Skylark Lounge

Great location, and intimate venue for live music upstairs, although parking is a struggle, and fast bartenders. However, PAY ATTENTION TO THE ID POLICY on their website - they literally will not even look at vertical orientation IDs, even if valid and from another state. This sucks greatly for people traveling from out of state.

Skylark gets a win for one of the better venues in Denver! I finally saw a band in the upstairs space since their re-opening and had a great time. It's a nice space with plenty of seating and standing room. Bartender was great and drinks reasonably priced. Sound system is on point. The AC is a game changer in the summer and the spacious outdoor patio is a great place to make new friends. Love it and can't wait to return!

I went for karaoke on a Wednesday night and they have the best sound system of all the karaoke in Denver thanks to their awesome karaoke DJ! I was wowed ant how well u could hear myself in the mic and how it picked up every little nuance and enunciation in my vocals even the whispers oohs and ahhhhs. Very impressed I’ll be back hopefully tommorrow!

They don’t have food in Skylark lounge but they have a delicious pizza place across the street. Recommend to us by the Bar Tender at Skylark. If you go across the street and get their ice coffee you can mix it with Kahlúa at Skylark. Parking a little tricky but it Down Town Denver. Upstairs not wheel chair accessible but they do shows up there. Great staff.

It's sad what they did to this place: after ownership changed hands in 2022, the renovations eliminated much of the classic, vintage atmosphere this place offered. Now, it's just a new version of nearby hipster bar Hi-Dive, and the clientele is now younger, tattooed hipsters that are all cooler than you. The bartenders don't seem to care about their jobs, about customer service, and are often almost too drunk to work. It seems that Skylark is less of a job and more of a place for them to hang out, play pool, do shots, and generally ignore customers. Bridget was sweet, but Zach is incompetent beyond description, and should be fired immediately. These people probably bemoan the gentrification of Denver, while at the same time killing the vibe of a great Denver bar by making it seem like a private club for their hipster buddies. Gone are the days of the old Skylark, forcing us to look elsewhere for another comfortable, welcoming place to hang out.

This was my second time to visit the Skylark Lounge – both times to attend a live Backpacker Radio podcast. What a great venue and great staff. A nice selection of beers and a really comfortable setting. Both the upstairs and main floor lounges were comfortable with great vibes.

Skylark was fun and exciting. We went to see a friends band play and do a recording for PBS. Duncan Maxwell, Dunk & the DFunk band. The band was Amazing. Full band with horns, you don’t see that a lot anymore. Very refreshing, energetic, cool & fun. We also got to meet Lady Los, such talent. Looking forward to see what these Artist do next.

Came from outta town to listen to some funk and soul on a Sunday. DJ did not disappoint with the vinyl selection. I just wish I could go back for western night. I really liked this place!!! Bartenders were real cool. Thanks y’all!!

This was a pleasant surprise. The bartender (out of 1985) told us to check out the upstairs. There we discovered a room with an ambient DJ mixing some great beats, plus a second bar. It was kinda slow. But very laid back and chill. Just what we needed for that moment.

I like this little spot, kind of a divey vibe in a good way. It's clean though! I stopped for a movie that they were playing with sound. At the time they said it's something they're doing in partnership with the Denver Public Library (DPL) every other month on a Tuesday night. We saw an osbcure, older blaxploitation superhero film that was funny at times! Probably not intentionally, or was it? I have no idea! They DPL even had a card maker for you to get a new library card! And told me about Kanopy, an app I can sign up for with DPL and watch free movies at home! They also had some free magnets of the movie, which was pretty cool. The bar had a video game in there and I think they may have music sometimes, too. Wasn't able to confirm (I was watching a movie and getting my library card & magnet!).

Came here for a small show upstairs and I love the small room energy and options for seating now that my body is getting old and pained. We got a drink downstairs before heading up and the bartender was very friendly. I looove the cool bar upstairs too, it's such a cute place! Hope to come back for another show soon.

