Is it a dive? Is the area a bit sketch? Would sardines be a bit cramped for a sold-out show? Well yes, but what's your point? :P You know what you're getting into at the Larimer Lounge, and I like it. This place reminds me of the dive venues I would go to in Austin. Now I wouldn't want to see every show here, but it's fun to see a band every now and then in a small venue like this. The acoustics are surprisingly good and not too loud, you'd be surprised at how well you can see without any sloping (unless Mr. 6' 7" is in front of you of course), and prices are usually quite cheap. It can be one of those places where you say "I can't believe I saw so-and-so in such a small venue!" That was my experience (Royal Teeth, Gold Fields, & A Silent Film), and it was great. I hope we meet again soon, Larimer Lounge. read more

One of the coolest bars in Denver. Great place, and they get a ton of great bands. This is also the place where all the coolest local bands play. And who can argue against a "Punk Rock BBQ"? That's right, nobody. It is a bit of a strange place, though, in that the performance space is pretty much a hallway. But they've got a great bar, and it's wonderfully seedy. It's also located in one of the last areas in town where you can feel appropriately sketched out, and that's something every scene needs. Bathrooms are, well, pretty atrocious, but I've seen some cool shows here, like Jesse Malin and White Light Motorcade. Of course, you probably haven't heard of either, but that's what's so great about Larimer Lounge. The hippest acts in indie play here on their way to superstardom... others don't quite make it to superstardom but that's OK. You never know, so it's worth investing a few PBRs at this joint for the chance to say, "I saw them when." read more

You know how they used to say about Shea Stadium, "It's a dump, but it's our dump!" That's how Larimer Lounge is. It makes no attempt to be anything more than it is: A dive bar with a stage and small standing area for new bands to cut their teeth on the road. No backstage, no dressing rooms, a cash bar in the stage area b/c they don't want to buy 20 feet of Cat5 cable for a credit card reader, no sloped floor to help the people in back, and a sound system that could use some work. But that's the whole point, if you ask me. It's not the dive-iest (not a word) place in town but it's up there, and it's in the northeast end of 5-points which still needs some work. The bartender girls had great energy, were friendly and pretty cute, and they can remember what you ordered. read more

The Larimer Lounge just gets better and better and i think it's now incorrect to call it a dive bar, It's now just a great music club. A year or two ago, they totally revamped their previously dismal PA system and now have quality sound, they have remodeled moving bathrooms upstairs and out of the way, and they just re-did the floors and bar. On top of all that, they book excellent acts, real world class stuff and ticket prices are totally reasonable. IMHO, this is the perfect venue with one big exception that takes it down to 4 stars for me. Sorry but I'm gonna go all caps here: HEADLINERS GO ON STAGE TOO DAMN LATE. The main act always starts at midnight here which means by the time i've stumbled home it is usually around 2 am. I know that they need to stretch things out to keep up healthy booze sales but really, can't they start a little earlier? Would an 11pm start time be too early for a headliner? Please Lounge let's move that show time up but other than that-don't change a thing. read more

Wonderful Venue. I've seen some of the best shows of my life here, and many of the bands I've seen went on to play major venues and festivals (Purity Ring is the first to come to mind) On a busy night, the bar staff can be overwhelmed, but if you treat them well and tip, they'll have your back. They serve Miller High Life colder than any bar serves any beer, in town. Thursday happy hour is bingo! Play for concert tickets. This is a real neighborhood joint. I've made some good friends simply by hanging out. Some problems with the sound, lately, but I'm sure they will sort that out. read more

