Had a horrible time here and got on Yelp to leave this review, but the staff came up to me when she saw what I was doing and got me into a headlock. I'm typing this review with my feet. The only reason I'm giving this bar five stars is because now I can type with my feet really well, and I owe it to the hardass blonde bartendress at 12 Volt. read more

If you're looking for a true dive bar experience done right, 12 Volt absolutely delivers. This place has that perfect mix of grit, character, and good energy that you just can't fake. The vibe is laid-back but electric at the same time--great music, solid crowd, and drinks that hit exactly how they should. What really made the day stand out though was Sydney behind the bar. She was awesome--super attentive, quick with the drinks, and just had that natural ability to read the room and keep the energy up. You can tell she genuinely enjoys what she does, and it makes a huge difference in the experience. Whether you're there to unwind, catch up with friends, or just have a no-BS night out, 12 Volt is the kind of spot you keep coming back to. read more

Definition of a dive bar. Small, dark, full of locals. There's a long bar, dart boards, vintage arcade games, juke box, and a pool table. Out front is a patio with couches and a few tables. Bartenders are friendly but, service can be slow on Friday and Saturday nights because of how busy it gets. It's a great place to hangout though! read more

See all

Don't sleep on 12 Volt. They are a great dive bar. Dark, dingy, and cheap drinks. They have real darts to play and service is quick. We absolutely love dropping in here for their 2 for 1 drinks on happy hour. read more

This is the perfect bar. Do not miss the experience. I was lucky enough to have a bartender that truly understands the meaning of customer service. Bartenders make a bar and Mag(duh) is premium. She can control her energy and match it to the patron at will. This is a gift and you need to experience. Be sure to check out the Happy Hour. Pool Table and Jukebox are on point. read more

As I was waiting for my ride to pick me up from old town, I had an opportunity to stop in 12 V and check out the scenery they had in there was a little bit different. They had a lot of TVs for a small spaces they had the food smelled and looked amazing the bartender was great. I'll have to come back and check this one out when I have more time I really enjoyed myself there in my time if you're in the area stop and check it out. Thanks For The Read Until Next Time..... read more

Nice little dive bar, I was there for the Arvada St. Patrick's festival so I was unable to really try this place but was happy enough with it to come back and give it a proper go. read more

They'll sell you a vape from behind the bar then confiscate your entire groups paid drinks if it gets hit. Bartender reacted like we just pissed on the bar and spit in her face; the level of shock that passed across her face as someone hits the vape she just sold us was almost comical. Dirt cheap drinks though, and street says you don't have to tip if they take your money and your drinks at the same time. The name of the bar being 12 Volt is incredibly ironic read more

Great people the staff were very welcoming and friendly. I will definitely be there again when I'm in the area!

Incredibly rude bartenders will make you sit at the bar for 40 minutes waiting to get a drink then once you wave them down from serving the same group 5 times before getting to you they want to act like you're asking a lot of them to serve you a drink along with everyone else and on top of all that, after ordering my drink two seperate times and not receiving it the first and being ignored, I was then served a cup of water and told by the bartender "it's on the house" as if it was the drink I'd been requesting since I arrived. The crowd inside wasn't too bad besides everyone constantly demanding a drink but the bartenders apparently can't handle a regular Saturday night crowd very well at least compared to just about any other normal dive bar out there. read more

12 Volt is an interesting place to say the least. Cheap drinks (although not very good cocktails), pool table, and darts are the upside. Overserved patrons harassing the bartenders and fellow patrons, some of the worst cocktails I've ever had, and some rude bartenders are the downside. If you're looking for a rowdy night out, there are better places to go but if you're not willing to move from the Olde Town Arvada area, 12 Volt is your only option. The cherry on top is the owner who replies to all negative reviews with sass and a "we can do nothing wrong" attitude read more

Bartenders were pleasant and attentive. Drinks were affordable and the clientele was fun to hang out with. Pool table and darts too!

Place is a shit hole pool table sucks, jukebox from the 80s full of shit music, rude people, bathrooms are nasty, no tv's to watch sports not sure how this a top Denver dive bar would not recommend goin here. Plenty other bars in Arvada to go to within walking distance of this shit hole. read more

I've been here many times and I always enjoy it, the laid back vibe and the service is always great. It's a nice place to stop in for a couple beers read more

Just got asked to leave for zero reason - just sitting at the bar talking tobtwo men - no strangness happening - and out of no where asked to leave - not sure why - do not recommend going there read more

Megan the bartender wasn't very friendly and treated our group like outsiders our entire visit I dig the pool table and jukebox though read more

Awesome dive bar! Service is top notch, thanks Ruthie! 2 for 1 Friday afternoon happy hours!