Love this place and the general vibe but have been very disappointed with the DJs on the weekend. It's seems like they only book people who think they are Anderson Paak's jazz bar in West Hollywood and are taking themselves way too seriously. We just need a great fun place to dance on Broadway and this amateur DJs are killing the vibe. Please book DJs who will keep us dancing instead of playing Slow War at 11pm on a Friday night. This is not a nice lounge bar. I should be hearing dancing music. If the floor is sticky just play some cardi b. @tinsel_junk vibes are way off.

Skylark Lounge is a great high dive/music venue on Broadway. I've been there twice in as many nights for Underground Music Showcase this year. It felt right to give them some love, especially considering the sheer amount of foot traffic they've been receiving the past few nights. To my surprise, I've never been to Skylark before until this weekend! What the hell, man? Purchased by Colorado's golden child, Nathaniel Rateliff, earlier this year, Skylark is a damn cool bar and music venue. There's a lot going on here, so don't miss anything. Stages on both floors, though the second floor is where the main stage is. One humble pool table on each floor, outdoor patio seating, multiple bars, and the most narrow staircase leading you upstairs. For UMS weekend it's an actual nightmare, but I guarantee it's not as bad any other time of year. More importantly, the drinks are priced appropriately. My go-to has been a whiskey soda (with Old Grand Dad) for $8. Keep 'em coming, barkeep. We've seen some great local acts this weekend and I plan to continue coming here in the future for more shows. A great place to discover music or meet up with friends!

Fun dive bar, video games, whimsical decor and great service! We had drinks, not sure if there is any food. We came for the live music! Go upstairs if you are seeking the event.

I like this place ..... lots of variety as far as shows... I keep coming back ....you gotta go to the Bobcat room upstairs for a band.... Great bar, mural, flooring.....just feels good!!!

The bartender upstairs was rude? An ass? I dont know what word to describe him. I tipped $2 cash on a $6 beer and he said "that's it?" so i gave him two more dollars and he snatched it out of my hand and walked away shaking his head. Really weird.

Good venue for a small show. Bartender was rude but I'm pretty sure that's average based on previous reviews. Very very little seating upstairs and got crowded and very hot. Still worth going to a show for the price.

Some of the staff is kind of needlessly snarky but its a cool spot. I dont drink so i dont really fit in but the bartendars have been super cool.

The bartender upstairs on Saturday December 16th absolutely sucked ass. She was such a biatch!! We asked for Hendricks and Gin and never gave us the correct gin, instead gave us cheap gin with soda. The drink was already wrong. We just dealt with it. When we called her out on it for the 2nd drink she said well you never noticed it the first time. Then when she couldn't handle the call out she ran off and called security. We were leaving anyways. Get a new job. Trash ass bar. Bunch of angry vegans.

They got rid of everything that made this place cool. All the great pin up art is gone. Used to be the best jukebox in town,and it's still there but not hooked up and there's a damn Internet jukebox now. I like my music curated in my dive bars. Oh,also no Pabst anymore

Disrespectful to military service members!! DO NOT give this place any of your money! I came in last night with my sisters. When the bartender asked for my ID, I showed my military ID. She quickly said, "we don't accept vertical IDs" which I would normally understand... except for the fact that all active duty military IDs are vertical. I tried to explain the difference between a drivers license and a military ID to her and was met with immediate hostility. She raised her voice at me and told me that if I was going to argue and be a b*tch that I could leave. I cannot imagine how someone could be so obtuse and insolent at the same time. Military IDs are an accepted form of valid identification to use for the purchase of alcohol anywhere in the United States... except for this bar apparently. It also explicitly states in the Code of Colorado Regulations, Liquor and Tobacco Enforcement Division (1 CCR 203-2) Regulation 47-912 (1)(b) that verification of age can be done by "1. Producing adequate identification of age, including any verified digital identification, that is valid and unexpired. Identification of age is adequate if it contains a picture and date of birth and is one of the following: (b) A United States military identification card or any other any other identification card issued by the United States government..." To say I feel disrespected as a service member is an understatement. After dealing with this bartender's disgusting attitude I realized that either this place and their regulations are willfully ignorant to Colorado law and federal law or they are prejudiced against the men and women who serve in the U.S. military.

