The southeast side of the tracks, the side that developed first, is full of businesses, restaurants and bars that mostly took over existing industrial warehouses and older brick structures, lending the area a decidedly hipster/bohemian feel.
The northwest side, meanwhile, is nearly all new construction, zoned for buildings up to sixteen stories, which explains the cranes and lines of parked pickup trucks as hotels, office buildings and apartment complexes sprout up at a rapid clip.
These new buildings boast a vibe that leans more to modern luxury, sleek style and swanky elegance that marks a sharp departure from RiNo’s original inhabitants. And the latest addition to this crop of white-glove experiences is the rooftop/basement dual-bar concept of Rose & Thorn.
The first sight you see exiting the elevators to Rose & Thorn pretty much sets the tone.
Antony Bruno
Views.
After all, this is Colorado, and even the best designed space has to compete with the mountains to the West. In this regard, Rose smartly lets its surroundings do the talking, with a little something for everyone. Rose boasts nearly 360 degrees of vistas, from the mountains and foothills, to the Denver skyline and Capitol, to the vast tree-lined streets of Five Points and surrounding neighborhoods.
The pool area, available by reservation only, is a narrow strip of water and lounge chairs. But there’s far more space wrapped around it, including more couches, high and low tables, and the window to the bar, of course.
Running the show is general manager Logan Campbell, who has a long history with nightclubs in both Las Vegas and Denver. In Vegas, he opened or managed such hotspots as the TAO Asian Bistro & Nightclub in the Venetian, Drai’s Beach Club on the roof of the Cromwell, and the Vanity nightclub at the Hard Rock Hotel. In Denver, he helped open the Temple nightclub on Broadway, and was part of the opening of Villa on Market Street.
At Rose & Thorn, Campbell is looking to extend that streak.
“Conceptually, what we’re doing is blending a supper club and cocktail lounge meets pool lounge,” he says. “I would speak to sophistication, white glove service, great music, all very Colorado-oriented.”
This includes a robust cocktail program developed by longtime Denver bartender and mixologist TJ Vong (Mizu Izakaya, TAG Restaurants), as well as a wine program led by level 2 sommelier Alan Garcia (Denver Chophouse, STK Steakhouse, Guard & Grace).
The drinks are well-crafted and full of whimsy. The description for the “Mile Haiku,” for instance, is an actual haiku: “Between east and west / vanilla oak and black tea / a kiss breaks the ice.” Others give a nod to Quentin Tarantino films, like the Mr. Blonde (a tequila-based espresso martini with a green matcha foam) or the True Romance (served with a cocktail napkin written with the words “you’re so cool” from a scene in the movie with the same name).
“There's just these subtle, edgy kind of details, that just… if you know, you know,” Campbell says.
For those who like their booze more straightforward, there’s a bottle-service option for sparkling wines, bourbon, vodka, cognac and so on, as well as mixers to match, with pricing ranging from $300 for a bottle of Tito’s vodka to $700 for a Don Julio 1942 tequila. There's also a six-pack of Red Bull for $50.
Food options are focused on easy-to-eat small plates with a focus on the grill. They include three types of grilled skewers — chicken (tandoori), sirloin (herbed) and shrimp (of the sweet chili kind) — as wellas a lobster roll, Ahi Tuna Tataki, crab cocktail, hummus with pita, crab guac and chips, and street corn elote. It’s all very summer-y and easy to eat without messing up the fancy suit or dress you’re likely wearing at a place like this.
It’ll be interesting to see how the rooftop space manages Denver’s winters. According to the team, the exact plan is still “in progress,” but expect something along the lines of an awning covering the open-air sections, along with heated lamps and a heated pool.
But before we see how that works out, the flip side of the concept is expected to open around September. By all accounts, Thorn will be the complete inverse of Rose. While Rose is on the rooftop, Thorn will essentially be in a basement. Think dark, incandescent rooms, wooden textures, a DJ booth elevated behind the bar, a late-night kind of crowd. Rose will close between 10 p.m. and midnight, while Thorn will stay open until 2 a.m.
Will the two see much cross traffic as the sun goes down and the night turns long? Stay tuned.
Rose is located at 1740 36th Street, and open from Monday through Wednesday from 3 to 10 p.m., Thursday and Friday from noon to midnight, and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to midnight. Find more information at rose-and-thorn.popmenu.com.
