Having lived in Colorado all my life, Ive had the pleasure of seeing some amazing music in some amazing venues around the entire state. Everyone knows that Red Rocks is probably the best place in the country to see a show and should not be skipped when making a trip to the Centennial State. But what if you’ve got a need for a night of guilty pleasures dancing to some great electronic music with a ton of friends? Denver has you covered! Here is a list of 5 Denver bars and nightclubs that you have to experience while you’re out and about:
Beta Nightclub
This club is a huge name in the Denver dance scene and has brought in almost every name from the electronic music culture you can think of. Tiesto, The Crystal Method, Lee Burridge, Above and Beyond, Sasha, Laidback Luke, Pan-Pot; the list seriously does not end! Combine those international headliners with the massive Funktion1 sound system and its hard to beat the vibe here. The second floor of Beta offers private VIP tables and a wrap-around balcony viewing the main floor below, but is also where you’ll find the Beatport Lounge. This is pretty much another club within Beta and offers you a chance to change your musical experience throughout the night. Add an enclosed and lush outdoor garden to this equation and you have one of Denver’s best dance spots.
The 1Up on Colfax
Opened in 2012, this bar and venue is the second barcade to open in Denver after the 1Up in the LoDo district. Packed with over 50 vintage arcade games, skeeball, 15 plus pinball machines and 2 full service bars, you can get your game fix any day of the week! The music venue was added at the end of 2013 and can fit around 500 dancing heads into the unique space. Speaking of unique, the acts that play here range from bluegrass sounds, 90’s throwback parties, old school dubstep and beyond. The month of May at the 1Up is stacked with FKJ/Darius, Bondax, Sankehips, and Mija all coming in. Jamie XX was just announced to play July the 21st here and is sure to be a sellout party for the books!
Bar Standard
Part of the SoCo or South of Colfax Nightlife district, Bar Standard boasts 2 amazing patios that show off the Denver skyline while you dance the night away. On Sundays during the summer, their rooftop bar opens and has some great weekly parties that run from dusk till dawn. The interior has a swanky art deco vibe and lush red velvet booths that give you a great space to rest your feet and catch your breath. The main dance floor is a little smaller than others in the area but the sound system there and the second level patio and stage more than make up for this. Fridays in May are looking great with Treasure Fingers, the Magician and Jimmy Edgar gracing the decks. I am insanely excited to see Black Coffee come through Bar Standard on the 26th of June for one of three US dates on his tour.
Club Vinyl
Just across the street from Bar Standard is Club Vinyl, a four level club of epic proportions. The basem*nt has some great local DnB and dubstep, the main level has brought in international headliners like Duke Dumont, Kolombo, Claude Von Stroke, and Blondish to get the Funktion1 sound system blaring. The third level has some great pool tables and bumpin RnB and Hip Hop to get laid back with. The cherry on top of the club is their expansive rooftop. 360 degree view of downtown Denver and another stage for summer rooftop parties on Saturdays has got to be one of my favorite parts of this club. Really looking forward to May 30th when Lee Burridge starts off the rooftop season at Club Vinyl!
The Church Nightclub
This club is a one of a kind place and the name perfectly describes it. Literally a renovated church that was originally built in 1865 it has huge stained glass windows, lofty ceilings, and Gothic architecture abound. TheVoid sound system fills the main room with gorgeous sound, but doesn’t drown out the music found in the side rooms which showcases local DJ’s on the come up. The New Global Fridays are bringing in massive talent like DJ Chuckie, Paul van Dyk, and MakJ just to name a few. Pray and worship the dance gods in this awesome space!
And there you have it. Five of my favorite Denver bars and nightclubs that simply cannot be missed!! Thanks for reading and, as always, Ill see you on the dance floor!
