Run For The Roses

Run for the Roses reminds me of an old-school speakeasy with amazing drinks and a secret location. Literally it's underground. It's been around for about five years and is a play to the Kentucky Derby. This being my first visit, I thought it would be a menu of Kentucky bourbon drinks. Boy, I was wrong. After checking IDs, we were inside and seated at some comfy chairs and sofas. It's almost like you're drinking in a small living room. Awesome music played in the background throughout the night. Leeroy was our server and introduced us to how the place works. They give you a small menu with drink offerings on the front and back. But the real fun starts when you open a deck of playing cards and discover 52 more drinks to order, many with unique/rare liquors.We'd give five stars to each of these drinks our group of six tasted: Last Word, 2 Count Turf, Vasper, Sidecar, Vieux Carre, El Diablo Like many Denver restaurants, our tab included a 2% Dairy Block fee and 22% Service Charge.

Run for the Roses is a speakeasy below the Dairy Block with the theme of the Kentucky Derby since its namesake is based on the winning horse being draped in roses. Just like the race, there were some winners and losers:Winners: * Decor is exceptional with nice details such as the betting window when you first check-in* Deck of cards with drink options based on spirit, booziness, and type of cocktail* Excellent cocktails (bartenders are top notch and know what they are doing)Losers:* Seating options (especially when you have to sit next to a larger group that partook in too many Kentucky Derby Festivities and felt the rest of us needed to hear their conversation)* Our drink order was delayed because our waiter said, "Our cocktail order was lost."We would have stayed longer but decided to pass on another cocktail due to the company in the starting gate next to us. Run for the Roses does not take reservations so we were lucky to get in right away.

Who doesn't like to go looking for hidden bars? this one is pretty easy to find in the Dairy block as there are literal roses on the floor leading you to it!There are a lot of fun little touches included, like playing card drink menus and the horse racing theme throughout the bar. Staff is very attentive and they have so many cocktails to choose from. While the setting and furnishings are nice, it can be fairly loud and hard to hear. We were sat on a couple of cute plush chairs but had to perch on the ends to hear each other. The bathrooms are located in the hallway outside the bar and you have to ask staff for the code to unlock them - but they were very clean so I'm guessing the locks help!Overall, a fun place to try if you're on a bar hopping adventure.

Run for the Roses is such a vibe and also a surprisingly affordable place for what feels very high scale. Every time I have been there, the cocktails I drank were clearly made with intent and thought out well. I normally only have a few cocktails I like at bars and speakeasys but every one I had there was a hit! If you are on a date or have friends you want to impress, I highly recommend taking them to Run for the Roses.

A speakeasy vibe!! A true highlight when my sisters came to town was going to this speakeasy in the Dairy Block area in downtown Denver / LoDo. We had so much fun here with the card game and deciding what drinks we want. The staff were so friendly and informative and attentive to everything. The environment was overall so fun, inviting, & vibey. All three of us loved everything about it and will be coming back. Highly recommend this speakeasy!

It's a fun novelty, and I like the decor. The seats were super uncomfortable and small. They felt oddly far away from each other. Our neighbors were playing a game with card deck drink menu, which was a fun idea. Service was friendly and patient when we didn't know what we wanted. Drink reviews Widows kiss- good, very liquor forward with a cinnamon bite. Joel joked you could spit fire after this one The national- sweeter citrusy with a thick foam on top. Favorite and only drink I would return for. Last word- bitter, off flavor. Like a pine tree? Smells worse than it tastes, oddly. Algonquin- 3rd choice, not a huge fan Twelve miles out- very liquor forward, off ear wax flavor Wallbanger- like orange bubblegum? Old fashioned orange bubblegum. Second to the national Overall, I just don't think it's for me. But it was fun to go to before Chicago to fit the 1920s theme.

Run for the Roses was recommended by a bartender friend of ours as the best bar in Denver and even with the bar set high, we agreed that it was indeed a top notch bar and lived up to the hype.It's easier to get in as a small party than a large party. We were immediately seated at 830pm on a Saturday as a party of two. The staff were friendly and attentive. There are 52+ drinks to choose from including the seasonal a and the deck of cards. Once you order, you can keep the deck to play card games at the table. Both of our drinks were presented well and were very tasty. TLDR; creative bar setting and menu, the deck of cards at the table are a nice touch. Great for a date night. Expect to wait if you have a large party.

Great experience. Drinks were creative yet awesome (sometimes creative doesn't equal awesome). Ambiance was brighter than a typical speakeasy which we appreciated. Bartenders super professional so a touch of style. Breakfast sandwich was amazing with some spice so be careful. I'd recommend.

We always stop by run for the roses for a drink when we are downtown for an event. They make great cocktails and have excellent service! It also has a moody atmosphere which is great for date night. They don't take reservations but we have never had to wait more than 20 minutes - there is a lot of seating. Go check them out!

Service was great and the ambiance made me feel like I was in the Gatsby, and definitely in a movie. it's a great spot for a date or even just an intimate night of games and conversation. I look forward to trying the food next time.