Zach Kotel’s Colorado Favorites: Acknowledging Colfax businesses in Lavender Hill Cultural District
June 27, 2025
Note: A few of the businesses listed in this week’s entry cater to adults only. To ensure content sensitivity and inclusiveness, their listings will have links to Yelp or Google instead of their social media accounts or websites.
Direct quotes were edited for typos, to observe AP style guidelines and to fit the listicle structure.
Lavender Hill Cultural District is home to Denver’s largest concentration of LGBTQ+-owned businesses, and Zach Kotel finds great importance in amplifying their stories and the work that goes into them.
For this week’s “Favorites” entry, the Cultural District’s executive director and co-founder shared a list of businesses on the Colfax Avenue Corridor that self-reported to Lavender Hill as LGBTQ+ owned or serving.
According to their website, Lavender Hill Cultural District is made up of the Colfax Avenue Corridor, Lincoln Street and Broadway Street Corridor, and the Cheesman Park, Capitol Hill, North Capitol Hill, Five Points and Congress Park neighborhoods.
Kotel noted that any businesses in the district that have not yet self-reported can contact him to be included in future listings.
Kotel’s Colfax List
The Squire Lounge is a dive bar open every day of the week. They host open mics and live music events, and their website notes that they offer “shot and beer combos 24/7.”
Poisoned By Me is a craft cocktail bar with a rotating menu of signature drinks. They also offer craft cocktail-making classes.
Voodoo Doughnuts has been selling gourmet donuts since 2003 and now has over 40 flavor options, 10 of which are vegan. According to their website, customers can also place a custom order, allowing them to personalize the flavor, filling, and look of their donuts.
Lifetime Tattoo has been open since 2001, and the 12 artists listed on their website can work with any style their clients want.
Tight End Bar is a gay sports bar with a full menu of beer and cocktails. Their website features a sports viewing schedule full of international games.
According to Google Maps, Trophy Pizza is temporarily closed at the time of publishing. The culinary chef-led restaurant serves upscale pizza and wings “in a sports bar atmosphere.”
303 Boards is a skate shop that opened in 1997; they sell boards, shoes, apparel and more.
Bound By Design is a piercing and tattoo studio that has been open since 1993. According to Bound By Design’s website, they also have a piercing-only location in the Alamo Placita neighborhood.
Adam & Eve is a novelty store that prioritizes offering a safe space to shop for adult products. Customers must be 18 years old or older to enter these stores.
According to their website, City Records buys and sells vintage items like cassettes, vinyl and trading cards.
Crazy Mountain Brewery is a cold brewery and taproom. In addition to beer and other staples, the brewery also serves a full lineup of Texas barbeque from BBQ Daddy’s.
Bad Axe Throwing offers axe throwing and knife throwing for all ages, and they have leagues for both activities. They also have a menu full of beer and wine options.
99ers Sports Bar is described on their website as “Denver’s first sports bar catering primarily toward women’s athletics.” In addition to showing women’s sports, they offer a broad menu full of beer, liquor, cocktails and more.
Above Ground is a safe space with a staff of stylists and barbers trained to work with a range of hair types. They work to create an inclusive space filled with music and art.
Needz is a men’s “designer undergear,” swimwear, clothing and adult product shop. They describe themselves as a “haberdashery,” and customers must be 18 years old or older to enter.
Charlie’s Nightclub is a gay bar that has been open since 1981. A lineup of each week’s entertainment and specials can be viewed on their website.
Argonaut Wine & Liquor sells a wide selection of wine, beer and spirits. Their Grapevine Wine Club features three subscription tiers based on level of expertise and bottle prices.
SliceWorks was created in 2012; their menu features pastas, sub sandwiches, desserts, pizzas sold whole and by the slice and more.
Velvet Banjo is a bar that specializes in live “Newgrass Music;” they host pool tournaments, live music “jams” and Happy Hour from 3 to 6 p.m. daily.
The 1-Up Arcade Bar offers arcade video games, claw machines, pinball games and more. They have daily Happy Hour specials, and all of their food and drink options have game and pop culture-themed names.
Since 1998, Cheba Hut has been serving sub sandwiches, salads, local brews and other cures for the munchies. Customers can dine in person, get carry out or order delivery.
Romantix is a boutique that sells romantic adult products and lingerie. Customers must be 18 years old or older to enter the store.
According to their website, Glow Lounge is a LGBTQ+ bar full of glowing art from local artists. They are upstairs of X Bar and frequently collaborate with them on themed nights with DJs and drink specials.
In addition to their events with Glow Lounge, X Bar hosts events ranging from karaoke and lip sync nights to drag shows. They also have drink deals during Happy Hour, which takes place Monday-Saturday each week from 3 to 8 p.m.
Champagne Tiger describes themselves as an American diner mixed with a French bistro. They host weekly events that pair a meal with a performance, like Sunday drag brunches and piano music with pasta every Wednesday.
Buddies is a gay bar that serves a diverse menu of pub meals and smaller dishes. They offer football game viewing opportunities and several weekly food and drink specials.
Bruz Off Fax opened in 2019 and is an event space, tasting room and taproom. They offer a full brew menu and frequent drink specials; they also have a food truck-filled schedule every week, serve pizza and offer local snacks.
DNVR Bar’s website describes them as part commentary studio and “the ultimate place for those who love Denver sports to watch and enjoy.” In addition to their diverse regular menu, DNVR has a summer menu featuring well drink specials and staple bar foods.
