The Arvada Tavern

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13 Denver Bars and Restaurants for Unexpected Flavors | Eater

"Go to Olde Town Arvada and enjoy a drink and bite to eat in one of the city’s most historic watering holes, which looks as classic as the cocktails it serves. Pair a well-crafted drink with the bourbon-glazed pork chop and peach-pecan salad with blue cheese. This spot comes with a shot of history too: It opened in April 1933, the first tavern to be allowed to legally sell liquor in the town of Arvada. While the owners have changed hands over the decades, this venue remains a local favorite for the atmosphere, food, and drinks. And just to shake things up even more, each Tuesday, the old-school tavern specializes in tiki drinks." - Vox Creative

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Head to These 10 Neighborhood Bars for the Holidays | Eater Denver

"It’s tiki night every Tuesday at the Arvada Tavern, where serious themed cocktails are prepared in a historical and festive Olde Town setting. On any night of the week, though, go for the mixed drinks and small plates, and step inside the phone booth to be transported upstairs for (weekend) live music." - Josie Sexton

Arvada Tavern [Official Site]

https://denver.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-bars-arvada

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Where to Eat and Drink in Arvada | Eater Denver

"The Arvada Tavern is Olde Town’s real hidden gem, with its speakeasy style dating back to 1933 just after the repeal of prohibition. Now the bar offers fine food, vintage cocktails, and a seriously fun tiki night every Tuesday. See also music upstairs (through the phone booth) on weekends." - Gigi Sukin

Arvada Tavern/Facebook

https://www.5280.com/sips-arvada-tavern/

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Dating to 1933, this revived tavern pairs scratch pub fare with one of metro Denver’s most respected cocktail programs; step through the phone booth for Bernard’s Tiki Room upstairs. Frequently praised by 5280 and still buzzing with live events. ([5280.com](https://www.5280.com/sips-arvada-tavern/?utm_source=openai), [arvadatavern.com](https://www.arvadatavern.com/events?utm_source=openai))

Best Restaurants in Arvada (2025)

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Wings Worth the Journey: The Essential Guide to Arvada’s Best Local Wing Spots

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A Prohibition-era bar brought back to life, The Arvada Tavern remains a cornerstone of Olde Town nightlife. Beyond its celebrated cocktails, the kitchen turns out wings that balance crispiness and flavor. Their spicy honey sriracha wings, in particular, have been spotlighted in Eater Denver’s neighborhood guides and are often mentioned in local roundups. With its vintage decor and lively weekend crowd, this spot effortlessly blends history and modern-day energy.

Rick S.

Google

Fantastic tavern for social drinking with friends. Excellent table service and over the top drinks. We had the Naked and Famous mezcal drink that was outstanding to say the least. Our friends enjoyed the drinks the had but I forget what they ordered. It really was an excellent way to top off a great evening with friends. Our waitress was highly seasoned and engaging.

Mathew H.

Google

Absolutely loved it here! Great place for any meal and the service was top-notch, even with how busy it was. The burger and steak were full of flavor, and the Peach Crostini appetizer was incredible — definitely worth trying. Portions aren’t huge, but every bite is packed with taste. You can tell the whole team, both in the kitchen and out front, really cares about what they do. Fantastic job, everyone!

Britney M.

Google

Diamond in the rough restaurant. Knowledgeable and friendly staff. We love supporting local and this is the epitome of local. Old speakeasy turned restaurant. Small menu and for good reason because the items on said menu are made well. Get the pasta dish and ravioli. Or go by the waiters recommendation because he cared about the establishment and will not disappoint.

Leilani’s A.

Google

Sippin' Santa was very cute! It was a bit busy so service was a little slow, and the drinks were fine but nothing spectacular. I still had a fun, festive time but probably wouldn't go again.

Zuzana P.

Google

Really nice and relaxing tavern with cool vibe and friendly staff. Food is well presented and well made, you can taste the quality ingredients.

Grace F.

