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Denver’s bar scene is crawling with new spots, but today we’re focused on those that truly capture and create a vibe. In addition to their cocktail offerings, Pretty Neat, the Passport, and the Devil’s Drink all enchant guests through their design, music, service, and energy—but each for different reasons. Whether you’re in a mid-century modern mood, looking for an international-inspired experience, or craving something edgier, these three new Denver bars are sure to deliver.
Pretty Neat
Vibe: Cozy, mid-century modern space with a hidden speakeasy
Located just a block away from some of Broadway’s liveliest bars and cafes like Mutiny Information Cafe and Historians Ale House, Pretty Neat is an intimate spot that husband-and-wife duo Xanthus and Cristy Be Dell opened last November. At the entrance, customers are greeted by an Instagrammable, foliage-covered wall with a neon sign that reads “I think you’re pretty neat.” A small set of stairs at the end of the long bar leads up to a cozy loft complete with bookcases filled with selections like The Ruin of Sir Walter Scott and Seeds of Destruction, green velvet lounge chairs, and additional seating.
On a Sunday evening, groovy music played softly in the background as a group of friends laughed and enjoyed board games. I sipped the Raspberry Bramble—light rum, raspberries, simple syrup, and lime—which was a tart and refreshing complement to the night’s hot weather. Other beverage options include the gin- and cucumber-infused Eastside, a smooth espresso martini, and the tropical Jungle Bird. On the menu, each cocktail is accompanied by a brief description of its history.
The bar also offers fresh juice mocktails and small plates like charcuterie boards, pita bread and hummus, and assorted cookies. Insider tip: Visit on Friday and Saturday nights when the hidden speakeasy-style back room bar is open. Pretty neat, indeed.
114 S. Broadway; Tuesday–Thursday, 4 p.m.–midnight; Friday–Saturday, 4 p.m–2 a.m.; and Sunday, 4–11 p.m.
The Passport
Vibe: Casual yet chic spot with an internationally-inspired cocktail menu
Located right off Market and 14th Street in LoDo, the Passport offers something different from the area’s surrounding chain restaurants and dive bars. The watering hole from the same owners of Society Sports & Spirits one block over has a globetrotting cocktail menu in casual yet chic digs. Pass the small dog-friendly patio and enter the space furnished with house plants, a white marble bar, gold-accented tables, and several flat-screen TVs. The cozy lounge area in the back has green and cream velvet couches, armchairs, a sleek fireplace, and various vintage-looking globes, a homage to the concept’s namesake.
The Passport’s cocktail menu transports guests around the world with drinks like the Cherry Creek Fizz (representing Colorado with rye, cherry, and lemon) and the Blueberry Lemon Twist (representing England with gin, ginger, and lemon). Most of the bar’s juices and syrups are made in-house, and it also serves classic international cocktails (e.g., an English Pimm’s cup or a French 75); infused liquors like apple-cinnamon bourbon and jalapeño tequila; and a selection of red and white wines, draft and bottled beers, and mocktails. The Passport has a small lineup of snacks, but customers can also order from Society Sports & Spirit’s full food menu.
I sat at the bar as country and ’90s rock played in the background and lingered over the Fresh Squeezed, a drink made with fresh orange juice, vodka, triple sec, and Sprite. The $10 cocktail served in a plastic cup—I noticed everyone in the bar was drinking it—tasted like a creamsicle and reminded me of the beach.
1437 Market St.; Thursday–Saturday, 4 p.m.–2 a.m.; Sunday, 4 p.m.–midnight
The Devil’s Drink
Vibe: Sophisticated neighborhood bar with dark sensibilities
Tucked away in the northeast corner of LoHi, past Avanti and the Lumina building (with the white metal lace facade), is the Devil’s Drink—a neighborhood bar with a wicked twist that sits quietly inside the ground floor space of the Comma residential building. Andrew Harris, who also owns Rock N’ Lobster Roll, opened the satanic-inspired spot as a passion project with Zeppelin Station bar manager Alisha Taylor nearly a year ago.
The unsuspecting outside features a small patio area with covered tables (you might even miss it if you’re not paying attention). But inside, guests are plunged into the underworld with devilish red lighting, black-out curtains, flickering candles, grungy music, and skulls adorning the surfaces and walls. Woven black leather stools are lined against the white marble bar top in the center of the room, and a TV plays an obscure movie above it. There are also a few two-person high-tops and small tables, and a back area with green velvet lounge chairs. It’s almost something out of a David Lynch movie.
The Devil’s Drink boasts five espresso martinis, including variations flavored with crème de menthe syrup, white chocolate syrup, and raspberry. The menu also has rotating house cocktails, beers, wines, and mocktails. Macabre beverages on the summer menu include the Heart of Darkness spiked with tequila and mole bitters and the Hell Fire made with rum, habanero, apple cider vinegar, and other ingredients.
I tried the Poison Ivy’s Kiss with bourbon, Tingala liqueur, Aperol, and lemon. Not only was it well-balanced and refreshing, the buzz buttons in the Tingala cause a tingly, stinging sensation on your lips, making the drink live up to its poisonous name. While the experience was worth it, it’s a bit pricier than the other two—my bill (which included 20 percent gratuity) came out to around $20.
3330 Mariposa St.; Wednesday–Thursday, 6–11 p.m.; Friday–Saturday, 6 p.m–1 a.m.; Sunday, 6–11 p.m.
