A good drink tour beats guessing where to go. You get a tight, guided route through Downtown Denver, plus cocktail history that you won’t hear while wandering. I like how it’s social without being loud, and how the stops are spread out so you’re not just bouncing between doorways. One thing to know up front: you’re getting set drinks and bites, so you cannot swap for special diets on site.

I also like the balance of old and new Denver. You start at iconic Union Station and pair it with a peek at the Oxford Hotel, then end in the Dairy Block area where the food scene feels freshly rewired. The possible downside is real: this tour isn’t suitable for people who need gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan options, and it’s not for anyone under 21.

Key Points to Know Before You Go

• 4 cocktails and small plates across three top stops (tastings are set in advance)
• Small group up to 10 people, so you can actually talk to your guide and each other
• Union Station to the Dairy Block, an easy downtown route with minimal walking
• Local guide storytelling, including Prohibition-era Denver and today’s culinary renaissance
• Rain or shine, designed for an outdoor-friendly downtown stroll
• Drinks with structure: you get a spritz, a serious old fashioned, and two seasonal craft cocktails

Downtown Denver Cocktails Tour: A 2-Hour Route That Gets You Straight to the Good Places

Denver’s cocktail scene moves fast, and that can make planning feel like work. This tour solves that problem by giving you a clear path and a reason to be at each bar, not just a guess and a walk. In just 2 hours, you’ll sip your way through three standout venues while your guide stitches it all together with local stories.

The format also makes it easier to enjoy yourself. You’re not ordering for research. You’re tasting what the tour has selected, with paired bites designed to match the vibe of each drink. And because it’s a small group limited to 10 participants, you’ll spend less time standing around and more time mixing with fellow foodies.

One practical detail I appreciate: the walking is minimal, under a half mile over the full tour. That means you can focus on conversation and drinks, not your calves.

Meeting at Union Station and Getting Oriented in Minutes

You start near the Crawford Hotel check-in desk inside Union Station at 1701 Wynkoop St. It’s an easy landmark to find, and it helps that guides wear orange Delicious Denver Food Tours buttons. That color pops in a busy station, so you’re not playing hide-and-seek.

Union Station isn’t just a convenient meeting spot. It’s a great first stop because it instantly frames the theme of the day: Denver moving between eras. Your guide also gives a quick guided tour and sightseeing time right away (about 10 minutes). It’s enough to get your bearings fast, without turning the start into a history lecture.

Before you go, I’d bring an ID or passport. You’ll need it for the tour experience as listed, and it’s the kind of simple thing that prevents last-minute friction.

Tavernetta Sip Start: Brachetto Spritz and House-Made Bites

One of the first tastings happens at Tavernetta, where you’ll spend about 30 minutes. This is where the tour kicks off with a Brachetto Spritz, and it’s coming from a James-Beard Award-Winning restaurant. That matters because it’s not just a random bar stop. You’re being matched with places the city’s food crowd actually respects.

Along with the spritz, you get multiple small bites, including house-made focaccia, garlic conserva, and marinated olives. That trio is a smart warm-up. You get something bread-based to balance the drink, plus salty and briny flavors that cut through sweetness and keep the palate awake.

What makes this stop feel like value is the pairing logic. Cocktails work best when you taste with a mouthful of food, not right after water and regret. The tour’s set structure means you don’t have to guess whether a spritz will be too light, too sharp, or too sweet.

The only heads-up: tastings can change, so the exact sequence might shift slightly even though the tour keeps its overall style.

Oxford Hotel Walk-By: Denver’s Past Shows Up in Stone

After Tavernetta, you head to the Oxford Hotel area for another short 10-minute guided tour and sightseeing block. This is one of those stops that pays off because it’s brief. You get just enough context to appreciate what you’re looking at while your group stays moving.

This part of the tour also reinforces the Denver “then and now” angle. The tour route runs alongside the city’s oldest hotel, and your guide uses that to set up stories about how Denver’s food and drink culture formed, including the Prohibition days. Even if you think you already know Prohibition facts, your guide is positioned to connect it to how people drank, gathered, and built businesses afterward.

I like this kind of stop because it changes your pace without draining your energy. You’re not stuck in a long museum moment. You’re walking, looking up, and hearing a story that makes the next sip feel more meaningful.

Urban Farmer Denver Cocktail Break: A Butter Pecan Old Fashioned Moment

Next comes Urban Farmer Denver for another 30-minute cocktail stop. This is where the tour goes from bright and crisp into something smoother and more serious, including the Butter Pecan Old Fashioned that’s listed as part of the included tastings.

That drink choice signals what this tour does well: it doesn’t treat cocktails like a single-note trend. A spritz is fun. An old fashioned is where you learn how craft and technique show up in the glass. Butter pecan can sound dessert-like, but in an old fashioned format you typically get a more balanced, grown-up flavor profile, with sweetness used like a supporting actor instead of the main character.

Even better, you’re not doing this alone at a bar counter. You’ll be in a group setting with a guide helping connect the dots about what’s happening in Denver’s cocktail scene right now. That’s especially useful if you’re new to the city or you only know Denver from daytime sightseeing.

The Dairy Block Micro-District: Where Downtown Feels Like a New Chapter

Then you reach the Dairy Block, which is described as one of Denver’s newer, coolest micro-districts. You’ll have about 10 minutes of guided sightseeing here. The purpose of this stop isn’t alcohol; it’s atmosphere.

