Colfax Crawl

THE COLFAX CRAWL: Broadway to Colorado Blvd.   Diamond Cabaret - 1222 Glenarm Pl, Denver, CO 80204 (Glenarm and Colfax) Over 150 stunningly beautiful Dream Girls await you at this truly world-class entertainment destination! This is Denver's premier strip club attraction.   Bar Red - 437 West Colfax Ave.

Urban yet rooted in history, Bar Red is cozily tucked into the Gateway of Denver and offers guests a downtown experience with the warmth and charm of the Mediterranean lifestyle. Join us and let our friendly staff take care of you, serving you our Italian cuisine, up-scale American bar-far, inventive yet no-fuss cocktails, and deliciously drinkable wine and beer. You will be blown away by our 120 year-old brick and stone architecture, 100 year-old wood carved bar-front, and locally designed mural walls. The building’s rich history invokes stories of prohibition era tunnels, wild-west brothels, and a 90 years past floods. Use our swanky alley entrance and become our next regular. Bar Red is soon to be your favorite spot for a quick bite, a vivacious happy hour, or night-out with friends.

  Satellite Bar - 308 East Colfax Ave. Satellite Bar is small dive located near the Capitol. It’s got some TVs, a jukebox and cheap drinks. There’s also a pool table and free shuffleboard.   Nob Hill Inn - 420 East Colfax Ave.

2nd oldest bar in Denver. My favorite dive bar this side of the Mississippi River! Jukebox is loud but it is full of great tunes. 

  Prohibition - 504 East Colfax Ave. Classic & contemporary cocktails poured in a 1920s-inspired tavern with exposed brick.  X Bar - 629 East Colfax Ave. Happening gay friendly hangout with DJs, dancing & drag queen bingo, plus big outdoor patio.   1 Up - 717 East Colfax Ave. Bar/club featuring dozens of classic arcade games & pinball machines.  

Sancho's Broken Arrow - 741 E. Colfax Ave.

Next, head across the street to Sancho's, Colorado's largest Grateful Dead shrine. The place has a friendly atmosphere for all who still trade bootlegs of jam bands. Raise your glass for Jerry Garcia!

Charlie's - 900 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80218
Gay bar that's part country-western saloon, part Top-40 dance club & draws a mixed crowd.

The Mansion on Colfax - 1509 Marion St. at Colfax Ave.

The foreign beers and infused vodkas are where it is at! And if you are like me & my friends, and you love bar hopping and exploring - you can do all of this within Kinga's! They have two rockin patios, the 'hidden' back one where you can chill out or the one on Colfax where you can people watch and shout out to your homies who happen by. Plus, now they have a rockin dance floor in the basement! A fond memory includes seeing a friend maneuver down the stairs in roller skates to command an entrance onto the dance floor -good times. There is a load bearing pole near the center of the dance floor, which is almost too awesome to see people try to utilize it as a dancing apparatus. And there is an auxiliary bar down there!--Rebecca R., Denver CO.

Tight End Bar - 1501 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80218
Tight End is a gay sports bar providing a fun, lively environment with 9 TVs, patio, high quality sound, and a full beer & cocktail list.

Blush & Blu - 1526 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80218
The only lesbian bar in Denver, and one of a dozen or so left in the country, this offbeat gathering place is very welcoming. Unique shots are prepared along with chai & coffee cocktails.

Squire Lounge - 1800 East Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80218
Squire Lounge is a historic dive on East Colfax. It’s been recently renovated with some upgrades, but it maintains its funky charm. The drinks are cheap and the crowd is diverse.

Satire Lounge - 1920 E. Colfax Ave.

If you want to drink in the same watering hole as your father and grandfather before you, step into Pete's Satire Lounge. The bar has been in business since 1945 and features a reliable, if not trendy, ambience. Pete's offers Mexican food as well as standard beers on tap.