Great neighborhood bar. Rasty and on point if you want a no-nonsense bar with beer, hilarious and strong shots, and the requisite pool table, old school arcade games, and atmosphere. The bar we all want down the street from our home. read more

12 Volt Tavern is the best dive bar in Olde Town Arvada. It's has a very eclectic vibe and great bartenders. You would be wasting a grand opportunity to enjoy the locals of the area as well as the bartenders. Ruthie, Megan, Kristina and Amber will provide the flowing drinks and entertainment. Don't forget to drink responsibly. read more

Best dive bar in the Arvada areas, possibly even Denver metro. Cheap drinks, the right amount of dive bar musk, buck Hunter, golden tee and a pool table. Not to mention - they have a great selection of specialty shots IYKYK. Service is always top notch. 12 volt for life read more

Talk about your neighborhood dive bar! You get what you except. Your local regulars, welcoming service, and all the goodies that makes a dive bar good! read more

A dive bar, in a good way. Utterly lacking in anything vaguely pretentious, 12 Volt is a neighborhood bar where what you see is truly what you get. The beer was cold, the service was decent, and the jukebox was free when we arrived around 2pm on New Year's Day. The space and furnishings have definitely seen better days. Yet, some of this just adds to the charm, if you care to call it that. It reminded me, favorably, of certain "locals mostly" townie bars I had encountered in Montana, back in the day. I am not sure I would go out of my way to come back here again, but if I were to find myself walking by I definitely would consider popping in. read more

This place fits me like spandex on that damn Lance Armstrong. Between the cheap beers that just kept coming, the jukebox that played songs I haven't heard in years and the heart-attack inducing toliet, I was in love from the moment I walked through the door. Of course, it probably does not hurt that i'm always half lit when I enter this fine establishment, but hot damn, it is a glorious dump. The waitress called me "honey" (I'm a sucker for that) and it got louder and louder the later it got. Oh, and it was only Thursday. Now if that isn't a ringing endorsement for a dive bar, then I don't know what is. Just remember that when you wake up the next morning with your new gang name written on your inner thigh in sharpie. Cheers 12 Volt! read more

Everybody has "their" dive bar right? Well a friend of mine has claimed this one as her own, and I finally got around to checking it out when her husband's band was playing there. It's a very small bar, but it's got darts, a pool table, and a juke box. And live music now and then. The drinks are cheap, but tasty. And the bartender was really friendly. It's not "my" dive bar (haven't honestly found one that I love in Denver yet), but it's pretty darn good. read more

The bartenders were super friendly. It was our first time there and my friend and I don't drink, we just wanted to play pool but ordered some sodas, we were really nice to them they said our sodas were on the house. I'll definitely come back. read more

Unfriendly rude bartenders. I went in with family just for a few drinks on Thanksgiving eve. Heaven forbid they understand that non regulars visiting family may come in and put money in their pockets. You can keep your little 12 volt world. Small blonde bartender needs to grow up. read more

