There's something extremely magical about this place. Marilyn has done such an amazing job building this sanctuary for artists. I started coming here with my then boyfriend for open mic night to watch our friend host and sometimes play. Little did we know we would be getting married here 3 years later. I could not have asked for a more beautiful wedding. I panicked a few times thinking I should be doing more but Marilyn had it covered the entire time. She made my bouquets and all the flowers pieces around the room. The venue looked stunning. The compliments haven't stopped coming in about the tasty taco bar. Her staff was so kind and helpful to everyone attending the wedding. Her bartender working that night was top notch and his drinks were fantastic. This place is really something special. Come here for any activity on the list and you will not be disappointed, everything is so fun and unique. read more

Mercury Cafe - Wedding - Music Venues Near Me - Denver, Colorado

If you are looking for a unique healthy place to eat this is your place. Organic, and locally sourced. The hollandaise is the best in the city. It tops a wide variety of egg dishes for breakfast/brunch. The staff last night for New Year's Eve was on the mark. What really made the evening was the entertainment. The Erotic Poetry with belly dancing has a hoot and then two kinds of very danceable music made for a great way to usher in the new year. Last year we were in for brunch and there was a sing-along to John Lennon & the Beatles. Very cool. Try it out. read more

Before you even step in this place, it smells like piss and it smells like that all the way up the stairs. The setting of this place is nice. but you can't enjoy sitting here when there is no AC in the middle of the summer food: the food sucks in general. service: I ordered only two entrees and they forgot 1 at first. how hard can that be? you have to get your own water. the hamburger was ordered without cheese and they put cheese and charge extra. the enchiladas were ordered with green chili and they put red chili on. read more

Best. Place. Ever. New Friday night spot:) enjoy live music, good vibes, awesome people, and super yummy teas.

The Mercury is a funky place. I generally go there for special events like birthday parties. A while back, I staged a play there called "The Webster Street Blues" by an SFO childhood friend. Another friend is the son of Neal Cassady, who was from Denver. There was a big bash there in the dead of winter. The last time I was there was for a neighbor's birthday party. The food is different, but good. I had eggs Benedict. I'll be back again. read more

Mercury Cafe - Funky bar area - Music Venues Near Me - Denver, Colorado

They advertised on Denver Vegan Restaurant Week...so we tried it out. DON'T. Just don't. They aren't vegan, which is fine, but don't advertise to participate in something that you aren't. Also, the food we did have was awful. And expensive! The ambiance is cute, however, there were some shady characters hanging around outside that made me nervous before I even got inside. It's a shame - but definitely will not be going back. read more

Mercury cafe is unlike any other spot in Denver. Vegetarian food abound (including vegan breakfast/brunch options, which can be hard to find). Go see for yourself. read more

The cafe wishes it was a part of the Left Bank circa 1896 with it lights littering the walls to bedazzle you away from the overcooked and bland food the chef makes in the skullery. My friends ordered a burger dry, meager, and overcooked and an enchilada unispiringly dry and graciously gross. I had the fish of the day which for 26 American dollars wasn't worth the effort of killing it to cook a flat grizzled meal of. The food is all overpriced for the inconvience of cash only. This is not 1896. The bread rolls you receive gratis are as sharp and as hard as a haberdasher's top hat. Try anywhere in Five Points but here. read more

Really cool environment. Love the lighting. Had tilapia special for dinner was really good but would want to try their brunch. Seems like brunch, coffee and tea is their specialty. Service was good. They only take cash or check which they didn't say upfront and I didn't notice it in the menu either so I had to go to the ATM. read more

Mercury Cafe - Tilapia dinner special - Music Venues Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Okay, so I went at the beginning of this month for a group brunch and here's what I have to say: First, I had to figure out where to park since there really wasn't a parking lot, per say, so I landed infront of the building. Then I entered through a curtain! After shuffling through it, I stood looking about for a second then was greated by a girl in striped legging? Thigh high socks? i don't know. Anyways, I asked her about the group since they meet up at Mercury for years and she had no clue so I had a seat at the bar and waited. I was offered coffee about 15 mintues later by a girl who liked my hair. Then another 10 minutes later, a beauty with tatts asked me if I was helped and I told her about the group and she knew exactly who I was talking about! She even took me over to them, thank god, meanwhile stripe sock/stocking chick was like "Oh is that them there?" Really? I ordered two eggs and bacon and some tea. Service was prompt. The food wasn't bad but the bread....maybe they were trying to emulate something from say the 16th century or something? I don't know but it was sort of hard. Now PAY ATTENTION! This place DOES NOT, I repeat, DOES NOT take credit/debit cards!! SURPRISE!!! I had no damn clue till the group leader said, Oh hon, you have to have cash. WTF? Luckily they have an atm machine in the corner. So bring cash!!! On my way out...I couldn't find the way out! I ended up walking part way across the place, was confused then turned around and spotted that blasted curtain! read more

