Country bars are back—big time. Arguably, they never went away in the first place (Denver’s Grizzly Rose has been rootin’ and tootin’ since 1989), but if you want to understand the resurgence of Western watering holes, look to Gen Z businessman Colton Patterson, 19. Daydreaming in class at Columbine High School in Littleton, he started sketching cowboy-themed art—pearl snaps, mustangs mid-gallop, pickup trucks—in his notebook, then posting on an Instagram page that now has more than a million followers.

Last month, the young entrepreneur opened an-old fashioned watering hole, Broken Bow, in Five Points. It joins a slew of other new (and newish) spots where you can wear a ten-gallon hat, drink a cheap beer (or a fancy whiskey, if that’s more your style), and cue up some Johnny Cash.

Jump Ahead:

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• Where: 5450 Lincoln St., Denver

When one mechanical bull won’t cut it, head to the Grizzly Rose, where two of ’em buck nightly. Indisputably the king of Denver honky-tonks, the 40,000-square-foot, 37-year-old wonderland just off I-25 north of Globeville often hosts big-name acts. On June 26, Rodney Atkins, who’s had six country chart-toppers, swings by. Kids are free on Sunday family nights, when the 7 p.m. line dancing class is also gratis.

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• Where: 2201 Lawrence St., Unit B, Denver (Ballpark)

Colton Patterson isn’t old enough to drink the beer he sells, but the 19-year-old parlayed social media fame (his cowboy nostalgia page has a loyal following) into a brand-new, but decidedly old-school, Western bar and dance hall in Five Points. At Broken Bow, which opened in April, you can play pool, catch a concert, and grab a burger from Dalton’s. Stop by on Thursday nights for free swing dance lessons, and catch live shows from bands like Front Range Revival.

• Where: 1930 Blake St., Denver (LoDo)

If you’ve ever wanted to twirl beneath an enormous boot-shaped disco ball (made by local mirror-ball specialist Lauren Young), Belles & Boots is your spot. The 4,000-square-foot, year-old LoDo bar and restaurant has a cheeky, feminine vibe and is warmly lit by neon artwork. The line dancing scene attracts experienced boot-scooters and first-timers alike, and the event calendar is quirky (see: a platonic speed-dating mixer).

• Where: 2430 South Havana St., Aurora

Beloved for its Ladies Night on Wednesdays (gals get two free drinks after a $10 cover), this Aurora country music venue and dancehall welcomes all comers, genre-wise. Catch performances from touring conjunto, banda, norteño, and cumbia acts; take West Coast swing lessons; or even watch a Muay Thai fight, because why not?

• Where: 1665 N. Grant St., Denver (Uptown)

In October 2024, an 1880s-era red sandstone mansion in Capitol Hill was transformed into the fourth location of the Urban Cowboy hotel chain (also in Brooklyn, Nashville, and the Catskills). The designs in its 16 rooms exude eccentric Western heiress vibes, with boldly patterned custom wallpaper and ornate tile. Honeymooners can splurge on a suite with double copper soaking tubs, but you don’t need to be celebrating anything to knock back a cold one in the Public House where Little Johnny B’s serves wood-fired pizza.

• Where: 3965 Tennyson St., Denver (Berkeley)

At this new, upscale mashup of a saloon and a custom hat shop on Berkeley’s Tennyson Street, sip your choice of 23 varieties of whiskey or bourbon while a high-quality lid is molded to precisely fit your noggin. The zero-proof cocktail options are impressive, including an Old Fashioned with walnut bitters, tea, and cherry. Starting at $225 for wool and $525 for beaver, the hats ain’t cheap, but your grandkids will inherit them.

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