Well, I've been going to the Hi-Dive longer than I've been Yelping. I just realized after a great night there that I've never written a review of it. I guess all these trees were blocking my view of the forest. I'm not a regular but I've had plenty of wonderful evenings there. From what I think was the first time I went for the Regional Air Guitar championships when Bjorn Turoque mopped up to the $.88 cans of Hamm's (do they still do that I didn't notice?) to the great local band shows to whatever the hell else that happened there. I can't remember, I always drink too much when I go to the Hi-Dive. Unfortunately I don't feel violated the next morning so it must've been just a plain old good time. There's stuff stuck all over the walls and if you lean too hard it will stick back. You've been warned. read more

Great place to catch a show any night of the week! Decent drink prices, great staff, lots a great people watching sound is decent. floor is sticky. bathrooms are scary, but when you gotta go you gotta go. Lots of local bands. read more

I like the layout of the Hi Dive, it's got a good open spot on the side for the music loving crowd, and the bar area runs along the side and all the way to the back. It helps to keep the crowd spaced out evenly. The bartenders are friendly, there's great draft selections and the crowd is always a good one, as well. It's also nice that they have a small cash bar at the back of the "pit" so you don't have to push your through a crowd to get a refill. The main downside is the main reason to come here - the sound system. Pretty bad. I brought my cousin to hear one of my favorite bands, and he said he thought he would like them, but he needed to hear them at a spot where he could here them. Still, I do find myself keeping track of their upcoming shows. read more

The entire team and ownership here should be given awards with the way they have handled the pandemic. They are handling everything here the way that would expected given the circumstances. This venue is the best and of a dying breed. Support local and go watch some live music and grab some good drinks. You'll be hanging with some of the best in town. read more

If Hi Dive and Sputnik were a set of boobs then Hi Dive would be the left tit if you are on the sidewalk facing them. Hi Dive offers decent priced beverages and is a venue for local bands. I saw my friend Johnny play with his band, Blue Million Miles. They played some good tunes and I had a blast! Definitely recommend their shows. www.myspace.com/bluemillionmiles read more

Eating awesome fries at happy hour prices while watching an awesome show is the confluence of my favorite two things: cheapness and loudness. Between sets on Sunday-Thursday after 11, go next door to sputnik and order the $1 white fries or $2 sweet potato fries. Tell them you're at hi-dive and they'll send it over. Wait for some time and then go to the bar to see your fries waiting there for you. O man, eating fries and watching the show is so awesome, SO AWESOME. Maybe next time I'll try eating a sandwich and watching the show. I think it will be even better than eating fries. read more

Just go. The band will be good. The drinks will be good. The people will be fun. And you can take the bus or get a cab right out front.

classic Denver underground. My favorite place to see or play a show! Dark and divey in the best possible way.

The Hi-Dive is great because of two things- the lovely staff and the great sound. The sound guys are always on and attentive and the barkeeps are incredibly accomodating and friendly. As with any South Broadway venue, you gotta deal with a few fart sniffers, but the key is to get real drunk and not worry about it. read more

On a night when I was determined to be completely and utterly lazy, Shea S and Kelly T invited me to come join them for a show at the Hi-Dive. Hmm...to be a lazy bum or be social? Alright, being social wins! I love local venues like this: small, cramped, and a bit rough around the edges. You can practically smell the sweat from the night before at the Hi-Dive. And most definitely feel your shoes stick to the floor. And let's not forget the cheap, nasty beer, of course. Since this venue, I'd assume, is hosting mostly local acts, the covers are very reasonable. The night I popped in, it was only $5. I'm sure this varies, but come on, $5 to support local musicians? I'm a fan! It's taken me ages to find my way here, but I have no doubt I'll be back soon, whether it's to check out a band I know or to discover new acts. Nice work, Hi-Dive! Just remind me not to wear so much pink next time... read more