I went there tonight for a show that the tickets said doors open at 7 pm and show started at 8 pm. When I arrived the sign said doors opened at 8 pm and the opening act starts at 9 pm and headliner starts at 11:15 pm. This was a complete misrepresentation of the show! Normally I wouldn't care, but being a Thursday night I had 3 kids left at home and a Flight scheduled for 8 am the next day. I would not have purchased tickets if it said headliner will play at 11:15 pm! I spoke with the manager and he blamed it on Ticketfly. I am sorry but if you are the manager of the venue, you would communicate with the ticket seller and share the set times. He then tried blaming it ON ME, saying I should have assumed the headliner wouldn't play until 11 pm since the Facebook event said the show ended at 12 pm. Wow. Just wow. I am sorry for assuming the times displayed on MY TICKET and the Facebook event were correct. I should have known they were wrong, right?? read more

Larimer Lounge - Lounges Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Standard dive music venue in an up-and-coming area. Average priced drinks. I'm a beer drinker so I don't know about the quality of the mixed drinks. I have read a lot of comments about rude bartenders, but have found them par for the course for a high-volume bar in a music venue. Larimer Lounge gets better acts than you would expect for something its size. The venue is completely flat and is general admission, so get there early unless you are well over 6' tall. The view of the stage is not great, especially if a seated acoustic performer is playing. Restrooms are semi-gross, but that also .comes with the territory. Not Lions Lair level gross restrooms, but smelly. I performed there a few times years ago and found the sound system pretty good and staff easy to work with. read more

Larimer Lounge... ahhhh.... what to say... definitely a dive... definitely a good venue for punk and various rock genres. I have enjoyed many a drunken nights rocking out at their shows. It's one of those hit or miss places... if they have a good well- publicized show then it's awesome. They have a patio which is great. Last time I was their they were doing some constuction... but I remember they used to often have food (like BBQ) grillin' on the patio and the patio was always the hot spot to hang out at. And the staff is really nice too... and everytime I go, I usually run into someone I know, which is a plus! My final say is this is a great place for a happin' punk rock show... if it's an unknown band... then plan on it just being you, your friends and maybe 5 other people(who are most likely staff or one of the bands. lol) read more

What an utter $#17 hole this place is. Dark and dingy, rude people and a terrible terrible place to see a concert. I know a lot of the shows here have very small crowds, but I got tickets to two shows in a week here, one sold out, and it was a horrible place to see a show. The band was fantastic, but that had nothing to do with the venue. The place itself has NO tiering at all, and a very low stage, due to a very low ceiling. So in a big show, if you aren't in the first few rows, don't expect to see a whole lot. The only thing keeping it from being a 1 star in my head is that one of the bands we saw was amazing, and I could see how if you were there for a punk show how it could be fun. read more

Larimer lounge has some great bands and groups that come through. I have seen many great shows and in that respect I give it 2 stars. It delivers in its promise of great music more than many venues in denver. I give it one star for having a great patio. The flow of traffic of having to go past the band to get there sucks but it is a nice area to grab a smoke and cool off when the venue is hot and packed. I give it zero stars for service. In some cases, I have had to wait more than 5 minutes to get a drink. The service is inconsistent and on several occasions outright rude. It seems they hire bartenders that are attractive but inattentive and lack any focus on customer service. Assuming you can get their attention, the drinks are prices ok and not unreasonably high. I also give it zero stars for the condition of the bathrooms which are often dirty and not well maintained. Not a total surprise for most music venues but always a disappointment. They are also at the top of a narrow stairway that often creates traffic issues if someone is coming down when you are coming up. Finally, I give it zero stars for the crowd. While I have had some good experiences with particular bands and their fans, I have also seen some of the douchiest people in five points. At one concert recently, I thought I had walked into a Greek frat house. I almost thought I had stepped into a club in lodo. Very disappointing. Bottom line: this is a worthy venue to visit for great music but make sure to get your buzz on at one of the local bars before going in as it may be a while before you get a drink and it may be best to keep your visit to the show and avoid the lame crowd and attitude. read more