Google

Marie is the BEST server! She was kind and helpful and truly made the experience so much more. The quality in food lately especially for the chicken schnitzel has gone way down, the chicken is now bland, the sauce is watery, and the sides are not there. But the service, especially Marie, is top notch and that is still something to appreciate. If you try any dish, get the bison ragu!! :)

Trevor S.

Google

Been here a handful of times. They consistently make good cocktails and have really good food. Their bar is stocked with an impressive selection of quality whiskey.

Grish240

Google

The Arvada Tavern has been around since the 1930’s. The double smash burger had the crispy edge and tasted fresh off the grill. The bun was light so I didn’t feel overly full. The spinach dip starter was just ok. Emily our server was fantastic and had a good energy about her. Sitting on the patio on a beautiful Colorado evening was a sheer delight.

Brad B.

Yelp

WHAT A SPOT!!! When you think of a tavern in Colorado, this is it. From the dim lit room, to the comfortable big booths, to the amazing craft cocktails this is the spot. We had a great dinner on Wednesday with the delicious walnut coated Salmon, artichoke dip app, country pie and steak. All were cooked perfectly and were absolutely delicious. If Old Fashions are your thing, then you'll be pleased to find out there is about 5 different options of them here. The server smokes them out right in front of you at the table! Very cool look. The best part: the pricing!! You're not getting hosed on the food or dinks. Really a delightful spot with a very homie feel. I'm adding this to my recommendations list for people who visit from out of town and for the folks in town looking for a great drink and food spot.

Kathleen K.

Yelp

We came here as a group and it was very good. Service was slow, we waited to order, 10-15 minutes for drink reorders and 15 minutes for the check. We did watch the bartenders while we waited and they were making amazing drinks. Green Chili Pretzel - very good with a great cheese sauce. French Dip - the ribeye was medium rare and so good, don't miss. It was on rosemary bread. The fries were good too. Cobb Salad - very good. The Mai Tai was the only thing we didn't like. Not very fruity. Parking is on the street and fills up.

Kelly S.

Yelp

Really nice bar. We came for a night cap after dinner and stayed until they closed. The bartenders were nice and helpful. I'd come back again.

Edie A.

Yelp

My friend and I stopped in for a quick drink. We were warmly greeted at the door and told we could pick wherever we would like to sit. We chose the bar. It was fun to read the history of the Arvada Tavern and nice to see that they are trying to keep the interior decor similar to that of its 1940s remodel - including a cigarette machine next to the original glass block entryway. (The only thing that made it feel like we were back in 2023 were the man buns sported by the male bartenders.) Their classic cocktail menu had drinks listed by name, year developed, and ingredients. The El Diablo was a refreshing mix of tequila, crème de cassis, and lime.

Jessica J.

Yelp

This place is alright in my opinion. It should be noted that I didn't order any food and that I just went for drinks. My friends got food and it seemed to be average-nothing special about it, which is normal for bar/tavern food. The drinks are also alright, nothing too special about them. There was a mocktail section though, which I really respect places for having and offering on the menu itself. Service felt-awkward? At times felt like being a burden by not ordering more food or drinks, but maybe I'm overthinking it. Favorite part would have to be the ambiance of the place as I'm a sucker for some good/dim/dark mood lighting. Don't think I would go here again, but if someone wanted to go, I wouldn't mind.

Andrea B.

Yelp

Tiki lounge - So here's a little secret that not many people are aware of: the Arvada Tavern has a hidden gem upstairs called the Tiki Lounge. Let me tell you, stepping into this tropical paradise was an absolute delight - the perfect escape to unwind and enjoy some island vibes. Now, I must admit, the first drink I ordered didn't quite hit the mark in terms of taste. However, the fantastic staff at the Tiki Lounge gladly exchanged it for another, which turned out to be absolutely spot-on. Talk about great service! As for the food, we decided to indulge in some wings. While they were good, they didn't blow us away. Oh, I'm thrilled to hear that the Tiki Lounge offered even more than just a tropical ambiance! The addition of an open mic night sounds like the perfect cherry on top of an already amazing experience. Whether you're seeking a quick escape from the daily grind or simply yearning for a taste of the tropics when a trip is out of reach, the Tiki Lounge seems to offer just what you need. With its relaxing atmosphere, delicious drinks, flavorful food, and now the addition of live music, it's a little slice of paradise right in your own backyard.

