Mile-High Midnights: The Best Nightlife Activities In Denver, Colorado

things to do in denver at night
Sydney
Sydney 
Updated
| 4 min read

After a fun day on the slopes, or hiking through the countless trails of the Rocky Mountains, a night of fun activities awaits you with all the quirks and charm that Denver, Colorado has to offer. From classic theaters with live music and shows, to rooftop bars that take in the crisp mile-high air, to comedy clubs that help you loosen up after a long day outside. There is something for everyone under the cover of darkness in this mountain city.

1. Retro theatres: music and other live performances

Denver is host to multiple retro theatres that showcase various genres of entertainment. The first is the Gothic Theatre in the Engelwood neighborhood, just south of the city center. This former movie theatre, originally opened in 1925, boasts classic art deco architecture that has been preserved to maintain its retro allure. The theatre is now known as an intimate venue for local and nationally known bands, but also can host private parties and weddings. The Gothic Theatre is only a fifteen to twenty minute walk from Engelwood Station on Denver’s Light Rail Service, and is also accessed by Denver Bus Service routes 0, 12, 27, 35, and ART, making it easy to get to no matter where you are staying in the city.

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The Gothic Theater (6034645077)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Jeffrey Beall used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Parking is limited to the street so if you are driving, it is advised to arrive early or park at a nearby pay lot to avoid the permit required areas of the neighborhood. Nobody likes a parking ticket on vacation! Tickets for events can be purchased online on the Gothic Theatre website, over the phone, or at the box office which opens one hour before the doors open to the venue. Accessible seating is also available for guests that require these accommodations.

The Gothic Theatre

Address: 3263 S Broadway Englewood, CO 80113

Access: Denver Bus Service routes 0,12,27,35 and ART and 15 minute walk from Engelwood Station of the Denver Light Rail

Contact: +1 3037899206

Website: The Gothic Theatre

Odgen Theatre

A partner of the Gothic Theatre is the Ogden Theatre. Closer to the city center and larger in size, the Ogden Theatre serves a more contemporary style of décor in comparison to the Gothic. Opened in 1919, the theatre originally got its start as hosting vaudeville acts of song and dance as well as burlesque, but is also known for hosting acts ranging from Harry Houdini, all the way to Smashing Pumpkins. The theatre has two full bars and multi level event space that can accommodate up to 1,600 attendees, and like the Gothic can be rented for private occasions. The Ogden uses general admission for its shows, so arriving early to get premier floor space is recommended. The theatre can be accessed by the Denver Bus Service routes 12, 15, and 15L, and like the Gothic the only parking available is on the street so parking in a pay lot and walking to the venue is recommended.

Ogden Theatre

Address: 935 E. Colfax Ave. Denver, CO 80218

Access: Denver Bus Service routes 12, 15, and 15L

Contact: +1 3038321874

Website: Ogden Theatre

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The Oriental Theater

Finally, the Oriental Theater, a venue originally built in the 1920s, hosts events including music acts, comedy acts, and film, among others. The event area, like the Gothic and Ogden Theatres, is multi-level but the Oriental also has balconies to make use of the venue’s vertical space. This venue can also be rented for private use depending on its event calendar. The theater’s box office is open during all events, most event tickets can be purchased from there but some events are hosted by third- party promoters and can only be purchased online, so calling or emailing the theatre to check is a good idea. The Denver Bus Service route 44 stops right in front of the theatre in addition to plenty of street parking in the area so getting to and from the theatre is easy.

The Oriental Theater

Address: 4335 West 44th Ave. Denver, CO 80212

Access: Denver Bus Service route 44

Contact: +1 7204200030

Website: The Oriental Theater

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2. Voodoo Comedy Club


The Voodoo Comedy Club, located two blocks southeast of Coors Field, offers a diverse range of activities and entertainment to keep the whole night interesting. Ranging from karaoke, improv classes and sketch comedy there is something here for everyone to enjoy no matter your skill level. Ticket prices range from 8-15 USD, but that may change if you are attending a special event. Most shows are 1 hour in duration, but you are welcome to stay and enjoy any shows that happen after yours as long as there is room. And when you can take a break from laughing, Voodoo also features a full bar with no cover and drinks that can be enjoyed inside or on the large outdoor patio when you can enjoy the scenic streets of the oldest and original neighborhood of Denver now referred to as LoDo.

Voodoo Comedy Playhouse

Address: 1260 22nd Street, Denver, CO 80205

Opening Hours: Closed Sundays, Monday - Thrusday 7:30-11:30pm, Friday & Saturday 6:30pm-2am

Contact: +1 3035780079

Website: Voodoo Comedy Playhouse

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3. Milk

Posted by Milk Bar on Thursday, 8 November 2012

Milk. No really this nightclub’s name is Milk. Its modern and sleek decor mixes in well with the modern rustic vibes common to Denver hotspots but without being boring, and with its multiple room layout, it gives off a unique atmosphere when compared to other nightclubs. Milk features both indoor and outdoor areas, so depending on what you are looking to do, this club will have something to offer you. This unpretentious nightclub is in the lower half of the historic Jonas Bros Furs building in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Denver, just south of the Denver Art Museum. The club has positive reviews on Yelp, and has been praised for being a club that makes its goers comfortable no matter their style or preferences, in addition to being reasonably priced at around 5 USD for entrance and most cocktail drinks around 5 USD as well. The club is well known for its wide range of music styles depending on the theme of the night, so on any given day you could hear the classics of the 80s or something completely new.

Milk Club

Address: 1037 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203

Price: From 5 USD

Opening Hours: Wednesday - Saturday, 9pm-2am. Sunday-Tuesday, closed.

Contact: +1 3038328628

Website: Milk

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An exciting night under the starry mountain sky

Denver Skyline at Sunset
Source: Photo by Flickr user Larry Johnson used under CC BY 2.0

Denver is a unique city with its own blend of modern industrialization and rustic mountain charm, and that mixture is reflected especially in its nightlife. During my own time visiting Denver, I remember walking down the street of the neighborhood we were staying in, seeing all the city lights and people walking around that Friday evening. In that moment, I was so happy to have gotten the opportunity to go there and see it all for myself. It is easy to get carried away with a fun and exciting evening in Denver, that won’t be like any you have had before.

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Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Sydney is a dedicated student currently working toward a master's degree in international human rights law. Her boundless curiosity about the world has been a defining trait from early childhood....Read more

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