Best Cocktail Bars in Northern Colorado

Where the drink is the point. These Northern Colorado spots take cocktails seriously: real technique behind the bar and a list worth working through.

99 Bar Saloon

Longmont

Cocktails, Patio Drinks, Game Day

The 99 Bar brand has been in the Gafner family since 1930 when Frank Gafner sold his first cow.

A.K.A. Kitchen

Loveland

Date Night, Brunch, Cocktails, Craft Beer, Patio Drinks, Value

A.K.A. stands for “Also Known As.”

Ace Gillett's

Fort Collins

Date Night, Live Music

Ace Gillett's still feels like one of the cooler late-night rooms in Fort Collins.

Birdhouse

Erie

Date Night, Cocktails, Patio Drinks

A spirited eatery paying homage to rum, tacos, and ramen.

Bistro Nautile

Fort Collins

Date Night, Casual Dinner, Cocktails, Patio Drinks, Upscale

Bistro Nautile feels like the kind of place you end up staying longer than you planned because another glass of wine and oysters suddenly sounds like a great idea.

Blue Agave Grill

Fort Collins

Date Night, Brunch, Cocktails, Patio Drinks, Value

Old Town Fort Collins, a serious margarita program, and 50% off tequila every Tuesday all day.

Bonefish Grill

Johnstown

Date Night, Casual Dinner, Cocktails, Patio Drinks

A chain that punches above its weight on the happy hour front.

Cactus Grille

Loveland

Date Night, Casual Dinner, Cocktails, Patio Drinks, Value, Dog-Friendly

Mike Severance ran Cactus Grille for 20 years, closed it in 2008, then brought it back in 2012.

Coyote's Southwestern Grill

Greeley

Patio Drinks, Value

Coyote’s is one of those longtime Greeley spots that locals seem genuinely loyal to, and after going there it’s pretty easy to understand why.

Deppen Brewing

Wellington

Cocktails, Craft Beer, Patio Drinks, Value, Dog-Friendly, Local Favorite

Deppen Brewing feels a lot more community-driven than some of the bigger brewery operations around Northern Colorado.

El Diablo Taco Bar

Loveland

Cocktails, Value, Groups & Family

Loveland needed a good taco spot and El Diablo showed up.

Elliott's Martini Bar

Fort Collins

Date Night, Patio Drinks

Elliott's feels like one of those Old Town spots people quietly keep coming back to for years without really talking about it much.

Hacienda Jalisco

Firestone

Date Night, Casual Dinner, Cocktails, Patio Drinks, Value, Groups & Family

Firestone is not a place people think of when they think of a go-to dinner spot, which is exactly why regulars here act a little territorial about it.

Indigo

Fort Collins

Date Night, Casual Dinner, Cocktails, Patio Drinks

INDIGO feels a lot more modern and elevated than what most people probably expect when they hear "Indian restaurant" in Fort Collins.

JINYA Ramen Bar

Fort Collins

Casual Dinner, Cocktails, Patio Drinks, Late Night

JINYA is one of those places that immediately sounds good the second the weather turns cold or rainy.

Jax Fish House

Fort Collins

Date Night, Casual Dinner, Groups & Family, Early Bird

Happy hour for people who care just as much about oysters as cocktails.

Lucky Fins

Greeley

Date Night, Casual Dinner, Cocktails, Patio Drinks

Lucky Fins is one of those Greeley spots people bring up when they want something a little nicer without driving to Fort Collins.

Meeker's Kitchen

Greeley

Date Night, Brunch, Casual Dinner, Cocktails, Patio Drinks

Meeker's is one of those places that surprises people the first time they go because they're expecting "hotel restaurant" and it's honestly much better than that.

Parry's Pizzeria and Taphouse

Longmont

Casual Dinner, Cocktails, Patio Drinks, Value, Groups & Family

Located within Village at the Peaks, Parry's is the go-to for New York style pizza and a craft beer selection of 45 draft beers poured over with quality and local in mind.

Philippe French Bistro

Fort Collins

Date Night, Casual Dinner, Cocktails, Patio Drinks, Upscale

Philippe feels like one of the closest things Fort Collins has to a real neighborhood French bistro instead of a "French-inspired" restaurant.

Rare Italian

Fort Collins

Date Night, Casual Dinner, Cocktails, Patio Drinks, Upscale

RARE is one of those downtown spots that feels expensive until you realize the happy hour is actually one of the better value plays in Old Town.

Si Señor Real Mexican Food

Erie

Casual Dinner, Cocktails, Patio Drinks, Groups & Family

Locally owned Mexican restaurant in Erie that takes the margaritas seriously.

Sonny Lubick Steakhouse

Fort Collins

Date Night, Casual Dinner, Cocktails, Upscale, Early Bird

Started with a vision to fill the void left when Nico's Catacombs closed after 35 years.

Sugar Salt Sand

Fort Collins

Date Night, Casual Dinner, Cocktails, Patio Drinks, Rooftop

The rooftop feels more vacation than Fort Collins once the drinks start showing up.