Dining & Nightlife

DENVER — In the 1990's Denver's population grew by a thousand people a week. And the nightclub and lounge scene has certainly kept pace.

There are many exciting, new clubs throughout downtown. Whether you're looking to dance the night away or just sip a few martinis in a see-and-be-seen bar, Denver's club scene has a place for everyone.

Soul is Denver's newest urban dance club. Located at 20th & Larimer in LoDo, Soul offers two distinct rooms — the Soul Lounge which features live music and DJs and The Club of Soul, which features exclusive bottle service, a VIP section and a huge dance floor offering hip hop's top 40 hits.

Another new nightclub is Spill, billed as the "lounge for the rest of us." Here, computerized lighting moves across the dance floor and lights up nude portraits embedded in table tops. Spill offers a wide variety of music, but never any hip hop or techno, and each song's video is shown on screens throughout the club. Spill is located at 1410 Market Street. Best of all, there is no cover.

Rise, located at 1909 Blake Street, offers a loud, pulsating bass line and a dance floor aglow with thousands of lights. On a raised platform, dancers in rubber-like bikinis entertain the crowds. For the $10 cover, customers can experience a wide variety of entertainment, including the occasional fire-spitting bartender.

Flow offers a sleek, clean bar and loud music. A glass wall is illuminated with changing lights that cascade downward, helping to inspire this lounge's name. The basement features multiple rooms with intimate seating and sheer curtains. The bar is renowned for its specialty martinis. Located at 1612 Wazee St. in the Luna Hotel, Flow has set the standard for Denver's new wave of dance clubs.

Club Ra and Pharoah's Lounge are known for their unusual hookah pipes, a Middle Eastern smoking device that offers 20 different flavors of tobacco. This Egyptian themed club, located at 1111 Lincoln St., features belly dancers, mummy statues, Pharoah Girls and techno music.

Hush is the modern version of the 1930s speakeasy, offering a chic, intimate setting and an Ally McBeal-inspired bathroom. Hush is located at 1403 Larimer Street underneath Ted's Montana Grill.

Other clubs in Denver include:

Mynt, 1424 Market Street
This swank lounge brings ultra-chic vinyl, mojitos and martinis to the Denver LoDo scene in a dim, sparsely decorated lounge.The vinyl couches and long, low tables make for laid-back lounging, while high booths offer an intimate spot for kissing or conversing. The music is a mix of house and techno.

Funky Buddha, 776 Lincoln Ave
The name says it all - this lounge offers a funky indoor/outdoor patio in hip colors and a laid back lounge sound with its own resident DJ.

Lotus, 1701 Wynkoop in Union Station
Lotus features an oversized dance area, an exclusive VIP section known as Karma and an oversized bed in the martini lounge. Lotus strives for exotic opulence.

Forest Room 5, 2532 15th Street
Nestled high above the riverfront neighborhood, this friendly neighborhood bar offers sophisticated Mediterranean cuisine, contemporary décor and great views of LoDo. Original artwork hangs from the exposed brick walls and lush couches offer a cozy space for conversation.

Serengeti, 1037 Broadway Street
Serengeti boasts six different bar locations on three separate levels and a boisterous rooftop patio. Serengeti has established itself as the hippest gay club on the Front Range.

The Church, 1160 Lincoln Street
This renovated church set the standard for Denver's new wave of dance clubs, offering a wine bar, sushi bar, cigar room, outdoor patio and three dance floors for the latest in hip hop and techno music. The Church draws some of the world's top DJs to spin in Denver.

Polly Esthers and Culture Club, 2301 Blake Street
Featuring the music of Madonna, ABBA, Bon Jovi and Culture Club among others, Polly Esthers is one of Denver's enduring nightclubs and a favorite of the older crowds.

Avalon, 9535 Park Meadows Dr.
An urban dance club located in Lone Tree, Avalon draws its patrons south of the city with it's large dance floor, big-name performers, and inexpensive drinks. Named after the paradise King Arthur went to after death, this is a dance paradise for Denver.