Retrograde

Retrograde is hands down one of the coolest spots in town—and probably the only legit speakeasy around. Hidden behind what looks like a regular ice cream parlor, the entrance is as fun as the drinks. You’ll find a metal fridge door, flip the switch, and like magic, someone will come open the door and welcome you into a whole different vibe. Once inside, it’s cozy, stylish, and full of character. The cocktails? Awesome. Thoughtfully crafted and super tasty. The staff is friendly and laid-back, and Mo, the bartender, really stood out—knowledgeable, personable, and clearly passionate about what he does. If you’re looking for a unique night out with great drinks and a bit of mystery, Retrograde is the place to be.

Me and my wife had a double date here last night and had an awesome time. The staff was super friendly and very knowledgeable about the menu and drinks, and very attentive. This is the second speakeasy me and my wife had gone to and we weren't disappointed. The bar is hidden inside an ice cream shop named 'Sweet Action' and you have to go through a locked refrigerator door to get to the place. The ambiance inside was low light space themed when we went last night. I tried the "Bubba Ho-tep" drink initially and it was amazing! My wife had a drink that literally had a small flower in it which was the best drink I've tried in a while. Overall, the drinks, service and ambiance was amazing. I highly recommend this place for a date night or drinks with friends.

Second place we stopped for cocktails for the evening, we had ice cream while we waited. The girl behind the ice cream bar was very sweet. The speakeasy in the back is fun, but it’s a bit loud because the space is so small and is usually pretty busy. They played old movies on the wall, and the cocktails were awesome!

It's a cozy, different-feeling space. It's very relaxing and lots to look at. I'm not much of a drinker, but the cocktails weren't memorable to me. It's something to try once if you want a really quiet night out, but I can't imagine coming back.

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!

Awesome experience. Very neat place to find and enjoy some unique cocktails. I enjoyed the theme and had a great time with family.

Nice little speakeasy behind a cooler door in an ice cream shop. Turn on a light switch and wait. Have your ID ready. Bartender gets a head count and then leaves to prepare seats. Party size limit, so don't show up with a big group. Had to wait about ten minutes but then got in. The signature drink menu is pretty nice. Lots of high-quality ingredients and masterful mixology. It's cozy and dark. Drinks are expensive 14-21 dollar range for the signatures. Other stuff was available, but we didn't ask. Nice place for a one and done before dinner

I'll admit my first drink wasn't my favorite, but when given a flavor/spirit profile, my second drink was PERFECTION! Would definitely recommend this place if you're into craft/bespoke cocktails and enjoy a creative cocktail experience.

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!

This place was pretty amazing. Behind a pretty busy ice cream shop we found some of the best cocktails the city has to offer. Great staff and ambience this place came to me through a recommendation and didn't disappoint. A limited selection of cocktails off the menu but they accommodated based on tastes for anything of the menu. My fav was the tiki cocktails that had a variety of different flavors. A very intimate gathering space that came off well with everything you would expect a solid cocktail spot to have. Strong recommend.

I love speakeasies because of how secretive their locations seem! This one was located behind a door in an ice cream shop. The bar is outer space/alien themed which was so fun, and all their drinks modeled that too! The location was a lot smaller than I thought, but my friends and I were able to get seated very quickly. If none of the cocktails speak to you, you're able to get custom cocktails made for you which I loved! I had the bartender make me a kiwi daiquiri (they didn't have mint for a mojito) and thought it tasted great. Just the alcohol needed, and I thought the kiwi flavor was unique.

Joaquin provided an excellent experience. He is super personable and knows his stuff. Lots of exciting things coming up for Retrograde and I am stoked about it.

Speakeasy located behind an ice cream store! The concept is cute but the drinks were subpar and didn't taste very good. The inside was pretty cute with tiny lights hanging but cramped.

This speakeasy is so much fun! It is behind a freezer door inside Frozen Matter ice cream. The bar is alian themed with super fun and well made drinks. It is a small bar but the vibe is always friendly and welcoming. I think we went through almost all of their cocktails but excited to try their new options!

