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A Meow Wolf anti-guide to the countercultural establishments that keep Denver weird.
Artwork by Marcus Murray.
Contributing author: Mollie Jackman
From the other worlds of Convergence Station to the mean bites of The Brutal Poodle, Denver has no shortage of delightfully strange stops to visit. We’re a city that’s proud to be weird, and we’re here to make sure your experience is just as out-there as you hoped it’d be.
Let’s start at the beginning.
The Denver area is no stranger to changes. From its earliest days as home to the Arapaho and Cheyenne tribes, to its stint as St. Charles during early colonization, to its recent moment as a trailblazer in legalizing cannabis – it’s always been a place for those looking to the next big thing.
During the Gold Rush, Denver beckoned settlers from all over the world, promising riches and a new life for those willing to brave the trails. It became a transportation hub and a crossroads memorialized by writers as famed as Jack Kerouac. These days, the city’s growth has skyrocketed as more Earthers seek a locale replete with activities from hiking and skiing to dining and music. While there are lots of well-known attractions to hit, we’re here to cater to the true searchers. If you’re on the hunt for an underground experience, you’ve started at the right place.
Looking for the perfect midday oddity to occupy that space between brunch and dinner? Our underground Denver guide covers the hidden gems:
1594 S Broadway, Denver, CO 80210 • (303) 832-2909 • vixensandangels.com/pages/fashionation
In 1987, Pam and Paul Italiano opened up a clothing shop for punks, goths, rockabillies, and other countercultural misfits. What began with a $1,000 investment and 40 pieces of clothing became so much more than a clothing store. FashioNation promoted concerts and hosted bands like Lemmy, Green Day, Ministry, and The Cramps. They developed a reputation as the place to go for Doc Marten, Demonias, Tuks, bondage belts, a rainbow spectrum of rave gear, and more. They took in young punks who didn’t have anywhere to go. Their “store kids,” or employees, are like family.
Visit FashioNation on South Broadway in Denver, and follow them on Instagram and TikTok (@FashionNation613).
Mutiny is like your punk uncle’s cool basement. You’ll find books (including comic books, local authors, and gently used), records, collectibles, pinball machines, coffee and tea, ample spaces to chill and read, and even a cereal bar.
Jim Norris and Matt Megyesi have a storied past that stretches back into their punk roots of hopping trains together. They dreamed of starting something like Mutiny for years, and in 2013 they bought what was called Mutiny Now! from neighborhood anti-establishment curmudgeon Jack Jensen. They filled it with the stuff of nerdy punk dreams. They hosted local book readings. The dream that they shared became a reality…but it’s been tested many times over.
Mutiny hosts community markets on their sidewalk on weekends with everything from thrift pop-ups to soap makers and pole dancing troupes.
Follow them on social media @mutinycomics.
If you’re looking to pet a life-sized goth unicorn or check a jackalope sighting off your bucket list, you can’t miss this spot. From perfectly preserved insects to assorted skulls and creative taxidermy, you could explore this gem for hours.
“Making sustainable, black owned, woman owned, gender neutral businesses the common” is the name of the game for The Common Collective.
https://www.goldminevintage.com/
From records to leather, jewelry, purses to cowboy boots. Goldmine was 2023’s Best Vintage Store of Denver for a reason – or maybe a few reasons.
Honorable Mention: Garage Sale Vintage, Boulder
https://garagesalevintage.com/
If you’re up for a short drive, check out this vintage shop. Oh, we mean taco joint. Wait… it’s both?! Shop unique finds and order up a cocktail based on your astrological sign. Plus, fuel up with tacos after you shop your heart out.
For a tour of Denver’s record store underground, check out Twist & Shout Records, which has a large selection of CDs, records, DVDs, merch, and books, as well as the smaller but concentrated Wax Trax, both specializing in High Fidelity-levels of music nerdery without the elitism.
Refuel at a café for more shopping, or stop for a bizarre bite to eat before your evening show.
https://banguptotheelephant.restaurant/
Just your average vegan Caribbean fusion tiki bar. Oh, and the bathrooms. You don’t want to miss the bathrooms. (Seriously, they’re cool).
For your morning coffee or your espresso martini nightcap, Hudson Hill offers up delicious brews and creative craft cocktails alongside tantalizing small bites throughout the day.
If you’re feeling a bit of a splurge, Hop Alley offers a unique dining experience with one-of-a-kind dishes. Fresh takes on traditional Chinese flavors in an ultra-modern space turns out an almost-unbeatable dining experience.
Serving up delicious drinks and, what’s that? Vegan bar fare? The Crypt, Denver punk rock bar and happy place for horror enthusiasts, is a haunt for vegans and meat-eaters alike. Something tells us you won’t find a lot of garlic in that Poutine, though.
Whether you’re on the hunt for neon nightlife or a bar that feels like a campsite is more your speed, you’ll find a suitable haunt.
Unabashedly labeling themselves “a hipster-friendly bar”, The Thin Man may speak to a few Meow Wolf goers. (Just a hunch.)
For the outdoor enthusiasts and sports lovers, Happy Camper is a sneaky-good pizza spot with a solid drink menu to match. The giant patio feels like you stepped out of downtown into a campground, and inside you’ll find a plethora of disco balls and neon.
Even the website is a speakeasy. The former Cherry Creek Post Office spot offers a time capsule into old-timey revelry.
It’s a fact of life: everyone at Meow Wolf loves a good secret passage. The secret bookshelf bathrooms at Roosevelt scratch that itch, and the capable, personable staff make the bar the best seat in the house.
Live music, comedy, interactive art, and more. Whatever floats your boat, you’ll find it somewhere in the Denver underground.
RiNo’s home for indie shows and DJ sets, see acts like Phantogram, Caamp and more who are on their way to top the charts.
Enter the metaverse IRL. See digital art in a physical space and experience the metaverse like you never have before. This isn’t your typical art gallery, Denver!?
Home to one of North America’s largest zine collections, the Denver Zine Library houses over 20,000 independent and alternative zines. You can access their full library during open hours.
Whether you desire a tour from Denver’s grumpiest historian, or you simply love a good jumpscare, the Dark Side of Denver Ghost Tour experience is highly rated and sure to be a hauntingly good time.
FAQs
Are there underground tunnels in Denver?
Actually, yes! The Denver underground does include some literal underground tunnels, but they’re more functional than freaky. Some were built to transport coal in historic Denver; others were built more recently for airport maintenance. But a few (like the one connecting Brown Palace Hotel to the Navarre building) may have a more interesting story you probably won’t find in your typical Denver guide.
What is the underground military base in Denver?
We hate to break it to you – there’s no official confirmation of any secret military base under Denver. But between DIA’s conspiratorial murals and the infamous “Blucifer”, it’s easy to say “I want to believe.”
Does Denver airport have an underground train?
It sure does. The automated shuttle system at Denver International Airport saves travelers tons of time by providing a quick route from gate to gate.
Where is the new location for Denver Comedy Underground?
Denver Comedy Underground has relocated to a new lair in the basement of the Althea Center at 1400 N Williams St.
Still serving up speakeasy-style comedy shows, it’s everything you loved about the old location in a fresh space.
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