The service and bouncer at this spot are horrible. He treated my friends with incredible disrespect that I didn't see anywhere else around Denver and I've spent time at quite a few bars. Your best bet is to not waste your time making a stop here

What a class act! These guys are everything a bar a should be- pretentious, unfriendly and plain unpleasant to be around.

Went to a concert recently (David Wax Museum) and enjoyed the venue very much. Staff was very friendly and accommodating. Drinks just a bit pricey, didn't have any food. Very limited seating in the concert venue so get there early if you want a table or booth to sit at. We will go again.

They tried to openly humiliate me for only tipping a dollar for 15 seconds of work they did. then the lady bartender tried to take my drink away that which had already paid for because I didn't tip them whatever they desired. Told me they won't serve me and I need to leave because it's a private business. I get that. That's their choice. I complied. But they didn't seem to understand that tipping is optional yet I still tipped, but I guess not enough to their liking where they all ganged up on me openly in front of my peers. I've worked Uber and some people tip and some don't. I don't cry about it or threaten them or call them names because tipping is optional. Some people just have enough to buy the service or product. And if it's great then tip is added. They didn't do any cool tricks, or give me a free drink or were making good convo with me or anything tip worthy. I still tipped a $1 cuz I get it.. service industry and all that. But damn they are entitled and grumpy af to be working there and more mad for not getting a lot of tip from a person for 15 seconds of work which they are already suppose to do. Pathetic and entitled staff. Cool spot, terrible service.

Not a fan of the "new" Skylark. Why keep the name? Not the same at all. Also it is not noted on their website that you must be vaxxed, so dont go with friends who arent because they wont let them in. Those who never knew the other Skylark vibe might like it though, and the happy hour deal is good (until 6 only). I will choose elsewhere.

OPEN THE UPSTAIRS! I was so excited to see that this place reopened. Since they kept the same name I was expecting it to be pretty similar to old place. I was wrong, they really gutted the place, both physically and aestheticly. If you're looking for a good dive skip this place and check out the other awesome dive bars on South Broadway.

From out of town and the male bartender was less than accommodating even though we were pouring money into the drinks AND tips. Bad attitude and was extremely rude at the end of the night. Overpriced for the beers and will not go back. Bad attitudes go a long way just as heavy as good ones. Wish it was different

We stumbled into here on a Saturday during UMS. As we were not participating in UMS, we went to the upstairs bar. Tom was very welcoming and friendly. Their drinks were really cheap, and strong and we had a great time playing darts.

Skylark is back, baby!! Photo booth, jukebox, big ass projector screen playing movies, and I can't wait to see a show upstairs. A different vibe than it was before (no longer rockabilly) but I think it's an upgrade.

After numerous visits here I just need to reiterate what a great venue this is. Live music - check. Great drink specials/prices - check Pool - check Fun people - check Great location - check Can leave me car here overnight with no penalty - check Funny funny girls falling on the floor - check Super fun - any day of the week - check

Skylark continues to rock my world with great music, great staff, and stiff drinks. Go upstairs on a Friday and you will get wonderful service from the amazing Kendra. She puts a lot of effort into a drink. She doesn't just throw it together and shake the shit out of it - she takes the lemon or lime and dresses the glass with it by running it around the top, she carefully shakes the gun so as not to bruise it, she pours the Guinness so it's awesomely frothy. She does her job with integrity. And she's gorgeous, smart, friendly, and super fun!

What a friendly bar! I walked in and was warmly greeted by the bartender and the patrons (there were only two at the time). The bartender even offered an electronic game to play. They have good beer on tap (loved the Claymoore Scotch Ale) and happy hour prices on drafts were good. This place has a cozy neighborhood hang vibe, and it seems like all are welcome.

