So break out that Hawaiian shirt, put on your favorite sunglasses, and head out for cocktails that would do Jimmy Buffett proud.
Adrift
218 South Broadway720-784-8111
adriftbar.com You can’t talk tiki in Denver without starting at Adrift, which has been open since 2012 and got a makeover and new ownership in 2016 after being purchased by Paul Tamburello and Loren Martinez of Little Man Ice Cream. Pair your booze with island-inspired eats like Spam musubi, loco moco and jerk chicken. There are some solid happy-hour deals ($5 mystery shots? Sure!) and a solid selection of tiki classics such as mai tais and Painkillers — or go big with punch bowls that serve two to four people.
Ballmer Peak Distillery
12347 West Alameda Parkway, Lakewood720-316-5824
ballmerpeakdistillery.com The cozy tasting room at Lakewood's only distillery isn't as tiki as the other spots on the list when it comes to decor, but the libations themselves are the standout. While Ballmer Peak offers flights of its spirits, classic cocktails and some creative concoctions, it also has an entire list of tiki specialties, from the painkiller and the mai tai to the Coffee Grog, a mix of spiced rum, coconut cream, lime juice, house orange liqueur and Venture Roastery coffee liqueur. On Tuesdays, get all the tiki cocktails for $1 off.
Castaways Cove
100 South Park Avenue, Unit C102, Breckenridge970-453-3929
castawaysbreck.com At 9,600 feet in elevation, this could be the highest tiki bar in the country. Castaways is located in the basement of the River Mountain Lodge and replaced the former tenant, Tiki Mana, in November 2019. Along with piña coladas, mai tais and the Man in the Yellow Hat (made with banana, obviously), this tiki retreat specializes in a cocktail that's ideal for cold weather days: hot buttered rum. It also offers a full food menu with Hawaiian-inspired fare like Spam musubi, coconut shrimp, and mochiko chicken with mac salad.
The Electric Cure & Velvet Lounge
5350 West 25th Avenue, Edgewatertheelectriccure.com While Adrift is a Denver tiki OG, this place — motto: "Drink rum, stay weird" — opened in 2021. Co-owners Lexi Healy and Veronica Ramos are industry vets, but this was their first venture as owners, and they had so much fun opening it that they've since spread out. Along with a selection of both tiki and other libations, expect the unexpected: Alpacas on the patio? Penis-shaped totems? Bartenders wearing shark heads? Yelp reviews accusing the place of Satanism displayed proudly outside? It’s all fair game here. Bonus: no phone.
Hell or High Water
1526 Blake Streethellorhighwatertiki.com
In July 2022, the Electric Cure team debuted this more tiki-centric hideaway on the mezzanine level of Honor Farm, the haunted bar they're running on the main level. The theme of this small but mighty addition to Denver's bar scene: a haunted gay pirate ship. Expect even more penis totems than at the crew's original spot, plus an intimate party vibe that's unmatched in the metro area.
Jungle
2018 10th Street, Boulderjungletiki.com This tiki bar brought the tropics to Boulder when it opened in the summer of 2019. Along with burgers, chicken sandwiches and other snacks (the jerk-marinated chicken tenders pair really well with strong, fruity cocktails), Jungle emphasizes serving cocktails in creative ways, such as the I'll Show Chu Mine, which comes in an instant noodles mug.
Swaylo's Tiki Restaurant & Bar
1315 Dry Creek Road, Longmont303-651-0527
swaylostiki.com The tropics came to Longmont in March 2022 when Sean and Rebecca Gafner opened Swaylo's in a former Outback Steakhouse location. "Swaylo" is a nickname for southwest Longmont (SWLO), and Swaylo's quickly became a community gathering place for beachy cocktails and food that runs the gamut from huli huli ribs and coconut oolong tea sea bass to crab rangoons and smoked octopus tostadas.