Alex B.

Yelp

This little spot in "Old Arvada" is awesome! It has a prohibition era vibe to it and the burger was one of the best burgers I have ever had!! I will definitely go back!!

McKennah R.

Yelp

Really great atmosphere. Intimate but not stuffy, and beautifully cozy inside. Our table was right by the kitchen window and was kind of cool to see the action. Our group of 3 got very different dishes and each were delicious. We were there on a snowy night, which just added to the overall vibe!

Mike D.

Yelp

First things first... Thank you, yelp, for helping finding this gem! This place was established in 1933, and has a really wonderful ambience and vibe. Outstanding cocktails, I mean really really good. Three of us enjoyed the chicken schnitzel, steak salad, and salmon in posole sauce. Three happy diners, three smiling faces, three clean plates. For dessert, we shared the banana pudding and some housemaid donuts. Get the donuts. Repeat: get the donuts. The banana pudding was good, but would have been better with some sliced bananas included. Our server was charming, knowledgeable, and professional. This is our first time in Arvada, but now it's looking like we will be back once a year for the Jazz Guitar festival. This will absolutely be included on every visit from here on. In my opinion, it's the best food and cocktails we've had in Arvada. Hope you enjoy!

Jackie W.

Yelp

Hello I've been going to the Arvada Tavern for 15 years. The chicken wings are great and the asparagus dip was fantastic. RIB EYE is delicious. TIKI NIGHT IS MAGICAL Amanda is the Manager ,very friendly and helpful.

Wendy M.

Yelp

Met a friend here for drinks and apps. What a fun place. Our server was amazing, attentive, and super friendly. This is a dude you'd wanna hang out with, aside from happy hour. My hot toddy hit the spot, especially coming in from a snowy week - not to mention the sheer presentation. We shared some apps, also all very good and cooked well. I already want to come back as I type this and have dinner. Craft cocktails, great service, yummy food - really, there isn't much more to want? Def returning (again and again).

Steph A.

Yelp

Recently moved to Arvada and wanted to check out Sippin' Santa! We decided to get dinner first at the Arvada Tavern, and it was great! We got the seasonal crostinis, which were amazing, and I got the seasonal salad with salmon - also great! My boyfriend got the French Dip special and he loved it. Truffle fries were 10/10. Drinks were great and our server was amazing! Only thing not great was the crème brûlée, but they didn't end up charging us for it, which I appreciated but didn't at all expect. Sippin Santa was awesome, I love the speakeasy feel. Service was awesome, drinks were great and the vibe was so cool! Happy I found this spot and will definitely be back. Also really cool that it's the oldest building in Arvada :)

Rick S.

Yelp

The Arvada Tavern in located in the Olde Town Arvada district, a collection of shops, boutiques, galleries, events, restaurants, breweries and a winery. There is an outdoor dining area but we chose to eat inside due to the inclement weather. The menu is eclectic and features a curated selection of craft cocktails, local beers, and a variety of appetizers and entrees that would be suitable for a gastropub. I wish I had tried the bone marrow French onion soup, but opted instead for the pink pickled deviled eggs. These are brightly colored with a deep and satisfying flavor. Dinner included the pork belly burnt ends glazed maple bourbon sauce and a chicken schnitzel. The pork belly is a great choice if you love rich barbecue meats. The schnitzel was perfectly cooked and nestled on a bed of garlic mashed potatoes. Service was excellent (lots of man-buns in evidence) and friendly. Great place for a casual dinner. Recommended.

Greg G.

Yelp

This is a classic bar in Olde Town that's reliable and cozy. It's been here for years and the old pictures on the walls speak to the transition of old Arvada over time. Friendly bartenders fix up the standard spirits, new creations, and a menu of seasonal cocktails. The food menu is somewhat limited but always tasty. Reservations are recommended on a Friday or Saturday nights as it's often busy. A good place to meet up with friends or for a date night. Had one of the best Martinis ever here.

