Going out to eat is one of life’s simple pleasures, but music really makes the experience even better. Luckily, there are plenty of restaurants that are also home to some of the best live music Denver has to offer.
Whether you’re looking for a classy night with jazz music and chef-crafted dishes, or you just want to house some absolutely massive chicken wings while listening to a Fleetwood Mac cover band, you’re sure to find something to love on this list of the best restaurants with live music in Denver and beyond.
Jump to:
The Best Restaurants with Live Music in Denver
Appaloosa Grill
535 16th St. Mall #110, Denver
- Hours: 11 a.m.-1 a.m. daily
- Type of music: Blues, rock, jazz, R&B, and more
This is easily one of the most quintessential and downright reliable spots for live music Denver has to offer. The Appaloosa Grill is located right on the strip formerly known as the 16th Street Mall, and is famous for having live music every night from 9 p.m. to midnight. Come hungry, because the kitchen doesn’t close until 12:30 a.m.! They typically post their live music lineup around a month in advance, so find a band you like and plan to hang out for the entire show.
Globe Hall
4483 Logan St., Denver
- Hours: 5 p.m.-midnight Thursday, 5 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 4-10 p.m. Sunday
- Type of music: Rock, country, indie, blues, and more
If you’re looking for restaurants in Denver with live music, this spot is hard to beat. Let’s start with the food: the delicious barbecue spread will have you thinking you’re in Austin instead of the Mile High City. And honestly, this is just an appetizer for the main event. Globe Hall brings in a litany of up-and-coming national acts and local superstars in an intimate venue where there’s pretty much no bad place to stand. Even if you don’t smoke, be sure to check out the smoking patio, which is home to a cool vintage Airstream that also doubles as the green room for the bands.
Lincoln’s Roadhouse
1201 S. Pearl St., Denver
- Hours: 11 a.m.-midnight Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday
- Type of music: Blues
No list of restaurants in Denver with live music is complete without Lincoln’s Roadhouse. This South Pearl Street mainstay has one of the coolest atmospheres in town thanks to the friendly locals and incredible music lineup featuring some of the best blues artists in the country. There’s typically no cover, so it also happens to be home to some of the best free live music in Denver, but we highly recommend ordering some food. In keeping with its Deep South theme, Lincoln’s has some of the best Creole food in the area.
Number 38
3560 Chestnut Pl., Denver
- Hours: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday
- Type of music: Rock, country, bluegrass, hip-hop and more
Live music in Denver is often about finding an awesome patio, and this spot in River North easily has one of the best. Post up on one of the picnic tables with your dog, make some new friends, and catch some of the best local bands around in a unique party environment. The food isn’t bad either; Number 38 is home to numerous food stalls, and you can try everything from pizza to bison mac-and-cheese bowls. Be sure to wash it down with a craft beer from one of the 120 taps on site.
The Best Restaurants With Live Music in Denver’s Suburbs
Old 121 Brewhouse
1057 S. Wadsworth Blvd. #60, Lakewood
- Hours: 3-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, noon-10 p.m. Friday, noon-10 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday
- Type of music: Growing local acts
Breweries are some of the best places to catch free live music in Denver, and we’re very partial to this one just off Belmar Park in Lakewood. You can usually catch some sort of fun, local act here on the weekends, and snag some food from a delicious food truck. While you’re here, be sure to try their ESB — it won a gold medal at the World Beer Cup in 2024, and that’s very, very well-deserved.
Q’s Pub and Grill
10133 W. Chatfield Ave., Littleton
- Hours: 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 10:30 a.m.-1 a.m. Friday, 7 a.m.-1 a.m. Saturday, and 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday
- Type of music: Rock
If you find yourself asking, “where can I find live music today in Denver?,” the answer might be Q’s. This homey bar in the heart of suburban Littleton welcomes a host of live music throughout the week, including lots of particularly epic shows from 80s cover bands (which, empirically, is always a good time). You can also snag some pretty good bar food along the way, as well as affordable drinks (which is very necessary in this economy, especially).
