yacht club denver about

Hours updated 1 month ago

Review Highlights

“ The space is casual and fun, and the snacks from Acorn take bar snacks to a new level while remaining affordable. ” in 4 reviews

“ The drinks are super unique , well balanced, and full bodied. ” in 2 reviews

“ If you're ever in the mood for a really, really, really good hotdog and a beer/shot combo this is your place! ” in 3 reviews

People also searched for

casual restaurants

trendy restaurants

restaurants good for groups

restaurants

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

3701 N Williams St

Denver, CO 80205

You Might Also Consider

Puttshack - Denver

1.1 miles away from Yacht Club

Anne M. said "My husband and I came here as a backup after out outdoor date night was rained out. We made reservations ahead of time online for 7pm. When we got there, we checked in and waiting for our names to pop up on the screen. They were…" read more

in Mini Golf, New American, Venues & Event Spaces

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

2.1 miles away from Yacht Club

Yanhua P. said "We came here around 4:30PM on Sunday afternoon and found the place was packed. Apparently we should have made a reservation. The lady working at the front told us to wait but did not tell us for how long. After 15 minutes we asked…" read more

in Barbeque, Japanese, Asian Fusion

Amenities and More

13 More Attributes

Ask the Community

Ask a question

Yelp users haven’t asked any questions yet about Yacht Club .

Recommended Reviews

• 1 star rating Not good
• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

Select your rating

Overall rating

After exploring numerous top 50 bars across America, I've finally discovered the epitome of excellence - Yacht Club. Without a doubt, it stands out as the best bar I've encountered so far. The uniqueness and deliciousness of every drink on their menu left me thoroughly impressed. However, "The Fourth Color" stole the show and became an instant favorite. If I find myself in Denver again, I'm committing to ordering 10 glasses of this delightful concoction every night. Special thanks to the long-haired gentleman who recommended this extraordinary drink. His expertise added an extra layer of enjoyment to an already fantastic evening. Kudos to Yacht Club for delivering an unparalleled bar experience that has set the standard for my future explorations. Cheers to many more unforgettable nights!

See all photos from Nichakorn C. for Yacht Club

This is a fun, funky little bar, which is a nice follow-up to dinner at Brasserie Brixton next door. We just had a couple cocktails/wine. I don't love natural wine, so I might stick to the cocktails/beer next time.

5 stars all day. What a great find!! Stumbled into an upscale dive bar and the best part is, they sell fancy hot dogs. Definitely a great spot to meet people and bring people from out of town!!!

My friend took me here and it's a pretty cool vibe. Very relaxed and the bartenders are awesome. They have very unique cocktails and the three that we tried were delicious. The prices were good for the quality cocktails. The only downside was it was packed and it was hard to converse because it was so loud. I really had to be close to my friend to hear what she was saying. Anyways it's a nice casual bar to visit

I don't normally write reviews for bars but this place is a hidden gem! Unique and perfectly crafted cocktails. You won't find anything else like this. A huge selection of unique drinks including a ton of clarified milk drinks that confuse your brain with how something so clear can have such a balance of flavors. Super friendly & knowledgeable bartenders (shout out to coleman!). It's the cocktails of your dreams without the pretentiousness of a cocktail bar. Unassuming almost dive bar vibes - you'd think its a place to just get a beer. But obviously don't - the bar tenders are seriously talented. Perfect spot to hang out, have fun, and enjoy amazing drinks. Bonus points is that they serve hot dogs! And not just your normal ketchup and mustard, but specialty items that are a perfect pairing with drinks. Do yourself a favor and check this place out!