Jenny-Rose K.

Yelp

We stopped in at the Arvada Tavern on a Sunday evening for drinks and apps and I honestly wasn't expecting this place to be a perfect 5 star. What an amazing find! The cocktails are absolutely fantastic, we had the potatoe and cheese perogis with their homemade sour cream sauce which was absolutely excellent. Next up sharing the artichoke dip which was incredible. As someone who usually ales this from scratch- it was a winner. The drinks are absolutely fantastic and if you're looking to relax with a drink and take in a Sunday evening to melt away the Monday stress look no further. This is the perfect tavern with some prohibition vibes tossed in!

J Warren R.

Yelp

Arvada Tavern may be the oldest eating establishment in town. Its always good. Had friends visiting who wanted to explore Arvada and this was the dinner choice. The grilled salmon with pozole was delicious. Service was exceptional. Good, reasonably priced wine list and a nice cocktail selection. Overall the food selection is not long nor is it creative --Arvada serves standard bar fare (burgers, sandwiches a few chicken and steak entrees). Everything was tasty - so what they do they do well. The interior is dark. Inside it is very loud. Try to get a table outside if the weather cooperates. Arvada Tavern is a must visit when in Olde Town Arvada.

Kenny O.

Yelp

Greeted and sat near the bar. Samantha quickly gets our water and bottle of water. We ordered 2 appetizers, which arrived in 12 minutes. The best Rocky mountain oysters I've ever had. Crispy, meaty, tender, with incredible flavor. I've never had anything like it. 21 minutes later, we got our entrees. Babeza (beef cheek) melt with peppers and onions. Dipped in au jus that exploded with flavor, OMG good. Ceaser salad with salmon was perfectly cooked. Great place

Paul J.

Yelp

Great cocktail bar with a sneaky and fun Tiki bar upstairs on the weekends.. charming place with very great and knowledgeable bartenders. Had Manhattans had old fashions all of which were excellent. The guy next to me at a burger and it looked fantastic but we were just in for drinks and an appetite. The wings were very large. The Rocky mountain oysters were prepared perfectly. The artichoke dip was creamy and rich with some crunchy chips. If I'm ever back downtown Arvada I'll go to this place again.

Kaoru U.

Yelp

The atmosphere and mood of this tavern are classic and absolutely fantastic! The cocktails are also really good. The servers are knowledgeable and courteous. However, there was one issue for me. I'm not sure if the toilet ventilation was malfunctioning, but there was a noticeable smell coming from the toilets towards the back of the tavern. Please have the ventilation be checked!

Dana W.

Yelp

Great little dark bar in old town Arvada. Came here to meet a friend and we had an amazing time drinking fun drinks and yummy appetizers. Definitely a great higher end spot in the area! Parking lot across the street!

Naji S.

Yelp

Came for a later-night meal with our friends and loved the ambiance. Dark, older, classic. 3 of us ordered the burger and all loved it. Nice beer and whiskey selection.

Kim G.

Yelp

Loved it here! I ordered French Onion Soup as my meal and it was literally the best I've ever had! Can't wait for the opportunity to go back again!

E L.

Yelp

Fun drinks, I love their pretzel appetizer and dinner is pretty good too. Has a fun, speak easy vibe without being pretentious.

Rochelle E.

Yelp

The food is amazing the margaritas are amazing and delicious I love coming here on Mondays

Shawn J.

Yelp

Food was phenomenal. Best rocky mountain oysters i've ever had. Ambiance was a gorgeous speakeasy type. After eating dinner, ask to go to the hidden tiki lounge. There are literally award winning cocktails on the menu. Like what. I enjoyed my time and forgot that I was in a restaurant. Definitely check it out. :)

Emma S.

Yelp

I loved the vibe of this restaraunt and the food was delicious. Sit at the bar if you can and watch the bartenders do their thing!

Veronica D.

Yelp

I love this place! the food is to doe for. the staff is amazing! However, the tiki bar upstairs needs food! Btw I love Vernon!! Best waiter ever.

Sara W.