Larimer is subject to the elements. If its cold outside, mannnnn it cold in here. And when the people start to roll in and the music starts, the warmth will surround you... Larimer Lounge is a great place to catch a band that you really like in a small and intimate setting and venue size. Walk in to a bar and the standing room is just beyond in a partitioned room with full front-of-house sound board and small stage. I have caught some acts here that now are selling out larger venues and some that never will but the scene is great. Larimer Lounge itself is on the skirts of Denver and attracts real music goers. In the Summer months, there is an out back cabana area that you can step out into to escape or socialize for a moment with picnic tables and cheesy lighting. Perfect. The is a five-star joint for me because I have been going here since the first week that i lived in Denver years ago and look forward to coming here every time still. Friendly approachable staff and crowd. The schedule doesn't have many block busters on it but guarantee that you'll catch something special. Cheers! read more

Nice little dive with live music 7 days a week. Lots of great independent music pass through the doors of this spot. Kind of smells in there, but that could be a mix of the sweaty, haven't showered in a few days bands that pass through, and the stale beer stench. They have a nice little patio area out front and there always seems to be a nice eclectic group of people that frequent this establishment. Lots of different social groups. They also have a bike night on Mondays, which I quite like. The staff is friendly and easy going. Which makes the experience nicer. The drinks are reasonably priced and adequately strong. I'm sure I'll pass through again. read more

Oh, it's just a great place to see a loud stinky sweaty dirty rock show. Local or some underground band you've never heard of. If you don't like PBR don't even bother. Shots? This ain't your "Lemondrop" shot kind of bar. Just go for the hard stuff. And anywhere with a patio get's a star in my book. read more

What an awesome venue!! They have an awesome selection of local and regional bands, with an intimate setting in which to enjoy their music. We were for the Brothers O'Hair CD Release Show, and they didn't disappoint. They put on an amazing live performance! Love their song Tonight, it is quickly climbing my list of favorites. The back patio is awesome. The acoustics are, for a small, low-ceilinged venue, kick ass. (Especially when you're right up front!) Beer specials are well-priced, and there's a decent selection of beers on tap available. read more

Like an old friend, the Larimer Lounge has welcomed me when I am down and out, when I have a hangover, when Im jubilant, and when Im being a totally drunk asshole and accusing them of losing my debit card. This is a great place to see a show, to grab a drink, and in the summer to kick it on the patio. Plus they always always have really good bands play, and its near five points, for all of us northeast siders that are sick of driving down to broadway. They recently rennovated the bathrooms, which is great because the old ones were really effed up, but bad because I used to like to dare people to drink out of the tank. read more

My band (SoHelpMe) has played at the Larimer and really thought the bar went out of their way to make us feel comfortable. They gave us a couple of free pitchers of beer to warm us up and didn't rush us to get on and off the stage. The sound guys have been good to us too... there was a time where he came through and saved us from a disaster. Needless to say, we don't have a second guitarist anymore. I really like the fact that they have patrons who come and check out the bands without having a bias before hearing them live. That is true support for the local scene! The only thing I was taken back on was during our first show, a friends wife was drugged but that is no reflection of the venue/bar and this was isolated to one time. There are creeps in every city hanging around every bar. I always suggest never taking your eyes off of your drink no matter where you are at. The door cover will not put you in the poor house considering it's usually $3 with a ticket and $6 without. The Larimer Lounge is quintessential, without them what venue/bar books bands who are transitioning from the garage, basement or studio to the stage AND books solid acts with draw? They gave us our start and we need to get back there! It's too bad we aren't booking right now due to some legal issues. Keep this venue/bar in your back pocket, there might be a time when you need some live music to fullfill your night down town. Once you pass 22nd and Larimer, keep on walking, haha. This place kicks ass! read more

Fair warning: This is a dive bar, but it's definitely not as "divey" as some I've visited. But who cares about that when you consider their well-deserved reputation for booking the best shows in the city. Acoustically, no, it might not be the best, but I can't even believe the number of incredible shows I've seen in this space. it's a living legend and any musician I know feels completely honored to have been invited to play there. Full bar, great staff, relatively clean (for a dive bar) and kick ass shows. That is all. read more

Server added extra to her tip, 30% was not enough? Dishonest staff, wouldn't go back or recommend. read more