I've been here twice now, but this is the first time I stayed long enough to really get a sense for the place. Me and the ladyfriend dropped in on a Friday evening to meet up with her neighborfriend who had recently taken the bar exam. Why wait to celebrate to see if you passed? You actually took the damn thing -- that's cause for 9 Whiskey & Gingers in my book! We arrived earlier than the rest of the party, but enjoyed people-watching (what an incredibly diverse crowd, I love it!) and conversed a bit with the bartender who looked to be possibly 60, long stringy hair, bowling shirt and jeans with the ankles rolled up, and fantastic glasses. Regular reading type glasses, but they were just twice as cool as any glasses I'd seen in the last 2 months, so, that's a good thing. The first drink I got, a whiskey sour, was terrible. I had low hopes. I had nearly no hopes. It was all sour mix. Was this destined to be my night? Sour? Not even sour mash, but sour mix? I was disheartened. Then I found out there was a honky tonk band playing...I was unheartened. My heart was literally taken from me by....the demi-god of alcoholic beverages and bar bands, who is notorious for stealing the hearts of those who underestimate Broadway Bars. Shortly after I switched to Whiskey Gingers, and my night improved drastically. I didn't even care about the terrible terrible music tearing at my ears like the beaks of a thousand rapid vultures on coke! (The band was good, I just happen to like Honky Tonk about 2 points more than I like getting kicked in the nuts with a boot made of glass shards. Service was fast, drinks were good, there was an excellent amount of...culture...to watch, and the best part is that at the end of the night my tab was about $20 less than I expected. It's possibly because we were charged a cover, so the drinks were cheaper, who knows. But when I'm expecting a $40 tab, and it's a touch over 20, I'm totally happy with how things went. Including the fact that I can remember everything about the night. Oh, they also have an old school arcade game machine in there, and I learned that while I'm pretty damn good at Madden '09 on my Xbox 360, Space Invaders can kick my a$$. Oh well, these things happen.

Holy Lysol Batman!!! You know it's a good dive bar when you can smell the cleaning products when you walk through the door. It's also amazing how one pair of glasses can turn your average bar tender into a hipster in 3 seconds. Lots of room to move around, lots or friendly regulars and even an upstairs pool hall ( we didn't get up there, as it was occupied for a fund raiser for Chris Nevitt.) The people watching in this place was at an all time premium on this particular evening. I found an outfit that I MUST somehow replicate. All in all it's a neat place, lots of history on the walls and the dive bar atmosphere to perfection. Stop by, have a drink or 6, watch some people and talk to a regular.. or not so regular:) Was a fun place to meet a large group for happy hour. I'll be back! Hope to see you there:)

Went for comedy night. Bartender threatened to kick us out if we said "bartender" in one of our jokes. Bartender was extremely rude and unprofessional.

Yes, yes and YES! This place is an absolute GEM. Scott and his staff are master's at what they do . They are kind, funny, knowledge and really value their customers. The ambiance here is stellar! Old school, artistic and relaxed. The drinks are PERFECT! Tasty and well made. They don't serve food here but, you won't care. Just eat at any of the cool places around the Skylark and then come here to get your drinking, music and dancing on! It's a epic stop that absolutely shouldn't be missed!

I've been to Skylark twice now, most recently this past weekend. The time before that was a sweaty, packed-like-sardines sort of evening during the Underground Music Showcase which, if you're a Denverite, you know that DOESN'T EVEN COUNT as a first experience. My recent visit was much more pleasant--it was the last (my god, I hope) big snow of the season and Skylark was *much* less crowded (the way I like it). We ventured into the late April winter wonderland to see our friend's band, Thatcher. Cover was cheap ($5!) and parking was unexpectedly easy. We grabbed a couple drinks at the bar (again, pretty cheap) and took in the music/scene. This bar is pretty big with nods to classic musicians and old pin up culture all over the walls. There's a little stage, decent sized dance floor, a couple pool tables, and wait for it...shuffleboard. Wait, not everyone gets as excited about shuffleboard as I do? Weird. We ended up playing a few games of shuffleboard, which was super fun. You have to pay for the game in cash AND trade your driver's license for pucks (pro tip: don't leave your license at the bar like we did). All in all, a super fun and inexpensive night on the town. I'll be back!