This bar was recently awarded as one of the best bars in North America by the 50 best discovery list and I can see why. This bar is definitely one of the best bars I've ever been to. The drinks are super unique, well balanced, and full bodied. Each drink had such a cool combination of flavors and the texture of each one was smooth. The bar tenders were also crazy fast at making the drinks but the quality was great. The place surprisingly never got too crowded and we found a spot immediately. Keep in mind we showed up around 9 and it started to get more crowded around 10 or later. The bathrooms were clean considering it's a bar and the place was fun and they played bobs burgers on the wall. All the drinks are very reasonably priced considering it's denver and how the drinks are so amazing. We had the im on soka, south side swizzle, hvr water, laughing bones, and pencil thin chinstrap. The I'm on soka was super refreshing and the bar tender actually gave us a sample of it since they pre make it and keep it in the fridge. The drink is amazing. Not too strong of absinthe and I am not a absinth drinker. The drink is so refreshing and a great way to start the night. The hvr water also is premade and was genuinely one of the best drinks I've ever had. The dill flavor was so prominent and the buttermilk which was strained out gave a really great full bodied feel to the drink. The tequila was not strong at all and the drink was very refreshing. The pencil thin chinstrap was very booze forward and definitely not my style but if you like cognac and stronger flavors like that this is the drink for you. The laughing bones had such a unique flavor and it was so good. You could actually taste the curry leaf too which blew me away. The south side swizzle was a very pretty drink although the ice was super thick and it was hard to enjoy the drink. The flavors were the least complex but it's definitely a trendy drink. The bartenders were fast, attentive, and were so good at their jobs. They were busy and yet had time to answer our questions. Seriously go to this bar and you won't regret it. I'm already planning my next trip back and I don't do that often.

See all photos from Alisa J. for Yacht Club

Inventive cocktails, creative menu, great bartenders, fun hot dogs. My boyfriend hates hot dogs but he voluntarily ordered one here. He loved it.

Gosh I wanted so bad to love this place but the service & drinks just let me down! These may have been the worst craft cocktails I have ever had in my life. Located outside RiNo in the Cole neighborhood next to Brasserie Brixton, The Yacht Club is a whole vibe- it's darkly lit, no sign (except an anchor on the door) and looks super swanky from the outside. When you enter, the area between the door & pub is nature-y vibe & inside, it's super trendy with a dark ambiance & filled with music that is just a little to loud. We picked an open table that sat 4 but was missing a seat so it was a little awkward but we found a barstool that didn't fit but worked. The space holds maybe 40-50 people max so it's super cozy! And, who doesn't love a themed Yacht Club that serves up gourmet hot dogs & craft cocktails? There were ~3-4 bartenders that were interchangeably acting as servers too. We finally got some water as we perused the funky menu. All cocktails were $14 each & the beer selection was awful (think: miller highlife, PBR, etc). I loved the funky names & crafted liquors in each cocktail though! I tried the Milly Grace (corn whisky, mr black coffee liquor, rancio wine & caramelized banana)... served in a highball glass with an ice rock- I wanted to love it but it was so damn boozy I could hardly drink it! Joey got the Beginners Luck, which was the best of all of our drinks, albeit still so strong. My stepmom loves fruity drinks so she got the frozen banana daiquiri & it was soooo boozy too, you couldn't even taste the banana over the booze. My dad got the watermelon la crawl, which was a vodka based cocktail that was all booze & the only watermelon was from the jolly rancher they put on top. This all might have been a little better if the server actually returned to our table to see how the drinks were, or refill our water, or just to provide service... but that didn't happen. Once the drinks were on our table, we had to do the rest for ourselves- filling up water from a large gatorade cooler & getting our check from the bar. Not quite the experience you would expect from a craft cocktail lounge where you're paying good money for drinks with nice glassware...... All in all, the Yacht Club gave me really mixed feelings. I am all for $14 craft cocktails but I want a good flavor profile & not just so much booze that I can't taste anything... but the vibe was on point, I loved the space, so I may come back here for a hot dog & drink sometime but it certainly isn't on my list to return.

