I popped into the Sundown Saloon with my wife late one Saturday evening. I thought that maybe this place wouldn't be completely filled with college-aged kids, but I was wrong. There was a crush of 21 (maybe?) year olds at this place. The bar has tons of tables, bars, and games. At the time we went, around 10pm on a Saturday, we had to wade through bodies to get from one end of the bar to the other. Still, though, the bar selection was decent and the prices were reasonable. My wife and I found a table and were able to enjoy ourselves and the people watching. If you're in the demographic and around Pearl St you might find this place entertaining. read more

Thursday through Saturday have the best deals on drinks! Great place to go when you want to have a chill night. read more

Sundown Saloon - a pool table and billiards - Dive Bars Near Me - Boulder, Colorado

God help you if you need to drop a two in the Downer!! That being said, 5 Reasons to go to the downer 1. Games: Pool, Foosball, darts, and shuffleboard 2. a $5 Pitcher of PBR 3. a $5 Pitcher of PBR 4. a 5 Pit BPR* # 5. 5IFPICHPjf _*&# $83r999999999999999999999999999999999 9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 read more

Cheap drinks and plenty of games! In fact pool is free if you're day drinking. So if you're moderately hyper and need to be entertained while you consume adult beverages... go here. If you don't like wall to wall drunk college students, still go here but leave early. If you are late nighting at the Downer the good news is that you have to come down a flight of stairs to get into the bar and that's a sobriety test for some. read more

One of the best bars in Boulder, and one of the first, too. Make sure to stop by if you're in town.

great door guys, great bartenders, great drinks, always great. I practically live here and what's awesome is that they always remember you, they know what you want to drink, and they are genuinely interested in how your day is going. I tell every new person in town....the Downer is the place to go. Plus, it's no sorostitute central, which is nice because heading into my midtwenties, I'm not looking for a frat party. Whiskey Wed with a mug of PBR and a shot of whiskey for $3 is my favorite special! read more

You should only come here if you are comfortable with / enjoy the following: 1) Nasty bathrooms. I'm sorry, but I have to get this one out of the way first. They try to make the best of it, but there's just nothing civilized about the bathrooms. 2) The best jukebox in town. A great mix of indie rock, hip-hop and old country classics. Best way to spend a dollar during a night out is on the Downer's jukebox. 3) Free pool until 10pm. 4) A distinct smell upon descending the stairs into the place. It's not good. It's not bad. It's just the Downer. 5) The only known shuffleboard table in town *with* bumpers. 6) $6 pitchers of PBR. 7) Fantastic people watching. Grab one of the booths along the back wall, face outward towards the crowd, and enjoy. 8) Waking up with a sore throat the next morning. This is because you have to scream over the aforementioned indie rock and hip-hop. It gets louder as the night goes on. You get drunker. The music gets louder. You yell over the music. Repeat for several hours. read more

Somehow, a night out always starts at the Downer. I wouldn't say it's always a good start but it's a fun time none the less. Drinks are pretty cheap and the vibe is alright if you don't mind the shady feel. If you can snag a table, it's best to stay put unless you like navigating the packed bar area. Whenever we go there I always have this nagging feeling that if I were to pass out I wouldn't be noticed for a looooong time. 21st birthdays inevitably start here because of the Flaming Phlegm shot which the bartender warns you to blow out before consuming. Really? You shouldn't take a lit shot? I'm shocked. read more

Solid dive bar in downtown Boulder. You walk down a flight of stairs and are in what looks like a basement with a ceiling of about 7 or 8 feet at most. Highlights: Plenty of pool tables Shuffleboard Foosball Darts The best part is the beer.... serving such high-brow classics like cans of Old Style, Olympia, Schlitz, and Pabst Blue Ribbon. They even have a $1.00 special on Mondays where you can pick a Mystery Can (you'll get one of the above). Also a bunch of (good) beers on tap and full bar. Good times playing bar-room games in a funky environment. read more

This place was basically my living room for years. Still drop in now and then but dont' know the crowd anymore; that's what happens when you stay home and sleep nights for too long. It's a real dive bar in all the best ways, and a good place to escape some of the pretentiousness of this town. And I especially appreciate how much they resisted the anti-smoking nazis. read more

The first night we went out on the town, when we were reasonably sober, we found this bar too loud for conversation and decided not to stay. The second time, a bit less sober, apparently we didn't notice the noise as much. This place will stay with me for quite a while. Interesting night of drunken bonding with the co-workers, ahhh. read more

Not a classy place by any means, but thats one of the reasons I like it. It was super crowded and loud which made it hard to have a conversation, but that is a testament to how popular it is. Super cheap pitchers are always nice! I've only been there the one time, but I look forward to going back again and playing a game of pool next time I'm in Boulder. read more

