Going to the hi-dive for shows has gradually become a staple of my life these past few years, and I'm so glad a place like this exists in Denver. The drinks and shows are reasonably cheap, the show lineups are good, and the staff is friendly. It is possibly the perfect place to see a band play live while sipping beers and hanging out with friends. It's one of the two or three bars in Denver that feels like an extension of my living room. read more

No longer a Hi Dive newb.... the 1-2-3 combo of (1) superior bands in a (2)kickass small venue with (3)Sputnik next door, cannot be beat. Atleast 50% of my most fun nights in Denver have been a Hi Dive night. Go, rock, dance, drink, eat, soon. read more

Ok ... so if you go to Nik Freitas' myspace or project playlist him or whatever, you'll be like, "ok, he has potential, it's a little catchy, but he's just ok, really." Then, go see him at the hi-dive ... like I did last month ... and he will sound AMAZING. You'll be like, "oh my god, I need his cool-looking vinyl album NOW." The Hi-Dive has this crazy ability to make every single sound from the stage sound wonderful. I've only been there a few times ... in college with a baby, you know, even the cheap hi-dive is steep for me ... but every time, the show is truly ear-candy amazing. They feature really good bands, like Magic Cyclops and Maria Taylor and Bishop Allen. My only complaint, which isn't really a complaint, is that they don't do any all ages shows that I've seen, because my toddler has really good taste in music and she would love it there just as much as I do. read more

I don't really like smelly hipsters not paying attention to what is going on around them constantly bumping into me, so I really, really hate this place on a busy night. It is too bad that some good music comes through here and that the food next store is pretty good. read more

Pretty much thee bar for music in Denver. Aside from Larimer Lounge, the Hi-Dive will go down as the place in Denver to see music. The people that run this place know exactly what they're doing. The staff is awesome and the adjoining bar (Sputnik) makes for a great alternative when waiting for the band you want to see. I don't know of these "fart sniffers" Gabe L. speaks of. Maybe that's his ridiculous term for hipsters because, yes, the Hi-Dive is hipster central. But would we have any other way? read more

Constantly hosting amazing shows- Witchtrap, Nekrofilth, Weaponizer, Weedeater, Death Valley Girls, Dreadnought. etc. and Electric Funeral Fest! Cheap brews, attentive bartenders and bouncers. Unexpected gem from a normal looking dive bar. Must go if you love loud and dark places, it has trapped many souls there for sure. read more

If you don't like "hipsters" (whatever that term means) or a good time or cheap drinks or good music, stay away! Please, like, do us all a favor and stop trying to go to places you clearly don't fit in. What's the point? To get yourself mad enough to write a bad review? Hi Dive is perfect. The staff is perfect. The sound system is perfect. The PBR is cold as fuck and that's how I like it. If you feel the need to come here so you can brag to your friends about how you "hang out on South Broadway", maybe you should just go to Punch Bowl and feel comfortable again. It has the word "Dive" in the name. What were you really expecting? read more

As far as local music and lesser known national acts are concerned, this is the best venue for live music in town. The sound is excellent for such a small place, largely due to Sandy, the excellent sound guy. It's also conveniently located literally in the center of town. For these reasons it trumps the Larimer lounge, which has improved it's sound and layout, but is still located half a mile from anywhere else you ever need to be. I recieved excellent treatment when my band played there as well, even though it was our first gig. Best small rock club I've been to. read more

My son and his band King Pepe and the dancing pygmies (KPADP) played at the hi-dive on 9/14/08. It was a great experience for all~ The guys had fun (it was their first public concert), and they rocked the house! It's a cool atmosphere, and there was an assortment of musicians and styles. We'll be back! read more

This place is awesome. Every time I come here, I leave with new music and fun times. I came here as a minute decision recently and I found a wonderful new band to listen to! The people are always nice, the bartenders are attentive, they have PBR on tap, and if you get sleepy (like me) you can go next door and pick up a coffee from Sputnik. What else could you ask for?? read more

It's almost a perfect bar. The place is definitely the perfect venue for small-name bands. It reminds me a of a dive bar but is a little nicer. Not much nicer, though. The staff is super cool and who can resist a place who's willing to pass your half-empty beer through to the bar next door, where you can go pick it up and resume drinking it? I mean, they lost a star for having to kick me a out a couple times because I'm a late-stayer, and because the bands they book aren't always up my alley. But hey that's all in my opinion. And this is where my opinion counts, right? I'd recommend checking it out. read more

I've seen some great shows here, and for cheap. The drink prices are great. Last time I was here the staff was a little douchey. They were too busy taking shots with each other and keeping up with their social life to pay attention to their patrons waiting for service. They're a bit arrogant too, but if you can look past that, and the occasional annoying person in the crowd being super obnoxious because they are obviously not at a show they want to be at, then it's a great venue. You can order food from Sputnik at the bar too. read more

