7 Best Bars in Denver, Colorado

Known for its chicken-fried steak, big burgers, and even bigger breakfasts, the Bear Creek Tavern is a plain-spoken fixture favored by bikers and locals. It's a 40-minute drive west of downtown Denver. The views near O'Fallon Park are spectacular.

This high-end microbrewery is on the site of the old Union Pacific Railroad headhouse—with the train paraphernalia to prove it. It's a bit expensive for a brewpub, but if you hang out after Broncos games you might encounter local sports celebrities celebrating or commiserating, and certainly you will find fellow fans.

This fluorescent-lighted, bargain-basement Mexican dive with a checkerboard floor and pool tables in the back feels cramped. Still, the limos parked outside hint at its enduring popularity: "the Pec" is where Ol' Blue Eyes used to pop in, and where visiting musicians, including the Marsalis brothers and former president Bill Clinton, still jam after hours. Cash only.

This nighttime spot distinguishes itself with two outdoor rooftop bars for dancing and mingling, and DJs four nights a week. On Sunday during the season, the flat-screen TVs broadcast the football games.

In performances by the Impulse Theater, the audience is invited to participate in interactive improv comedy and theater, and touring stand-up comics and local acts provide entertainment through physical comedy and other routines. Previously held downstairs in the Wynkoop brewpub, the performances have been staged at Avenue Theater and elsewhere around town as Impulse searches for a new home.

Near the 16th Street Mall, Mynt Mojito Lounge has established a chichi reputation with its namesake mojitos, Miami-style pastel colors, Cuban food, and fruity martinis—try the refreshing cha-cha, with fresh raspberries.

This is a perennial favorite, thanks to its rotating special brews and reasonably priced pub grub.