Like the jazz played here nightly, the food is a delicious improvisation of distinctive flavors to inspire the palate. I've eaten at quite a few really good restaurants and I have to say their salad was the most delicious and interesting one I've ever had. For dessert I recommend the rustic plum pie. Baked without added sugar, you can taste flavor of each plum mingled with freshly made whip cream and pastry shell. read more

I have been going to The Mercury for about 3 years. The main draw for me and my girlfriend is when Vox Feminista performs there. Every few months the Boulder based eco-friendly-socially conscious-politically minded-slam poetry-lesbian comedy troupe has a couple show dates that they so thankfully have down in Denver, in the upstairs room of The Merc. http://www.voxfeminista.org/ And even though they sometimes have a performance at the Oriental Theatre which is only a few blocks from my house, we always seem to miss those shows and end up going to The Merc instead. I have no issue with that. The Merc, to say the least, is very ecclectic... and very eccentric. We often show up early to the show, so we can grab a table in the restaurant before the mad rush. We do not eat there every time there is a Vox show, but I would say that we have probably had 5 or 6 dining experiences in the restaurant. Just like some reviewers, I will have to mention that the service is often hit or miss. I have had bad service, I have had above average service, and more often than not, it is pretty much average. The waiting time is the major drawback. The dining area is also a little on the uncomfortably warm side. Like one reviewer said, they do not accept credit cards. This is because they do not want to support the major banking institutions that supply all the credit that we Americans thrive on. Yes, it is inconvenient... but as long as you bring a checkbook, you will be fine. I think this policy is also effective with the Vox shows... but I am not 100% sure of that. But that is not bad, because the shows use a sliding scale payment that starts at $10 per person. This is not a 100% meat free restaurant. But the meat they do serve is organic, which is at least a relief. The vegetarian and vegan food is decent. Some people have said the food is terrible. I would not agree with that. In the several dining experiences over the last 3 years, the food has ranged from okay to good. Nothing incredibly spectacular... but I have not had any bad meals yet. In terms of good veggie and/or vegan food Watercourse Foods is much better. But The Merc is definitely unique. read more

I really wanted to like this place based on a close friend's first experience (her opinion is now a negative one as well). So much so, that a group of us went there last night for NYE dinner. While the décor is funky and fun, the building itself is falling apart. Like literally. 2 people in our party were being dripped on by whatever was coming from the ceiling. Now, I'm not a building expert but I've eaten at my fair share of restaurants and I'm 100% sure that ceilings are not supposed to leak on to the customers. A waiter told us that happens whenever it's full in there from the body heat. Um, what? Gross and since they are aware, unacceptable. That wasn't even the big deal. First of all, we understand that it was a very busy night, which is why we made reservations, so crowds are to be expected. The place was packed to the max and was ridiculously hot. Our sweet but overwhelmed waitress tried her, um, best to remember our drink orders but had to be reminded quite a lot (18% tip added to tables of 7 or more = not needing to try too hard? Maybe I'm being harsh but I also work in the service industry so my harshness is usually valid). The food - What a disgrace! Mercury Café claims that the ingredients are fresh, local, organic, etc and that NYE is the chef's favorite night. By chef's favorite night I think they mean he/she takes the night off and let's boxed food do the work. I ordered the linguini which barely had a taste, was swimming in a pool of "tomato" water, and definitely used noodles from the box. In case you need a refresher, linguini has long flat noodles - Not round spaghetti noodles. To add to it, the cruel joke of a side salad that comes with your meal is a teeny tiny plate of the before mix of coleslaw. Disgusting shreds of iceberg and carrots. Our appetizer of artichokes was equally disappointing. The turtle torte was a pile of dried cake powder and was so vile that we had to ask them to take it away. A table of 20-somethings and not one person wanted it because it was so horrible. My boyfriend ordered the rack of lamb. If you also order the $24 dish, you'll be very sad when you notice the dime-sized portion of lamb. Which was a "meh" on the taste scale. Our bill for 8 people came to just over $280 - A rip off considering when asked around the table that only ONE person said that their food was okay. By okay she said, "well I have a cold and can't really taste it but I think it's okay." We were all very disappointed in our meal but at least it was NYE so we had better things to look forward to! None of us will be back and I'll definitely spread the word to advise friends to not waste their time and money here. Denver is a mecca for delicious and fresh food so see ya Mercury! You suck. read more

I love Mercury Cafe. Denver loves brunch, but overlooks the Mercury. I still haven't been there for dinner, but boy do they have a stellar brunch! I've gotten the veggie omelette (one of the best omelettes in the city), the veggie Florentine, and a bunch of their specials, all of which are so unique. Their potatoes are lovely and all the ingredients they use are super fresh (and local)! They're activists and this translates to the quality food they use. Also, the food isn't greasy like other places--it's more like the food I make at home. Servers are all sweet and the atmosphere is 100% unique and pretty rad. read more

