There’s something to be said for local restaurants combining food and drink with a fun activity and games. No matter if you’re going out with the family, planning a laid-back date night, team building or just meeting up with your buds, these five spots are great for both eating and entertainment.
Punch Bowl Social Long List of Fun
Though South Broadway radiates a retro vibe, it’s way more fun than your basement rec room ever was. There are six lanes for bowling, private rooms so you can sing your karaoke-loving heart out, and an arcade with vintage games like Skee-Ball, pinball, Pac Man and Tron. But that’s not all. Also look for giant versions of Scrabble, Jenga, and Connect 4. Or, go for foosball, corn hole, bocce ball, shuffleboard, and billiards. There is no wrong answer.
On the food side the menu is full of craveable pub favorites. Think loaded nachos, chicken and waffles, onion dip, gourmet burgers, dirty fries, and wings. Like the name suggests, the specialty of the house gets served in a punch bowl. 65 Broadway, Denver, punchbowlsocial.com
Flight Club Brings All the Darts To the Yard
Darts have moved out of the dive bar and into the spotlight at Flight Club, where the game has turned high tech with a swanky backdrop. Near Union Station, Flight Club has 12 semi-private playing areas and automatic scoring systems. With dark leather banquette seating, floral wallpaper, and a collection of antiques, the decor gives English-manor-house vibes, an appropriate bent given the game of darts traces roots back to medieval England.
The menu at Flight Club hits the mark with gussied up fare from flatbreads to lobster elote to steak kushiyoshi skewers. Don’t miss the papas bravas or the evening’s flavor selection of cotton candy. Oches, aka the dart lane, can accommodate up to 12 people and each session runs 90-minutes. 1959 16th Street Mall, Denver, flightclubdartsusa.com
Holey Moley Golf Club
With 27 mini golf holes, putt your way around holes themed after the beach, outer space, and the downtown Denver skyline. Holey Moley has karaoke rooms for those who love to belt out a tune, but it also hosts drag-queen hosted bingo and trivia nights, workday happy hour, seasonal specials, and discounts for students and families.
Holey Moley’s Caddy Shack Bar serves a range of fun cocktails, like the Rub a Dub in a Tub, made with The Family Jones Gin, Aperol, lime juice, peach, and Prosecco, all served in a miniature bathtub complete with rubber ducky. Or, order a cocktail for two, which comes in a trophy cup. Bonus, the range of frozen ice drink flavors also come booze-free. Food-wise, you can’t go wrong with pretzel bites and dipping sauces, Nashville hot chicken sliders, a club sandwich melt, and a menu of pizzas. 1201 18th St., Denver, holeymoley.com
Craft Beer and Games at Flyte Co. Tower–Over Flyte
The former flight tower of the old Stapleton Airport is now one of Denver’s most popular “eatertainment” venues. The aviation-themed complex features the second location of FlyteCo Brewing, a coffee bar, and restaurant. Though it also sports an outdoor patio with an 18-hole mini-golf course. Inside explore the six bowling lanes, pinball and arcade games, ping pong, board games, which includes everything from Sorry! to Exploding Kittens.
On the third floor, Over Flyte has axe throwing, darts, and golf suites. It also has its own bar and private events space. The family-friendly menu features pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and chorizo queso. Naturally, the highlight of the drink list are the beers brewed onsite. 3120 Uinta St., Denver, flytecotower.com
Find All the Games at 1Up Arcade Bar
With locations in LoDo, Greenwood Village, and on Colfax, 1Up Arcade is a haven for fans of pinball and old school arcade games. Each location has dozens of them, along with Skee-Ball, giant versions of Jenga and Connect 4, and prize games like Magic Cut and Prize Time Deluxe. The games often switch out, but staples like Pac Man, Donkey Kong, Tetris, and Mario Kart are always on hand.
1Up Arcade Bar has an all-day Sunday happy hour, in addition to Monday through Friday happy hour, where players can enjoy boozy Slush Puppies, a roster of arcade-themed cocktails, and a list of draft beers. While the LoDo and Colfax locations only serve Sliceworks pizza, the Greenwood Village venue has a “Glorified Snack Bar,” that offers mozzarella sticks, chicken tenders, jalapeño poppers, wings, sandwiches, and burgers. 6864 S. Clinton Ct., Greenwood Village, the1uparcadebar.com