Pretty cool little spot, this Hi-Dive. It is aptly named, because it is a dive. Dark and dingy with interesting bathrooms (I've always wondered, why women on the toilet are compelled to draw penises on the walls?). Anyway, I digress. The bartendress was super nice last night, good selection of alcohol and draft beers. They had Fernet, which made my friend from SF happy, and they had Schlitz in a can, which made us....laugh. ;) Saw 3 bands play, to varying degrees of success, but it was cool because each had their own little fan club contingent. Although the sound left something to be desired (too much treble, not enough bass), I will definitely come back here to see a band I know, or discover new talent. read more

This place is TINY! I drive by it every day on my way to work and I didn't know it was there. I looked in and thought it was a hallway that must go back and open up into a larger stage area in the back. Nope. There's a little area to the left that has a tiny stage and some room to watch. This makes for a very intimate show - you can't be far from the stage. The sound was solid, and the beer was cheap. And, it didn't overheat like some places do. The staff seemed really friendly and knowledgeable too. I took a star off because if you're a short person, like myself, it can be hard to see the band if you have some talk folks in front of you. read more

The hi dive! What can I say The beer is cold The music is awesome The bathrooms suck And it smells like last nights beer party Traditional dive in the classic sense Everyone needs this place in their repertoire ! read more

It's true what they say. The bathrooms are terrible, but if you want an intimate concert with an institutionalized house party vibe, this is your place. And who needs to pee when you can dance? Great acts, great sound, great dancing. Sound quality is perfect--luminous, never too loud or screechy. (This is key, and it's so hard to come by.) With a wristband, you can come and go, and you're right next to Sputnik or the bro-tastic Punchbowl Social (if you're into that kind of thing). The crowd shifts concert to concert, but is typically mid-20s to mid-30s, with knots of hipsters smoking cigarettes outside. I wish I hadn't left my glasses at home. read more

I went to the Hi-Dive with a co-worker last night to see The Flobots. It's the perfect version of a dive bar. Not too grimy, but still has a lot of grit that immediately makes you feel comfortable. The venue is really intimate, so seeing a concert there is a treat. The bartenders were friendly, prompt, and swore like sailors among themselves. What more could you ask for? read more

Great smaller music venue in Denver with a pretty stellar sound system. The bartender on Tuesday, Spencer, makes a pretty exceptional vodka soda. By exceptional I mean it kicks your ass. After the show shuffle next door to grab a bite and some more drinks. I wish they had more promo for their bands so the crowds would beef up a bit! read more

Indie rock n' roll and cool local bands. The Hi-Dive is great for bar sized bands with a younger audience because they are able to host 16+ shows. Cool stage set up. The Hi-Dive seems to be more ballsy booking touring bands than other venues in town, which is nice because their willingness to host small shows implies money isn't the motive or an issue. read more

The Hi-Dive gets some of Denver's better shows, and it's a great showcase for local rock acts. It is truth in advertising, as it is a dive bar, but isn't that what a rock club is supposed to be? And I'll take a dingy rock club any day over the Grateful Dead bar that once inhabited this spot. read more

They book good to great acts consistently. It's a solid option on any given night. Dig. read more

My favorite venue in Denver. Why? Good sound. Good booking...I've seen some fantastic indie touring acts here. Less of an obnoxious scene than some other venues. Small enough to prevent anxiety attacks. Enough of a dive to be cool, but not so much of a dive that you fear catching some horrible disease by touching anything in the bar. And, my bias: it's in my neighborhood. read more

Caught Barcelona and Tofer Brown here... Was a fantastic show... I liked the layout, the sound system was great, and I, unlike most, do not have a natural aversion to the hipster set (both a blessing and a curse), so I found the crowd laid back, fun and in a sing-songy mood... Can't wait to go back... read more

It's like a magical dive bar. Good drinks and good music. It's a tiny venue Shocked that a whole bad can fit on the stage most of the times but it makes it cozy I think. A cheap night out too! $10 will get you in the door almost any night and $8 will do you well for drinks too. The staff here [all be it on some nights looks a little rough around the edges] are super nice! On top of getting you new drinks and cleaning up after people. The sound here is hit or miss as far as music goes but the pretty cheap drinks and the down to earth feel makes up for this. If you're in the area do stop in. Enjoy the good local music! read more

Small, intimate, casual place to see local and up-and-coming bands up close. Prepare to stand: virtually no chairs in the place.