4.5 stars. How have I not heard of this adorable cocktail bar within walking distance of my house? Probably because it used to be located in the Source Hotel. Now it's attached to Brasserie Brixton (which I've been meaning to visit) and relatively easy to find if you recognize the nautical logo. Yacht Club gets busy quickly after opening at 4pm, so arrive early! Love that it's one of what seems like a few places actually available in Denver on Mondays. Lots of delicious, colorful cocktails with high quality ingredients. I ordered a strawberry daiquiri which I thought was frozen, but maybe I misspoke. Still tasty and boozy. The vibes are EVERYTHING, from Les Miserables projecting on the far wall to the staff laughing with each other. The Yacht Club menu mentions inclusivity as one of their values, and that's exactly what I felt. So many more drinks I can't wait to try, in addition to the separate menu of hot dogs.

If you hate world-class (and award-winning) drinks, cool ass vibes and insanely tasty hotdogs, then this isn't the place for you. The owners know their stuff-- and the bartenders are amazing. It helps that they are also wonderful human beings as well. I love this place and think you're a gosh darn fool if you don't head here and support this local gem immediately.

5 other reviews that are not currently recommended

Cherry Cricket - Ballpark

1.6 miles away from Yacht Club

Jayme K. said "We had a huge group and stopped in for a drink before heading to the next place. I was blown away by the attitude from the host with braces. I get people are difficult and hard to deal with in the industry but you gotta keep your…" read more

in Burgers, New American, Sports Bars

Blanco Cocina + Cantina

2.9 miles away from Yacht Club

Candice M. said "This place is an ENTIRE vibe! I didn't even have the opportunity to take pics of everything we ordered, but no need to dwell because I'm going to fill you in! Ash was our server and was phenomenal! Give that man a raise! First of…" read more

in New Mexican Cuisine, Cocktail Bars, Tacos

Collections Including Yacht Club

Denver Restaurants To Try

By Mickele B.

Denver Boulder CO Eats | Imbibe

By Samuel S.

Denver CO Elite Yelp list

Late Night Eats

Denver Bar Hit List

By Channing H.

Denver Happy Hour

By Shareen S.

Bars & Cocktails

By Corissa Y.

Denver - Date Night

By Amber L.

Denver Bars

By Stacey L.

People Also Viewed

Room for Milly

Millers & Rossi

American Bonded

Run For The Roses

Best of Denver

Things to do in Denver

Other Places Nearby

Find more Cocktail Bars near Yacht Club

Find more Hot Dogs near Yacht Club

Browse Nearby

Restaurants

Dining in Denver

Search for Reservations

Book a Table in Denver

People found Yacht Club by searching for…

Bars And Lounges Denver

Bars With Games Denver

Bottle Service Denver

Craft Cocktails Denver

Deep House Lounge Denver

Happy Hour Denver

Hot Dogs Nearby Denver

Late Night Food Denver

Lounge Denver Colorado Denver

Must Eat Denver

Rum Bar Denver

Tiki Drinks Denver

• North America's 50 Best Bars
• Previous lists
• Scholarship
• How the voting works
• About the Academy
• Our partners
• Partner with 50 Best
• Media Centre
• Press contacts
• About 50 Best
• The World’s 50 Best Bars
• Asia’s 50 Best Bars
• The World’s 50 Best Restaurants
• Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants
• Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants
• MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants
• The World’s 50 Best Hotels
• 50 Best Discovery
• 50 Best Stories

• Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award 2023

A far cry from the exclusivity of real members’ only boating social clubs, irreverence is the name of the game at Denver’s Yacht Club, a self-proclaimed ‘anti-club club’ that bears the playful slogan: ‘Yachty by nature’. There, owners Mary Allison Wright and McLain Hedges aimed to combine three of their favorite types of drinking joints – cocktail bars, natural wine bars and dive bars – to achieve the ultimate hangout for locals and visitors alike. Thanks to its eco principles, Yacht Club is named the winner of the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award 2023 . Located in North Denver’s historic Cole neighborhood, there is zero pretension at the casual bar, which many Coloradans consider the equivalent of their modern Cheers. Drinks-wise, the programme mixes an eclectic approach of high – they have a fortified wine bottle list, for example – and low (like the Old No. 7-11 combo, which is a Jack and Coke with a hot dog). Even the finest spirits find a home in quickie combinations, which also sometimes skew somewhat nautical, with drinks like the Frozen Banana Daiquiri and Champagne Mojito bringing breezy fun to the mix, and the ‘Soft Bangers’ section of the menu features a few alcohol-free options for non-imbibers.

