. As the guest descends into the cabaret located beneath a towering clock, they first notice the lavishly decorated room covered in chandeliers and velvet drapes. However, as the shadows recede, it becomes apparent that the chandeliers are made of utensils and shoes, while any manner of odd antiquity takes shape on the walls. The atmosphere, taken as a whole, is perfect for the assortment of nightly performances by burlesque troupes, magic acts, and world famous musicians that have long made Lannie's a favorite late-night spot on the 16th Street Mall. See their website for show hours and menu.

Pint's Pub

221 West 13th Avenue
Denver, Colo. 80204
(303) 534-7543
www.pintspub.com

Can't afford a trip to the 'Old Blighty'? Well, never fear, Denver's Pint's Pub is the next best thing to a London pub this side of the pond. Don't believe it? Well, they even have the red phone booth outside to prove it. Located near the Denver Art Museum downtown, Pint's Pub is the purveyor of the largest selection of single malt whiskeys in the United States and hosts a bevy of traditional cask-conditioned beers brewed for its customers. With a friendly staff and authentic décor, don't feel bad if you find yourself ordering bangers and mash and another pint before returning to the USA. Pint's Pub is open Monday through Sunday, 11 am until close, and offers a happy hour from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

The Cruise Room Bar

1600 17th Street
Denver, Colo. 80202
(303) 825-1107
www.theoxfordhotel.com/the-cruise-room

Put on your flapper attire and button your tux as you step into The Cruise Room Bar. Located in the Oxford Hotel, The Cruise Room Bar's art deco design is fashioned after a lounge within the famous Queen Mary luxury liner and draws one back into a roaring good time. With images of martini toasts around the world adorning walls reminiscent of Rockefeller plaza, the unchanged brass and neon décor recall a time of decadence and high society. Opening the day after the Prohibition was repealed in 1933, it has been offering a wide selection of martinis and cocktails to a busy bar ever since. The Cruise Room offers an extensive drink list and Happy Hour, while sharing a food menu with McCormick's Fish House located adjacent to it in the hotel. The bar is open Sunday through Thursday, 4:30 pm to 11:45 pm; Friday and Saturday, 4:30 pm to 12:45 am.