Looking for a divey, hipster, SoBo bar to have stiff drinks and a few rounds of pool? Check Skylark out. This two floor bar has live music options on the first floor (to skip the cover just let them know you will be at the upstairs bar). The upstairs bar is like a place of its own with billiards, darts, and shuffleboard. Cash only for the games and you usually have to check in your ID to play. As I said before- stuff drinks! So a great place for weekend hangs with the crew! There is a small patio area outside incase you need to get some air (it can get a little stuffy!). Check out this gem!

A classic lounge with bars upstairs and down to suit any group size and mood and the cleanest bathrooms on S. Broadway! One of the widest selections of draft beers on tap in Denver means you're sure to find some favorites. Shoot some pool or shuffle board, catch nightly bands or fire up the classic Wurlitzer, but belly up to the massive u-shaped bar and talk it up with the friendly bartenders or just zone out with a whiskey or pint and let the chill atmosphere soak your stress away. The Skylark is a gem with a great happy hour, fair drink prices, some stellar people-watching and a cool lounge-y vibe that you can take-in any way you like...

Bartender was phenomenal Prices were outrageous 4.25 for tap beer and well drinks Not impressed with the portion and price of liquor there.

This bar is pretty unique. I really enjoy all the vintage memorabilia they have, and all the pin up photos and posters from old movies. The drinks here are pretty standard and they have a decent amount of beer on tap as well. There are various games to play, like pool and shuffle board. It's a fun place to be at, especially when you want to escape the overcrowded and chaotic nature of Lodo, but still want that bar ambience. This probably will be my go to.

The upstairs bartender was absolutely horrible. Telling a group of people losing their homes (thanks Harvey) and about to face a massive impact that they deserved it, is cruel.p to say the less. No one deserves that unprovoked beration from a stranger (getting our money) when the disaster is still happening. We will not know the total ecological, economical, and life toll from weeks, to months, to years from now. I can't even imagine treating my worst enemy this way. While the other bartender was remorseful she didn't stand up to this pompous ass. So no, I wouldn't go back here - at least until this sorry, inexcusable human being is fired.

Went there last night...5$ cover charge at 8 pm for bands that didn't start until 10pm. Bartenders were rude AF and had a pitiful Selection of beers that were way overpriced. I'd avoid at all costs, not going back to pay an outrageous cover for bands that didn't play, only to be ignored by bartenders who felt bothered when I ordered a drink. Fat bald bartender was a real jerk

I love going to the Skylark Lounge and have been going at least once a month for several years. When you walk in the front door, the gigantic selection of alcohol is overwhelming! And it's especially impressive to see their selection of beer on tap. What really makes the Skylark special is that it's a place where everyone is welcomed. Being a gay man, I take notice of something like this. Live and let live is the feeling that I get when I'm at the Skylark. At the end of an evening, nobody cares if I give another man a goodbye hug. But I especially wanted to mention Kendra, the upstairs bartender, who is my favorite bartender of all. Kendra is a beautiful kind woman who is totally accepting of all people, gay & straight & everything in between. Because in the end, we all drink our alcohol, one sip at a time. Kendra can pour me another 90 Shilling anytime!

I have to say I have never been disappointed by a musical act I have seen at the Skylark. They have an uncanny knack for booking diverse and talented bands. And that's about all I will give them credit for. Yeah, the decor is great and the rockabilly vibe is cool, but the staff here is absolutely horrible. I drink a lot and there have been very few bars where I have been treated as poorly as I have been in the Skylark. I have to wait ages for a drink as I am ignored time and time again. People to my left and to my right always seem to get drinks before me and God help me if I hesitate in my drink order, because it is back of the line for me again. Perhaps it is just an issue of insufficient staffing, but it has now been 5-6 times that this has been my experience. Lucky for them, they book amazing acts, otherwise I would never set foot inside this bar again.