3701 N Williams St, Denver, CO 80205, United States

Our Partners Become a partner

Sign up to our email newsletter

Restaurants, Food and Drink | Denver bar offers high-brow cocktails in a…

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

• Food and Drink
• TV & Streaming
• Family Friendly

Breaking News

Restaurants, food and drink | colorado weather: tornado warning in effect for weld county, things to do, restaurants, food and drink, restaurants, food and drink | denver bar offers high-brow cocktails in a low-key setting, yacht club serves wine, cocktails, hot dogs for a truly neighborhood experience.

I was in a bad mood the first time I set foot inside Yacht Club. It had been a long day and I didn’t feel like fighting my way through a crowd for a basic cocktail. It didn’t help that the interior of the little building was decorated in a style I was snarkily calling “kitschy hipster-chic dive-bar modern.”

But it wasn’t that crowded on the day my wife and I sat at the bar and took a look at a menu with a long list of delicious-looking (and decidedly non-basic) cocktails.

One, in particular, stood out to me: Changes in Attitude, which was made with Scotch, Madeira wine, pineapple, coconut, lemon, buttermilk and a giant ice cube. I asked the bartender about the wine and he pointed out that there is wine in almost every cocktail at Yacht Club. He also patiently explained the other ingredients and how some of the drinks were batched in advance.

My wife and I ended up splitting three Changes in Attitude. It was that good.

Over the next hour or so, I had my own change in attitude – not entirely surprising based on the Scotch – but also because Yacht Club began to grow on me. The decor now seemed more charming than overwrought; the bartender continued to be patient; the drinks were excellent and the music was good: an eclectic mix of yacht rock classics, ‘90s alt bangers and pop ballads.

The second time I visited Yacht Club was even better, and the third time, I felt right at home.

That feeling is just what Yacht Club owners Mary Allison Wright and McLain Hedges were hoping for when they opened in an old building at 3701 Williams St. , next to Brasserie Brixton, in 2021.

“We want to make people feel at ease,” Hedges said. “To make them comfortable.”

The pair had a long time to think about how to do that. They first opened Yacht Club in a central area inside The Source food hall in the River North Art District in 2015. When their lease ran out four years later, they began looking for another home and finally found one in March 2020. Luckily for them, it fell through. Otherwise, the pandemic would likely have put an end to it.

Instead, Hedges and Wright joined a “forced reckoning” in the restaurant and bar industry, spending their downtime asking themselves what they missed the most about bars and what they’d like to return to. The answers aligned perfectly with the space on Williams Street.

But there was another challenge. How to create a dive-style neighborhood bar that didn’t seem “too precious” or overly manipulated,” Wright explained. Part of the solution was putting the bar staff to work actually building the bar, something that kept them employed during the pandemic-y days before opening. Eventually, Wright and Hedges decided on the following design ethos: If a yacht took a detour through a swamp and ran ashore, and you could only build a bar using what you had on board and what was available in the swamp, what would it look like?

That now includes everything from prodigious plant life to year-round Christmas lights to nautical trinkets, funky decorations, a huge wine list and a healthy dose of Jimmy Buffett.

“At the end of the day, you can’t just create a dive bar. They manifest themselves over time. But they usually start as neighborhood bars and that is where we are,” Hedges said.

The desire to be “a melting pot” for the changing neighborhoods around them – Cole, Clayton, City Park, Whittier, Skyland, Five Points – is also how they came up with their menu, he explained. You can get cocktails for around $15 a pop or a shot and a beer for $7. You can get a bottle of French champagne for $250 or a Jack-and-Coke and a hot dog for $9.

