Denver, the "Mile High City", is the capital of the Rocky Mountains and has the most solid lifestyle scene in our zone. This is where Scarlet Ranch, a private lifestyle club operating from Littleton in the metro area, keeps a near-daily calendar. The city boasts about 300 days of sunshine a year, according to its tourist office, and the mountains sit on the horizon as a permanent backdrop. For a couple it is an ideal destination to mix culture, breweries, nature and a club night.
Scarlet Ranch, the anchor of the scene
Scarlet Ranch takes place at Squirrel Creek Lodge (8109 Blakeland Drive, Littleton, Colorado). It opens Wednesdays and Thursdays from 6 pm to 11 pm, Fridays and Saturdays from 6 pm to 2 am and Sundays from 11 am to 8 pm; there are no events on Mondays or Tuesdays. It has its own restaurant, Oreads, with Sunday brunch. The calendar includes Wednesday "Wine & Dine" nights, Thursday ladies' nights with free entry for women, themed weekend nights and football Sundays. You enter as a couple, single woman or single man, and there are Basic, Gold and Couples Platinum memberships. See the next dates in our events calendar.
What to do in the city
Denver is best enjoyed neighbourhood by neighbourhood. RiNo is famous for its murals; the Art District on Santa Fe holds a First Friday art walk; Cherry Creek North and Union Station are good spots for dinner and strolling. Red Rocks, the natural amphitheatre, is a visit for music or sunrise hiking. From the airport, the A Line train reaches Union Station, which saves renting a car if you only stay downtown, although for Littleton and the mountains it helps to have a vehicle or a ride service.
Altitude: what to know
The city sits a mile above sea level, and you notice it. It is common to feel thirstier, more tired or to have a mild headache in the first days, and alcohol often hits harder. Drink water, eat well, sleep, and leave your first party night for the second or third day. If you have heart or breathing problems, talk to your doctor beforehand.
Planning a getaway
Winter visitors can combine the city with skiing; in summer, hiking and concerts. On club weekends, book a hotel in advance and avoid driving after drinking.
Frequently asked questions
Are there other verified clubs in Denver? For now only Scarlet Ranch meets our criterion of a live official website with matching details.
Can I go as a single man? There is a category for single men with its own price; check the website.
Do I need to book? For special events and the restaurant, it is wise to.
Can I take photos? In any lifestyle club, no: privacy is the rule.
Before you book
Confirm the Scarlet Ranch calendar on its website and book a table at Oreads if you are attending a special event. Arrange a car or ride for the way back, especially if you dine with wine.
A three-day weekend
Day one: arrive, rest and adapt to the altitude with short walks around Union Station and Cherry Creek North; dine early and drink water. Day two: tour RiNo and its murals in the morning, lunch in the area and, if it is a Friday or Saturday, arrange transport to Littleton to spend the night at Scarlet Ranch; the Oreads restaurant opens from 6 pm. Day three: if it is Sunday, the club opens from 11 am to 8 pm with brunch, a much more relaxed plan; if not, visit Red Rocks or a nearby viewpoint.
Safety and common sense
Plan the ride back to your hotel before the night starts and do not drive after drinking. At altitude alcohol hits harder: moderate your drinks and drink water. Carry ID and respect the membership rules and the no-photos rule. If it is your first visit, tell the staff: it is usually easier to settle in that way.
How to combine it
Denver is the hub of the Rocky Mountains: from here other Western cities are easy to reach. You can link Denver with Salt Lake City to add nature or with Portland to add another club night.
What to pack
Sunscreen, a cap, a reusable water bottle, comfortable walking clothes, a light coat for cool evenings and closed shoes if you plan to climb a viewpoint. For the club night, bring the outfit for your chosen theme and ID. Altitude and sun are stronger than they seem, so look after yourself from day one.
Useful information
The official sources for this destination are the city's tourism website and each venue's own site. Hours, prices and events change often, so we recommend always checking the original source before buying flights, booking a hotel or paying for a ticket. If you spot an outdated detail on our page, write to us and we will review it against the official source.
A note of editorial honesty
At BarSwinger we publish only what we can check. When there is no venue or event with a live official website, we say so plainly rather than filling the page with names from old directories. That way, when a verified space does appear, you know it passed our filter. Our aim is to save you wasted trips, unanswered emails and unpleasant surprises at the door.
Keep exploring
See our travel and etiquette guides, the events calendar and the rest of the destinations. The United States page gathers everything published for the country.