This is my hang. Yes I like tattoos, yes I like hot chicks and lotsa lotsa booze. So really, you can't go wrong at the Skylark. Drink specials are common and happy hour really is happy with the earliest start I have seen. The people are real, not hipsters. The burlesque looking hotties that frequent the place are always a pleasure and the drinks are good and fairly cheap. The music is perfect, love the bands and hey, they always remember your name.

It's a fun hangout with friends. It's always some sort of rockabilly, psychobilly, vegas swing music, which has a fun energy. It's busy every time I go. Fun to people-watch. Sometimes difficult to get a table or just a place to leave your things so you can go dance. The worst thing for me is waiting on drinks forever every time. They just need more bartenders on the busy nights. It would be faster for me to go across the street and have a drink and come back. That being said, they have a large selection and even have craft beers, which almost makes it worth the wait.

One of the many things I love about the Skylark is the fact that no matter what I end up paying for drinks, I always get quarters back. Now, I appreciate this for a whole host of reasons. Quarters mean more to me than just twenty-five cents. Partially for no other reason than just 'cause- like how I have a thing for five dollar bills. Another, more practical reason is due to my condo building having shared Washers & Dryers, which take quarters, and it's a scramble sometimes to make sure I have change to ensure clean britches. However, when I am at the Skylark, my rationale for receiving and using quarters is rarely as practical as the reasons above. Usually, my reasons are much more juvenile, but I'll get to that later. Last Friday I went to the Skylark with a handful of friends for some drinks and to see the Hollyfelds (one of my new favorite Denver bands). Their songs have great harmonies, their music changes tempo, is intricate in a really subtle way, and all their songs are about heartbreak, spite, and boozin. For me, a handful of the right friends, drinkin music, and the Skylark are basically the equivalent of the stars aligning, but with booze. After a couple orders of High Life with a bourbon chaser (yeah you heard me right), I was already working on a fistful of quarters. By the way, they no longer carry my middle of the road bourbon of choice, Bulleit, but the barkeep made an excellent suggestion that I forget. Anyway, I was in the mood to wander, and at this point I realized I have never been upstairs here. Do I always get so sidetracked? So, I make it upstairs with my friend Sheila, and we realize the upstairs is super cool. There is a whole other bar up there, and some gorgeous pool tables that made me hearken back to my college pool playing days. We also watched Dara Torres make her unbelievable swimming comeback, how amazing is she? After heading back downstairs and ordering another beer and shot, I start to realize some things. First, I don't come to the Skylark enough. Second, I have a decent buzz going (hiccup). Third, I swear I recognize that girl from Yelp, do I say anything? Nah, I don't want to be "that guy". Fourth, it's time to break the seal. Strangely enough, in the bathroom is where these quarters manifest their destiny, and get your mind out of the gutter. The Skylark has the best collection of adult vending machines that I know of. There are at least six different machines that offer everything from glow in the dark condoms, to cheapo skin pics, to french ticklers. With my allotment of quarters, I decide to go with a cheapo skin pic (some weird topless cheerleader from the 70s thing that the gang was a big fan of), and my all time fave, the coc.. uh I mean male chicken that sometimes fight... ring. Those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about can move on. Those who know what I'm talking about may appreciate my somewhat mischievous practice of putting them on doorknobs (sorry Sheila, but it was like 4:30 am, and FUNNY). Well, in addition to enabling my immature jokes, the night continued with The Hollyfelds rocking the house, more High Life, more bartender suggestions, more fun with friends, and more times I thought about talking to that girl that I may recognize from Yelp, but deciding to leave her well alone. What's the moral of this review? First of all, yes reviews can have morals. Aside from that, the Skylark is a classic place that combines atmosphere, personality, great crowd (other Yelpers), great bands (The Hollyfelds), cheap cover charges for great bands ($5), bartenders with great suggestions, and of course really immature ways to spend laundry money. What more can a person want? Seriously!

