The first permanent structure on the site of modern Denver was supposedly a saloon, and the city has built on that tradition ever since. Today, there are sports bars, dance bars, lots of brewpubs, outdoor cafe bars, English pubs, Old West saloons, city-overlook bars, Art Deco bars, gay bars, and a few bars we don't want to discuss here.

Appropriately, the newest Denver "in" spot for barhopping is also the oldest part of the city--LoDo--which has been renovated and upgraded, and now attracts all the smart Generation-Xers and other young professionals. Its trendy nightspots are often noisy and crowded, but if you're looking for action, this is where it's at.

Glendale, an enclave surrounded by southeastern Denver where Colorado Boulevard crosses Cherry Creek, is another popular hangout for Denver's party set. An unusual zoning situation has led to more than a dozen drinking establishments in a small, concentrated area. In recent years, however, as Glendale has become the Denver area's nexus for topless bars, the other bars have suffered.

Other popular "strips" are along North and South Broadway, and along East and West Colfax Avenue. For those who prefer caffeine to alcohol, there are also a number of good coffee bars throughout downtown Denver, as well as the Capitol Hill and uptown neighborhoods.