Great dive bar & reasonably priced. Music & atmosphere is fantastic. We had a wonderful event last night for PiperFest & sweet Piper... You could feel the love! read more

My friends and I went here to celebrate a 21st birthday. Bad idea? Yes. To start, the bouncer was extremely rude to us, and almost thought my 21 year old friend was underage because he read her birthday wrong. The bartender was also rude to my friend who was new at ordering drinks. The music was WAY too loud. I don't even know if it was good music or not, because I was DEAF. There was no where to sit, nothing to do, but wish my ears were not bleeding. Just trying to celebrate my friend's birthday and everyone there was definitely judging us. Not my idea of fun. Hated it. read more

Went to the HI Dive for the first time to for the first time to see Slim Cesna's Auto club. I didn't encounter any of the rudeness cited by several of the other reviewers. The staff were awesome, we were served by two bartenders who both were a bit smart asses in a funny friendly manner, I enjoyed that as I am a bit of a smart ass myself. The bartender with the full beard so much as remembered the drinks I wanted and my name. I think that is impressive. The drinks were modestly priced, they don't gouge you like most music venues and they had a good selection of good beer. Also as mentioned the crowd was "interesting" I didn't find them rude but interesting and entertaining and pleasant. My only complaint, though a big one, was the sound, I think the worst I have ever encountered, the vocals were seemingly in the background and not to be heard or understood, drowned by the music. Maybe it was how it was being mixed, don't know but it was horrible. Yeah it is a dive bar but i'll give them another chance. The band was awesome and if you haven't seen Slim Cessna, you are missing out. read more

I attended the Yelp 80s Prom in 2009 here. Kind of small but a decent spot. Since one of the Yelpers was the DJ and it was a themed party, I can't really give an accurate review of the music offered here. I enjoyed the sound system though and all of the great people. read more

depressing and empty the couple times i've been. no plans to go back. dark lighting, cluttered feel, mostly clean, but just a dead atmosphere. laminate bar with a medium sized wood rail. bar back a nasty green and cluttered with old shit. few good HDTVs. past the bar is a pool table. service was good, the reason for the extra star. read more

See all

They have no regard for human kind. I work in the service industry, so I know how to provide satisfactory customer service. I respect a bars closing time, but I felt completely disrespected by more then 3 staff members at this establishment. It was our first time at the bar, we entered at 1:30am. Ten minutes later our drinks were pulled from our hands without any notification. I was aggressively approached by staff members yelling in my face that I needed to leave before closing time (mind you, I've been at this bar less than 10 min). I can chug a beer in 5 min and sip a beer in 10. The bar closing time is 2:00am. If you like disrespect this is the place for you. Get ready to have your money stolen with no explanation and your drink ripped from your hand. read more

The Hi-Dive hosts a great selection of bands, and tickets are never outrageously expensive like I've seen at other Denver venues. The shows sound good and the bar offers decent drink prices. I can't ask for much else, so that makes them my favorite venue in Denver. Note that they do not have a box office where you can buy tickets ahead of time, you can only get tickets online. read more

Saw a show here a week or two ago, supposedly a few days after a recent remodel. A great venue for small local shows, to say the least. Despite the place being packed, it never became uncomfortably warm. Drinks were served fast and the bartenders were friendly. Sound system was great too. I would highly recommend catching a show here; or, if you are a local band, playing here. read more

Worst door guy on earth. I've been active in the Denver punk community for years. I went to a punk show there Saturday night and the door guy said I couldn't come in, he mis-read my drivers license, it expired the next day. I was with 10 friends and all went over to 3 kings even after I showed him that it expired the next day. Don't play there don't go there seriously hope I catch him slipping... Boycott this place at all costs read more

Saw a show at the Hi-Dive last night, Those Darlins with a couple warm up acts. The music was great, performances were excellent, but the place is a dump. It's the second time I've been there to see decent national touring bands. The first time was more than a year ago, Maria Taylor. Lovely singer and performer, but I felt bad for her having to play there. They have the name "Dive" in the name. I get that. But does the men's room need to smell like pee when the place opens? Does every wall you touch or lean on need to be sticky? Do the bartenders need to have an attitude? Do the bands need to root around in the dark at the back of the room trying to find their equipment? They have a couple of large Igloo coolers meant to hold cold water, with cups next to them. I was close by with the lead singer & guitarist of the Darlins (Jessi Zazu) tried to pull some water out of it. Bone dry. It seems like Denver can do a lot better than this hole for traveling bands. If I were one, I'd rather take the night off than play there. read more

The Hi Dive is a great place to see local bands play. Sure it's a little seedy, but that's the charm of it. It gets really crowded here but the bartenders are friendly and cool and I've never had to wait long for a drink. The Hi Dive has enabled me to hear a lot of new local bands that I normally wouldn't get a chance to had a place like this not existed. I wish there were more Hi Dive- like venues in town. read more

Not a huge fan but at least they have cool bands come there.