We decided to grab dinner here on a whim on Saturday night. We were seated immediately. The staff was pleasant. The atmosphere homey and warm, with the decor consisting of mismatched chairs and tables through the restaurant. The one thing that drives me a little bananas about places that use recycled, mismatched seating from thrift stores...Get rid of it when it starts to fall apart! The chair I sat in was missing a handle, creaked when I moved, and felt like I was about to crush it. I am a smaller girl, how embarrassing would it have been to break a chair at dinner? Would I have been cut off from dessert? Or would they make me run around the block a few times, do some push-ups, and crunches before I could come back and finish? ...Anyway...what was I saying?...Oh yes...The atmosphere. There are red and white lights strung up on the ceiling that give it a starry sky feel...or like there are lots of little demons looking at you from the ceiling...I prefer to think of it as the first. We were seated in a nice corner, where we could chat over our meal. But a quarter of the way through our meal, an accordion player came and sat right next to our table and started playing. I'm usually all about live music, but not when I can't hear what the person I'm conversing with is saying, or even what I'm thinking. I think it would have been more romantic and added to the ambiance if we were sitting further away from the accordion player. As for the meal, I usually go for a big bowl of Minestrone soup and a roll of their whole wheat bread. I decided to go outside of the norm and have a turkey sandwich. I think that was a bit of a mistake. The turkey meat was soooo dry, the bun was also so massive and hearty, it made eating it as a sandwich almost impossible. It made eating any of it, except for the side of potatoes, nearly impossible. There was one saving grace though...Due to the fact that I did not break the chair I was seated in, we got desert. A chocolate layer cake with strawberries on top...and it was devine. So devine, I wanted to motor boat it. Yes, you heard me right, I wanted to motor boat that slice of cake like I was a red neck at a booby bar. All in all, it wasn't a total bust of a dinner. My potatoes were delicious, as was the ridiculous cake. I would go here again to give it another shot, but it wont be my first choice for dinner. I think it's a better place for community building via their dance classes, and live music upstairs. read more

I lived in Denver for 2 years and it took me half that time to FIND this place to start with. Relocated to Vegas for six months and as soon as I knew I was moving back, the VERY first thing I thought of was "oh god, I get to go back to the Merc!" And yes, it was the first thing I did. Just wanted that out there. First a note on the 5 stars - I never come here for the food, but have eaten there several times and not been disappointed either by the quality of the food or the waitstaff. Maybe I got lucky, and maybe they knew my face, who knows - but all things considered, this is my favorite place to go in Denver. I feel at home there. Neither a hipster by any stretch or a hippie by most, I'm an engineer who happens to swing dance and enjoys honest presentations of honest things. I found this place when I was first learning to Lindy Hop, and they host one of the most fabulous teaching teams (Tiffiny Wine and Ceth Steifel) for this purpose two nights a week (Thursday and Sunday). At first, the only reason I went was to dance, and I'd never even seen the downstairs short of my trip to the ATM to collect cash for classes. The first time I ate there was due to arriving early for a class and feeling a mite peckish - I ordered off the specials board, don't recall what but I do recall it being tasty and unoffensive. Hey, this is where I dance, getting to eat decent food here doesn't kill a star, and my waitress while not particularly noteworthy was a real person who wasn't completely hopped up on Prozac like you get at the chains. No problem there. My food was good and the service was good. That's that. They no longer serve Wynkoop as noted in a previous review - they serve Asher brewing, which is a locally sourced organic beer, and it's as good as any Denver Beer Triangle brew you'll find. Try the Green Monstah if you like a fairly destructive IPA - I've never seen this beer, or this brewery for that matter, served anywhere else in Denver (including the big places). They serve local spirits as well as some standards, local wine, and make their own Kombucha in house. If you're here for a buzz or just refreshment, you have nothing to worry about. The decor is wonderful. Yes, it's audacious and mismatched and the entire place, stem to stern, is lit year round with the assistance of red and white xmas lights strung haphazardly overhead. It's what it is, and what it is is beautiful to my eyes. As mentioned, the entertainment is also eccentric and unexpected. Most (all?) nights, they have tarot readings with more than one reader available after the dining room is closed. Regularly you'll find a solo accordion player, pianist / guitarist / songsmith, or some other interesting entertainment in the main dining room. Through a thick velvet curtain, you might hear slam poetry, an indie film, or a solo musician (or activist, or both) jamming out on the stage. Yeah, you can eat and be served drinks in this room, too. Upstairs (for me) is where the magic happens. I've lived all over the country, and the availability of swing dance and swing dance instruction in Denver is awesome - the Mercury serves as a cornerstone of that community and although many placed exist to get your Lindy on, this is where most people in town learn their first swingout, perfect their swivels, and dance twice a week. And that's just swing dancing - they cater to all styles in the hall upstairs, and live bands are not rare. They cater to dancers (during events) with water constantly, and if you desire, they WILL serve you drinks from downstairs. They even have a place in the front door for you to hang your bike so you don't have to lock it outside. Bonus. Also, when driving, I have NEVER had a problem finding a parking spot within a block for free on the street and I've been there easily over 100 times. Maybe it's different in the daytime... so just go at night. :) Notes that don't affect my rating - their dining hours ARE unusual and no, they don't take plastic. Once you know that, you just plan ahead. If you don't like to plan ahead and don't care for beautiful places, don't come here. There are plenty of chains a few blocks away that will do you well. :) read more