I haven't posted to yelp in a while, and am totally not surprised that what motivates me to finally post on Larimer Lounge. I'll say it in one sentence: For independent music, this is the best venue in the denver metro area. at this point, you may stop reading the rest of the review. what do i like about larimer. well, first of all, its small enough that you always have a good sound. yes the sound system is extremely loud but I've found that simply by moving my position in the crowd it becomes better. additionally, the patio is a welcome break from the packed crowds in front of the stage and a nice way to smoke while still being in the ambiance of this venue. Also, if you're sitting at the bar, you hear the music but you're not overwhelmed by it. And perhaps most importantly it is cheap and you can buy tickets online NOT through ticketmaster! these are all the specifics that make the larimer so good in my opinion. but really, its their booking agent. except for a period of about 7 months in 2008 (seriously larimer, what happened there?) the larimer brings in consistently amazing shows with bands who are ready to explode, or already have exploded but aren't accessible enough to get to tier 2 indie. the larimer frequently serves as a first round tour, while a band is starting to buzz and about to release an album this will be their stop in denver. then they'll come back to denver and put on a good, or average, or bad, show at the fillmore or ogden, or whatever. This is the venue you'll wish you saw them at. read more

Larimer Lounge's business model is as follows: sell alcohol. That's pretty much it. I was there with an after-work gaggle, just soaking up the happy hour. They do have Dale's Pale Ale on tap, which would be good if they ever cleaned their filthy tap lines that are currently fouling the taste of your beer. So it's probably better to stick with bottles or mixed drinks. Larimer's does have a patio, and a pretty rundown back room. So there's that. Also, a live band was arriving when we were there, so I assume Larimer has live music, and if a band you like happens to be playing there, that might be a reason to go. read more

One of Denver's great rock venues has a super happy hour? Who knew? It was pretty easy to throw back a few $2 cocktails at the LL with such a great soundtrack pumping in the background. While I've seen shows there plenty of times, and consider this place one of those favorite Denver bars that I'd hang out in more if I lived closer, I really never have. This was my first happy hour there, and my first time there without a band playing. Still a great place, and cleaner than I expected. I guess the secret is getting there before rockers trash the place. read more

I love small concert venues, looooove them. I want to be able to stand right up close and dance with the band. It's a dive and it makes no effort to hide that. The crowd was diverse, everything from hipsters to stoners to bros. Everyone seemed to be having a good time and I dug it. I didn't even have a hard time finding parking on Larimer but that could have been a fluke. The bar's up front and the venue is in the back with just enough room for a standing crowd. The bathroom's covered in graffiti and the bar is tiny but it didn't take us long to get a drink. The front bar had a video showing the stage so you wouldn't miss anything while you're getting drinks, nice touch. I'll be looking for more concerts at this venue to go see. If you're not into a place with a small, divey feel then you should probably avoid this place. read more

$6.50 for a White Rascal? Really? Their beer is way overpriced. They had a radio station playing in the bar, so it was really weird after every couple songs when we had to listen to ads and some dude talking. They're a live music venue, and they don't even have decent music playing the the bar. I don't get it. Other than those complaints, it's fine for a dive bar. read more

I'm a big fan of intimate spots like this. The line ups are usually much smaller names, so everyone who shows up is really there to love it. You're practically standing on stage with the band, and when I was there last, band members kept coming down off stage to play in the audience. All around a great vibe. As the other reviews mention, it's a dive, and it's dingy. Just the way I like it. Plus there's a outside area to cool off or smoke a butt. Even better. read more

You will laugh the first time you visit to the Larimer Lounge. The performance space is not much more than a seedy and bare warehouse with a small-elevated stage in one corner. The space actually resembles a garage and is hardly any different BUT you can definitely catch some killer shows here, though sometimes it is hard to see if you are short like me. In the summer (winter too!) the back patio is nice and cabana like. I have seen some of the best performances here. One time Calvin Johnson led the audience out to the patio and climbed on a table to perform. I'm sure things like this happen all the time. The Larimer Lounge is small but also very very happening during good shows. Easy to find because it across the street from a giant sausage factory. read more

