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    Retrograde

    4.0 (408 reviews)
    ModerateSpeakeasies
    Tue 6:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)
    Wed 6:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 1 month ago

    Retrograde Photos

    RETROGRADE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy

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    Recommended Reviews - Retrograde

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    Bar back is very unique and eye-catching.
    Patrick S.

    Still a solid five stars. Unique. Classy. Seasonal options. Intimate. Memorable. Fun. All describe this experience. Located in the freezer of an ice cream shop, stepping into Retrograde feels good. Tonight they had Godzilla playing on the screen which was entertaining. Service is impeccable and I prefer sitting at the bar.

    Bar area
    Maddie R.

    Stumbled upon this place while getting ice cream- such a good find. The place is charmingly quirky with a space atmosphere and odd movies playing in the background. Super intimate and a great place for a quiet drink. Bartenders were super friendly. Only complaint is the drinks were a bit expensive, but they were delish and they lit mine on fire so not too pressed about it!

    Massacre at Dinosaur Valley. Drink for 2.
    Erin S.

    Fun little speakeasy off of 19th and Penn. Look for the ice cream shop and Retrograde is hidden there. Retrograde is really fun take on a traditional speakeasy. Its theme is films from the 1950s and 1960s. They have specialty cocktails for the films and the season. The move playing was the 1955 hidden treasure "September Storm". It was awfully bad, but made for great conversation. We split the drink, Massacre in Dinosaur Valley. It's got lots of rum and fermented pineapple with two mini beers to top it off. The drink was ok and less fruity as anticipated. Service was great from start to finish. Can't wait for MST3K gets put back on the screen here. IYKYK :)

    Don't you love this bar??
    Mary C.

    I really wanted to be in a secret club and going to Retrograde fulfilled my dream! There's such sneaky little way to get inside through the freezer door... I want it to keep it exclusive for myself but it's too good to not share! Plus, it's more fun to be with friends and make new ones than to sit alone. I'm having a real delima to share all the information because figuring it out yourself is half the fun! So look them up, show up, and maybe even dress up a bit so you feel the part! Love this environment of an exclusive hidden gem! When you arrive inside you'll love the dim lighting, awesome drinks and beautiful atmosphere that will take you back in time! Staff is friendly and welcoming! Great for a group of friends, date night or even sitting at the bar on an evening alone to find a new friend!

    Bar area and decor
    Edie A.

    Stopped in for a cocktail after dinner in the area. It was early, so we didn't have to wait long. By the time we left, the line was out the door! Be sure you have your ID ready to make it easier and faster for staff to seat you. Retrograde has a rotating menu of specialty cocktails with various themes to match the space decor and old movies playing on one of the walls. (We were treated to the 1960s 3-D feature, "September Storm.") I shared an interesting cocktail with a friend--Massacre in Dinosaur Valley. It was served in a ceramic punch bowl for two with a mini flaming volcano in the middle. It definitely packed a punch with the pasilla pepper-infused 3 Star Rum. Two overturned Modelorita bottles poured more liquid into the punch bowl and added to the flavor of the agave, lime, and tepache made from pineapple rinds and other spices. Fun time!

    Cocktail
    Francie M.

    A very vibey speakeasy in the back of an ice cream shop. We waited about 40 minutes at 9:30pm on a Saturday night for space for two. The bar is intimate with projections of moons, stars, and cheesy SciFi movies (with subtitles thank you!). The drink names are also SciFi themed, a nice touch. My friend and I don't love our drink tastes, but I think we struck out and chose badly. Sometimes explore yields low rewards. I appreciate the inventiveness and variety on the menu! Logistics: - indoor seating only, hidden in the back of the ice cream shop - expect a long wait at peak times - I don't recommend groups larger than 4 as seating is tight

    Nonalcoholic fruity beverage.
    Morgan S.

    Hidden inside an ice cream parlor, you will find this cute speakeasy. I saw on TikTok that it was decorated for the holidays so my friends and I just had to check it out. They do not take reservations, so it is first come first serve. Street parking is available. Inside the ice cream parlor, there is a door that looks like it would go to a freezer, but there's a door doorbell next to it. Ring the doorbell, and the bar host will seat you. We were seated at the bar and then handed a holiday menu. There was not a lot of non-alcoholic beverage options available. So we asked our bartender if he could make something up. He gave us all each different nonalcoholic beverages, which I thought was so fun and creative. Mine was a fruity nonalcoholic beverage. I believe he mentioned strawberry and lemonade. I thought it tasted wonderful. He did a great job of mixing flavors. It's definitely a cool place to check out and I'm glad I went when it was decorated for the holidays. I'm not a big drinker, so I don't know if I would go back. But if you wanna check it out, I highly suggest it!