I usually do not make posts or reviews like this but this something that must be addressed - Not only is the Owner, Marty, Violating ADA Law, Colorado Anti-Discriminatory Law against peoples with disabilities but also Registered Service Animals. I walked into 12 volt on November 9th 2021 around 10pm with a friend and stayed in a corner near the pool table with my service animal while my friend went and grabbed us a beer. At this time the Bartender required not only that my dog and I were to exit the establishment but also required me to show proof of my dog being a service animal. (which is against the law). During this discord, myself and my friend were extremely polite and did not argue but present facts as to it being against the law to discriminate against peoples with disabilities and service animals. After letting the bartender know that it is in fact against the law, she again asked for proof my dog was a service animal, although I do not have to show proof by law I did so anyways to accommodate her, after this she then served us a single beer that we had 1 sip from. Before being asked to leave again. So that we are clear on Colorado Law and Federal Law - 2016 Colorado Revised Statutes, Title 24 - Government - State, Principal Departments, Article 34 - Department of Regulatory Agencies, Part 8 - Persons With Disabilities - Civil Rights, § 24-34-803. Rights of individuals with service animals ... (1) A qualified individual with a disability has the right to be accompanied by a service animal individually trained for that individual without being required to pay an extra charge for the service animal in or on the following places or during the following activities and subject to the conditions and limitations established by law and applicable alike to all individuals: (a) Any place of employment, housing, or public accommodation; ... (6) The mere presence of a service animal in a place of public accommodation is not grounds for any violation of a sanitary standard, rule, or regulation promulgated pursuant to section 25-4-1604, C.R.S. - Further more the ADA of 1990 - The Department of Justice published revised final regulations implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for title II (State and local government services) and title III (public accommodations and commercial facilities) on September 15, 2010, in the Federal Register. These requirements, or rules, contain updated requirements, including the 2010 Standards for Accessible Design (2010 Standards). - Under the ADA, State and local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that serve the public generally must allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is allowed to go. - A person with a disability cannot be asked to remove his service animal from the premises unless: (1) the dog is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it or (2) the dog is not housebroken. When there is a legitimate reason to ask that a service animal be removed, staff must offer the person with the disability the opportunity to obtain goods or services without the animal's presence. Mind you that my service animal was leased, well behaved and is trained, house broken, quiet and non-disruptive where ever I go nor am I misrepresenting. Once we returned to our seats only 12ft away and near the roll up door in our own corner to play pool, might I add. The "bar manager", blonde haired young lady about 5ft 7in wearing a tan sweater, blue jeans and a beanie, approaches us and demanded that we exit the establishment. At this point in time I requested to know why, she then with expletives, told me to leave the building and that "the owner doesn't "effing" care about the Law or that you have a Service Animal and you must leave, that if the owner was here he would yell at you and force you out." I politely asked her name, in which that she did not give me, to know whom it was that I was speaking with, and to again ask why I being forced to leave the establishment. At this point in time she did again told me to that I was not welcome due to the fact that I had my Service Animal with me and the Owner, Marty, doesn't care. I then clarified the matter three times with her, as to why I was being demanded to vacate the establishment by asking her that, "you is refusing to serve me due to my disability and to the fact that I have a Service Animal? Is this correct?" she then clearly said "Yes." I repeated the question three times to make sure that not only I understood the reasoning but also to make sure she was saying what I thought she said. I then said "ok thank you" and left. The kicker about this is that the day before she was there with her animal enjoying the day time drinks and the bar. This is clearly an act of discrimination in not only Disabled Peoples with Service Animals but also that I am a Disabled Combat Veteran with a working Service Animal. read more

The 'Volt? Horrible place, and I mean that in the best way too. This ain't no disco, it ain't no country club and it ain't no CBGB. This is dive at it's finest! Grouchy and lovable bartenders. Cheap, cold PBR. The locals are motley and salt of the earth. If you have any pretentiousness in you, then by all means stop on by. You'll be the entertainment... It's ludicrous the trouble one can get in at this place at noon or after 10pm on any given day. They just don't make dives like this anymore. makes me all weepy... read more

Honestly, it was 1am in the morning and I was being threatened to be shot. Go here during the day, the nights get scrappy. Stay away from this place if you are looking to hang. This place is really a safety problem to the great town of the of Arvada. It's not the real Colorado you think of. read more

This place should be closed down, as we were walking in someone is yelling from the ATM machine in a Vote For Pedro shirt that he wants to get laid. Anyway, I and 3 friends all over the age of 50 entered after spending money elsewhere in town for dinner and dessert. I am a handicapped individual with an ADA with a trained service dog. The ignorant bartender tells me us that she cannot serve us because of my service dog. #1 I wasn't even drinking, and are you kidding me? When I questioned her she said it's not her rules but the rules of the owner because other dogs have got their legs broken and have other injuries in that bar and that can be responsible. What the hell goes on in this place? Clearly, she is breaking a Title I and II under the ADA guidelines and I will be filing report, shame on you ignorant girl that had no interest in learning. read more

I was at the 12 Volt the night Erik V (1 star reviewer) and his friend were there and think the rudeness started on Erik's side of the bar. He had an expired ID and tried to get served with some other document. Guess Cheapskates doesn't care... Why do I like 12 Volt? Friendly and funny bartenders. Yes some are relatively new which us why owner Marty hangs around to lend a hand. Plus he mixes the bar's custiom shots -- pineapple blueberry tequila is surprisingly good. Cold beer, warm people, classic dive bar feel. Perfect. Plus they don't put up with crap so they won't get shut down. read more

Best dive bar EVER!!! They have all the great video games and there is a sandwich shop next door that just opened up.

