Best Denver Salsa Clubs

There are a variety of places to go salsa dancing in the Denver area. A number of those places feature live bands and dance lessons for all levels. Just about every night of the week, there is a new place to visit to get your dance on.

The Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant

9535 Park Meadows Dr
Lone Tree, CO 80524
(303) 799-4999
riograndemexican.com
The Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant offers free salsa lessons on Tuesday nights from 7:30–8:30 p.m. Open dancing is from 8:30–10:30 p.m. The cover charge is $5. Instruction is available for all levels of dancers, and it's a good place for all levels to practice their skills. Before you dance or in between you can enjoy The Rio's drink and food specials. They offer $2 tacos, $3 Coronas and $2 tequila flights. Unlike some of the other salsa nights, this is an all ages event.

Jet Hotel

1612 Wazee Street
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 572-3300
thejethotel.com
Doors open at the Jet Hotel at 9 p.m. Beginner dance lessons are offered from 9:30 p.m.-10:15 p.m. Starting at 10 p.m., the cover charge is $5. Prior to 10, there isn't any cover.The salsa party continues until midnight. Dancers can enjoy drink specials during their stay. Ages 21 and up are welcome to join in the fun.

Turnverien

1570 Clarkson Street
Denver, CO 80218
(303) 831-9717
denverturnverein.org
Turnverien is a dance and cultural center in Denver. It is a non-profit that provides memberships for those who want to pay a fee, and then receive discounted entrance fees thereafter. Memberships range from $48 for a single membership to $110 for a family membership for three or more people. All of these rates are as of 2010. An open salsa dance night and salsa dance lessons are offered at Turnverien. Salsa lessons are held on Wednesday nights. Salsa lessons are generally offered from 7 p.m.–8 p.m. Multiple instructors teach beginners to intermediate dancers. Social dance time goes from 8 p.m. –10:30 p.m. There is an open bar during dance time. Turnverien also offers special salsa events like salsa socials. Visit their website to find the event that's best for you.

La Rumba

99 W 9th Ave
Denver, CO 80204
(303) 572-8006
larumba-denver.com
myspace.com/larumbadenver
La Rumba is open for salsa two nights a week. On Thursdays, free salsa instruction begins at 9:30 p.m.,and then from 10 – 11 p.m., a full hour of strictly salsa music is offered. DJ's will play merangue, bachatta and cumbia along with salsa music thereafter. Thursday nights also offer beer and drink specials all night long. Also, the first Thursday of every month, a live band will play.
Saturday nights are also a big night for salsa dancers at La Rumba. Free salsa instruction begins at 9:30 p.m. One highlight of the night is the live band. Saturdays also feature drink specials. The cover charge for what La Rumba calls, "Denver's biggest live salsa party" is $7. La Rumba has a strict dress code, and dancers will not be let in unless dressed up and with dress shoes on. Leave your tennis shoes at home unless they're clean! No baseball caps, flip-flops, shorts or sports apparel are allowed.
La Rumba is very popular.
The club welcomes visitors 21 and up.

Twisted Olive

8270 Northfield Boulevard
Denver, CO 80238
(303) 375-8100
twistedolive.com
The Twisted Olive offers a beginning and intermediate salsa class for $6 at 7 p.m. on Thursdays. Starting at 8 p.m., the DJ plays a combination of salsa, meringue, bachata and reggaeton. More salsa music is played based on the number of salsa dancers that attend.The Twisted Olive Dress Code Policy is enforced starting at 9 p.m. The dress code is upscale casual. No sports attire, sweat suits and jerseys or excessive baggy clothing is allowed. Men are required to wear collared shirts and hard sole shoes.

Blue Ice

22 Broadway
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 777-3433
myspace.com/blueicemartini
Blue Ice offers dance lessons at 9:30 p.m. on Fridays for salsa. After that you can dance all night. The DJ plays a mix of both salsa and world music.

Opal Restaurant

100 East 9th Avenue
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 861-7999
opalrestaurant.com
At the Opal Restaurant from 9:30 p.m.–10 p.m. free salsa lessons are offered on Fridays. Open dancing begins at 9 p.m. and goes until 1:30 a.m. The cover charge is $5.The night features salsa, cha cha, bachata and merengue. One added fun element, the restaurant offers a late night sushi happy hour from 10:30 p.m.–1:30 p.m. The happy hour includes two for one sushi, two for one hand rolls, two for one hot sake and drink specials.

D-Note

7519 Grandview Avenue
Arvada, CO 80002
(303) 463-6683
www.dnote.us
Dancers can finish up a week of salsa dancing by visiting Arvada's D-Note where a huge dance floor is offered. Salsa lessons go from 8 p.m.–9 p.m. The cover charge is $8. At 9 p.m., various bands play for the rest of the evening. All ages are welcome to attend. The night includes drink specials and food is served.

Helpful Links: Visit the Salsa In Denver Facebook page, which features what's going on each week in the Denver salsa scene. Salsa In Denver and Boulder (salsaville.com/denver
) features a great guide to Denver and Boulder salsa clubs. Salsa Central Denver (salsacentraldenver.com is a group that's been foundational to Turnverien. The site is a great resource and one-stop-shop when looking for weekly salsa events in Denver.