Before attending the Hi-Dive on Saturday, I had heard some not so lovely things about this bar/venue. After my experience there, I'll have to brush those comments off. I really enjoyed this place! Yes, the room set up is a little strange, but I found it quite nice. The inside is split in half with the bar on the right and the stage on the left. Although you won't escape the bands or music entirely by sticking around at the bar, it does still provide a bit of a buffer. The sound was amazing. The mix was perfect! It didn't take more than a song for the sound guy to get the mix just right. I was impressed with their sound equipment. The door guy and the bartender were all friendly and gave speedy service. Door fee and drinks were all typically priced. read more

Ha Ha Tonka!! Holy crap. This place is like seeing your favorite band in your living room - with beers on tap. Good beers! Tickets were under $15 - there were no fees. The sound was pretty great and service at the bar was very great. The band was so close you could reach out and touch them from most anywhere in the bar. Oh, and then if you couldn't quite reach them from your listening position, well - you just go meet them at the merch table after the show. This place could make this out-of-towner want to be a new resident. Love. Love. Love. read more

I dig this place. As the other reviewers have mentioned it is very intimate and unassuming. They book some great shows and the staff is always pleasant. The other excellent thing about this place is that it is one of the few venues where they do not care if you want to bring in an SLR camera. Almost every other venue will only let patrons bring a point and shoot but the Hi-Dive is so accommodating. The only draw back about this venue is that the stage could be a bit taller. I am on the shorter side and it can be hard to see the artist if a tall person is in front of you. Such is life though and tall people will always be in the way. Enjoy the Hi-Dive as it is a gem for a local venue. read more

Great place for local bands and small indie acts. Sometimes they get some bigger gigs. I've seen a friend's old band play here (La Columna Quebrada), Maria Taylor (1/2 of Azure Ray), went here for Lady Fest '05 poetry and music, saw Veruca Salt in '06, annnnnnd... you get the idea. It's fun to get wasted a play pool with friends... sometimes. Or ping pong. The bathrooms are kinda ... what's the word.. sketchy? But good music, yeah! read more

A fun and upscale- divey music venue. Affordable drinks, 5$ a beer, 6 for a shot of Hornito's tequila. We were for the punk rock show last night. Sound was good, staff and crowd were friendly and cool. Bathrooms are a red light district, at least the woman's room. At least in the literal sense. It makes it a bit hard to see, but it does look cool. The other lady, was laughing as I tried to pull out a paper towel to dry my hands, none would come out. She said it is always like that, and she assumed it was a joke. I replied isn't that what clothiers are for? Establishment and bathrooms were on the clean side. read more

Somehow less divey now that you can see the stage from over 3 feet away in this strange new post-smoking-ban era. But still, you're happy that they keep the lights super low, because you get a sneaking suspicion that you'd rather not know exactly what you're standing in. And lately, I am perturbed to find that I'm in the oldest 5% of the people in there on a busy night. But dude, sometimes the bands blow you away with their potential.... gotta love it! And the bartenders are really cool people. I mean that in a good way. read more

This is a great little indie rock bar. The service is friendly but eh and it is a nice small space with fun bands. The owner is in touch with things that are new and interesting and really books great shows. He seems to also not be afraid to try offbeat things. The space is small and grubby and the heat and energy is usually high. It's still a recommended place and you can always walk next door to Sputnik to cool off and relax. read more

This was the worst bar in Denver! The service was the worst! We did a scavenger hunt with at least 50 people all which had to buy a drink. The bar tender had a full beard with a mustache. Me and my party made sure we tipped well. He told us about how annoying everyone was and how he wished we did not enter his establishment. He later wrote a note to give to the organizer of this scavenger hunt that read please do not include our bar in your events! This was so rude I had to post a review on this dirty, dark bar! This was the only place that we entered that was no fun. Gross dirty place I advise you not to go here as the staff is ungrateful and very unfriendly! read more