    Annette T.

    Been here two or three times now and I really wanna take my out of town friends and family! Such a fun speakeasy that actually feels a little secret. I can't remember the drinks names and I believe that they change the menu seasonally. The ambience is great though with low light and a muted movie playing in the background. I think it's so fun to enter through a freezer door and find a whole different vibe on the other side. All the drinks I've had here so far have been amazing and the bartenders are always so nice.

    David C.

    Who doesn't like a cool speakeasy? Well, some might not but that's besides the point. I have been to a few speakeasies and I have to say that Retrograde is one of my favorites for a couple reasons. First off, the drinks here are delicious with a good range of different kinds of drinks to appeal to all. I have had a few different ones here and they were all great and it was obvious the thought that went into each drink. Secondly, the service I've had here was always top-notch. Each time I've been here, I never felt like I was being rushed when ordering a drink or if I had questions regarding drinks or trying to get a recommendation. I have always had great conversations with the bartenders and other employees there too. Last time I went, I had an hour long conversation about drinks and the best omakase in Denver. Last but not least, I really like how Retrograde actually feels like a speakeasy. I feel like a lot of speakeasies I've been to call themselves a speakeasy but does not feel like one, if you know what I mean. Retrograde has the ambiance down with the quiet, dark, and moody atmosphere. I can't wait to go back!

    Went here with my family (my kids are all in their 20's) to start off our celebration night. Everything was perfect. We snuck in through the freezer door of the ice cream shop. The drinks were delicious and the bartenders were super helpful with making sure we had the right drinks from an eclectic and cool drink menu. We then went to dinner and we kept talking about this place.

    Cocktail creations!
    Scott M.

    Such a cool place! If you can find, you need to go! The bartender/mixologist creates the best drinks. The vibe is very cool with the retro sci-fi going.

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    26 days ago

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    3 months ago

    This place is great. Flies under the radar. Been twice and great experience both times.

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    3 months ago

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    10 months ago

    Business owner information

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    Retrograde D.

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    5 months ago

    Cool vibes. Went during Christmas time and everything was decorated really nice. Got some seasonal cocktails that were super tasty

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    3 months ago

    This place is nuts! Ice cream, secret passages, retro Sci fi, tasty cocktails!? What's not to love??

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    3 months ago

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    3 months ago

    Awesome drinks, amazing decor, great date vibes. Bartender was also top-notch! Will be returning.

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    1 year ago

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    4 months ago

    Great drinks, service and concept. Good spot for a date night. Playing old campy movies on the projector is very fun

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    9 months ago

    One my fave ambiance speak easy vibe bars. With one my fave bartenders and people. Mauriah is the coolest and makes the best drinks!!!

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    5 months ago

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    Joshua G.

    Thanks so much for your review! Glad you had a great time!

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    Page 1 of 11

    Ask the Community - Retrograde

    I was just curious the hours of operation? Yelp and google are saying different things

    Hello, we are updating hours as things change with covid-19, thank you for your patience. We are currently open Monday through Saturday from 6-10 pm

    Do they do reservations? Is there a long wait (on Friday evenings)?

    I live around the corner. I have only occasionally (like can count on one hand) seen people waiting to get in. I doubt they take reservations but you could call and ask.

    View All 3 Questions

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    7 years since I've last been here and its still the same. Yes a couple of the stuffed animals have…read morebeen moved around. But the service and the drinks are still top notch. They've gotten do much busier though. There must've been over 30 people at the bar getting drinks. But the 4 bartenders at the bar were slinging them out quickly. Even though they were fast the drinks were extremely well made and the customer service wad amazing. The ambiance was great!! Everyone was here to have a good time. But no one was overly rowdy or raucous. People were friendly and conversational but stayed in their lanes also. Even though all these years have passed. And the pandemic has ravaged many businesses. The quality and service here still makes this place one of the best whiskey bars around!!!

    Seven Grand is one of my favorite cocktail bars in Denver, hands down. The location alone is hard…read moreto beat - close to Union Station, Coors Field, and McGregor Square - and despite being right in the middle of everything, parking is surprisingly manageable with plenty of street spots and nearby garages. Their cocktails are consistently excellent, but the standout for me is the Gentleman's Buck. It's perfectly balanced, refreshing, and endlessly drinkable. I still wish they'd bring it back onto the happy hour menu! The staff makes the experience even better. Sam and Joshua are fantastic bartenders - friendly, welcoming, and genuinely great at what they do. They make the bar feel like a place you want to return to again and again. And if you're a whiskey fan, their Whiskey Wednesday events are always a blast. You can learn something new, try something interesting, and enjoy the lively atmosphere. Seven Grand delivers on all fronts: great drinks, great people, and a great location. Highly recommended!

