Punch Bowl Social – a well-known bar and restaurant in Denver known for its gaming environment – is giving customers another reason to come visit with the debut of private karaoke rooms.
“Singing is about as 'old-school entertainment' as you can get,” says Punch Bowl Social Founder Robert Thompson on why he decided to open a karaoke space. “I am sure cavemen have been doing karaoke since the beginning.”
Apparently, he wasn’t wrong about the people’s innate love for singing: there’s been a wait list every night since the opening.
A karaoke room at Punch Bowl Social — Photo courtesy of Punch Bowl Social
The rooms, which Thompson describes as “Paul Bunyan meets Don Draper,” are set away from the main action to offer a more intimate and private experience at one of Denver’s few karaoke spots.
On the playlist, guests will find more than 5,000 songs, but they can also make requests if the song of their choice isn’t listed.
While singing out loud, customers can order from the full menu, which includes made-from-scratch items featuring locally sourced and organic ingredients.
Some of the house favorites include the Cauliflower Nachos ($8, made with roasted cauliflower, jalapeño crema, queso fondito, cilantro fresnos and fried kale); the Street Tacos ($11, made with cocoa dusted pork carnitas, radishes, onion, cilantro, lime, corn tortilla, frijoles charros, queso cotija and saffron rice); and the Tender Belly Pork Shoulder Frito Pie ($8, a smoked brisket flavored with chimayo red chili, queos oaxaca, queso cotija, onion and crema).
On the bar menu, Punch Bowl Social highlights classic cocktails reinterpreted to fit the modern drinker’s tastes, such as the Manhattan ($9) made with Templeton Rye whiskey, Carpano punt e mes, vermouth and Angostura bitters. The bar also serves an assortment of local beers, like Breckenridge Agave Wheat and Upslope Craft Lager (both $5).
And with a name like Punch Bowl Social, the menu wouldn’t be complete without some punch, right? A popular choice is the Paper Tiger Punch ($7), which is made with corazon blanco, lemongrass tea, grapefruit juice, lemon juice and jalapeño syrup.
“Punch Bowl has helped bring a revitalization to the South Broadway area,” says Thompson. “Some of the more intriguing restaurants and bars in Denver are now opening here, and we’re thrilled to have them in the neighborhood.”
Reservations for Punch Bowl’s karaoke rooms can be made up to 10 days in advance. Rooms that are not reserved are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
For one to five guests, the rooms cost $25 for one hour; for six to 10 people, the cost is $35 per hour.
