Downtown Denver Cocktails Tour

Cocktails turn downtown into a tasting room. This two-hour walk links four cocktails and paired bites with some of Denver’s best-known gathering places, from Union Station to Dairy Block. I like the route because it gives you a quick feel for downtown while keeping the walking easy, under half a mile.

I also like the small-group format, limited to 10 people, and the mix of drinks, food, and local stories. The main drawback is the fixed menu: the tour cannot accommodate gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan diets, and the tastings cannot be changed on site.

Key points to know before booking

• Four drinks in three stops: You get a Brachetto Spritz, a Butter Pecan Old Fashioned, and two seasonal craft cocktails.
• The walking is light: The route covers less than half a mile over two hours, with plenty of time spent seated or tasting.
• The route connects old and new Denver: You visit Union Station, the Oxford Hotel, Urban Farmer, and Dairy Block.
• Food comes with the drinks: Expect house-made focaccia, garlic conserva, marinated olives, a BBQ pork slider, and other planned pairings.
• Barry has received special praise: If he is leading your group, you may get a guide who knows both the bars and the wider Denver food scene well.
• This is for adults who can eat the set menu: You must be at least 21, and you should bring a passport or ID card.

Why this downtown drinks tour works

Denver has enough cocktail bars to make choosing one a chore. This tour solves that problem by giving you three stops in a compact part of downtown, with a guide to handle the route and explain what you are drinking.

You are not simply moving from bar to bar. The stops create a useful contrast. Union Station gives you Denver’s grand railway gateway, the Oxford Hotel brings in one of the city’s oldest hotel settings, and Dairy Block shows off a newer food and social district.

I like that the experience is not built around heavy drinking alone. Each cocktail comes with a small plate or snack, so you get food along the way rather than facing four drinks on an empty stomach. The bites also help make the stops feel like tastings instead of a standard pub crawl.

The tour is in English and uses a live guide. With a maximum of 10 people, it should feel more personal than a large group outing. That size also matters when you are trying to hear stories inside active restaurants and bars.

Starting inside Union Station

Meet near the Crawford Hotel check-in desk inside Union Station at 1701 Wynkoop Street. Look for a guide wearing an orange Delicious Denver Food Tours button. This meeting point is easy to identify once you are inside the station, but allow a little time to find the Crawford desk if you do not know the building.

Union Station is the first sightseeing stop, with about 10 minutes for a guided look. The point is not a long architectural tour. Instead, it gives you an introduction to one of Denver’s signature public spaces before the food and drink begin.

That is a smart way to start. You get your bearings in downtown, hear some local context, and then move directly into the first tasting. The station also sets the tone for the route: Denver’s older civic and hospitality spaces sit close to newer restaurants and cocktail rooms.

The tour starts at 1701 Wynkoop Street and finishes at 1850 Wazee Street. Since the route stays in the central downtown area, you do not need a vehicle between stops.

Tavernetta and the first spritz

The first tasting stop is Tavernetta, where you spend roughly 30 minutes. The featured drink is a Brachetto Spritz from a James Beard Award-winning restaurant.

A spritz is a sensible opening drink. It is generally lighter in style than an Old Fashioned, and the Brachetto gives this first stop a sweeter, more relaxed start. The drink also helps set up the tour as a tasting experience rather than a race to stronger cocktails.

The food here includes house-made focaccia, garlic conserva, and marinated olives. That combination gives you something substantial enough to share while still keeping the first course fairly light.

I like this pairing because it feels connected to the restaurant setting. Focaccia and olives are simple foods, but good versions reward attention to texture, seasoning, and oil. The garlic conserva adds another layer to the bread without turning the opening course into a full meal.

You should remember that the exact tastings can change. The listed drink and foods describe what is planned, not an absolute promise for every date. Still, the basic format remains clear: one cocktail, small plates, and time to hear about Denver’s food and cocktail scene.

