Drink Here: Cheers to Our Annual List of the Bars We Can't Live Without

Denver has long been a drinking town, so it's no surprise that it's overflowing with places where you can imbibe — and spilling over with choices for how to fill your glass. We spend all year scouring the scene for fresh additions and revisiting old favorites to create a list that includes a wide range of picks.

As always, our Top 100 Bars list serves up saloons old and new, low- and high-end, with options from all over the metro area. But this year, we've divided these spots into five categories.

Some are buzzy new bars, including a trio of watering holes that expertly combine upscale and down-home ambience, and another that's hidden in a basement-level space downtown where every drink is just $5.

There are also the classics, many of which are well-worn dives where you can score a cheap buzz while soaking in the kind of camaraderie that only develops over many years.

An expertly made cocktail can be a treat, and there are plenty of options for that, too, whether you're craving over-the-top tiki libations or standards like Negronis and Old Fashioneds done right.

One of our favorite types of bars, though, is the neighborhood watering hole, so we've included a smattering of those as well. And you can't talk drinking in the Mile High without a nod to the city's beloved craft beer (and cider) scene.

We hope you'll discover some new favorites — and plenty of good times — among these picks. Extra credit if you go all the way, as two local educators did in 2023, when they drank through the entire Top 100 list in a series of field trips.
Here are our current picks for the Top 100 bars in Denver: