Discover 10 historic Colorado bars that date back to the mining days and the Wild West.
The history of a place is really the history of its people. The people who explored the land and decided it was worth staying. The people who built homes that would eventually become streets, then towns filled with shops, churches, saloons, and gathering spaces. And from there, you can learn a lot about a place and its people by looking at where they gathered.
Just like today, one of the many places that people gathered was in restaurants and bars. They came for a drink, a game of cards, conversation, and most often, the company of others. They talked about work and family, debated religion and politics, and shared the latest news in town and about their neighbors.
In Colorado, some of these gathering places date back to the territory’s early days after it was established in 1861, and before Colorado became a state in 1876. Many of the bars that opened during Colorado’s early years are long gone, but others have survived and remain places where you can grab a drink and converse about the present while getting a glimpse into the past.
Here are 10 historic bars across Colorado that date back over 100 years.
J-Bar, Aspen
Location: 330 E Main St, Aspen, CO 81611
J-Bar, inside Aspen’s historic luxury hotel, Hotel Jerome, dates back to 1889, when Jerome Wheeler first opened the hotel. Wheeler wanted the hotel to rival the grand European hotels of the day, and it was one of the first buildings west of the Mississippi to have full electric lighting, along with running water, indoor plumbing, steam heat, and even an elevator.
The hotel changed hands a number of times over the years, but it never stopped being a social hub for the town. In fact, during Aspen’s “quiet years” (1893–1946), before skiing took off and through two World Wars, Hotel Jerome was the only hotel open in town. In its time, it has welcomed everyone from miners and cowboys to soldiers, celebrities, ski bums, and locals.
When Prohibition came to Aspen, J-Bar simply changed its name from a bar to a “soda fountain.” Under its new disguise, you could order the “Aspen Crud,” a vanilla milkshake generously spiked with whiskey. The drink is still one of J-Bar’s most popular orders today.
Silver Dollar Saloon, Leadville
Location: 315 Harrison Ave., Leadville, CO 80461
At the Silver Dollar Saloon, you can sit in the same spot that the famous Doc Holliday dealt cards and played piano, Titanic survivor Molly Brown sipped on whiskey, and Oscar Wilde wrote sentences for his next book, and maybe, you’ll even see a ghost.
The saloon is the fourth-oldest in the state and the longest-operating one. It dates back to April 13, 1879. In many ways, it still looks much the same, with the original windbreak and bar from years ago.
Like J-Bar, the Silver Dollar found a way to keep the drinks coming during Prohibition. The saloon became the “M&O Soft Drink Parlor,” but beyond the name, not much else changed. If you wanted a drink, the saloon had booths in the back enclosed by curtains. There was even a trap door behind the bar, ready for a quick bottle disposal if a revenuer came to town.
Today, the Silver Dollar has more than history and great drinks; it has some of the best food in Leadville thanks to chef Eric Johns, who has taken over his family restaurant, which has been in his family since 1943. With his extensive culinary experience, he has curated a menu that supports local farms and the community. Some popular menu items include Green Chili Poutine, silver dollar wings, pulled pork sandwich, and their legendary onion rings.
My Brother’s Bar, Denver
Location: 2376 15th St., Denver, CO 80202
On the corner of 15th and Platte streets, you’ll find a humble brick building. Inside, you’ll find burgers, drinks, and a history dating back to 1873. Today, the building is home to My Brother’s Bar, a local spot started by two Detroit transplants in 1970. But before that, the space was everything from a boarding house for Italian immigrants (complete with a bar) to a brewing company and a number of neighborhood bars. And, like many of the spots in this article, it was also a place to get drinks in secret during Prohibition.
From the outside, this spot might not look like much, but once you get inside, you’ll discover its history in black-and-white photos on the walls, beat Poet Neal Cassady’s famous and unpaid “IOU,” a stairway leading to the mysteriously burned-down second floor, and more clues into its past.
The bar is still family-owned, and its menu is filled with burgers, sandwiches, bar snacks, and, most recently, brunch. Popular orders include the JCB (jalapeño cream cheese burger), the Johnny Burger, and the Ralphie Burger, made with bison. And, of course, there’s a full selection of liquor, wine, and rotating draft beers.
Buffalo Rose, Golden
Location: 1119 Washington Ave, Golden, CO 80401
If just visiting historic bars isn’t enough for you, how about getting a drink or catching a concert at Colorado’s oldest bar? At the corner of Washington Avenue and 12th Street in Golden, you’ll find the Buffalo Rose, a collection of five historic buildings that have been part of the city since its founding in 1859.
The five buildings that make up the Buffalo Rose today have each had a life of their own. The event venue occupies the site of the former Overland House, where Colorado’s Territorial Legislature met in 1865, and Civil War generals stayed. The building that houses the Buffalo Rose Saloon, on the other hand, has always been a saloon; it originally opened as the International Bowling Saloon in 1859, complete with three 70-foot bowling alleys. Another building, the Iler Block, is Jefferson County’s oldest remaining commercial property. It was a meat market before becoming a barbershop for more than a century and now serves as the entrance to the Buffalo Rose restaurant and bar.
The Buffalo Rose is a great spot if you’re looking for more than just a bar. You can catch live music and concerts multiple nights a week, enjoy a local meal from their creative newspaper-themed menu, or grab a drink at one of their three bars: the Sky Bar, the State Room, or the Venue Bar.
Buckhorn Exchange, Denver
Location: 1000 Osage St, Denver, CO 80204
Grab your cowboy boots and hat because we’re traveling back to the Wild West at Denver’s oldest restaurant: the Buckhorn Exchange. The restaurant was founded in 1893 by Henry H. Zietz, better known as “Shorty Scout.” Zietz earned that nickname as a boy, when, at just 12 years old, he rode with Buffalo Bill Cody’s scouts and met Chief Sitting Bull. He later opened the Buckhorn Exchange, which quickly became a gathering place for everyone from miners and cattlemen to railroadmen, Native American chiefs, gamblers, and businessmen.
During Prohibition, the Buckhorn found another way to keep serving its customers. Zietz cleverly converted the front of the restaurant into a grocery store. Supposedly, he would hollow out loaves of pumpernickel bread to smuggle bottles of whiskey. When Prohibition ended, the restaurant reopened with Colorado’s very first liquor license, which is on display at the restaurant today. Over the years, the Buckhorn continued to draw in everyone from presidents to Hollywood stars.
Today, the Buckhorn maintains its Wild West legacy. Its walls are covered in hundreds of taxidermy animals, historic photographs, and memorabilia, including a flag from President Roosevelt’s train. The menu is just as adventurous, with Rocky Mountain Oysters, fried alligator tail, buffalo, elk, quail, and other wild game.
The Minturn Saloon, Minturn
Location: 146 Main Street, Minturn, CO 81645
Before there was Vail, there was The Minturn Saloon—the most historic restaurant in Vail Valley. Built in 1901, the saloon is one of Minturn’s oldest structures. The building has spent more than a century as a restaurant and bar, but it has also been a pool hall, boxing hall, and gambling joint. Over the years, the saloon has gone by several different names. Yet through all its name changes, the building has always been a place for people to come to eat, drink, and gather.
During Vail’s construction in the 1960s, workers would head here after a day on the job. Decades later, the building became a regular stop for skiers tackling the Minturn Mile, a legendary backcountry route that runs from Vail Mountain down into Minturn. Beyond skiers, it’s a favorite for locals and visitors alike. Inside, you’ll find pieces of its long history, from celebrity memorabilia to the ornate 1830s back bar, built in Missouri and eventually brought to Minturn via Leadville.
The menu serves Tex-Mex with a Colorado twist, with options like bison red chili, blue corn enchiladas, quesabirria, fajitas, smoked ribs, and the Mile Smashburger. You’ll also want to try one of their four famous margaritas.
New Sheridan Historic Bar, Telluride
Location: 231 W. Colorado Avenue, Telluride, CO 81435
As the name suggests, the New Sheridan Historic Bar is Telluride’s oldest bar and one of the most famous in the West, dating back to 1895. The bar has remained practically unchanged since its conception, with its original lead glass divider panels, mahogany wood paneling, and filigree light fixtures still intact. Stepping foot inside feels like stepping back in time as you sit beneath the original ornate tin ceiling and order a drink from the beautifully carved bar.
Here, locals gather, mountain enthusiasts plan their next adventure, friends play pool and foosball, and live music takes over every Thursday. The space is small and intimate, so it can get crowded, but that only adds to the old-school, wild-west saloon atmosphere.
The bar has 12 beers on tap, nightly happy hour specials, and a wide selection of cocktails and spirits. Perhaps their most popular deal is their $5 Jack Daniels; in Telluride, a drink price like that is hard to come by.
Gold Pan Saloon, Breckenridge
Location: 103 N Main St., Breckenridge, CO 80424
Now known primarily for skiing and vacationers, Breckenridge was originally a hot spot for miners during the Colorado gold rush that began around 1859. In 1861, a tent called Long’s Saloon was constructed on what is now the site of the Gold Pan Saloon. It served as a place for miners to socialize, gamble, and get a drink after a long day of mining. The permanent building was constructed in 1879, and the saloon has remained in operation in multiple forms ever since.
The Gold Pan has seen its fair share of Wild West drama, including gunfights, gambling, and moonshine during Prohibition. Today, the saloon still has its original swinging doors and large mahogany bar.
The Gold Pan serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a menu that includes everything from a smothered breakfast burrito and huevos rancheros to French onion soup, tacos, burgers, and a lamb French dip. There’s also a wine bar, craft beer, cocktails, and happy hour specials.
The Mint, Silverthorne
Location: 347 Blue River Parkway, Silverthorne, CO 80498
Before Silverthorne was even a town, there was The Mint. In fact, before Colorado was even a state, there was The Mint. The building’s history dates back to 1862, when it was a saloon in the mining village of Kokomo. From there, the building was moved to Frisco, then to Dillon, where it eventually became known by its current name.
The Mint survived fires, snow blockades, the Great Depression, Prohibition, and the eventual destruction of Old Dillon. When the Denver Water Board bought the town to make way for the Dillon Reservoir, The Mint was one of the historic buildings chosen to be moved rather than demolished. After nearly 80 years in Dillon, the building was moved to Silverthorne, where you can visit today and order a drink at the old oak bar before sitting down for dinner.
Dinner here is a little more unique than simply ordering a steak. You pick out your cut of meat and then grill it yourself over the restaurant’s lava rock grills, cooking it exactly how you like it. The menu also includes seafood, chicken, appetizers, sides, and the famous Mint Potato dessert.
Kochevar’s Saloon, Crested Butte
Location: 127 Elk Ave, Crested Butte, CO 81224
Kochevar’s Saloon, the oldest operating bar in Crested Butte, has been a town staple since 1896. Originally established as a saloon and gaming hall, the building has worn a few different hats over the years (including a brothel), before eventually becoming the bar it is today. And, as you might expect from a saloon with that kind of history, a few Wild West legends are attached to it.
One of the most famous involves Butch Cassidy, who was reportedly a regular at the saloon. According to local lore, Cassidy and his Hole in the Wall Gang were drinking at Kochevar’s when word came that authorities were coming. The gang hurried out the back door, leaving Cassidy’s gun behind on the bar. The gun is still one of the saloon’s most famous pieces of history today.
Along with Butch Cassidy’s gun, the bar is loved for its $2.50 PBRs, pool tables, darts, free popcorn, and local vibe.