Retrograde is a fun and quirky speakeasy that's located within an ice cream shop. It's convenient because when you're waiting for a table, you can grab a scoop of ice cream. The place is on the smaller side so the tables are a bit close to one another. The drinks are fun and some come with a presentation zhuzh which adds to the ambiance. The menu had about 12 specialty cocktails on top of traditional cocktails. You have the option of letting the bartender go wild with their imaginations and create a drink for you. Overall, it's a fun plcae.

One of my favorite speakeasy's in Denver! Located in the ice cream shop Frozen Matter is the cocktail bar Retrograde. You enter through the front and head straight back to a freezer door in the back of the room, where there are instructions to call the hostess. If there's a wait, you can get a scoop of ice cream while you wait for your table. Once inside, it's a dark lit room with space for probably about 20 people. It's quirky with a movie playing on the wall and music in the background. The menu has a list of creative cocktails and even a few beers. If you get the chance sit at the bar so you can watch the drinks being made. Definitely a cool place to bring people from out of town and it's a little off the beaten path of your downtown Denver places.

Great location for a speakeasy! I was totally tickled by entering through an ice cream shop freezer. The inside of the place was nice - dark and ambient with a cool vibe. The cocktail menu was interesting, I had to ask for more details about several of the drinks because I didn't know all of the liqueurs and things used. The bartender was knowledgeable and able to guide me to something I'd enjoy. This is the type of place where you come for the speakeasy experience and a fancy cocktail, and then move on to your next spot. The drinks were delicious, but I can't imagine drinking more than one or two. More of a personal preference than anything, of course.

This speakeasy is really fun. The menu is super creative and super quirky. The quality of the drinks can be hit or miss; I think some of the drinks are more typical and easy-to-drink (The Brain) while some are a little more difficult to drink (Voyage into Space - definitely would not order again), as the options on the menu are quite adventurous. Overall, this bar has a great chill and eclectic vibe with a movie casually playing in the background, a quiet-ish area to talk to with friends, and a fun ambiance. Plus, anything located behind an ice cream shop (which also sells great ice cream) would make for an easy hangout with friends. The downside is that the cocktails do run a bit expensive.

Such a cool vibe in this hidden room. Service was great and our drinks were spectacular.

The ambiance was cool, but the drinks were terrible. And at 17 dollars a drink, it wasn't even worth a 5 dollar happy hour special. The drinks were so bad, but the fact that it was a speak easy is the reason it got 2 stars vs one. The ice cream store that's attached tho was a 10/10 hitter!

One of the managers that I worked with surprised us and said we're going to an ice cream shop before dinner. Lol, it turned out that there was a speakeasy behind the freezer door in the back. We had no issues getting seated in a booth and ordered our drinks. All the cocktails were named after old sci-fi/horror films, which was kinda entertaining. I got the cocktail with the word "Vegas" in it lol (can't remember the full name). It was a bit too tart and sweet for my liking. Retrograde is definitely a cool speakeasy to check out but the cocktail did not blow me away. FYI - There's only one guy who was the host, bartender, and server, so it does take some time from getting seated to getting drinks on the table.

When in doubt, visit a speakeasy! To enter the Retrograde, look for Frozen Matter and by then you'll be able to figure out that the entrance is through a freezer door as there will be a line of people wanting to go in. We were in line and failed to read that vertical driver's licenses weren't allowed! My boyfriend and our friend luckily pulled out their passports ids and were able to come in. It was a small, intimate place to have a drink or two with friends or a partner! We were seated by the bar and were able to chat with Joaquin since he used to live in Central Coast North as well! As for the drinks we ordered The Brain, Bikini Girls Dinosaurs, and Meteor Moon! All of them were great. We were also given the chance to see how they make the drinks and praise all bartenders for being able to memorize drink orders because that is a wonderful skill. After our drinks, Joaquin gave us a boomerang task to take to another bartender at our next stop: Pony Up! Very cool experience, thank you!

Cool concept and idea. Inside was very loud and a strong incense smell. I had the take on an old fashioned which was good but nothing crazy. For $17 a drink I expected more. Glad we tried it but probably wouldnt go back.

Love where the bar is located. The menu had some interesting drinks but the atmosphere was my favorite spot. Love the 90s hip hop music in the background. Definitely would recommend this place!