I'm not hippie dirtbag by any means, and I still enjoy the Mercury Cafe. The service can be a little slow at times, but the food is high quality and the atmosphere is always interesting. I usually avoid the poetry readings and tarot card readings, but I love a good open mic. They also have a great brunch on the weekends. read more

Magical. Community centered venue with delicious organic, vegan availabile and gluten free fare. We saw a comedian, Lee Camp. It was a very eccletic group of patrons (which I enjoy). Here are some photos to show you the magic. Oh. And they have a theater in the same building. Just remember cash only. read more

See all

Sorry, Merc, but you're rating is NOT GOOD. The decor is fun, the staff tried really, really hard, but the food isn't good and the prices are way too high. I was attending and event there, and after reading other reviews, I decided on the cheesy potatoes. They weren't good. Not hot, greasy, no flavor, very small portion and the potato wasn't even completely cooked. I felt like I spent $6 for half a potato and a slice of generic "cheese". Friend had the enchilada and barely touched it. Other friend was also disappointed. The place was close to empty, so there was no excuse for the sub-par food. The annoyance of having to use cash didn't help matters. I'm assuming that Marilyn doesn't bother to read Yelp reviews, is ready to retire, has checked out and is just floating along until she can find a buyer. It's sad, but in the meantime I suggest you spend your money elsewhere. read more

I have been here a few times for events. I don't mind at all that they only take cash or checks; I always have my checkbook in my purse anyway. The staff have MAJOR attitudes and think they are way above you. In this way it reminds me of City O' City, except this place is more "hippie" while City O' City is more "hipster." Anyway, the servers apparently hate their jobs and do not want to have to do any actual work. They act put-out at any request you may have. That is the biggest turn-off when out at a restaurant. The food menu is somewhat strange; I like more "basic" items, but all of theirs seemed "gourmet" or just had a bunch of strange ingredients in them. Variety is fine, but it would be nice if they offered some more plain stuff in addition to the elaborate stuff. In this place, it's extremely hard to tell if it reeks of B.O. or if it's cumin. I'm never quite sure, but think it's a combo of both. Once you see the staff, you'll understand. I do not recommend. read more

I used to think the Merc deserved a 4-5 star rating, but like some others here, my opinion of the place has gone down over time, especially after running two major private events in their upstairs room. The atmosphere is absolutely awesome. The staff are hit and miss. Some are super nice, friendly, helpful, and fun. The downstairs waitstaff however does tend to give off a "we are awesome and you are less awesome" vibe toward customers. The food is also just so-so. But it's locally owned and unique, so I really want to love it there. If it were only snooty waitstaff, I could handle that. If it were only mediocre food, I may still go occasionally. My issue is that they just don't seem to understand customer service. They are the only place I know of that doesn't take credit cards/debit cards. One anecdote I read says 90% of patrons at high end restaurants use credit cards. I can use a card at a food truck, but not your restaurant. I know there are fees, but that is a cost of doing business. Time to get over it. An even bigger issue is the service I've had while running two large private events in the upstairs (non-air-conditioned) room. Both events had bar/food minimums in the thousands of dollars. Groups that are spending $2,000, $3,000, or more should be treated well, you would think. I first ran a private event at the Mercury Cafe last fall. We had about 200 people there. Each had at least two drinks and buffet style appetizers. Before our event was over, people for the next event (I had no idea there was a next event, we had the place until after 10:00pm) started to come in and make noise while our speakers were still speaking. Then, promptly when we ended, our guests were asked to help move tables for the next event, which I'll give credit we were invited to stay for. But when our folks wanted to hang out, have a drink, and mingle the owner and multiple other people kept shushing us and telling us to be quiet for the music. To say they were obnoxious and rude would be an understatement. I returned again for a recent private event were I was not in charge, but I was the DJ in charge of the music. Again, we had a large crowd. All were drinking, dancing, singing along, and enjoying themselves. Then the owner asked us to turn the music down, which I did. Then they asked again, and again. Then people started to leave. They pretty much killed the entire party. Here's a little tip to the owner: If you don't want noise or people in your party room, stop hosting parties. If you are going to host private events, let these very high paying customers use the space as they want (within reason of course) and give them good service and treat them right. If it were not for the great atmosphere and fun swing dance classes, this would have been a one star review. The place has a ton of potential, but I think it would do best with new management. read more

Amazing place, an institution of the area that has been an outlet for artist of spoken word, dance, and music and paint since it's inception. Food is all locally sourced and healthy made from a loving place focused on a better world. In one word "Magical" read more

Did not try the food because of the other reviews, but the dance class was fantastic.

