Retrograde

Located in Denver's Uptown neighborhood, Retrograde is hidden behind a freezer door at the back of an ice cream shop. It's one of Denver's best bets in the speakeasy genre. To start, it's warm, welcoming and without the annoying pretentious vibe of some others. To be sure, the best way to enjoy Retrograde is by indulging in the spirit and spirits of the place, which is to say by ordering one of the creative or classic cocktails on the list or, better yet, giving the bartender a sense of your preferred flavor profile and waiting for the creative, off-the-menu result. But if you just want to have a beer and watch the show being projected on the wall (Star Trek and Game of Thrones have both been shown), that's OK, too. On the way out, stop for housemate ice cream. Yes, it's a real ice cream shop.