If you don't know about the secret gem hidden in the ice cream shop you're missing out! There is a freezer door that brings you to this magical place! You walk in and smell the aromas of their speciality cocktails. Every drink was made with perfect and love. The bar tenders all vibed really well together and that made the experience that much more enjoyable. We got the vicious lips, the amazing bulk, and another I can't remember or find online but it was the sweetest one! You'll have to go find out for yourself! Try it and let me know your thoughts

One of my favorite speakeasies in Denver, not just because it was so convenient to my old home! First, let's start with getting into the spot. No passwords, no reservations way in advance needed. Just walk up, and you'll be let into the freezer. There's nothing too hard, and it's all just delightful. Be aware that there aren't enough tables for a huge group. I'm sure they'll find a way to seat you, but we found it easiest to just put ourselves down as groups of 4. Lastly, feel free to order yourself a custom drink. They're masters at making cocktails, and frankly I sometimes find the menu a little too strong or funky. I love that the bartenders will make me something sweet and flaming with vodka, or whatever it is I want.

First speak easy out of state. I was searching for something low key to do before our flight back home the next day. Came across this spot and wanted to check it out. It is really inside a functional ice cream spot. You walk in and locate the freezer door and there is a sign with directions on how to enter. It really made it feel exclusive because as people were ordering ice cream, we were waiting to get access to the speakeasy. You can see others looking over to see where we were going and what we were doing. Inside is small and quaint but the service adds another layer that makes it that much better. Loved the themed menu and drinks are pretty strong. Makes sure you are something before you come by. Check this place out it's worth it!

Ambiance is amazing. I love that its a hidden speakeasy. The store front is an ice cream shop and you have to go through a freezer door to enter the bar area . I sat at the bar area but they also offer booth seating for a party of 4 people . They have about two bartenders so patience maybe needed ‍. Wish I had more photos to share but I definitely was into the whole experience that I forgot to take more photos Parking - street parking is limit but around the block you will find parking garages.

Adorable, quaint speakeasy located inside an ice cream shop. It is a very small space. It's best to come in a small group. Come early - I arrived at the perfect time so my guest and I didn't have to wait long. As we were leaving, there was a line out the ice cream shop door! Sorry I didn't get any pics.

I loved this cute little speakeasy! I am a speakeasy girlie so if there's one in town, I'll sniff it out. I was in Denver only for a Monday and this was one of the few speakeasies open. I chatted with some guests who go around to highly ranked bars (so they visited this one because it was highly ranked). I had two drinks- Bikini Girls vs Dinosaurs and Vegas in Space. The bartender Paul, was great, he talked to me about how the menu was created because I was especially interested in the acidified carrot. They were both tasty and they both were concocted with ingredients I don't usually see in drinks.

Disappointed. We arrived with 2 guest from out of town who recently turned 21. The IDs they have are the vertical still cuz in their state they don't expire right after turning 21. So they were denied entry which was kinda like pretty woman we spent our money at another establishment. And lots of it. The thing is this is a policy not a CO rule. So make your choice but lose out. And the ice cream isn't even good.

Currently an active military member, 33 years old and got denied because it was a "vertical ID". This is a federal ID and the fact it got denied makes no sense. I hope they fix their policy because it is really disappointing to be told that I am not welcomed because of my identification that I was issued. I understand establishments having policies, however me being active military is pretty insulting.

Went on a Friday night around 9:00pm and waited about 20 minutes to get in. Really fun interior, super cozy for a winter night. The cocktails all looked enticing ($17) so my friends and I each tried a different one. Not a single one of us finished our drink and mine was left almost full. In the 30 minutes that we sat at the bar after receiving our drinks the bartenders never once checked on us or asked if we needed anything else. We clearly didn't enjoy the cloyingly sweet and artificial tasting cocktails and there was never an offer to remake them or get us anything else. When we sat down the bartender said, "obviously we don't recommend the beer or wine here"... but that would definitely be the safest bet. I won't be back, but I'm glad I tried it.