Great venue, good beer prices, and well selected bands. Everything works, except for those bearded wannabe Portlandia bar tenders, with hipster hats...I bet they shop at H&M and say Radiohead is their favorite band, too. ahaha. They are Hi-Larious! Cool place. Check it out. read more

This is a great little spot to see a band play. It has a good atmosphere, is divey but without the stench, and seems like a cool spot all around. When busy it can take a little while to get a drink, but otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed myself! I'll have to check this place out again before I move read more

My first concert in Denver was at the Hi Dive. I was lucky enough to see Thao Nguyen there last night, and it was a great night! The venue is small (but not too small) and it felt like home having a great act on stage, and a good sized (but not crowded) audience. With an easy to spot location (Broadway and Ellsworth), decent parking (kudos for having bike racks out front!), and good beer (ranging from $2 old style to $4 microbrews), it would seem that the Dive can do no wrong. It looks like here, Larimer Lounge, and Walnut Room will be my new staples for bands and beers! If you're looking for a place to eat nearby, check out Spicy Basil just down the block, I had their sesame chicken and it was perfect. read more

hi-dive, hi-five. super music venue with bar tenders who are unpretentious and have great taste in eyewear. Besides the creepy couple next to us ordering "sex on the beach" I was all about it. read more

Really good shithole with some good rock 'n' roll shows. Crowd can be pretentious and stuck up (god forbid you don't wear a black band t-shirt) but it's a fun spot. read more

For this trip to the Hi Dive I was out seeing New Ben Franklins. This venue is a great small venue. It's on South Broadway, the bartenders are always on their game and some even have a heavy hand when it comes to pouring drinks, and the person who was working the sound was on his A game. The bathrooms are disgusting, but that's what you expect at a dive bar. Also, the place does get a bit hot in the summer time but I wouldn't trade it for the world. read more

Decent during the daytime, an absolute shitshow at night. It's one of Denver's premier hipster bars, so expect stuck-up, cheerless, wraith-like women and surly, petulant, man-children. Also, the place has this uncomfortably cult-like atmosphere where all the customers and employees only hang out without each other and only ever talk about the Hi-Dive. I bet Reggie Watts stops here every time a tour brings him through Denver. Even worse, I'd wager the Hi Dive actually takes pride in that. read more

I like the place. Cool "Dive" atmosphere. I went to listen to Mount Moriah and Jesse Sykes. Would have liked it more if the sound guy hadn't punched/choked the guitar player from Jesse Sykes. (Though I've gotta say the dude totally needed it.) "I'm not playing in a f$&&@ng deli!" Classic! read more

This is as good as it gets. One of the best live music venues around. Great bartenders with a great choices options like craft beer, cheap beer, well whiskey or top-shelf tequila. They book great bands and price the shows accordingly. Whether I'm paying $7 to see a local band's CD Release or $30 to see a national act play Denver on a weeknight, I'm never disappointed with a Hi-Dive show. read more

The Hi-Dive is one of the best Denver music venues. It is small [and "a dive"] but this is exactly where the charm is. It is in venues like the Hi-Dive that the Denver music scene is gaining national recognition. The Hi-Dive is notable for its eclectic range of artists. You can catch everything from proponents of the neo-folk revolution to the indie-Dance scene that is so hott in Denver. Aside from all the great artists passing through on their way between Cali and NYC the Hi-Dive features its own Denver-fabulous events such as Monday night's Mr. Pacman's karaoke challenge and Wednesday's 80's dance night. Visit the Hi-Dive to check out up and coming bands on their way between the coasts and especially for Denver-fabulous artists like Magic Cyclops and Mr. Pacman. read more

Fancy 50's dive decor, good music, great service & $3 Murphy's Stout. What more could you want?

The second night I spent in Denver in 2008, I went to the Hi-Dive to watch some bands play. The crowd was small but everyone was having fun enjoying the music, the bartender was decent and it is a good place to see shows. read more

I love this place! It's very intimate for a concert and always a great time. I love having tickets on my phone so thanks for going digital! I'll definitely be back! read more

Total grunge hole-in-the-wall dive bar. After arriving in Denver the first night and spending time in Lodo I became discouraged as to what type of crowd I was going to be able to feel akin to. Certainly not Lodo. The shops along Broadway including this gem of a bar give me hope for the people here. read more

My Favorite Saturday Happy Hour Watering Hole! Good Shelf of varied booze and most of the time the best music playing while not one ray of sunshine invades this East facing bar. read more

Awesome venue and good happy hour if you get there before a show. I like the pool table, darts, and easily accessible water.