Before you bid your social life goodbye until spring, consider taking a look somewhere off the trodden path — and down the steps — for your next night out.
The metro area is home to a collection of subterranean watering holes eager to welcome you belowground, offering a cozy escape from the snow. These spaces make use of abandoned basement venues and mysterious tunnel systems, perfectly insulated by the earth itself so that you can forget all about the cold outside. Although many of these hideaways serve traditional speakeasy glamour, not all of our picks require you to dress to the nines and rack up a hefty bill.
Regardless, cozying up on leather lounge chairs and sipping selections such as bright tiki classics or soul-warming rum cocktails will surely cure any winter case of the "staying-ins."
Here are eight underground hideouts where you can hibernate in style:
The BC Underground
1224 Washington Avenue, Golden
Located under the Blue Canyon Grill, this low-lit neighborhood bar in one of our favorite small towns near Denver is a surefire place to stir up some mischief and shake off the winter blues. Whether you're sipping a beer on one of the iconic bar swings or trying your luck at the selection of arcade games, pool, foosball or Jenga, the BC Underground is a place to play. Alongside beer, wine and classic cocktails, the bar offers burgers, fries, chicken tenders and warming soups — including the house specialty, bacon-topped white chicken chili. For fans of pickle shots, prepare yourself for your next obsession: peperoncino shots.
B&GC
249 Columbine Street
This drinking destination under Cherry Creek's Halcyon hotel is located in a dazzling underground space that was once a post office. The lengthy cocktail list boasts robust flavor combinations like the Carrot Cash Flow, featuring Ron Zacapa 23 rum, carrot juice, sherry, Giffard Vanille de Madagascar, egg yolk, pecan orgeat, whipped cream, angostura and cream cheese. Pair your expertly crafted cocktail with small plates such as deviled eggs, fresh oysters and bacon-wrapped dates. The alluringly lit bar is the centerpiece of the space, allowing you to lounge in the shadows of the surrounding red-leather booths. This hidden spot requires a keen eye to gain entry, but it's well worth braving the cold for a night full of pomp and mystique.
Emerald Eye
1403 Larimer Street
Since its debut in 2023, this tropical-themed bar has been an oasis in Larimer Square, earning it a spot in the new and noteworthy section of our Top 100 Bars list. The darkly lit space is punctuated by jungle plant prints and sultry mood lighting, with ample room for sitting, standing and boogying. The cocktail menu is inspired by Caribbean flavors, offering house specialties such as the Eye Tai, made with Uruapan rum, Leblon, dry curaçao, pineapple, orgeat, lime and fig bitters; or the Aztec Buttered Rum, with spice whipped butter, rum, demerara, vanilla whipped cream and nutmeg. Tiki-bar classics such as mojitos and piña coladas are also readily available. Between cocktails served with cheery island flowers and the burnt-orange lounge chairs and decor, Emerald Eye will take you from the snow to the sand in no time — just look for the staircase with the glowing red sign.
Ghost Saloon
1422 Larimer Street
This recent subterranean addition to Larimer Square boasts DIY personalized hat branding by Parker Thomas, simmering mood lighting and eye-catching homages to the Old West on every wall. Don't be alarmed if your crafted cocktail requires the help of a fizzing flamethrower, and be sure to poke around for the hidden back room, with intimate leather-bound booths and an additional bar top. Skulls, feathers and velvet curtains give the spacious speakeasy-style bar a unique energy that merges clubbing with rustic charm. House specials like the Midnight Marauder, featuring rich rum, tangy pineapple juice and a shot of espresso, are sure to warm you from the toes of your boots to the tip of your hat.
All the drinks at Lincoln's are $5, cash-only.
Molly Martin
1801 Wynkoop Street
Descending into a brick-clad, 110-year-old underground hideout dotted with gothic-style couches and church pews is about as cozy as it gets, and that's exactly what you'll find at this spot that's among the city's best new bars. With its purposeful lack of two-tops and televisions, Lincoln's is all about chatting up your neighbors in the various nooks and crannies of the low-lit, intimate space. The concept originated in Portland, Maine, and offers a community-forward space to be yourself and enjoy an evening under the watchful eyes of our sixteenth president. Old Abe can be spotted all over in framed documents, Pop Art and Dad puns (be sure to take a seat in the John Wilkes Booth). But most important for your evening are the Lincolns in your wallet. "[People] talk about spending Benjamins," says owner Mark Ohlson. "Fuck that — I'm from the woods of Vermont. Who's got that kind of money? It's spending Lincolns." Accordingly, all drinks on the bar's beer, wine and liquor list are only $5, cash only. The few minutes required to find the entrance near Union Station are worth it for the enchanting scene behind the door. Once inside, all you'll need are a few Lincolns to stave off the cold.
Meadowlark Bar
2701 Larimer Street
meadowlarkbar.com
Whether you're planning to bring it on the dance floor underneath the dreamy jungle-themed ceiling or belly up to the bar near the entrance, the Meadowlark has something for everyone. This year marks the bar and music venue's twentieth anniversary, a run that's been filled with live music and good times in a neighborhood that's become a hot spot in the meantime. Located down a narrow set of stairs off a street corner often stationed by local food trucks, the Meadowlark transports you into an underground world where the drinks flow, laughter is nonstop, and sing-along classics are regular staples during DJ sets.
Run for the Roses
1801 Blake Street
This chic bar hidden below the din of the Dairy Block marketplace offers tantalizing cocktails and vintage spirits in a James Bond-esque setting. Signature symbols of luck and superstition can be found throughout the lounge, most notably functioning as the code for your drink order. Sort through the deck of cards you'll receive upon arrival and personalize your flavor profile on a scale that begins with ladybugs and rabbits for lighter, subtler flavors and ends with wishbones and dice to signify richer, stronger sips. The theme pays homage to the building's rich history by drawing inspiration from the luxurious world of horse races and gambling. To enter the stylish underground lair, be on the lookout for a glowing cocktail sign and follow the roses from there. This is the place to don your faux-fur coats and scarves and settle in for a magical evening.
12 Spirits Tavern
420 East 11th Avenue
Located in the basement-level former smoking lounge of the Croke-Patterson Mansion, which bills itself as the "second most haunted hotel" in Colorado, this Capitol Hill escape is decked out with a wood-paneled bar top and lantern-lit tables where you can sip beer, wine and an array of specialty cocktails such as the Lemongrass Whiskey Sour and the Rosemary Aviation. From the friendly faces behind the bar to the signature savory hand pies, including the ground beef-stuffed Sloptart, the classic pub vibes at 12 Spirits will thaw your winter chill in no time.