Illegal Pete's - 2001 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206
Located in the iconic A-frame building on the corner of Colfax and Race, the Colfax Pete’s boast 2 levels of dining, a huge outdoor patio, and a second level stage for music and performances. Come on down and join the fun!

Lion's Lair Lounge - 2022 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206
Dimly lit bar known for its live punk music on a small stage & beer in a can.

The DNVR Bar - 2239 E. Colfax Ave.

Upbeat sports-centric hub furnishing hot dogs, chicken wings & burgers, plus craft beer & cocktails.

The Atomic Cowboy - 3237 E. Colfax Ave.

Beers are flowin' at this trendy, Western-inspired bar. Lounge at one of the cowhide booths, shoot some pool. Meet your future ex-wife.

Mezcal - 3230 E. Colfax Ave.

If you like tequila like we do, go across the street to Mezcal for a taste of Mexico. If you're hungry, try the inexpensive quesadilla or chili rellenos.

Goosetown Tavern - 3242 E. Colfax Ave.

One never tires of cheap shots and PBR, so it's off to The Goosetown Tavern. Located across the street from The Bluebird Theatre, it's common to party with rock stars. With all of the talent, who knows? You might get lucky.

P.S. Lounge - 3416 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206
Dark, tchotchke-filled, cash-only bar known for handing out roses & free shots to diverse clientele.

Bastien's Restaurant - 3503 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206
Low-key, midcentury American dining room known for its thick-cut, sugar-rubbed steaks since 1937.

Cerebral Brewing - 1477 Monroe St, Denver, CO 80206 (Colfax and Monroe St.)
Neighborhood brewery in the Bluebird District of Denver, Colorado. Focusing on crafting beers that span the spectrum from traditional to creative while utilizing the scientific method to ensure quality and consistency, you can visit their bustling taproom & brewery serving craft beers in a light & airy, science-inspired setting.

Lost Lake Lounge - 3602 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206
This dark dive bar with throwback decor offers basic drinks & a stage for local & indie bands.

2 a.m. Tom's Diner - 601 E. Colfax Ave.

If you can still open your mouth without puking on yourself, then head back to where we started for a breakfast burrito and some cheese fries. Now you've indulged enough to make tomorrow morning a nightmare of epic proportions.

3 a.m. - The Holiday Chalet - 1820 E. Colfax Ave.

Stumble down to the most beautifully restored Victorian Bed and Breakfast on the 'Fax to sleep it all off!! OR for God's sake, take a cab or grab a ride with your Designated Driver. Thanks. From All of Us. 

West Colfax Welcome - Photo by Jonny Barber

THE WEST COLFAX CRAWL: WHAT I LEARNED

by Colfax Motel Warrior Tom Lund
First published: May 05, 2009

Colfax Motel Warrior Tom Lund took last month's challenge and underwent near punishment-level drinking on the West Colfax Crawl to report back to ColfaxAvenue.org what he found.

Susie's - 17999 W. Colfax Avenue, Golden, CO

One word: Bikers. 

Lakewood Grill - 8100 West Colfax Ave, Lakewood, CO

I walked in to a live band playing Midnight Special. The bartender was a smokin' hot cougar, but didn't offer information easily. I'm thinking she's an ex-con. Beers are $3.75...steep for this part of town. Had a draft beer and left.

Pub on Colfax - 7785 West Colfax Ave., Lakewood, CO

The Shuffle Inn - 1623 West Colfax Ave., Lakewood, CO 

People used to get into a lot of trouble in this place. It still has a disturbing look and vibe to it, even shuttered.   

 Club Dream

This place has a dress code and is in the parking lot of some seedy motel. Due to my beer stained wife-beater t-shirt (in the joint they call them a slingshot), I didn't pass muster. 


Hops - Too corporate. I skipped it.

Mimi's - Once again, if you want to play it safe, actually have clean restrooms, not have wait staff steal you change, this might be your place, but too upscale for me. 

On the Border I think I've covered my general take on the Colorado Mills bars. 

Casa Bonita OK now. A true legend. Indoor cliff diving? Margaritas. Never mind the food, who cares? 

The Keg - Not on my budget... 

La Bailarina 

I got frisked more to get in this bar than I did to get into County. I settled for an $8 margarita, and only got half way through before the waitress cut me off, took my drink, and refunded my money. I guess I was slurring pretty hard by now. 

Cordial Lounge CG's Pub and Patio Hooka Bar 

Pifler's Ignored this one. Looks like Cheers. Too sportsbar. 

Shark's Saloon and Grill 

I walked into Shark's expecting to see Patrick Swayze shooting stick in the corner. Someone is singing a really bad version of Crazy by Patsy Cline. There are actually a few younger cats milling about. More bikers. Draft beer=$1.50. And they do have clamato.

Photo by Jonny Barber

Viking Lounge 

As I walk in, Bon Jovi's "Dead or Alive" is on the jukebox. Draft beer=$2.50. The woman tending bar is smokin' hot, and pronounces clamato with a long A. You say clamato, I say clamato.
 

Zoobar 

It's Friday night, so there's live music going on. Some Grateful Dead cover band playing Uncle Tom's Band. Someone has their pet chihuahua on the bar. The Zoobar is a rarity in Colorado these days: you can still smoke! AND they have a humidor and cigars in house!

T-Bones Saloon 

 I can tell this is a new bar, because there is still drywall mud drying all around me. Behind the bar is a sign that reads, "drink FREE tomorrow". Three Dog Night's "Have You Ever Been To Spain" is on the jukebox. They have free BBQ every Saturday. Great owners. Really nice. Draft beer=$2.50. Eventually they want to get Coyote Ugly midgets to dance on the bar.

Red Coach Inn 

Wow. There are mullets everywhere. Someone is singing karaoke to Journey's "When the Lights Go Down in the City". Draft beer=$3.25. Got my change for a five in dimes & nickels.

Angie's Place 

When Aunt Thelma got a divorce, she got an apartment in the basement. Beers are $2 and the waitstaff is friendly. There was a brand new sign for the bar sitting on the ground that hadn't been hung up yet. I asked Angie if that was her new sign. She said, "Oh no, it's been there for years."

El Senor Sol - wasn't open.

Sports Channel 

This place looks like a ballgame during the Major League Baseball strike. Closed down.

Whiskey Bill's 7290 W. Colfax Lakewood (303) 232-6314

Guido's Nickel Bar 

Jimi Hendrix's "Fire" is on the jukebox. This place has the swagger of a pirate's cove. When I ordered a beer with clamato, some ruffian pipes in, "I hope only one pussy is broken tonight..." There is a bottle of booze on the wall called "Jekyll & Hyde". I went out back to have a smoke and was stunned to see a horseshoe pit out back. I wasn't there five minutes before a girl calling herself Stella the Sledgehammer showed me her tits and asked me if I have a dungeon at home in my basement. Cain T-Square

Moose Hill Cantina - closed.

Photo by Jonny Barber

Country Cork 

Nascar out the ass and wood panelling galore. The bartender, Liz "just call me Lizard", after telling some guy to shut up, tells us they have been running Colfax Crawls (called the Mall Crawl) since the Cork opened 37 years ago. Beers are $1.25 a piece. After I buy one beer, my change for a five is $2.25.  

Photo by Jonny Barber

The Tavern At Mile High 

This is the final bar that I made it too. They already had me cased out at the door. "You can't stay here man...there's undercover here watching. You're wasted, bro!" Just before I got here I stopped into 7-Eleven to get a box of Reds. On the way in, there is a row of teenage hip hopper gangsters up ahead of me on the sidewalk. As they pass by, I can hear their leader saying, "Hold the line, soldier...hold the line." I smashed right into the guy, spun around and said, "wanna watch me break dance?" After spinning around madly on the pavement I looked up to see that they had run away.