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Top Cocktail Happy Hours In Denver

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If you've tired all of the craft beer you can handle, do something a little different for your next happy hour. With a wide range of creative mixologists, Denver is a great place in which to find happy hour cocktails. Ditch the standard martinis and margaritas and try something with a little more pizzazz. These bars offer creative and affordable happy hour creations, so add them all to your roster of happy hour favorites.

Populist
3163 Larimer St.
Denver, CO 80205
(720) 432-3163
www.thepopulistdenver.com

With old school-style cocktails like the Old Fashioned and the Gin and Tonic, Populist is a great place for those with sophisticated palates. Its happy hour is from 5 to 7 p.m. and features a varied menu of food and drinks. Many of the bar's signature cocktails feature variations on the recipe so you can sample both. The food at the Populist is also inventive and delicious, so you can stick around for dinner after happy hour. For those who are into beer, this bar has a rotating selection, so you can try something new whenever you come in.

La Cour Art Bar
1643 S. Broadway
Denver, CO 80210
(303) 777-5000
www.denversartbar.com

Inspired by bistros in Paris, La Cour Art Bar is a great place for food, art and cocktails. The rich menu includes French-inspired variations on classics like the Manhattan, the Screwdriver, the Mimosa and many more. Its happy hour runs from 4 to 7 p.m. and offers a variety of cocktails and small bites. La Cour Art Bar also features works by many artists that you can take in while enjoying your food and cocktails. While you're at it, you can treat yourself to live music. La Cour Art Bar also offers excellent brunch, and you'll definitely want to come back.

Upstairs Circus
1500 Wynkoop St., Suite 100
Denver, CO 80202
(720) 722-2105
www.upstairscircus.com

Do something different for happy hour at the Upstairs Circus. This bar lets patrons get crafty while enjoying delicious signature cocktails. With circus-themed cocktails like Bubbles the Champagnzee, Julius the Great and more, you can try some of the most fun spirited cocktails in the city. Projects include jewelry making, painting and home crafting projects. A fun break from the norm, this happy hour makes for a memorable experience for you and your friends, and you'll love coming back again and again.

Related: Top Bars To Get Local Spirits In Denver

Root Down
1600 W. 33rd Ave.
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 993-4200
www.rootdowndenver.com

Root Down offers a happy hour menu with delicious cocktails and food from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The happy hour appetizers are good and filling, so you can have a good balance of food and drinks. Cocktails include gems like the Don Draper, the Spicy Paloma and the Casino Royale, among others. Root Down is known for having some of the best food in the city, and its location in the Highlands makes it a fun starting point for a night out.

Cruise Room
The Oxford Hotel
1659 Wazee St.
Denver, CO 80209
(303) 825-1107
www.theoxfordhotel.com

Located inside one of Denver's most historic hotels, the Cruise Room gives patrons the chance to go back in time with classic decor and inspired cocktails. Opened in 1933, this bar is the first to open in Denver following the fall of Prohibition. It has been a staple on the Denver cocktail scene ever since. With classic cocktails like The Corpse Revived and the Collins alongside seasonal creations, this is a fun place to sample signature cocktails, and its intimate setting makes for a fun night with friends. Its location near Union Station puts it in close proximity to a variety of places at which to have dinner afterwards.

Related: Top Bars for Hipsters In Denver

Alaina Brandenburger is a freelance writer living in Denver. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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