If you want an eclectic atmosphere - then this is the place. The people that work here seem to have fallen off Tim Leary's Magic Bus and the local soup kitchen. Some of them look downright dirty and homeless. Can you say stoner? But it is an experience to see. They don't take credit cards - cash and check. Checks? who takes checks these days The food - the menu seems very interesting yet the food tasted very uninspired. Had the SeaBass Linguini - very little fish - smothered in cream sauce - pretty much tasteless. Also had the roasted buffalo - tough and tasteless. Had the chocolate fudge cake - very hard like it has been sitting there a while. The best part was the Tarot Reader - he was worth the entire evening Save your money and go to RootDown or Linger read more

The Mercury Cafe is out of this universe! Located at 22nd and California is this amazing fine dining establishment called 'The Mercury Cafe!' It is not vegetarian, so unsure why it listed as such. However, they do offer a large variety of scrumptious vegetarian entrees along with an even LARGER variety of diverse meat (free range, ethically treated) based delights. The Mercury Cafe is an incredible culinary experience and an eco friendly, fine dining haven! Probably about 90%organic. FYI Peeps... The Watercoarse isn't organic, even though they are vegetarian. I like you Watercoarse and mean no offense. But at the Mercury Cafe it's almost all ORGANIC and seasonal and local. This alone, is enough to make me dine here regularly. Folks this no "Cafe." It's art + amazing cuisine = BLISS! I recently had the distinct displeasure of sharing a weird conversation with a brand new Wash Park restaurant owner. You know, the type of conversation that leaves you reaching for some strong mouthwash. Talk about arrogance to the ultimate extreme! He told me that The Mercury Cafe was "just a bar and a hamburger joint!" Whu?!!! Just??? Do we live on the same planet? Now he's never owned a restaurant until the last month or so... You would think he would educate himself about the amazing restaurants in Denver including The Mercury Cafe. Especially since he and his partner plan to grow some garden offerings. Yay for their future car exhaust polluted herbs! The Mercury has been supporting local (car exhaust free) gardeners and farms for the long haul. Years before it was the cool and hip thing to do. They have only ONE upscale burger on their vast and diverse menu! It does rock it with a home made bun, etc! But that hardly constitutes "a burger joint!" I mean really?! Most of The Mercury Cafe's menu offerings are culinary delights allowing the integration of many great flavors, innovative techniques and a variety of global influences. From bison to elk, to turkley and chicken. The delicious specials many times include choices such as duck, shellfish and lamb, etc. This amazing restaurant has been responsibly sourcing local and using items that are fresh and seasonal WAY before it became "hip" to do so! Now that's what I call EXCEPTIONAL! This restaurant completely supports OUR local farmers, ranchers, breweries, vineyards, artists, dancers, musicians, actors, poets, conservation, biodiesel, SOLAR! The list goes on and on and on... In addition to the full service fine dining restaurant, there are two full bars and a full barista bar and dessert bar. You can sit at the dessert bar and is a good place to perch if you're solo and want to enjoy dessert. If you ever wondered about local wines and Colorado vineyards... Check out the wine menu. There are organic wines from other regions as well. I have ALWAYS enjoyed the many dishes I've ordered over the years. I've also never received anything but attentive and gracious service here. So what's up with all these people who think they are being judged by the servers here? I'm pretty tame looking and actually a bit of a conservative. I've found the service and vibe to be both friendly and way above average. No rank smells either. But I do smell the aroma of organic foods cooking. Organic foods produce a stronger aroma than conventional. The person that commented on the bread... This is WHOLE food people. So the bread is going to be heavy....... YUM! It's makes me think of what authentic peasant bread must be like. If you're on a budget, you can have the bread with an app and be set! Ask for honey and butter. For less than $10 you can dine at a fine dining restaurant and be culturally entertained. But on average, plan to spend about $50+tip a head to have app w/ entree, beverage and dessert. Sunday brunch is the best in Denver and usually is accompanied with live music. Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp............ read more

