Denverites love to move, and munch. From pickleball courts to golf simulators, the Mile High City lets you work up an appetite and then reward yourself without leaving the building. Pickleball, unsurprisingly, is leading the charge, and MoodSwing in northern Denver is the latest spot to serve both fun and food. A $10 million renovation by the owners behind Improper City transformed the 3.5-acre space from a warehouse to an entertainment venue with six indoor and six outdoor courts. Here, players can swing into a game, then dig into Neapolitan-style pizzas and craft cocktails that go way beyond the usual pickleball fare. The menu, developed with input from chef Nick Dalton of Brasserie Brixton and Jacques, has some serious culinary cred. Pindustry, Punch Bowl Social, and FlyteCo combine bowling and arcade games with full-service dining. Ace Eat & Serve turns ping-pong into a prelude to stir fry, Wynkoop Brewing’s billiards hall pairs burgers and beers with friendly competition, and golf simulator bars like the Ballpark’s new Brews N Birdies turn 18 holes into happy hour. In Denver, competition meets calories, and no one has to choose.
Happy Hour at Angelo’s Tavern
This March, as we take stock of Denver’s superlatives, it’s hard not to crown Angelo’s as one of the city’s best, and longest-running, happy hour deals. The original outpost has anchored 6th Avenue since 1974, quietly perfecting the art of affordable indulgence. While daily specials (hello, Mollusk Mondays) keep regulars loyal, the real draw is the generous daily happy hour. The menu is broad, but oysters steal the show: raw house oysters go for just $1.25 each, while chargrilled versions, finished with garlic butter, Pecorino, herbs, and spice, clock in at $2.75. Decades in, and still Denver’s benchmark for happy hour.
News Bites
Chef Miles Odell, behind Odell’s Bagel, and partner Paul Lysek bring Florence Supper Club to West Wash Park. With checkered tablecloths, walls of nostalgic family photos, and pasta you plan your night around, the spot captures the cozy, inviting spirit of your next neighborhood favorite.
Frasca Food & Wine alumni Eduardo Valle Lobo and Kelly Jeun make their solo debut with Casa Juani, a Boulder restaurant balancing homestyle rice dishes inspired by Eduardo’s Spanish heritage with elevated seafood plates that showcase the couple’s culinary excellence.
The team behind Nocturne is popping the cork on La Vie En Rose, a Parisian-inspired champagne bar. Expect elegant pours and refined bites in a transportive Art Nouveau setting designed for lingering.
For print-exclusive stories, download the digital magazine or pick up a copy from select local King Soopers, Safeway, Tattered Cover, or Barnes & Noble locations.
