Retrograde

The Best Bars in Denver

"Behind the door of what appears to be the walk-in freezer of Uptown ice cream parlor Frozen Matter awaits one of Denver’s coolest cocktail lounges, pun intended. That glowing backbar and the B movies screening on one wall are all part of the sci-fi vibe that the bartenders enhance by naming their out-there drinks after cult flicks: Take, for example, the Fungicide — a blend of preserved plum–infused pisco, báhn mì shrub, honey, saline, lime, and egg white — or Lost Skeleton of Cadavra, a crushable concoction of Ecuadorian chawar blanco, fermented lemonade, charred strawberry–sesame preserves, and Greek yogurt." - Ruth Tobias

20 Best Bars in Denver | Condé Nast Traveler

"The first thing you need to know about Retrograde is, well, that you need to know about it: Located without signage behind the freezer door of an ice-cream parlor, with a light switch you have to flip to gain entrance, it’s not a place you simply stumble upon. The second thing you need to know about Retrograde is that it’s positively kooky, with major outer-spacey vibes. With room for a few-dozen people, tops, it’s designed to ensure you have a highly personalized experience. The concept itself precludes session drinking; nobody’s here to nurse a lawnmower beer. Retrograde’s intimate size and scope keep the hell-raising hordes at bay. Seven or eight craft beers are listed by style rather than brand or region, ensuring that you’re getting what you want, whether or not you know exactly what it is—a pilsner or a lager, a sour or a gose—and there are a few house wines for the spirits-averse too. But seasonal cocktails command the spotlight. About a dozen in all, and keeping with the space motif, they're a bit out there. Combinations like shiitake-infused gin, rye, rum, coconut, ginger, and curry tincture." - Ruth Tobias

Essential Denver Ice Cream Shops for Savoring the End of Summer

"A family-run operation, Frozen Matter offers carefully created varieties with seasonal options like the lemon blueberry swirl. A new location just opened on Gaylord Street, though all the ice cream is produced at the Uptown original, which features a rare on-site pasteurizer (not to mention the Frozen Matter speakeasy located behind an unassuming freezer door)." - Eater Staff

Essential Denver Ice Cream Shops for Savoring the End of Summer

"A family-run operation, Frozen Matter offers carefully created varieties with seasonal options like the lemon blueberry swirl. A new location just opened on Gaylord Street, though all the ice cream is produced at the Uptown original, which features a rare on-site pasteurizer (not to mention the Frozen Matter speakeasy located behind an unassuming freezer door)." - Eater Staff

Slip through the freezer door behind the ice cream counter for a sci‑fi‑tinged speakeasy with seasonal, theme-driven menus. Featured by Condé Nast Traveler and Eater, Retrograde delivers inventive cocktails in a cinematic, low-lit hideout.