This is one business I will never patronize as long as they refuse to obey the law.. In Colorado, we have the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act that forbids smoking within 15 feet of the entrance of any building. This business is in Arvada, CO where that distance has been expanded to 25 feet. The distance is meaningless since people frequently smoke directly in front of the main entrance, and the city refuses not only to enforce the law, but to do anything about the illegal smokers. To me, that's fine. I'm used to cities selectively enforcing the law, and choosing on whom the law will or will not be enforced. Arvada ia notorious for that. So, for you smokers, live it up! The city, and this establishment will do nothing to stop you, or even curtail you. You are pretty much free to smoke as you wish, and where you wish just like in the 1970's. For those of us who do not smoke, however, it is a different story. We recognized both the right of smokers to choose to smoke, and the right of those who choose not to smoke to me allowed to breath smoke-free air. We non-smokers will just go somewhere else, and leave you smokers alone. I am fine with both the city's refusal to protect the rights and health of its citizens. That is their prerogative. They, just as this establishment, value money more than human life. I do not. I will take my business elsewhere. There do exist establishments in close vicinity to this one that offer drinkers the same or better value in a smoke-free environment as required by state and local law. read more

I've got to say, I love to travel and end up in random bars. My experience tonight at 12 volt was awful.... the bartender is barely of age and will tell you the owner is present in order to not hook you up. Obviously not a great way to make tips. My friends and I played darts and were forcefully thrown out due to alyssa...the rude bartender...would have loved to spend my money here. Dont expect much. I would advise checking out ANY of the other bars in the area, and there are plenty. Do your self a favor. Oh, alyssa said we could not enjoy happy hour even though we had arrived with plenty of time...apparently they run their clock 20 minutes quick to avoid hooking up their patrons. STRAY AWAY Be advised, I enjoy many many bars, have never felt so unwelcome. Check out CHEAP SKATES, right across the street read more

I love olde town and do not get here as much as I would like to. I went to Kline's because I have always had a great time there and was super excited to try out their new revamped menu. With that being said... one beer in Kline's and I am ready to leave. I found myself at 12 volt and immediately felt welcome. I will definitely come back here. What a great spot in Olde Town! read more

If you are not a regular paying customer the girl who created "cum dumpster" for 12 volts trusted employee will not be serving you waited for 45 minutes unless your a regular and tbh felt a little bigoted don't go here if you're a minority read more

I have been here about 4 times. Don't get me wrong, I love cheap drinks and dive bars, but even dive bars should have good service. If you go, don't be surprised if the bartender disappears, often, to smoke cigarettes outside. Maybe you are allowed to refill your own drink. I don't know. I didn't try. There are so many good Happy Hours nearby. I don't think that I can see myself returning. If dive bars are your thing, there is a much better one around the corner -- Red Jacks Saloon. http://www.yelp.com/biz/red-jacks-saloon-arvada read more

The 12 Volt is exactly what it strives to be - a mostly blue collar dive bar in the burbs. You can get deals on PBR every day of the week, and they have live music on Sat nights. Four of us walked in there last Friday around 9pm and it was completely dead. One table of dudes and a few folks at the bar. It was Good Friday so I'm sure that had to hurt their biz. Regardless, we jumped in for a some drinks and all enjoyed ourselves. I love dive bars with a little edge, which this place has in spades. I just wished there were more peeps to drink with that Friday! The 12 Volt stands in direct contrast to much of what's going on with the new businesses coming into the Olde Towne Arvada area. Like the new wine bar across the street, it's pretty much the polar opposite in every possible way to the 12 Volt. Call me crazy, but in my Utopian world I somehow see both groups finding some things in common and coming together in the middle. Who knows, maybe to bum a smoke? It will be interesting to see how the future of the 12 Volt unfolds with the light rail station going in right next door. Lots more traffic, but also more people that might not appreciate the 12 Volt's overall unwelcoming, politically incorrect vibe - or some of the more racially motivated graffiti. read more

A home away from home for me. I just started yelping, so figured I'd thrown in my two cents on my favorite dive bar in the Denver area. Cheap drinks, good jukebox, and a haven for punks and rock'n'rollers. I started playing music there about 8 years ago when I was in college and have played there off and on every since. My only beef with the music deal is the giant sneeze guard they put around the drummer. I don't think the crowd notices much, but I can't stand the damn thing when I play there. Either way, I always take up the chance to play there. Be sure to give Marty a shout out when you belly up to the bar. He and his staff will take good care of you. read more

As Carolyn stated, it's a little bit of Colfax or Broadway in Arvada. Somehow, I ended up with 2 for 1 drinks while drinking late at night. Who has a late, late night happy hour on a weeknight? Apparently, the 12 Volt. The place is dark. Like Lion's Lair dark. It's filled with a good mix of blue collar folks, guys from grindcore and metal bands that grew up and moved to the burbs and the occasional outsider. Yet, it retains a low-key, bring-all-comers attitude. If you want a break from the suburbs, the 12 Volt is the perfect escape. read more