This place was a treat for my eyes as well as my tummy! The server was very nice and the walls were covered with a giant mural of roses. As someone who enjoys good ambiance in a restaurant almost as much as my food, this place really filled up my brain with great images and wonderful sounds. While most people go to this place for the veggie fare, I actually had some meat while there (hey, that rhymed!). I was delighted to see that my meal came with BEETS! I have been to very few restaurants that serve beets as a side and I L-O-V-E me some beets. The lamb I ordered was good, but nothing to rave about and I would tell you about the mashed potatoes, but I freaking left my carry out container there by accident. One other delightful surprise was the Strings trio that started playing around 9 or 9:30. To be able to eat good food, drink good beer and have great conversations accompanied by live classical music is an indulgence I rarely get and I soaked it in. I can't wait to go to this place again as I get the feeling that every visit is a new experience. read more

I love the places that you can go to and they are different every night. The servers are always really nice and patient, and their food exemplifies the organic, gluten free, wheat free lifestyle. I have mostly eaten their desserts, and although they're no creme brule you feel good about eating them because they have flavor and are healthy. But besides the food, the huge variety of activities and performances are worth checking out. They also have swing dancing lessons upstairs on certain nights which are free. Afterwords you can stay for a swing party of sorts. Although we've hit a few creepy guys, it's a lot of fun for a group activity. read more

Open Mike night is taken seriously at Mercury Cafe, with dedicated regulars who return every Wednesday for the five minutes of fame. Jason seemed like a mountain man who came down all the way from Ward for this week's performance. He made his own version of a Native American Flute and twittered songs karaoke style along-side his MP3 music backup. Daniel unfortunately got the last number out of the hat and would be the last performance of the night. Daniel was one of the first ones at the caf, and so the DJ allowed Daniel to whip out his electric guitar and jam one song at the beginning... like a little crowd teaser... Daniel limped all around the room, patiently awaiting his turn, then got up on stage and acted as if he was famous... talking to the crowd and nodding out to the crowd when he would ask questions. The lineup for Open Mic night was at least a list of 12 different people... All with a little something different, and to my surprise, this side room was filling up with dedicated patrons who were not only waiting their turn to perform, but there to support their friends and community. Mercury Cafe deserves a long review, it simply is a unique gem to Denver, none-the-less, the country... So read on to get a better feel of this Denver local treat... Then ride your bike over, lock it up inside and take a seat for visual and audio entertainment most nights of the week. Open the door to the cafe, slither past the thick velvet curtains and open the door to reds, oranges and velour decorations... White streamed lights hang from every part of the ceiling and drape the room as if you are at a wedding party. Nothing matches, as tables and chairs seem to be mixed matched and the chairs sit too low for their sibling tables. Mercury Cafe is not your usual Denver treat, yet people from all over the nation, even famous people, go out of their way to come to this bohemian jewel on the outskirts of downtown. The club is known for their salsa, tango, and flamenco classes, 3 grand pianos, huge hardwood dance floors, massive seating selections, and a full-antique bar... among others entertainment opportunities. I have met people on the bus traveling all the way from Boulder to get a hit of this dancing mambo treat on the weekends. MC's goal and feel is to honor health and community and it definitely fits that role.... Go here with or without friends, either way, you can meet new friends, lovers, dance partners, or awkward Denver souls. I thought I was bohemian until I realized how much my friends and I stuck out at MC... With our REI waterproof coats, and pea-coats, our presence was only awkward for us... Nobody cares who you are here, and everybody is looking for the opportunity to not care, so wear socks with your Birks and that tiny tee with no bra and feel relaxed for once. The best part of MC was the toilets... Nothing good looking by all means, but they do have my most favorite toilets in the entire world (Picture included).... These efficient toilets fill the tank the same way normal toilets do, but offer you the opportunity first to run your hands under the miniature faucet that sits on top of the toilet, before it streams into the toilet tank. Remember, the water is perfectly clean and is drawn in from the same line that the sink uses... Same water, just as clean. So, pull your panties up and push your skirt down first... Then flush the toilet and wet your hands under the clean water, use the nearby soap and cleanse away. You are probably using half gallon less then you would at the sink. The sudded water then continues to fill up the bowl as normal, making you a saint for saving precious water, and on top of that, you are still healthy as a pee. So, here at this moment, you are forced to go green... That's the way it should be... Why give people an option? Last but not least, the food was horrible and the service just ok. I don't think MC is known for their food. I tried Elk for the first time shish-kabob style, and I think the whole healthy thing is unfortunately poorly done here... Food was bland and tough, but elk for $16... I guess what do you expect. My table was the only one eating in the entire Open Mic Room... If that tells you anything... It tells me that people do not come here for the food. * Star one is for being unique and flavorful and a place of refuge for the people that like being thought of as eccentric ** Fancy pants star two is for offering dance classes and dance music... good for different budgets *** Dread-locked star three is for cheeky decorations that are neither attractive, nor annoying... but fitting **** Hungry star four is for offering healthy food ***** Our last Open Mic star for the night is awarded to MC for their green scene... Old used furniture, organic foods, community focus and of course, water efficient toilets. read more

