MDE Lounge Brings Colombian Street Food and Nightlife to Denver

MDE Lounge, a new Colombian concept at 30 South Broadway, is bringing a taste of Mendellin’s nightlife to the 303. Located inside the former Stoney’s Cantina, the expansive space is true to its name with tons of couches and lounge chairs, a full bar, dance floor and a massive mural of the Medellín skyline.

“Medellín is amazing — it's full of nature, open spaces and incredibly welcoming people. When you’re there, you feel at home, and we wanted to recreate that feeling here where people could come, relax and spend time,” says co-owner Daniel Reed.

The lounge transforms into a more energetic nightclub vibe around 10 p.m., with the music getting louder and the lights dimming. “We’ve got people dancing, sharing chisme [gossip], and enjoying a mix of food and music," Reed notes.

Thursday through Saturday, the playlist, curated by resident DJ Briella and a rotation of guest DJs from across the U.S. and beyond, is firmly rooted in reggaeton, with house music playing on Sundays.

“We’re a true reggaeton lounge. We didn’t want to be just another place that mixes different genres like merengue and bachata. People know they can come here for reggaeton all night.”
Reed is originally from Miami and co-owns the joint with business partners Mariana Lopez, who hails from Medellín, and Alain Rivera, a Venezuelan entrepreneur with experience in the liquor industry.

“I grew up in Medellín and there are a lot of lounges like this one where you can just hang out and drink with friends. We wanted to bring that vibe here to Denver,” Lopez shares.

The Colombian vibe travels through to the kitchen, which serves up street food-inspired dishes until 1 a.m. with bites like chicharron ceviche, fried plantains, empanadas, “perros” (Colombian hot dogs loaded with toppings) and hamburgers, as well as larger plates like carne asada and desserts.

“Our food is inspired by Medellín’s street vendors, but we’ve tried to make it more gourmet and elegant,” Lopez explains. “We serve the same type of food you’d find after stepping out of a nightclub in Medellín. Our goal is to offer something different than the traditional dishes you’d eat at your grandma’s or aunt’s house,” Reed adds.

There will be monthly specials to keep the menu fresh and the team plans to collaborate with local chefs to further innovate the offerings. Soon, MDE Lounge will expand its hours and add Sunday brunch.

On the drink side, there’s a variety of Latin-inspired cocktails like the Zona Rosa, a popular strawberry-flavored beverage that’s “not too sweet and not too heavy,” according to Reed, plus wine and beer. MDE also boasts custom Colombian beers brewed by FlyteCo. If you’re really in the mood to party, the lounge also offers bottle service starting at $200.
Since opening its doors, MDE Lounge has been well-received, especially by Denver’s Latin community. “At least 75 percent of our crowd is Hispanic, but we attract all kinds of people,” Lopez says.

The owners are excited to offer a place where Latinos in Denver can gather, connect and feel a sense of belonging.

“I love when I see two separate groups start to mingle and talk and dance together. That’s the sense of community we’re trying to create here — a place where Latinos can come and find like-minded people, and enjoy the food and music they miss from home,” Reed concludes.

MDE Lounge is located at 30 South Broadway and is open from 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday and Sunday, and 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit mdelounge.co or follow it on Instagram @mdelounge.