After the Elite Event at Moe's I was prompted by the highest of the Elites to try this place. Being only a few blocks down from Moe's and not wanting the evening to end, this was an obvious decision. Honestly, how could the elite of the Elite, lead me wrong? And they came through! My buddy who is a huge blues, jazz, and old style bar enthusiast now proclaims this his new favorite bar. From the interior décor of hanging posters and photos that paint the walls, to the dim lighting above and around the bar, to a dated piano, a juke machine, and a large open space for bands and dancing, this place has such a feel of an old time jazz bar. Oh yeah, they have a bomb hanging from the ceiling that Cindy B was nice enough to point out and explain the details on. The server was even allowing for my buddy to try beer samples before making his final drink decision which took far too long. Drink selections are good as they have some unique beers on draft. We spent a vast amount of time wandering down the walls admiring the vintage posters and photos and even checking out the tunes on the jukebox. There is an upstairs, however, it was closed for the night. I intend on going on a Saturday night as I hear they have swing dancing. Maybe then I'll get to check out the upstairs. Thanks to the Yelp Elites, I was introduced to an awesome bar that is by far representative of Broadway and what a real bar should be!

This is such a welcoming bar. I'm a big fan of the upstairs bartender Kendra, she's beautiful, kind, and always makes me feel like she's happy to see me. I dig the cross section of diversity among the patrons. Gay, straight, black, white, hipster, hippy, jocks, blue collar, white collar, vegans, and meat eaters. A blending of society, with pool tables, music and delicious beers and cocktails. I'm gay, and this is one of my favorite spots in the city. Kendra has made me feel like it's my home bar.

This bar rocks! I really should come here more often. It seems like the only time I really come in here is during the Underground Music Showcase. I always find myself drunkenly dancing my ass off late night. I guess having the VIP lounge upstairs helps. Anyway, this bar rocks even when it's not UMS season. I love the decor, the size, the bartenders. Everything. It's so rock & roll. Let me recount an awesome story about one of the bartenders here. I wish I remembered his name. Anyway, my brother had just turned 21 that night. We were hanging out all around S. Broadway but when we got to Skylark there was a cop hanging-out at the front. For some reason, he was refusing to let Travis in, even though he was officially 21 after midnight. After a few of us trying to reason with him, someone had the bright idea to go inside and talk to the bartender. The bartender stopped everything he was doing to come out and override the douche cop. He was all, "WHO JUST TURNED TWENTY_ONE? GET YOUR ASS IN HERE!" It was pretty awesome.

Until Yelpapalooza, I'd forgotten that I'd actually been to the Skylark once before! It was my bachlorette party, so... um... yeah. I forgot a LOT of things from that night. I do, however, remember swing dancing with might've perhaps been the oldest guy in the place. Easily several years past collecting social security, he was still cooler than you'll ever be, with his original Sailor Jerry tattoos and a wifebeater tank from back when spousal abuse wasn't considered taboo. Bang, zoom, to the moon! He was perhaps the FIRST Rockabilly. In fact, he may have been Rockawilliam... the original. Five very cool stars for the Skylark. Cooler than me, cooler than you, cooler than everyone except for maybe Rockawilliam over there.

Listen. It's a bar. Hell, it's got dive bar aspirations. You're definitely not going to hear the new Lady Gaga jam blasting over the speakers ever. You're also potentially not gonna get a high 5 from the bartender if you order you and your 8 girlfriends Dirty Girl Scouts/Soco Limes/Washington Apples/Red Headed Sluts. However, tell the bouncer you're going upstairs (and potentially avoid the cover) if you and 3-4 of your best friends want to get the strongest damn pour of a G&T in Denver so you can blast some Otis Redding, break out in a random Frank Sinatra Dance Party, talk trash playing shuffleboard or pool, and give the bartender a handshake thank you for another successful Saturday night. To me, there just isn't a better place in Denver. It's roomy, it's got pool, the drinks are fantastic, the staff are real people, and it's probably the best decorated bar in Denver, with wall to wall classic movie posters.

