Top Anti-Football Bars in Denver
While most Coloradans love their Broncos, there are Denverites whose Sunday nights revolve more around good wine, soothing tunes and friendly conversations than around large crowds, rowdy banter and chicken wings. Luckily for the anti-football crowd, Denver has plenty of genteel getaways in which to spend a Sunday evening. Whether you are looking for a quiet place to relax and unwind with friends or a rowdier place to dance the night away, there is a venue in this beautiful city that will strike your fancy. Below are a few places in Denver where you can get away from the loud football fans - at least for the evening.
Caveau Wine Bar
450 East 17th Ave. Parkway #110
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 861-3747
www.caveauwinebar.comWhile all the football fans are getting rowdy down the road at Uptown Tavern, you can stroll over to Caveau for a more sophisticated evening in Uptown Denver. Dine on a few fantastic appetizers, like the mini grilled cheese (made with brie, tomato and basil), stuffed mushrooms (made with Italian sausage, prosciutto and cream cheese) or the cheese plate with crackers while splitting a bottle of wine with friends. Happy hour runs until 7 p.m. and features half off $13 glasses of wine and $6 glasses of $12 and under priced wines. The bar is spacious enough to house a sizable crowd, but cozy enough to avoid feeling like you're in the very kind of place you're trying to avoid––a crowded sports bar.
450 East 17th Ave. Parkway #110
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 861-3747
www.caveauwinebar.comWhile all the football fans are getting rowdy down the road at Uptown Tavern, you can stroll over to Caveau for a more sophisticated evening in Uptown Denver. Dine on a few fantastic appetizers, like the mini grilled cheese (made with brie, tomato and basil), stuffed mushrooms (made with Italian sausage, prosciutto and cream cheese) or the cheese plate with crackers while splitting a bottle of wine with friends. Happy hour runs until 7 p.m. and features half off $13 glasses of wine and $6 glasses of $12 and under priced wines. The bar is spacious enough to house a sizable crowd, but cozy enough to avoid feeling like you're in the very kind of place you're trying to avoid––a crowded sports bar.
Herb's Bar
2057 Larimer St.
Denver, CO 80205
(303) 299-9555
herbsbar.comHerb's Bar is a fantastic haunt in the downtown Denver area where music lovers can catch R&B, funk and jazz nearly every night of the week, including on Sunday nights, when football fans will be busy catching the game. This is a great place to catch up with friends while listening to some smooth tunes. Dance the night away inside on the packed dance floor (music enthusiasts also like to go here for the web-based jukebox), grab a booth and a cocktail for a conversation with friends or cool off on the outdoor patio area.
2057 Larimer St.
Denver, CO 80205
(303) 299-9555
herbsbar.comHerb's Bar is a fantastic haunt in the downtown Denver area where music lovers can catch R&B, funk and jazz nearly every night of the week, including on Sunday nights, when football fans will be busy catching the game. This is a great place to catch up with friends while listening to some smooth tunes. Dance the night away inside on the packed dance floor (music enthusiasts also like to go here for the web-based jukebox), grab a booth and a cocktail for a conversation with friends or cool off on the outdoor patio area.
Related: Denver's Best Wine Bars
Electric Cowboy
8811 Harlan St.
Westminster, CO 80031
(303) 412-1133
www.electriccowboydenver.com
Electric Cowboy is a fun country bar where patrons can have dinner, drinks and participate or watch some karaoke. If you're on a budget but still looking to get out of the house and away from the TV, stop in on Sunday nights for steak night. Take advantage of $2 wine, wells and longnecks and $4 Jager shots. The cover is free and the steak is just $5! Stick around for karaoke for the perfect sports-free Sunday.
8811 Harlan St.
Westminster, CO 80031
(303) 412-1133
www.electriccowboydenver.com
Electric Cowboy is a fun country bar where patrons can have dinner, drinks and participate or watch some karaoke. If you're on a budget but still looking to get out of the house and away from the TV, stop in on Sunday nights for steak night. Take advantage of $2 wine, wells and longnecks and $4 Jager shots. The cover is free and the steak is just $5! Stick around for karaoke for the perfect sports-free Sunday.