Yelp

We made it to the actual Tavern (night before we were upstairs in their Tiki Bar) and loved it! It is super cute and quaint inside in a prohibition kind of way. We were seated right away as a party of 2 around 730p on a Wed night. Service was on point and friendly. The food and drinks are very good. We will be back!

Stephanie N.

Yelp

This review is mainly for the drinks only since I haven't really eaten here. I usually only come here at night with my bf to grab drinks. It's one of our favorite date spots. Nothing really special about the inside. It's mostly dark and each table has a candle. It's not too loud inside so you can actually hear you conversations. My go to drink is their LAVENDER GREYHOUND. It's a bit sweet and easy to drink. The drink itself doesn't have a super strong lavender taste. It's mostly citrus-y. I think most of the lavender flavor is in their sugar lavender rim around the cup. If you're a fan of Old Fashions, their true Old fashion is really good and simple (according to my bf). Their signature OLDE TOWN FASHIONED on their menu is on the sweeter side with the cherry and orange. It's still good, but just depends what you prefer.

Robert T.

Yelp

Salads were the hit in our group. Terrific service and the hostess was friendly. Drinks were top shelf.

Katie F.

Yelp

Stopped in for a quick shot after being jolted after seeing my mortal enemy. Although we were one of the first people in the bar, the bartender was super sweet, sympathetic and welcoming for our small party. We came, saw and conquered those shots of tequila and I'd easily stop in again when in Old Town Arvada! Fun Fact: This tavern is the oldest building in Old Town Arvada and its' history is seen throughout the walls. DEF worth seeing :)

Kelli H.

Yelp

I've only ever been for Tiki Tuesdays, but man do I love The Arvada Tavern. Warm and inviting on the interior and unassuming on exterior. The drink menu on Tiki Tuesdays covers all the classics and then a few with twists. They also sell the glasses they use to serve many of their drinks - I ended up walking away with one recently because the design was so delightful to me. They are not shy on making the drinks large and strong. The food menu is also great - last time I was in I ordered the teriyaki chicken which came over rice and really hit the spot. It's pub food - so don't go expecting posh restaurant food - but it's pub food executed really well.

Pam W.

Yelp

Good neighborhood bar. Good affordable prices. Good food. Good place to catch a sports event, karaoke and more. Friendly staff.

Sami E.

Yelp

Nice place to have dinner Chicken soup,ice tea and lots of steak,their service is quite awesome

Will T.

Yelp

The meatloaf was INCREDIBLE, and highly would recommend it, definitely ask for a little extra gravy if they can do that. We also loved the PIEROGIS! Then the Kona Waterfall to wash it all down

Carl M.

Yelp

Great cocktails and live music. We had a great time. You need to go through the phone booth! It leads to a fun experience !!

Martin F.

Yelp

15 dollars for a half glass of margarita cold appetizer and a crappy service!!!!! Never again. Big city prices arrogant staff equals a waste of time!!!

Derek K.

Yelp

Please first understand why I am putting a low review. I had bought a vegi burger for $26 and it came with fries. This burger was way overpriced but I was very hungry and wanted to celebrate with friends. Then I got the burger and was so sadly disappointed I should have returned it to get my money back. It tasted like if Burger King tried to make a vegi burger and then they copied McDonald's fries. I don't trust their food, but their drinks were phenomenal. We sat in a cozy little corner and enjoyed the soft music. If I ever go back I will be telling the manager about the food.

Lara B.

Yelp

First time coming and everything was perfect. The drinks, food, and our server Dre! She was awesome and very attentive. It had a great vibe and we are excited to come back!

Suzanne M.

Yelp

The ambience is awesome. But there's no healthy options on the menu. You would think people are eating a little healthier they would adjust to the times. So sad Because the place is so convenient and charming and the people that work there are So nice

Cali R.

Yelp

Awesome place. Been many times. Go to Taco Tuesday, trust me. You won't regret it. Beer and pool tables. Yesa, come on down to olde town, tavern that is!!!

Alfred C.

Yelp

Excellent service, sat at the bar. The bar tender was amazing and the food was outstanding, highly recommend

Vince P.