This is probably one of my favorite dive bars in Denver. It's a great spot to see a show or play a show. LL has an expansive variety of local and touring acts. A lot of smaller music venues in Denver are dedicated to a specific genre of music (indie, hip-hop, jazz, etc.), so I like how they mix things up here. As a performer, I'd say one negative is that the nightly line up can be a little bit all over the place. The last show my band played here (we're indie folk) was with a hard rock/metal band and a synth dance band. Doesn't really work well together. But I think they have a good system as far as keeping shows cheap and assuring bands are paid fairly. Drinks are cheap, shows are cheap, service isn't always great. But at least they're smart enough to have a second, make shift bar area for the bigger shows. And the patio area is great, especially when they have the BBQ shows. I love LL and will continue to go here til I'm old and gray. read more

We went to the Larimer Lounge to see some local bands this last Saturday - Sunboy and Wild High with Male Blonding and a couple others. The bands were phenomenally good for local small bands - they all had great guitar rifts, solid drums and lyrics. My only issue was the sound guy in the corner was sitting on his phone the entire night, and never paid any attention to the bands, so he was not adjusting for the mic or blare from the lead guitars - thus everything was overly sharp and blaring. The general sound could have been way better if the sound guy was paying any attention at all. Also, the bar cannot make a standard cocktail like a Manhattan or Cosmo, they're "more of a shot and beer kinda place" as we were told. Ok, no big deal - its a dive bar with a patio for smoking (not air, since everyone goes out and smokes so you WILL get second hand smoke in your face if you go out to sit down) and a stage for bands. I do also wish they had a little more inside seating - it would have been nice to sit down and listen to some of the bands away from the speakers and not be outside with the smokers and the cold either. All in all, expect your standard Denver Dive with a chill atmosphere and enjoy a beer and some local tunes. Not bad- but also not the best. read more

I love a good dive bar, and it only makes me twice as happy when it doubles as a music venue. My friends and I checked it out the other night when Swear and Shake and VonStomper were playing, and we all had a great time. The drinks were pretty cheap, and we didn't have to wait long to be served. The lady's bathroom - while covered in stickers - wasn't grungy as some reviews led me to believe. It isn't brand spankin new, but it's clean, and on par with any other small venue bathroom I've been in. There were definitely some disrespectful people in the crowd, but I've come to expect that from any show I go to, so I don't fault the venue for that. Overall though, the crowd was just there to have fun, and the bands were more than willing to help us get there. I'll be back any time a band I'm interested in rolls through! read more

Went to see a band on a Thursday night they promoted starting at 8 pm, with doors opening at 7. They never mentioned anything about opening bands. The first band didn't come on until after 9 pm and the band we wanted to see came on after 11 pm. Kind of late for a weeknight. A lot of people were unhappy and left. One lady was desperately trying to get a refund due to misleading advertising and they would not oblige at all. I understand this may be somewhat of a norm in small music venues but at least the decency to let folks know ahead of time. read more

I went here with a group of 15 of us for my friends birthday. We started the day off here and there was no one in the bar. The place had good vibes, but I will never come back here because the bartender was so rude. She made many mistakes and that's okay, but how she handled them was not. She was talking badly about our group to another employee, loudly enough for members of our group to hear and she was rude directly to our faces. Each person from the group complained about how they were treated by this bartender. I work in the service industry and I understand a large group is overwhelming, but there are better ways to handle those types of situations. read more

Had a good time at Larimer Lounge. Would recommend to all. Good staff. Great music. Clean bathrooms. Thank you for a fun night out!