A short look at the Oxford Hotel

After Tavernetta, the group walks to the Oxford Hotel for about 10 minutes of guided sightseeing. The Oxford is described as Denver’s oldest hotel, giving this stop a different feel from the newer businesses later in the route.

This pause is useful. Four cocktails in two hours can make an experience feel hurried, but short sightseeing breaks give you a chance to slow down and take in the surroundings. The guide also uses these transitions to talk about Denver’s prohibition days and the city’s later food revival.

The Oxford stop is not another tasting, so do not expect a drink here. Think of it as the historical bridge between the first and second bar. It also gives you a glimpse of Denver’s long connection with hotels, dining rooms, and nightlife.

If you are especially interested in architecture or hotel history, you may wish the stop lasted longer. The scheduled visit is only about 10 minutes. For most people, though, that short length keeps the tour moving without turning it into a formal museum visit.

Urban Farmer and the Butter Pecan Old Fashioned

The next 30-minute stop is Urban Farmer Denver. Here, the featured cocktail is a Butter Pecan Old Fashioned.

This is the drink that gives the tour its more serious, richer side. Compared with the opening spritz, a Butter Pecan Old Fashioned should feel rounder and more substantial, with the familiar Old Fashioned format matched to a dessert-like nutty flavor.

The paired bite is a BBQ pork slider. That is a good match for the cocktail’s deeper profile. The slider gives you a savory, filling bite, while the Old Fashioned brings a sweeter edge.

By this point, you will have had two cocktails and two food stops. That makes the food more than decoration. It helps pace the alcohol and gives the group something to discuss beyond whether a drink is strong or sweet.

Urban Farmer is also where the tour shows its range. Tavernetta introduces a lighter restaurant cocktail and simple Italian-style bites. Urban Farmer shifts toward a bold drink and a more familiar American comfort-food pairing.

This stop may be the highlight for anyone who prefers darker spirits or cocktails with a dessert note. If you favor crisp, dry, or very light drinks, the Butter Pecan Old Fashioned may be the least natural fit. The guide can explain the drink, but the set menu means you cannot swap it for another choice.

Dairy Block and the modern finish

The route then moves to Dairy Block, a newer micro-district in downtown Denver. You get about 10 minutes of guided sightseeing before the final tastings.

Dairy Block gives the tour a clear change of setting. Union Station and the Oxford Hotel connect you with older Denver, while Dairy Block reflects the city’s recent restaurant and cocktail growth. That contrast is one of the best reasons to choose this tour instead of booking a single bar reservation.

The guide talks about Denver’s recent culinary renaissance and the city’s growing reputation among food and drink fans. You do not need to know the local dining scene in advance. The tour is designed to give you names and ideas for places you may want to return to later.

The district is also a practical ending point. Once the tour finishes, you are in the middle of downtown at 1850 Wazee Street, rather than being dropped far from the center. The tour does not include transportation, but very little is needed for this compact route.

Poka Lola Social Club and the final two cocktails

The last stop is Poka Lola Social Club, where you spend about 30 minutes and sample two seasonal craft cocktails. These drinks bring the total to four cocktails during the tour.

Because the recipes are seasonal, this is the least predictable part of the tasting. You may get drinks that differ from those served on another date. That variety is part of the appeal, but it also means you should not book expecting a fixed list of four exact recipes.

The two final drinks make Poka Lola more than a quick last stop. You have time to taste, talk with the group, and ask the guide about the drinks or nearby places. The stop also completes the tour’s progression from light and crisp to richer and more spirit-forward, then back to seasonal house creations.

Food is paired with the tastings throughout the experience, though the supplied details specifically name the focaccia course and BBQ pork slider. The exact pairings may change, so anyone with strict dietary needs should not count on adjusting the menu after arrival.

What the guide adds to the experience

A good guide matters on a short food tour. Without one, you might visit three good venues but miss the reason they matter. The guide supplies the connective thread, covering cocktail history, Denver’s prohibition era, and the city’s recent growth as a dining destination.