    Run For The Roses - Dry Martini

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    (107 reviews)

    Lodo, Northwest

    I'm a big fan of speakeasy vibes and absolutely love this bar! Located in the basement of the Dairy…read moreBlock, just getting to the bar is an interesting experience. Once you get to the front door, they'll check your ID before letting you in, just to make sure there's enough seating to accompany your party. They also charge automatic gratuity if the party is larger than 6, I believe. The interior design is awesome with lots of cozy seats, fitting all party sizes. It's a great place to meet up with friends, while still providing a moody atmosphere if you want to bring someone on a date. The bartenders are pretty friendly and very knowledgeable. They have both a paper menu which has their latest concoctions, as well as their standard menu (ask for the deck of cards). My friends and I (4 of us total) came on a Friday night and it had a good amount of people without feeling too cramped. We ordered a wide variety of drinks, starting with a round of espresso martinis (which I would highly recommend). We had a few more rounds with each of us ordering separately. One of my friends asked our bartender for a suggestion and she really enjoyed her drink. However, my other friend got a suggested drink and did not like it at all. The bartender was kind enough to swap out his drink, which our group definitely appreciated. I'm definitely coming back and bringing any of my visitors who can appreciate a good cocktail.

    Went back a second time! My favorite part was honestly just getting there. It really helps if…read moresomeone in your group has been before, because for your first time it can be a little confusing. It's tucked into the Milk Market alley, up some stairs, halfway through a kitchen, then down an elevator. But that's kind of the fun of it. It feels like a little scavenger hunt. Once inside, the experience is super cool. They give you a deck of cards to choose your cocktail from, all organized by alcohol like tequila, gin, whiskey, etc. That part alone is such a fun concept. The only thing that's a bit mid is the actual drinks themselves. The experience is so unique that it almost feels like they're hoping you forget the drinks aren't anything spectacular. It's definitely a cool bar if you're trying to impress someone, just don't expect mind blowing cocktails. Prices vary quite a bit too. Some cocktails are around $14, others go up to $25ish, with most sitting around $18. We ordered a margarita and a White Lady, and with tip it ended up being over $50. So take that how you will.

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    Lodo, Northwest

    Lincoln is hands down one of the coolest speakeasies we've been to. The vibe is so unique $5 bills…read morecovering the walls with Lincoln's face everywhere really sets the tone and makes the place unforgettable. And yes... every drink is only $5 but heads up, it's cash only. The prices were so good we ended up staying for three drinks each and didn't even feel guilty about it. My husband and our friends ordered The Continental, a black cherry Old Fashioned, and it was absolutely delicious ,smooth, balanced, and full of flavor (I definitely stole a few sips). I went with a vodka pineapple and later a cranberry vodka, both refreshing and perfect. We loved the place so much that the guys even bought merch $10 t-shirts, which honestly felt just as affordable as the drinks. Amazing drinks, unbeatable prices, fun speakeasy vibes, and great memories. We'll 100% be back.

    I've been here twice now, and it's officially one of my favorite spots near Union Station. If…read moreyou're looking for a lively, affordable night out, this is it. Atmosphere: The theme here is so cool! It's all about Abraham Lincoln but with a modern, artistic twist. There's really neat artwork everywhere showing different looks of Lincoln. It feels like a true old timey speakeasy. It gets very busy after 8 PM, so be prepared for a bit of a wait, but the energy inside is awesome. Price: This is the most budget-friendly spot I've found in the area. Almost everything is $5! It is CASH ONLY, but don't worry if you forget. They have an ATM inside for you to use. Drink: I ordered the Continental, which is their take on an Old Fashioned with a black cherry. It was delicious and definitely didn't taste like a cheap drink despite the price point. Service: Despite how packed it was, the service was incredibly fast. We got our drinks in maybe 2-3 minutes tops. The staff is efficient and friendly. Overall Experience: Whether you're visiting and staying near Union Station or just looking for a fun local getaway, I highly recommend this place. We walked from our hotel, but if you drive, be prepared to look for street parking or a garage. It's fun, cheap, and has great theme nights. I'll definitely be back!

    Retrograde - speakeasies - Updated May 2026

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