Rock Rest Lounge
16005 Mt. Vernon Rd., Golden
- Hours: 11 a.m.-1:30 a.m. daily
- Type of music: DJs, rock cover bands
Restaurants with live music in Denver should check two boxes: They should be quirky (because Colorado), and they should have nice patios. This classic spot in Golden has both, thanks to its glorious views of South Table Mountain and an interior full of vintage music props and Colorado School of Mines students who are always up for a good time. On weekends, you can usually catch a live cover band on the patio or a DJ inside. Be sure to order a Barmen (a Coors beer that’s only served at select locations) as well as the epically huge chicken wings served in a comically large bucket.
Velvet Elk Lounge
2037 13th St., Boulder
- Hours: 5-10 p.m. Wednesday, 5 p.m.-midnight Thursday through Saturday, and 5-9 p.m. Sunday
- Type of music: Cool local music that will make your friends jealous
This intimate venue in Boulder is all about being one of the best places to see live music today in Denver (or nearby), as well as an ideal spot for a unique cocktail. Post up at the bar and snag a wide variety of elevated snacks as you jam out to everything from bluegrass to Black Sabbath tribute bands (RIP Ozzy). Since you’re pretty close to the Pearl Street Mall, you can make a fun night out of your visit.
The Best Live Jazz Music Denver Restaurants
Dazzle
1080 14th St., Denver
- Hours: 3-8:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 3-10:30 p.m. Thursday, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.-midnight Friday, 11:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Sunday
This isn’t just one of the best places for live jazz music Denver has to offer; it’s also one of the best restaurants in Denver with live music, period. Order some appetizers (or go full ham with the famous Salvadoran tamales), snag a good seat, order one of the famous cocktails, and immerse yourself in some amazing old-school jazz sets. If you aren’t a late-night person, you can stop by and see live music during brunch, which is always a plus.
Nocturne
1330 27th St., Denver
- Hours: 6-10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 6-10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 6-9 p.m. Sunday
This jazz club in the heart of RiNo is the perfect place to indulge in dinner and a show. This special type of reservation includes a three-course meal that’s often paired with cocktails, as well as nightly local jazz that will have your toes tapping. Visitors can also just stop in for a drink and appetizer, but be warmed: This isn’t the biggest space in the world, so reservations are always encouraged!
The Best Places to Find Live Music in Colorado
Gold Hill Inn
401 Main Street, Gold Hill, Boulder
- Hours: 5-8 p.m. Friday through Sunday, open May through December
- Type of music: Americana, bluegrass, folk, honky tonk, and more
This restaurant is only 10 miles from Boulder, but trust us: It’s not easy to get here. No matter what, you have to take a dirt road, and if you’re coming from the north, you’ll be braving the epically steep Lickskillet Road. That said, getting here is well worth it. The restaurant serves up to a six-course meal with unique, locally-crafted food. Plus, there are lots of opportunities to really enjoy yourself in the adjoining beer garden. Along the way, you can hear a variety of unique music befitting a mountain town in one of the most lovely and unique settings around.
Old Town Pub
600 Lincoln Ave., Steamboat Springs
- Hours: Noon-midnight Monday through Thursday, noon-1 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Saturday, and 10:45 a.m.-midnight Sunday
- Type of music: Funk, soul, jazz, R&B, and rock
Steamboat is one of our favorite mountain towns, and this spot right on the main drag easily has some of the best live music Colorado has to offer. Order some of the delicious bar food (we recommend the burger) as well as one of the strong and relatively affordable drinks, and jam out to acts ranging from Grateful Dead tributes to reggae to DJs.
Silver City Aspen
210 S. Galena St., Aspen
- Hours: 7 p.m.-2 a.m. daily
- Type of music: Rock and country
This quintessential mountain town destination is one of the best spots for live music Colorado has to offer. We chalk it up to history, since Silver City is the oldest restaurant in Aspen (it was built during Ulysses S. Grant’s administration, to put it into context). Order some chicken tenders and a Coors Light (or a fancy cocktail, if you’re into the Aspen vibes), and catch some incredible live music from local and national touring acts.