Best local/national small music venue in Denver! Keep up on their calendar and you will see incredible artists you never expect to see in Denver! read more

it's small, dark, kinda dingy and all awesome! one of the best places i've seen a show in a long time. i love that you can get right up near the short stage and if you really want, force your way on and steal the mic for a little singing of your own. seeing agent orange there might make this review of larimer lounge a bit better than it would have been other wise, but any bar that lets a punk show actually get a little crazy without trying to stop the fun is awesome in my book. front and back patio, check. awesome stage with decent crowd space, check. busted eyebrow turning into a black eye, check. bruised everything else, check. definitely go see a show here, it's awesome. read more

Ok, diver bar type of place that had some bands playing. Cover was way too high for the performance. Didn't like that they didn't serve Coors light, and the PBR was just in the small cans. Dark and grimy (which is usually my thing) but I may just have caught an off night. There was a nice outdoor area. read more

First, let me be clear that the above rating is largely a result of the "fan base" I have now experienced on my first two visits to Larimer Lounge... The venue, itself, gets the job done. It's intimate, unassuming, and achieves what is, ultimately, the goal of any good music venue. The problem seems to arise from the attitudes of many a concertgoer these days...I am not sure if this is some insight into how these people were raised, if they hold some elitist mentalities, or they view a music concert as another excuse to socialize. Whatever the underlying cause, please, for the sake of any music lover's sanity, follow some of these basic tips: - Keep your conversation level below a quiet yell...yes, I know all those guitar and singing noises make it really difficult to hear your friend's thoughts on your new shoe purchase, but sometimes life just isn't fair... - Maybe you are only there to see the headliner, but some people come to also hear the opening acts, and sometimes, only for an opening act...so your "make loud chatter now in exchange for respectful quietude later", doesn't exactly jive for everyone - I arrived to the show early and got a good spot in the front...I stood through two opening acts quietly and patiently. The headliner is about to begin, and you and your 6 best friends shoulder your way in front of me and my 5 ft girlfriend...again, I'm not sure where the "holier than thou" mindset originates from, but I'm pretty sure you aren't royalty (well, maybe a royal b****) - Nothing fills a silent moment during a song better than your loud cackle and laughing squeal...please, share the joke with all of us...we wouldn't want to miss out on all of the fun... Folks, there are places you can go to talk loudly and drink beer. They're called bars. Most of the time you don't even have to pay a cover charge. At Larimer, there is a front bar area, and I think there is even an area out back...they both beckon for revelers such as yourself to add to the ambient noise of drunken and mindless conversation. Leave the music area to what it's there for...music. The musicians and their fans would greatly appreciate it... read more

I attended a concert here back in May, for William Black. This was my first time to the venue and I loved it. The venue was a little hole in the wall located in Denver that you wouldn't even recognize, unless you have an event or someone mentions it to you. At least that's how it worked for me to become aware of it. I am so happy that I got to see one of my favorite DJs at this place because it wasn't too crowded and the staff were very friendly. I got in quickly and left efficiently, without being stuck in a crowd of people or having to wait. There is a bar right outside the stage area and a mini bar inside the stage area to order from. I didn't order food or anything (not sure if they even serve food), but I did order a couple of drinks. The bathrooms are upstairs which I thought was cool. Overall, the place is really cool and if you haven't been there before, check it out! It isn't like other venues you might see a show at in Denver. I liked the vibe and the people it brings together. read more

They've moved the sound booth to the back of the room which opens a ton of space at the front and is a solid move. They've also installed a few flat screen TVs, one of which shows the stage. So now you can cradle your booze and watch your music all on a comfortable stool. read more

DO NOT COME HERE!!! They will add extra money to your bill... I'm not talking about $1 or $2 but $30. I had to dig my receipt out of the trashcan to make sure I didn't spend as much money as I was charged for. When I call the phone number to figure this situation out, it goes straight to voicemail. Just horrible!!! read more

I like the bar but hate the bartenders. I have been here several times and have yet to have a friendly or competent bartender.

I had low expectations for this place, because the drive in was WAY sketchy. This is actually in a pretty neat part of Denver. The bartenders were pretty nice, and despite the crowd being really loud during the act, this is a pretty decent venue for music. read more