A neat little speak easy that's behind an ice cream shop. How you get in is pretty interesting, though when we went the AC was broken. It wasn't as bad in there as we thought it would be, but the poor bartender was clearly dying of heat stroke. The bartender, while sweating away his sins, was super attentive but also kind of sassy which honestly, we prefer. No one likes a bartender who's dull. The drink menu was for sure interesting and we ended up trying quite a few. Honestly though, best part was the Bollywood action movie playing on the TV cause no one expects that and it was pretty good?! Cool place to check out, though it is dark. But I mean it's a speak easy.. aren't they supposed to be dark and mysterious? In my mind, yes. Yes they are.

So the speakeasy is through a ice cream shop, which is cool, but $17 per cocktail is not. Prices are ridiculous for what you get.

Such a unique experience! It's very small inside, but makes for an intimate time with your group. Lines are long so plan accordingly, but service was fast and drinks were great. Got two speciality drinks in the menu and they were so good. Definitely will be back!

A unique bar experience in Denver! Decided to come here for a drink when the SO and I were in town. I'm not sure if they take reservations or not, but we ended up waiting for a table, and the waiting area just so conveniently happened to be inside of an ice cream parlor. The wait was fairly long, but the general consensus of other parties who were also waiting on line with us was that the line was worth it. The inside of the bar is pretty cozy, and since the drinks are fairly stiff, I can't imagine parties staying there for too long, so the lines do move. I got their Space Ninjas cocktail and the SO got their Time Chasers cocktail. Service was friendly and attentive, and while the drinks weren't cheap, the experience was fun and the drinks were well crafted. What's more fun than grabbing drunks in a speakeasy behind an ice cream shop?

Exceptional staff, experience and drinks we were really impressed with: The Brain, Roboshark, phantom planet, and the metro moon

I love a good speakeasy and I love ice cream, so when I found out Retrograde was a speakeasy inside an ice cream shop there was no question of whether or not we were going. We must have got there at the right time because while there was a little line when we walked in, it ended up getting much longer behind us - but thankfully there was ice cream to distract from the wait While the line looked long, it moved pretty steadily and the host was good about coming out and giving each party an update on time. We didn't stay too long once inside as we were tired from a long day, but the tasty cocktails were a perfect end cap to the night.

Super cool and fun speakeasy in the back of an icecream shop. I love the concept. The drinks were eh. If you like super fancy/bitter tasting cocktails, you'd like them. $17 a drink is steep when it's filled with ice to the brim. However, we're here for the vibes not the drink quality. I'd bring out-of-towners here but wouldn't be a go-to spot.

This speakeasy definitely threw me off being a ice cream shop in front. I forgot it was a speakeasy and was lost finding it lol. Once I walked in I fell in love with the aesthetic and jazz playing. The drinks were very intriguing and delightful. Watching the bartender make them was even a show in itself. I'd definitely come back with a reservation to sit at one of the tables instead of the bar.

Cool service and ambiance. We travel and order mock tails every speak easy we find. They were super accommodating and loved the vibe.

quite a vibe. small, dim lit, seated only. drinks strong af in the best way. garnishes were cutie. i felt cool just being there

~A VYBE~ This speakeasy is totally worth whatever wait time!!!!!!!! Dark and mysterious this tiny spot is packed in with lights, a proyector screen (yay film) and about 5 tables (if I counted right.) Very intimate setting. The bartender / waiter are all very focused on their guests as seating is limited. Tip: come with a small group, meaning 2-3 people.. there's only two tables that can hold a group of 4 so, less is more when visiting Retrograde :)

Great service, bad movies, strong drinks, soft forehead kisses at the end of the night. Everything I look for in a bar.

I love a cute speakeasy but walked into this place and tried to orders a Tito's/water and he said the only vodka they was some random name id never heard of... my friend and I asked is it a potato or corn base vodka and he said "it's vodka, they're all the same." They aren't. He's a bartender, so we try to reword for him to get him to understand... he doesn't... then tells us there's a TWO DRINK MINIMUM PER PERSON. That's not listed anywhere. I ask to speak with a manager... he claims he is the manager... obviously a lie. There's no way a manager of a bar wound be so clueless of their liquors (mind you, their vodka is a rice vodka lol, not typical at all for a standard American bar). He demeans us and tells us we can leave, which we happily did. Rest assured, can never recommend this place. Told the people in line what had transpired and half of them left with us. No professionalism, not even decent spirits... save yourselves the time and money.