I went last night to see the Democratic debate being televised from Michigan. There was a crowd of about 20-30 folks in a reserved area of the main floor bar to watch the event on one of the TVs. First, as a 72-year-old Vietnam veteran, I was insulted when the obviously slightly inebriated bar lady asked me, "What can I get for you, old timer?". I'm sorry, that is not the way to talk to seniors. Please learn some manners, especially how to address your older customers. Secondly, as I said, I believe this young lady had a few under her belt and spoke very loudly to all customers at the bar and sometimes to those a few feet from the bar. She did this will the debate was being shown and was in competition with the audio stream from the broadcast. Thirdly, she allowed customers to yell and talk very loudly at the bar - again at the same time as those folks there were trying to hear the debate going on. For the second and third points, let me say that if the management at the Skylark Lounge agrees to host a debate to draw in customers that will become the bulk of the population occupying the place at that time, kindly learn how to show some respect for your customers and hire bartenders that know now to speak softly or know enough not to interrupt what's going on. They also need to request customers that are at the bar to keep their conversation level under that of the broadcast. There was a couple that were speaking extremely loudly over the sound from the debate. I suspect they might have been paid Hillary shills. If you can't keep a modicum of peace your place, please don't agree to host political events like this. This bartender could very well be the same one that hassled the gay folks I read about in one of the other reviews. Management here seriously needs to revise its behavior to customers if you expect to get good ratings from ALL people. If you only cater to young people and heterosexuals, then you need to sell your business and get out of the way of progress. Apologize on the way out, please. Lastly, although they had my favorite brew (Avery Maharajah IPA on tap), the price for a 10 oz glass was $7. I asked what it would cost for a regular size beer glass of beer and she said $14 because it's twice as much. Well, it's not twice as much, A "normal" beer glass can hold 16 oz of beer (including foam). Thus, to fill a 16 oz glass would require only another 6 oz but they are charging as if it were another 10. I don't like this kind of slime-ball pricing. It's simply unfair. Bottom line, in spite of the fact that the pool tables on the second floor are really well maintained, the bar help leaves an incredible amount to be desired. I do not frequent business that do not treat customers with respect and appreciation. Like, get some lessons in how to be polite and how to be business-like professional. Otherwise, sell the joint to someone that actually likes people. Additionally, their commitment to host political affairs and accommodate them appropriately is half-hearted at best. I won't be back unless I learn that management has changed and no one complains about the bar lady.

I am incredibly fond of the Skylark. You see, the Skylark and I have a long history together. That history is I never go in there even though I probably should go more often. My time with the Skylark is filled with cheesy metaphors. It's like the girl that I'm really into and she seems to be really into me, and I have her number but I never call. It's like the dentist that I never visit even though I've got this one tooth that hurts, but it doesn't hurt bad enough for me to go to the dentist. Now that you've made it through the bullshit creative writing phase of this review, I'd like to move on to some interesting facts about the Larimer Lounge. Oh, wait, this is the Skylark. See what I mean? I can't stay focused on the Skylark for some reason. But no, I really do like this place. The bathrooms are pretty typical. There's an upstairs but I have no idea what's up there. I've never made it that far or maybe it's off-limits. OK, for real this time. It's got a massive U-shaped bar and all the bartenders work from the center of it. I have been told they have Lonestar on tap, which is the PBR of Texas. There are lots of cozy and tall booths all around the bar where you can hide out with friends for hours, hear just well enough to have a conversation and not even notice how long you've been in there. And sometimes that's until they close. There's a slightly elevated but decent-sized stage in the southwest corner that's perfect for smaller venues and local bands. The interior has a rockin' feel with lots of red and vinyl and maybe a bit of chrome. All joking aside I do really like this place, and I should be found in here more often.

I'm not hip enough to hang at the Skylark. At least that's what I thought for all these years. But then I remembered that every time that I did end up at this place, I had fun, had great service by the bartenders, and there was great live music to be had. Sure enough, if you wear vintage clothes, have tattoo sleeves, and roll a pack of Marlboros in your t-shirt sleeve, you're going to fit it pretty well here. There are great half moon shaped booths for groups and a good sized dance floor. I am sad that they replaced their signature chalkboard with a flat screen, but I suppose that comes with the territory - and also the competition at Sobo's 151 across the street.