Yelp

Good food and fun atmosphere and good service but the real standout here is their mai tai! I think their mai tai rum blend is the best in the Denver metro truly a standout! If you get a chance on the weekend check out Bernard's tiki room upstairs awesome spot and a hidden tiki gem!

Souzana V.

Yelp

Celebrated Christmas here with a gf I haven't seen for awhile. Our dinner was absolutely delicious. I got a lot of pictures except for dinner because we both were so hungry. lol. We started off at the bar, while waiting for our table, and enjoyed a drink and chatted away. Finally got our table and started off with an appetizer, artichoke dip. The wait did not take long for all of food. The artichoke dip was delicious and we pretty much cleaned it out. My gf wanted a hamburger so we ended up splitting a hamburger and fries. It was cooked perfectly as well as perfectly satisfying. Not too full and we were able to share the delicious vanilla lava cake. Our dinner couldn't have tasted anymore fabulous. We were definitely hungry, but food was also cooked deliciously. Second time here and food did not disappoint. This place makes for a romantic date with their low lightings. You can dress casually or dress up. We were in between. Lol Great night for sure.

Rebecca S.

Yelp

Cocktails and service here are awesome! Highly recommend stopping in when you want something a bit fancier and a great cocktail selection to choose from!

Meredith Sorenson S.

Yelp

One of our favorite restaurants. Good food, great cocktails, love the intimate lighting. Can't go wrong here.

David W.

Yelp

I'd heard about the cocktails in this place for a while and had been wanting to check it out. With some friends in town wanting to go out somewhere fun, I finally had a reason to visit The Arvada Tavern. We were not disappointed. For a Wednesday night the place was pretty busy. We ended up sitting at the bar and were treated to some truly memorable cocktails. Special thanks to Brian, who was our bartender. We noticed one of the house cocktails had "peated whiskey" in it. Sometimes I hesitate to ask a bartender what an ingredient is because it's not fun to see someone roll their eyes at you, but Brian was approachable enough that we felt comfortable asking him. Thanks for that! It seems like the reputation of the Arvada Tavern is well deserved. This place is definitely going on my list. I should say that I can't comment on the food, as we were only in there for drinks. Next time we'll do dinner.

Amy H.

Yelp

This place is one of my favorites! We had cocktails and the Brie. It was a very romantic and festive environment.

Jason W.

Yelp

Very nice and classy place to have a drink definitely nice environment and good service. Would check it out

David S.

Yelp

I will never, ever come back. It was by far my worst experience on my first trip to Colorado. The Rocky Mountain Oysters were pitifully tiny. So tiny that I have never seen smaller freshwater oysters. These oysters were the size of fried pickles and there were only eight per order. The Arvada Tavern is engaging in highly deceptive business practices by not warning consumers their oysters are far smaller than other establishments, yet charging $13 per order, the same as a half order at another restaurant I visited, and the Arvada Tavern's full order is one-third the size of the other location's half order. If the Arvada Tavern will not reduce the prize for its tiny oysters, nor serve larger oysters, they should be banned from serving the item, period. I got ripped off and ripped off good. I will never forgive the Arvada Tavern for that. Embarrassing.

https://www.eater.com/ad/maps/best-denver-bars-restaurants-cocktails-bold-flavors

391,688 Postcards · 10,992 Cities

13 Denver Bars and Restaurants for Unexpected Flavors | Eater

Eater - Lists + Maps

https://denver.eater.com/maps/best-neighborhood-bars-denver

391,688 Postcards · 10,992 Cities

Head to These 10 Neighborhood Bars for the Holidays | Eater Denver

Arvada Tavern [Official Site]

https://denver.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-bars-arvada

391,688 Postcards · 10,992 Cities

Where to Eat and Drink in Arvada | Eater Denver

Arvada Tavern/Facebook

https://www.5280.com/sips-arvada-tavern/

22,027 Postcards · 1,950 Cities

Best Restaurants in Arvada (2025)

View this post on Instagram

Wings Worth the Journey: The Essential Guide to Arvada’s Best Local Wing Spots

22,027 Postcards · 1,950 Cities