One of the best places to get a delightful bite on the cheap before a show at the Denver Center of Performing Arts, prior to a game at Ball Arena, or after a busy day at the Convention Center is located right on the corner of Wynkoop and 15th Streets. We’re talking about The Velvet Cellar, which coincidentally is above ground and has graced the downtown Denver area since 2023.
The cellar part, it turns out, isn’t because it’s underground, it’s not. Instead, the name comes thanks to the vast wine collection seen throughout the large dining room. The restaurant is the kind of place you will want to sip wine in, either at the center bar or in one of the comfortable booths flanking the windows.
While natural light does trickle in during the summer months, it’s not a bright place. And, once the sun goes down The Velvet Cellar becomes a cozy, swank den of good food and drink. Of course happy hour constantly makes for the best time to go, especially if you want to save a few dollars.
The Food
Come mid-September the adorable slider-style burgers and chicken sandwiches will get an upgrade as the chef starts churning out full-sized items during happy hour. That means the $9 Soco Chicken Sandwich, a spicy buttermilk-marinated chicken thigh fried and topped with poppyseed coleslaw, pickle, and garlic aioli, will become a whole meal. Diners can also enjoy a classic Royale with cheese for $7 and the $9 Slap Burger, which features whipped cream cheese with herbs, crispy jalapenos, and a housemade strawberry onion jam, and in a double-hand size.
Other food specials remain mainly the same. We’re talking the addictive Salt & Vinegar Fries ($5), mini charcuterie boards ($16), and Buffalo Cauliflower ($12). The gooey pimento cheese dip ($8) with pita, carrots, and celery and Fried Green BLT ($10) also hit, and give the eclectic menu a bit of southern charm. Every week the chef also creates a fun and fresh dish, something diners can only have during happy hour.
The Drinks
Of course cheering over a good burger is a must. Off the happy hour drink menu you’ll find $7 draft beer and well cocktails. Each day certain house cocktails also make an appearance on the happy hour menu, each for $9.
Wine lovers can delight in red, white, bubbles, and other options for just $9 a glass. Recently that included a lovely Blanc de Blancs, that certainly went down as easy as those aforementioned fries. The restaurant offers a robust mocktail menu too, though it’s not on the happy hour list.
The Details
To take advantage of The Velvet Cellar’s happy hour, visit Tuesday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. Bonus, the downtown spot also takes reservations, which isn’t a normal practice for happy hour.
The Velvet Cellar offers a couple other deals throughout the week as well. Join the swank restaurant for Wined Up Wednesdays where many of the bottles of wines are 25% off. Thursdays also speak to the restaurant’s large wine list with specialty wine flights. Each flight runs $15 with a minimum purchase of $25 worth of food.
Visit The Velvet Cellar Tuesday through Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m. The restaurant is closed Sunday and Monday. 1500 Wynkoop St. Denver, thevelvetcellar.net