Barry is one guide associated with this experience, and his personal recommendations have been especially valued. He has been praised for knowing both the stops and Denver more generally, with useful ideas for what to do next. If you are visiting for a honeymoon, birthday, or short weekend, that local advice can be as useful as the drinks.

The small group helps here. A 10-person limit gives you a better chance to ask questions and hear the guide while moving through restaurants. It also makes it easier to meet other people who are interested in food and cocktails, without the feel of a large organized tour.

The guide cannot change the menu for individual preferences, so do not expect a custom cocktail class or a personal tasting plan. The value comes from the route, the background stories, and the chance to sample several places without arranging everything yourself.

Price, pacing, and practical value

The price is $89 per person for two hours. That is not the cheapest way to have a drink in Denver, but it includes four cocktails, several paired bites, a live guide, and visits to three established food and drink venues.

I would judge the price mainly by how much you value convenience. Ordering four cocktails and food separately could approach the tour price, depending on each venue’s menu. You would also need to plan the route, make decisions about where to go, and miss the local background provided by the guide.

The tour is also efficient for a short stay. In two hours, you see several parts of downtown and get a practical introduction to places you might otherwise overlook. If you already know Denver’s cocktail scene and prefer to choose every drink yourself, the fixed format may feel less worthwhile.

The group walks less than half a mile over the full two hours. That makes this a good choice if you want a food experience without a long city walk. It is still wise to wear comfortable shoes, since you will move between locations and stand or walk inside busy public spaces.

The tour runs rain or shine. Denver weather can shift quickly, so bring suitable clothing rather than assuming the whole experience happens indoors. The short walking distance helps, but the outdoor connections between stops remain part of the plan.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend the tour to adults who want a relaxed introduction to downtown Denver’s cocktail scene. It suits first-time visitors who want local orientation, couples looking for a structured evening activity, and residents who want new ideas for future nights out.

It also works well for people who enjoy trying several styles of drink. You move from a Brachetto Spritz to a Butter Pecan Old Fashioned and then to two seasonal craft cocktails. That range gives you more variety than spending the evening at one bar.

The experience is less suitable if you want a long historical tour, a full meal, or complete control over every order. The sightseeing segments are short, and the food consists of paired small plates rather than dinner.

You should also skip it if you are pregnant, under 21, vegan, gluten intolerant, or unable to eat dairy. The tour cannot accommodate gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan diets, and the tastings are set in advance.

Bring a passport or ID card. Gratuities are not included, so plan to tip the guide if the service is helpful. The minimum group size is two people. If that minimum is not met, you will be rebooked or refunded.

FAQ

Where does the Downtown Denver Cocktails Tour start?

The tour starts near the Crawford Hotel check-in desk inside Union Station at 1701 Wynkoop Street. Guides wear orange Delicious Denver Food Tours buttons.

Where does the tour finish?

The tour finishes at 1850 Wazee Street, Denver, Colorado 80202.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts two hours.

How many cocktails are included?

Four cocktails are included: a Brachetto Spritz, a Butter Pecan Old Fashioned, and two seasonal craft cocktails. Tastings can change.

Is food included?

Yes. Paired bites are included. Planned items include house-made focaccia, garlic conserva, marinated olives, and a BBQ pork slider.

Can the tour accommodate dietary restrictions?

No. The tour cannot accommodate gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan diets. The food and cocktails are set in advance and cannot be changed on site.

Is the tour suitable for people under 21?

No. Participants must be at least 21 years old and should bring a passport or ID card.

Should you book the Downtown Denver Cocktails Tour?

Book it if you want four drinks, small food pairings, and a quick introduction to downtown Denver without much walking or planning. The strongest reasons are the compact route, the contrast between Union Station and Dairy Block, and the chance to try three cocktail venues in one evening.

Skip it if dietary restrictions limit your choices, or if you prefer ordering exactly what you want. For everyone else, $89 is a fair price for a guided tasting that combines Denver stories, local restaurants, and a manageable two-hour schedule.