See all

I came here recently for Neo-Nite and loved the artists that were showcased. The actual cafe... was a little less pleasing. The caveat is that I didn't eat here, I only ordered a beverage. But I probably won't give this place a try because of the service. The bartender was very curt and I'm not sure "customer service" was high up on the priority list. I noticed waitstaff wandering around filling glasses of water, but they never offered my friend or I any. None of the waitstaff I encountered were very friendly. I'll probably go again for Neo-Nite, but something has to change for me to consider coming here for anything else. read more

What does the Mercury Cafe (aka THE MERC) mean to me...swing dancing on Tuesday nights at 6pm (beginner) and 7pm with a swing 'dance' at 8pm ($5)...which is swing music and a DJ and some amazing dancers. On Sundays, you can take swing classes for $1. It's great to go and take lessons, but if you feel intimated, it's super fun to go at 8pm and watch the locals swing. The dancers are at all levels but there are some very sophisticated couples. It's sooooo awesome to see them jumping around and doing all kinds of crazy Lindy moves. You can even go by yourself...people are really accommodating and will ask you to dance. There are no rules and if you want to dance, you definitely will. And when you get too hot to dance, go downstairs and partake in the yummy organic food! The Merc has poetry and all kinds of things going on. For the artsy emo kid, this place is BALLS. read more

I came here for dinner and beers, the food is terrible, I can do boring at home. Nice beers though, organic from boulder of course. Staff deserves a 5 star rating. Atmosphere a 5. Beer a 5. Food 1. I'm sure the staff eats at McDonalds. They don't except credit cards, totally annoying, raise your prices and quit being an asshole. All hippies have debit cards these days Don't pay for the food. Staff is great though, I wonder if they have eaten the food? read more

Love this magical locally owned and operated hot spot! In high school, my friends and I would come here for coffee and concerts. Now I attend events and love to go for brunch. They have a jam packed calendar of events including poetry, dance classes, live music and more. I even attended a wedding here that was out of this world! Warning - bring your cash! No cards or cheques at this joint! It has so much personality and is about to celebrate its 40th anniversary!! Their food is excellent (although a little more hippy than most places) and they too make their own sodas! Yummo! And although it is listed as vegetarian, I have had bacon here with my deliciouis brunch numerous times. The menu changes regularly, so there are plenty of options. They have a full coffee bar, a full booze bar and a full menu! Plus, they have water efficient toilet/sink combos and the most charming ambiance! This place hasn't changed much, and I hope it never does. read more

I'm only reviewing the restaurant aspect, I don't know anything about he venue aspect. The food is capital a AMAZING. I've heard some people complain about poor service but that only happened to me once out of a dozen visits. The food is so good I would consider it seriously under priced, I would pay about double. I dunno, I've been reading reviews on yelp of places I go. It seems like yelp has really bad taste. I would not recommend this place if you like fried or over seasoned garbage. I'm not really much of a food critic, I wish I had better words for describing how good the food is here. Simple ingredients cooked perfectly. The people that called the food bland have really shallow palettes. edit: the coffee/lattes and so on are terrible i should mention. I haven't tried any of their deserts. Pretty much nothing would stop me from giving this place 5 stars just based on the food though. Also its very cheap. I wasn't aware the food was organic until reading the reviews here. This place is pretty much unbeatable. read more

I am very reluctant to write this review as I have these delusional fears that the avant garde of the Mercury Cafe will read my review and shun me for yelping on such an artsy experience. But then I think if they are really avant garde would they be reading yelp? And if they are cool and really artsy and they are reading Yelp then maybe Yelp is cool and avant garde? Yes, I like that story, we will continue with that. So, on Friday nights I have been really enjoying open mic poetry at the Mercury Cafe. Located just on the edge of the downtown Denver area, Mercury Cafe has been around through thick and thin. There is dancing, there is tarot card readings, there is alcohol, there is some really good food, really good desserts, and relaxing teas. The servers are kind and hard working people. Open mic night is a blast and if you are into the reading of poetry or if you are into being moved emotionally by the out pouring of another human being then definitely come on down and check it out. On a final note, I was just joking about the avant garde stuff, everyone is so down to earth here. read more

Im having a hard time thinking of a good word to describe this place. Normally I like to check out a place multiple times before reviewing it, but its so different from any other cafe kind of place I have been to....also, I live here, not there and I wont be back anytime soon. I was in Denver for a funeral. The family of my stepmom picked this place to hold a family gathering the day before the funeral. There was so much going on, I almost dont know what to say about it. It was awesome. There was a small dining area, an area with a stage, a bar, and an upstairs area where I think they hold dance classes and performances. So eclectic. There was art everywhere...the walls, the tables...a ton of LAMPS. There were so many crazy lamps with crazy lamp shades. I guess the owner has just been collecting them over the years. The vibe was very low key. The food choices were different, but not in a bad way. All of it was so enjoyable. I knocked off a star for the staff. Nobody was particularly helpful or seemed too concerned about customers. Thats annoying. But other than that, this place is awesome. I would definitely love to check it out again if/when I ever head back there. OH! almost forgot...The toilets have sinks on them! I thought it was so crazy, I had never seen that before. When you flush, you can wash your hands! Inneresting. read more

