Top Rainy Day Bars In Denver
Dazzle (credit: CBS)
Spring in Colorado is always a fascinating time of year. One minute the sun is bright and temperatures climb to the upper 80s, and the next it could be raining or even snowing. Springtime may indeed bring some April showers, but in Denver, those showers can be tough, so you may want to find a close watering hole to enjoy a few hours while you wait out that storm. From bars with board games to cozy nooks that are actually living historical spots, there are some truly wonderful places to enjoy your next rainy day in Denver. No need to stay home when the local bars are this great.
Inga's Alpine Lounge
5151 Leetsdale Drive
Denver, CO 80246
(720) 389-6203
www.ingasalpinelounge.com
When the weather is cold and dreary, you can't beat a visit to Inga's Alpine Lounge on Leetsdale Drive. This cozy bar is just like walking into a vintage ski lodge, with lots of comfortable seating and plenty of perfectly mixed cocktails just waiting for you. Inga's is perfect for a rainy day because it's just so wonderfully comfortable. With a large fireplace, lots of board games and plenty of creative drinks, you may never want to leave. If the funky, vintage, ski-lodge vibe isn't enough for you, be sure to check out all the different James Bond-themed cocktails on the menu, like the Vesper Martini or the From Russia With Love Mule. With seven different local beers on draft, including Colorado Glider Cider, you'll be hard pressed to find a better place to enjoy a rainy day in Denver.
BookBar
4280 Tennyson St.
Denver, CO 80212
(720) 443-2227
www.bookbardenver.com
What could be more perfect for a rainy day than a trip to your local bookstore? Well, what if that bookstore was also a bar, and it catered to both book lovers and wine connoisseurs. BookBar is a small independent bookstore with a full bar attached. You can meet up with some friends, enjoy a glass of wine and sip away while you discuss the last book you just read, or you can meet some new friends, and join one of BookBar's own book clubs. Every day is a new story at BookBar, so check out the different specials and head down to this book lover's paradise. Hey, there is even free wi-fi, so if you're one of those people that prefers their books to be of the "e-reader" variety, they've got you covered there, too.
Related: Top Bars To Get Local Spirits In Denver
The Thin Man
2015 E. 17th Ave.
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 320-7814
www.thinmantavern.com
The Thin Man is the kind of funky, eclectic bar that is pretty perfect for any rainy day. On any random night of the year, you can cozy up to this long and narrow bar, meet some new friends and find yourself chatting about the different, funky decorations or the many varieties of infused vodka to try. The Thin Man gets a bit crowded on weekend nights, so if your rainy day falls during the week, this is the perfect place to visit. Located in the City Park neighborhood, The Thin Man is a neighborhood joint. People who live in the area flock to this space, and once you check out it's unique, funky vibe, you'll see why that is. The people here are as eclectic as the infused vodkas and you're always bound to run into someone fascinating.
My Brother's Bar
2376 15th St.
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 455-9991
www.mybrothersbar.com
Sometimes, you need a rainy day to take you on a journey through history, and a visit to My Brother's Bar is that perfect walk through time. It claims to be Denver's oldest bar and My Brother's Bar may be tough to find. There is no sign out front, no neon arrows or brightly-lit beer advertisements, just a corner door that opens into a surprisingly large indoor dining area. The beer here is cold, the food is hot and the ambiance is historic. In addition to one of the best burgers in town, you'll also find yourself enjoying a cold beer in the same place where Beat Generation writers like Neal Cassady and Jack Kerouac once sat. Legend has it that Neal Cassady still has a tab here, and you can see some actual proof of Cassady and Kerouac's time at My Brother's Bar, as it's framed on the wall by the bathrooms. So the next time you find yourself in need of a great bar to bring out the inner writer in you, check out My Brother's Bar.
Related: Top Bars With Board Games In Denver
Dazzle Jazz Restaurant and Lounge
930 Lincoln St.
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 839-5100
www.dazzlejazz.com
What could be better on a rainy night than a few cocktails while being serenaded by some of the best local jazz musicians in town? For jazz fans, Dazzle is the place to go in Denver, with new jam sessions every week and lots of regular talent filling the place every weekend. It's a true jazz club experience, and Dazzle has been voted among the top jazz clubs in the state time and time again. Tickets for the big shows go fast, and often are priced separately, but if you wander in on a week-night, you just may discover amazing new talent. Plus, Dazzle is one of the only clubs around that is all ages, until 10:30 p.m., at least. So if you want to introduce some teenagers in your life to the world of jazz music, this is the place to go. Just make sure to get those kids home once 10:30 rolls around.
Deborah Flomberg is a theater professional, freelance writer and Denver native. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