I'm starting to dislike this place. I used to be cool with it until I realized it's impossible to be there unless you're wasted. The fact that you can smell like the downer is kinda cool and gross. read more

I'm a fan of the 'Downer. Many call it the Scum downer, but hey it's a dive bar. You can always strike up a good conversation here, play a good game of pool (before it gets too crowded after midnight) and drink cheap beer. Pool is free before 10:30 p.m. they usually have an extra guest beer on tap that is good. College kids filter in later at night :( But still it's always a fun place to wrap up the night if you're out for a couple of beers. read more

I love Sarah !!!!!!! Best bartender ever!!!!!!!! She's a chill girl!!! Def a keeper. Greta ambiancr. Solid shot. I had the chocolate cake one and boyyyyy did it do chocolate cake justicr read more

This bar is literally playing The Shinning right now. My favorite bar in Boulder. &7 Pabst's Pitchers. Amazing 10/10. Came up from Castlerock specifically for this place. Keep it up read more

One of my go-to spots on pearl. It is definitely a college bar but I like the vibe because it's not just college students that come to this bar. In my experience, it is welcoming to everyone. I like to start here before I go out because of their $7 PBR pitchers and $1 kamikaze shots (probably why I dodge the bulk of the undergrad students). They also have foosball, darts, pool, etc. The bartenders and bouncers are friendly and I haven't been disappointed with a visit here. It's usually referred to as the Downer read more

I typically play music for different venues in Boulder, so I've been to this bar a couple times. To be honest, nothing special, but it was cheap.. Today I came in to grab a quick drink before my gig. I was asked to leave because "there's no room for guitars here". There was like 20 people in the bar.. what a joke.. I really couldn't believe my ears. I think the bar tender realized he was being unreasonable, so he reworded himself. " hey man, I'm really sorry but there's not enough room in here for your guitar, we don't have place to store it". Still doesn't really make sense. It's a handheld item that stays by my side. Also, I was kinda shocked because the bar was so empty. I told him that I was surprised to hear this because I usually come here to grab a drink before my gigs, that I wouldn't be long, I hadn't seen him before. He said, "ya well I'm the owner". Great reasoning bud.. this is why your bar is empty.. highly recommend anywhere along Pearl Street there are so many better spots. Cheaper and better service, atmosphere, and quality. I went to a very busy bar a block up from them. Although they were packed, no one complained about my guitar. read more

Sigh. The last time I went here, I had to be carried out. It was not a pretty sight, but it was AWESONE none-the-less. I'm a cheap date and the drinks are cheap here, so knock yourselves out. read more

If I could give zero stars, I would. The staff judges people as soon as they walk in the door to decide if they are "worthy" of drinking at this b-grade, sad excuse of a bar. read more

Went to meet some friends for drinks and my buddies birthday and the door man didn't let me in cause I seemed too wasted. I just showed up after a long day of work didnt even have one drink yet?!? f*** that noise read more

This bar attracts the more alternative indie crowd. Your not going to hear mainstream hip hop here. Furthermore, the sundowner environment is not conducive to the Mr. Frat Man party scene. So grab a PBR, play some pool, and chat up the indie boy wearing tight pants and thick rimmed glasses. You either like this place or you don't. read more

I love the occasional dive bar, but I cannot for the life of me figure out what people find appealing about this place. No matter who I'm with, every time I go out on Pearl St, at some point in the night someone inevitably utters the phrase "Let's go to the Downer". This is also the point in the night where my heart starts to sink and my lungs preemptively gasp for air. It is nearly physically impossible to breath--let alone move-- in the dark, smelly clusterfuck that is the Downer. If you are a CU student, on the weekend nights it is almost guaranteed that you will see someone you know, which is cool (or terrible, depending on your outlook) but it is almost impossible to carry on any substantial conversation due to the loudness and the sheer volume of people surrounding you. This place is really only good for being blackout drunk. I probably would have given it one star, but I would imagine the Downer is incredibly interesting during off hours. My friends told me a story about how they were there early in the evening and found a 30 day sobriety chip on the floor. There's gotta be some great characters that frequent this bar. read more

I was really tired the other night and the bar made me leave because they thought I was hammered and that it was inappropriate for someone to look like they were going to fall asleep at the bar. When really I had been skiing all day and my friends wanted to go out and it was 2 am. On top of them kicking me out, they sent me out the back exit and I don't live in Boulder (I live in Oregon), and when I didn't know where it was - BECAUSE I DON'T LIVE THERE - they were like "look she's so drunk, she doesn't know anything." Too bad I was sober enough to understand and remember everything they said to me. TL;DR - asshole men work here. read more