Hands down my favorite bar of all time! My partner and I have visited Retrograde on two separate occasions while we were visiting Denver and always left with our expectations exceeded in practically every aspect that you would want from a craft cocktail bar. For starters, service is great thanks to some friendly and talented bartenders who are knowledge in cocktail making. I enjoy the intimate service that you get which is another aspect of what makes this bar so unique. Second, the cocktails are amazing! It's hard to go wrong with any of the choices. The recent time we came they had revamped their menu and it was seriously overwhelming (in a good way) to know which drink to choose. These cocktails are crafted in-house and it's clear how much thought goes into the making of these. Lastly, the ambiance is definitely chill, intimate and prefect to go with a +1. Not so sure about big groups larger than 4. The first time we went it was on a Friday and the wait was long but still worth it. The second time we came on a Sunday evening closer to opening which was even better because we completely avoided a line. Retrograde will continue being our go-to bar to visit in Denver! For now, I'm mastering the Space Ninja at home

The cocktails here were great, as were the bartenders. I liked the decor as well. I ordered off menu (depicted but can't remember the name- herbal and citrusy) for my first drink and did bartender's choice for the second. Both were great! My partner got their riff on an old fashioned and loved it too. Try this place!

Cute setting!! Go through the icecream shop, go to the freezer and ring the bell in the side!! All cocktails are $16. Would try a different drink next time!!

Visiting my friend in Denver and we decided to stop here after dinner for drinks. This place is a discreet, small cocktail lounge hidden in back of an ice cream shop. A look inside, you get a mix of speakeasy yet chill and hipster atmosphere. They offer a variety of clever cocktails. I decided to go off the menu and I ordered a classic old fashioned drink. Considering that bourbon drinks are my staple cocktails, I was anxious to try it. From presentation to taste, I was impressed. Pleasantly sweet, the cocktail had a nice blend of bourbon, sugar cube, bitters, topped with an orange peel garnish. Balanced. Bold. Sippable. Well done. Overall, great food and great service!

If you're in Denver, come check out this cool and unique bar! A little bit of a wait, but trust me it's worth it! The guys working back there are rocking it! Very unique menu and vibe, 100% worth it to support this place!

OMG the bartender are AWESOME!! Cocktails are great but if you ask them to do something special with your favorite flavors and liquors... they will create a unique and PERFECT cocktail for you !

Super cute date night idea. The wait was a few minutes but you can enjoy a tasty ice cream. The crew was welcoming and fun! Definitely a must try.

I am a huge fan of SpeakEasys. I came across this gem while visiting Denver. Like most SpeakEasys, there is usually a process to find and access these places. Retrograde did not dissapoint. All I can say is that if you like oce cream, you'll find this place. I visited this place with several colleagues. Bar service was great. Handcrafted drinks tasted as well as they looked. We only had time for 1 round before they closed but would definitely visit this place again.

3.5 stars. If you tell me about a local speakeasy I've never been to, you can bet I'm already marking my calendar for a girls night out. Retrograde is located past a walk-in freezer door of the Frozen Matter ice cream shop. We had a quick and positive experience getting seated at a table, arriving close to the opening time. It helped that there were only two of us. Love the cocktails here. They're all so different with such unique names and ingredients. Would come back for those! Food, on the other hand, wasn't good. Selection was limited, and the sliders we had were dry and didn't satisfy our taste palettes. They probably have a food menu to help absorb all the alcohol... which I ultimately appreciated. Our waitress was attentive, and we didn't feel rushed, despite Retrograde getting busier as the night went on. We had a great time overall. There's such a quirky neon vibe (not my typical preference for speakeasies) but if there's little to no wait, totally worth checking out and crossing off your list. Oh and make sure to grab some ice cream on your way out!

Greta service, great atmosphere & GREATER drinks! The egg white drink was our favorite is actually a top 5 cocktail I have ever tried.

The bar staff were amazing and super helpful! This speakeasy was fine but nothing I would go back to anytime soon. Unfortunately the hype for this speakeasy was high and I just feel there are just better speakeasy's out there for the price.