I've been here before for non-food things and this was the 1st time I ate here. I had an elk burger and it was pretty tasty. My bun was kinda hard and lifeless and my potatoes were nothing t write home about. I wish they had some non organic, fair trade, natural, blah blah blah drinks and food on the menu. Looking at the menu left a lot to be wanted. When you pair that up with the staff that look like hardcore hippies it kinda leave the restaurant part of the place like a walking joke. That and I felt it was taken a little too far. I want sugar in my coffee not some sweet bitter root that left my cup of joe tasting like dirt. If i want dirt I'll eat it. That and if I want a soda I want just that. I don't want some natural non sugar based soda that is labeled as healthy. It's a soda. Not some herb infused drink that will promote my health for years to come. My server was realllllllly slow but the atmosphere was alright. Will I go here again? Most likely. Will I come wanting to eat a steak with a coke on the side? No. I think that saves this place from a lower review with me is that they are more than a coffee bar and cafe. They are a great center for the arts and have a great group of people in and out of here for everything from live music to poems. If you're hardcore vegetarian the menu and pretty great and if the whole fair trade, organic, natural things is where you're at this place will not disappoint you. If you're the average eater this place may not make your heart sing. read more

This place is somewhere between a yuppy bar and a hipster lounge. If you like gluten free organic foods and a somewhat garish atmosphere then this is the place for you. Otherwise unsalted, non-sweetened, non-caffeinated food and drink awaits those used to such. The waitress seemed as confused by our arrival as we were about what was on the eyesore menu. And the food was sub par for those who like more modern eats rather than over done organic meals. This place is not bad, its just not for everyone, and not for me. read more

So this place is cash only, but they do take checks. Come prepared or else. Eco friendly, and kind of off he grid, the business claims it is run on wind power etc. Organic local food, which caters to vegetarians, as well as carnivores. I have not eaten here, but have been here twice for events. The first was a film screening upstairs, and then we went to open mike last night.The sound is decent here. At this open mike you get a number and they are drawn for choice of position, kind of strange! So were half of the performers. Who don't love some good people watching! They also have an interesting bathroom set up. You can wash your hands on the back of the toilet, and yes it is sanitary. They also have art and dance classes, as well as quite a bit live entertainment. Anyone longing for Portland OR, or Brattleboro, or Burlington VT, could feel at home here. Service has been friendly, no complaints. read more

Man alive this is a fun place to see a show! This review is solely for the upstairs concert venue which should be an entity all its own. I have to say that it is a great space and I've had an incredible time at this place. There's so much fun to be had I can hardly stand it! First, the physical set-up is incredible. As you walk up the stairs you see a large open area which is perfect for dancing and acting a fool. The stage is at the front of the room. I really enjoy that there is seating all along the outer walls and a ton of tables and chairs at the back. Plus, there's a little perch at the back so you can look down your noses at all the weirdos. But hey, I love weirdos so it's the perfect spot to watch them! The bar is located at the back of the room and it's cash only. However, there is an ATM downstairs in the restaurant. The bartenders are always so much fun and polite. It's a good party vibe and I really enjoy that they are big on customer service. The drinks are decent and fairly priced but it's not the best deal in the world. However, the time spent here is worth the money spent. The possibility for great shows are endless at this venue. I attended a wedding here and it was incredible. Any type of interactive show would be right at home. It can be an intimate evening or a fun-filled party time. It all depends on the attitude with which you arrive. Hopefully, it's a good one because this place has a great spirit that can't be silenced. read more

Ask around Denver and more than likely you will not hear the best of things when it comes to Mercury Cafe. As a young child I remember my father warning to never eat here due to his experience as kitchen staff back in the day, and the unsanitary conditions. Well a friend and I decided to spend last V-Day here since it was the last place that had any reservations open. The experience was one of the most horrible and down right terrible to date. I think because we weren't a couple out for the holiday our waiter was annoyed with us. Or maybe it was because we not being overly hungry decided to share a meal he figured we were broke and not worth his time. We were ignored by.him and the rest of the staff or entire time doesn't in this S--- hole, drinks never came til I tracked someone down after 30-40 minutes and our food (some linguine dish w/ tomatillos) was cold upon arrival and blained. The place was packed and yes it was a major holiday, but the disrespectful attidude the staff had towards us was just not okay. To give them some credit the place looks cool, but then again, you can't judge a book by it's cover. Don't waste your money here. The foods not worth a dime anyways, unless you like spending a ton on something a child could make better. read more