Dazzle Jazz
www.dazzlejazz.com
If you're looking to celebrate football Sunday sipping a smooth glass of red wine to the tunes of some even smoother jazz, this unassuming Broadway spot has just the thing. The club hosts both local and national acts on its stage, but that's not all it serves up. Come in for the amazing happy hour specials ($4 martinis, anyone?) and Dazzle's award winning mac and cheese to round out the night. On Saturdays, the club offers a brunch special until 1:30 p.m., so you don't have to sit through the day games, and at night, there's a dinner show. Who needs the NFL package when Dazzle's got the whole package within its walls? This is the perfect place to go if you want a quiet place to listen to music, relax and get ready to start the work week.
www.dazzlejazz.com
If you're looking to celebrate football Sunday sipping a smooth glass of red wine to the tunes of some even smoother jazz, this unassuming Broadway spot has just the thing. The club hosts both local and national acts on its stage, but that's not all it serves up. Come in for the amazing happy hour specials ($4 martinis, anyone?) and Dazzle's award winning mac and cheese to round out the night. On Saturdays, the club offers a brunch special until 1:30 p.m., so you don't have to sit through the day games, and at night, there's a dinner show. Who needs the NFL package when Dazzle's got the whole package within its walls? This is the perfect place to go if you want a quiet place to listen to music, relax and get ready to start the work week.
Crú Food & Wine Bar
1442 Larimer St.
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 893-9463
cruawinebar.comIf you're downtown on a Monday or Thursday looking to avoid the sports bars bustling with weeknight football fans, Crú Food & Wine Bar is a must visit. The ambiance is elegant, yet not over the top, and the food and wine pairings are delicious. Choose a flight and ask your server what menu item to pair it with (or vice versa.) So why come on Mondays and Thursdays? Because every Monday you can choose any bottle of wine and Crú will toss in one of its amazing stone fire pizzas for free, and on Thursdays, the bar hosts girls night out when ladies enjoy 50 percent off champagne by the bottle. Just save room for dessert, because you'll definitely want to try the molten chocolate cake with raspberry sauce and vanilla cream. If you're farther south, you're in luck, because Crú also opened up a location in Park Meadows.
1442 Larimer St.
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 893-9463
cruawinebar.comIf you're downtown on a Monday or Thursday looking to avoid the sports bars bustling with weeknight football fans, Crú Food & Wine Bar is a must visit. The ambiance is elegant, yet not over the top, and the food and wine pairings are delicious. Choose a flight and ask your server what menu item to pair it with (or vice versa.) So why come on Mondays and Thursdays? Because every Monday you can choose any bottle of wine and Crú will toss in one of its amazing stone fire pizzas for free, and on Thursdays, the bar hosts girls night out when ladies enjoy 50 percent off champagne by the bottle. Just save room for dessert, because you'll definitely want to try the molten chocolate cake with raspberry sauce and vanilla cream. If you're farther south, you're in luck, because Crú also opened up a location in Park Meadows.
Tennyson's Tap
4335 W. 38th Ave.
Denver, CO 80212
(303) 455-4269
www.tennysonstap.comTennyson's Tap is a fantastic bar in Denver where you can hear all kinds of music, including, rock, jazz blues, reggae and much, much more. Every Sunday night beginning at 8 p.m. patrons can catch the Brian Hornbuckle Blues Jam playing while sipping on some good old Rocky Mountain Moonshine from the Mystic Mountain Distillery in Larkspur. Thirsty Thursdays features the musical stylings of the Fabulous Clam Daddys and no cover, and other nights host great happy hour specials. While people are watching football, you can be listening to music, having a relaxing drink and trying some of the great food off the menu.
4335 W. 38th Ave.
Denver, CO 80212
(303) 455-4269
www.tennysonstap.comTennyson's Tap is a fantastic bar in Denver where you can hear all kinds of music, including, rock, jazz blues, reggae and much, much more. Every Sunday night beginning at 8 p.m. patrons can catch the Brian Hornbuckle Blues Jam playing while sipping on some good old Rocky Mountain Moonshine from the Mystic Mountain Distillery in Larkspur. Thirsty Thursdays features the musical stylings of the Fabulous Clam Daddys and no cover, and other nights host great happy hour specials. While people are watching football, you can be listening to music, having a relaxing drink and trying some of the great food off the menu.
Related: Top Ladies' Night Out Bars In Denver
Michelle Humphrey is a freelance writer living in Denver. Her work can be found here.