I like the Dairy Block placement because it shifts the mood right before the finale. After time in hotel lore and craft drink focus, you get a quick taste of the modern downtown food culture. It’s the kind of place you might not notice if you were just cutting through between major landmarks, but on a structured tour it feels like a reward for paying attention.

This stop is also where your guide’s storytelling about Denver’s recent culinary renaissance likely lands best. You can physically see the contrast between older architecture and newer development as you move through the area.

Poka Lola Social Club Finale: BBQ Pork Slider and Your Last Sip

Your final tasting stop is Poka Lola Social Club, another 30-minute experience with both cocktail and food tasting included. This is where the tour leans into the social and snacky side of Denver cocktails, and it’s also where you’ll likely appreciate the “paired bites” concept most.

The included food item listed here is a BBQ Pork Slider. Food like this works because it’s hearty enough to stand up to the flavors in a cocktail, and it adds that comfort-food satisfaction that makes the last stop feel like an ending, not just another pour.

If your guide is Barry (a name that came up in the experience ratings), I’d pay extra attention here. One reviewer specifically highlighted Barry as very knowledgeable about both the venues and Denver in general, and that he shared plenty of useful ideas beyond just the drinks. A strong guide can make the final stop feel like the best conversation you had all day.

Price and Value: Does $89 Make Sense for Four Cocktails?

At $89 per person for a 2-hour tour, you’re paying for four main things: access, curation, guidance, and food pairing. It’s not just “buying drinks at a discount.”

Here’s why I think it’s reasonable based on what’s included:

• Four cocktails across multiple stops, including at least one clearly listed as the Brachetto Spritz and another as the Butter Pecan Old Fashioned
• Small plates and listed bite items (including focaccia, garlic conserva, marinated olives, and BBQ pork slider)
• A guided experience with short sightseeing blocks at Union Station, the Oxford Hotel, and the Dairy Block
• A local guide who shares stories, including Prohibition-era Denver and the city’s modern culinary rebound

If you were doing this on your own, you’d likely spend time figuring out where to go and how to order without overdoing it. This tour compresses that decision-making into one guided plan, and that’s where you get the real value: you spend less effort and more time enjoying.

One caution on value: since tastings are set, this works best if you’re open-minded about the specific menu choices. If you’re picky or need strict dietary accommodations, the value drops fast because you won’t be able to tailor drinks or bites at the venue.

Who Should Book This Cocktail Crawl (and Who Should Skip It)

This tour is built for adults who want a guided food-and-drink afternoon without doing homework. You’ll get the best experience if you:

• enjoy cocktail culture and want a guided path through downtown
• like meeting people in a small group setting
• want quick sightseeing that actually connects to what you’re drinking

It’s not suitable if:

• you’re pregnant
• you need gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan options (the tour lists that it cannot accommodate these diets)
• you’re under 21

Also, if you hate the idea of fixed tastings, this tour may feel limiting. Cocktails and paired tastings are set in advance and cannot be changed on site, so plan to enjoy what’s on the tour menu rather than expecting substitutions.

How to Get the Most Out of Your 2-Hour Sip and Stroll

A few small moves make a big difference:

• Wear comfortable shoes. You’re walking under half a mile total, but downtown sidewalks still have their own personality.
• Bring your ID (or passport) since it’s required.
• Expect rain or shine. Downtown is fine in weather, but you’ll want a lightweight layer.
• Pace yourself. The tour includes multiple tastings in a short window, including a spritz and an old fashioned-style drink. You’ll feel better if you drink slowly and let the bites do some of the work.

Because it’s a roving experience, you’ll also get more out of it by staying present during the guide moments at Union Station and the Oxford Hotel. Those story segments help you connect the bars to Denver’s bigger narrative, instead of treating each stop like a separate event.

And if you’re traveling for a special occasion, it can land well. One honeymoon-focused reviewer called it a real treat, and highlighted their guide by name for good reason: a great guide makes the experience feel personal.

Should You Book Downtown Denver Cocktails Tour?

I’d book it if you want a simple plan for a downtown afternoon that combines four curated cocktails, paired bites, and guided context. For $89, the value is strongest when you’re open to the set tastings and you want to skip the guesswork of bar-hopping.

I’d skip it if you need diet accommodations, if you’re hoping to customize drinks at each venue, or if you’re looking for a hands-off nightlife crawl instead of a guided experience.

FAQ

How long is the Downtown Denver Cocktails Tour?

It lasts 2 hours.

Where do I meet for the tour?

Meet near the Crawford Hotel check-in desk inside Union Station at 1701 Wynkoop St.

How many bars and tastings are included?

You visit three cocktail bars/restaurants and sample four cocktails with paired small plates across the tasting stops.

What’s included in the tastings?

Included items listed include a Brachetto Spritz (from a James-Beard Award-Winning restaurant), house-made focaccia, garlic conserva, marinated olives, a Butter Pecan Old Fashioned, a BBQ pork slider, plus two seasonal craft cocktails.

Is there much walking?

No. The tour involves minimal walking, under a half mile total over the 2 hours.

Can I change cocktails or follow a special diet?

No. Cocktails and paired tastings are set in advance and cannot be changed on site. The tour also cannot accommodate gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan diets.

What’s the age requirement?

The tour is not suitable for anyone under 21.