NO...NO...NO...NO...NO! REALLY REALLY REALLY GROSS! The hall down to the restrooms has the most horrifically overwhelming piss scent. The bathroom makes you feel like you should go immediately to the ER and and get a tetanus shot...Cherry on the top is the female bartender coming out of a nasty ass stall after doing her business and not washing her hands. If she didn't feel the need to wash her hands when there were clearly two patrons waiting in line SHE NEVER WASHES HER HANDS!!! The beer is really cold...after seeing how dirty everything around the bar was I'd hate to get a look into that cooler. The bands were good. Just so freaking dirty it hard to enjoy myself. HAVE I MENTIONED HOW FREAKING DIRTY THIS PLACE IS????? SUPER GROSS IS ALL I CAN SAY...OH AND WASH YOUR HANDS AFTER USING THE BATHROOM!! read more

Wouldn't take an out of state ID, despite having multiple other picture ID's/credit cards to prove my identity. Bouncer was openly hostile and condescending. Clearly, this pit has a better grasp of the law than the state of California... Save your money and go anywhere else. read more

Kinda surprised that this place is listed under "Dive Bars", what with the constant parade of college/post college aged hipsters and fashionistas going in and out, as well as the complete lack of anything even remotely "dive" about the inside, the outside, the location, or the clientele. They have good bands occasionally, and good DJs too. You don't typically see "80s Prom Theme Party" at a dive bar though. read more

The one star is for the venue booking good bands. The short bouncer with tats all over his arms was down right the most vulgar and horrible person I have ever encountered in my life. Screaming and cursing at the people that walked in, acting like it was a horrible thing we were doing by coming into that club. He was clearly on something but that's absolutely no excuse for treating customers the way he did. Totally turned me off and incredibly embarrassing for the hi-dive to employ someone like that at all, let alone working the front door. Invited to the show by the band and will be taking these matters further. read more

The shittiest bar. The shittiest people. In the shittiest town. On the shittiest planet.

i finally saw a show here and it was pretty decent, cloud 9, egadz and restiform bodies. a little experimental, with beats and a bit of hip hop. it was really sweet that we could order food from next door and have them bring it over to us (p.s. my new fave from sputnick is the vietmanese sandwich vegan style. holy crap!). i found it super annoying that you couldn't take drinks past the cage thing into the actual stage area. i don't know if that's a regular thing or if it was because it was a 16+ show. (p.p.s. most of those 16 year-olds were totally not there for the show and seemed to only be there to socialize, they should be corralled in the back so that the of age drinkers can see the show and drink our drinks). but i actually had a lot of fun people watching, so i don't think it would have been nearly as entertaining without the kid in the kanye glasses bustin a move, or this other dude who looked seriously displaced from what i would only think could be a mixture of a phish show and rave. seriously, kid needed some glow sticks. overall, i really liked the venue and whereas not being able to drink where i wanted was a set back, i think it's really cool that underage kids have a place to go see shows. i used to have to use a fake id or try to sneak into shows in chicago when i was 18. read more

My favorite place in Denver to see live music. It's just small enough without being tiny. The sound is generally done properly. The drinks are priced fairly, and the bartenders are cool. But you know what else makes me give the Hi-Dive family a big thumbs-up? They get bands to play there that could easily play a bigger venue like the Bluebird, but don't. They choose to play a place that's doing what they do for the right reasons, who give back as much as they take in. Soul. Integrity. Community. And that sweet, sweet music. read more

While in Denver I saw Primitive Man's tour kick off. This place is pretty small, great sound and friendly. I'm not used to going to metal/punk shows and people being nice and smiling. Needless to say, I may have been deaf afterwards but it was a hell of a good time! read more

Even though the sparsely populated audience was more or less a bonifide sausage party, this place is lots of fun. It is a good venue to see some of denver's up-and-coming groups - and they have some very reasonable beer prices. Support local live music!!! read more