The large cylinder structure that used to house the serving station at Vesta is now a DJ booth.
Push them to the side and you have a late night dance party, or put the seats in the center of the bar for dinnertime dining. Now, there are movable booths so the area can change based on what’s going on at SIR on any given night. “This used to be an iconic Denver restaurant it has natural brick and a lot of history.” “It’s a popping area, but there’s not a good gay bar,” he says. It’s the history of the space that drew Stewart to the location. SIR Denver opened in what used to be Vesta Dipping Grill, a long-time downtown hotspot. “The bartenders get to be creative it’s not just a -unless that’s what you want.” “I wanted to serve more than just vodka soda,” Stewart says. Stewart says the idea was to make a place where you could go have a nice glass of wine solo, meet a friend, or make a whole night out of it. There are cocktails on tap, craft beer, and a curated wine list.
Sunday brunch, bookable as an OpenTable experience, includes bottomless mimosas, a drag queen host, and a plate of those aforementioned bruschetta featuring duck pate, artichoke, brie, short rib, and more.Īside from bubbles, drinks also play a big part in the experience of SIR. Overseeing the menu is chef Marissa Hardman, who has added plates such as tahini-laced cauliflower and a lineup of hearty bruschetta during brunch service. “Something that we put a little more thought into than just throwing in the fryer.” “We wanted to create something more on the fine-dining side,” he says. But the team is pulling away from the steakhouse vibe a little by slowly adding other dishes to the menu, Stewart says. With options including a 10-ounce bavette steak, double-cut rack of pork ribs, a 14-ounce Angus NY strip steak, a signature burger with secret sauce, and roasted Brussels sprouts with nuoc cham and peanuts, it’s not surprising one might think it’s a meat market. Drag shows, volleyball tournaments, rallies, street fairs, and a rainbow dress contest are some of the highlights of this annual celebration of the gay culture.īesides a thriving nightlife, Denver is home to many attractions, outdoor or indoor.The “LGBT” toast (lettuce, guacamole, bacon, tomato) | Photo credit: SIRĪt first glance SIR appears to be a steakhouse. Capitol Hill is where gay Denver throws its annual PrideFest, an event that draws around 250,000 guests. The bohemian Capitol Hill, Denver’s hub for artists and creative minds, is where most of the gay action takes place.
Even places that are not advertised as “gay” are still very gay-friendly. There are few gay-popular neighborhoods, such as Lower Downtown (or LoDo), Capitol Hill, and South Broadway, where you can find anything from art galleries to shops, bars, and restaurants.
DOWNTOWN DENVER GAY BARS HOW TO
Gay Denver, with its vibrant cultural scene and outdoor recreational options, knows how to appeal to LGBT travelers. As a result, the city has one of the country’s largest gay communities. First, The Mile High City has an average of 300 sunny days, competing with the Sunshine State and second, Denver is an open-minded city, with a laid-back and accepting attitude towards the gay culture. Let’s get our facts straight and our lifestyle gay. The other one is that Denver is a conservative city which lacks an active gay community. The first one is that Denver is an unbearably cold city, covered in deep snow most of the time. There are two common misconceptions about Denver that must be corrected.