Ah the Scumdowner, Boulder's bastard child. What can be said about this place that hasn't already it is a dirty, crowded, sketch-fest and most of all it is Fucking Amazing. This isn't a dance club this is where dreams and inhibitions go to die, PBR flows and the music blares I myself have made more than one's fair share of bad choices here and yet can't seem to stay away. But please be warned, this is a dive, please don't think "Oh its Boulder they don't have dive bars," You would be sadly misinformed read more

The Downer. The Sundown Saloon, where the students of CU Boulder come to see and be seen. I dig it, what can I say. Gin & tonic is mediocre at best but I heard they have a good whiskey selection but I personally cannot be fucked to drink whiskey. Bring back Jed / 80s night read more

This place really sucks! My sisters ID got taken because it was so called "fake" IT WAS NOT FAKE! & we have a plane to catch tomorrow morning! After calling the non emergency police line twice because the first time we called they gave us the wrong number. The so called police station said, " they would look into it?" RUINED our whole entire vacation. Seriously the worst BAR I have ever been too! Rude rude rude! read more

I go here at least once a week. The staff is amazing, and always put me in a good mood. Joe is a super star! Dart boards, pool tables, PBR and Jameson. Go basement bar! read more

Super rude staff. The bartenders are generally on the level, but the door staff is just ignorant and dumb - probably a function of the mass amounts of college kids there. Nothing special, pretty divey, but the idiots working at the doors really sour the experience read more

Nice little dive bar on Pearl Street Mall. Definitely feels like you're in a basement, as other Yelpers have mentioned. But, they have games and cheap beer. Came in with some friend, grabbed a couple of pitchers of PBR for $6 each, and put some quarters in the foosball. Had a great time. read more

I love me some dive bars, so I love the Downer. Come here looking for some pool (it's free before 11 PM, I think), some cheap but delicious drinks (so many crafts on tap!), and general fun. The ambiance is great. Twinkling Christmas lights on the ceiling illuminate the new repairs they made to the floors... and let you see to beat your friend in shufflepuck. The staff have been professional every time I've been there. The bartenders are friendly and quick, the bouncers remember you if you just step outside for a minute, and I always felt safe at the Downer. It's the best dive bar in Boulder, so grab a few dollars and some friends and come down! read more

Went in here with my service dog (who was inside my purse not causing any trouble) around 5pm when It wasn't busy. The bartender greeted me by saying "I can't allow you to have your dog in here". I explained to him he's a service dog and showed him my registered service dog card. He continued to question me and persisted about what service my dog provides - this being a personal matter, I told him I didn't feel comfortable disclosing and he harassed me, persisting about the type of service my dog provides. I told him but ended up leaving anyway because I felt so unwanted. Don't take your service dog in here unless you want to leave feeling like you did something wrong by taking them in there. Total sh*t service. Never going back. read more

This place is great. The only true dive bar in the entire town. They have cheap drinks and free pool. It is the best place to be in boulder at 5pm. ....The only problem with the bar...is that at around 10pm it becomes the worst bar in the city....with hundreds of rich wannabe poor college kids slamming genitalia at each other. its really hard to watch. The downer is like the sea in many ways.....often you love it more than any thing else....the other half you you are just looking for a way to gtfo before you drown. you'll know quickly which it is. It is worth a shot. Might be 50/50 but its still the best bar in that shit city, read more

Full of college kids and pool tables. Lively, but not nearly as interesting as the Walrus.

Whiskey Wednesday - $3 gets you a pbr on draft with a shot of whiskey. Americuh. This saloon offers great drink specials, darts, shuffle board, foosball and pool. Great spot. When visiting you feel like a local and it's as though you're stepping back in history. Awesome spot. Great staff. read more

We love this place. Great atmosphere, no pretense to it at all. Prob best described as a rowdy dive bar. Chucked some darts, played some pool, got hammered. What else could you ask for. read more

It's hot; it's smelly; it's packed but hey, that's part of the allure. If you get there early you can grab a pool table, if that's your thing, or just find a place to sit down. Get there later and you'll be standing, but at least there will be decent music, cheap drinks and good company. read more

I was visiting friends in Boulder, and we went here to start off a Friday night. Bartenders were cool and there was a good crowd of twenty-somethings. Drinks were kinda weak, but hey, it was cheap and right in Pearl St. So definitely a cool local bar. read more

This place is a dive bar. And it's smoky. (There's a smoking room). Edgy people hang out here with their edgy selves and edgy sensibilities. You never know what you might find but at the least it will be more thrilling than your average Boulder scene. Pool tables are open and used frequently, and the beer is cheap. read more

Fantastic management and service! Great waitresses, they know how to handle a bar. Will definitely return!