“Normally, people choose one or the other” when they start a bar, Hedges said. “But we wanted to remain accessible to the industry, the neighborhood and anyone who comes in the door.”

Did I mention the hot dogs? A regular frank is $4 , a chilidog is $6 and one with cheeseball spread is $7. There’s also a caviar, crème fraiche and pickled shallot dog for $20 ( the ultimate “glizzy “).

“Meat tubes and alcohol are a tried-and-true pairing,” Wright said. Plus, since there is no kitchen, the bar staff can easily make them. “They are economical on space — and affordable.”

That combination has attracted a lot of attention as well. In 2023, Yacht Club landed on North America’s 50 Best Bars list, which is put together by bar industry pros. And earlier this year, the business was named as one of the 10 best U.S. cocktail bars by the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s Spirited Awards (an industry standard).

“We’re not on one of the coasts, so we push ourselves to go out and meet people … we travel and go to bar conventions. That means people are hearing about us and it gets our name out there. It’s a lot of hard work, but we want to bring people to this city,” Hedges said.

Hard work, so people like me can relax with a drink when we pull up a barstool.

Subscribe to our new food newsletter, Stuffed, to get Denver food and drink news sent straight to your inbox.

• Report an Error
• Submit a News Tip

More in Restaurants, Food and Drink

Restaurants, Food and Drink | Pasta nada: The culinary art of making something from nothing

Restaurants, Food and Drink | These two events will quickly help you become a Denver restaurant expert

Things To Do | Things to do this weekend: Boulder Comedy Fest, beers outdoors, meat-n-three

Restaurants, Food and Drink | Denver’s essential LGBTQ+ bars, from legendary gay clubs to drag destinations

WELCOME, Y'ALL!

NEW MENU OUT NOW!!!

Denver , co.

• © Roadtrippers
• © Mapbox
• © OpenStreetMap
• Improve this map

3701 N Williams St, Denver , Colorado 80205 USA

• Independent
• Credit Cards Accepted
• Wheelchair Accessible
• More in Denver

Learn more about this business on Yelp .

Reviewed by Nichakorn C.

After exploring numerous top 50 bars across America, I've finally discovered the epitome of excellence - Yacht Club. Without a doubt, it stands out as the best bar I've encountered so far. The... Read more

Reviewed by Lauren J.

This is a fun, funky little bar, which is a nice follow-up to dinner at Brasserie Brixton next door. We just had a couple cocktails/wine. I don't love natural wine, so I might stick to the... Read more

Reviewed by Dana W.

5 stars all day. What a great find!! Stumbled into an upscale dive bar and the best part is, they sell fancy hot dogs. Definitely a great spot to meet people and bring people from out of town!!! Read more

View 54 reviews on

• Sun, Mon, Wed - Sat: 4:00 pm - 2:00 am

Problem with this listing? Let us know .

Has RV parking changed? Let us know .

• Check Parking
• Unknown Pets Allowed
• Unknown Restrooms
• Check Wheelchair Accessible
• Check Credit Cards Accepted
• Check Drinks

Parking, Dining

Nearby Hotels

Click to discover a great deal!

Related Trip Guides

Road trip to the filming locations of 'dumb and dumber', the top things to do on a u.s. route 20 road trip, roadtrippers guide to mysterious mesa verde national park, the ultimate guide to rocky mountain national park, keep exploring with the roadtrippers mobile apps..

Anything you plan or save automagically syncs with the apps, ready for you to hit the road!

Connect with us and hit up #roadtrippers

Tall tales, trip guides, & the world's weird & wonderful.

• Roadpass Digital
• Mobile Apps

Business Tools

• Partnerships

Get Inspired

• Road trip ideas by state
• National parks
• Famous routes
• Voices from the Road

Fresh Guides

• The ultimate guide to Mammoth Cave National Park
• The Ultimate Guide to Badlands National Park
• Route 66 Leg 2: St. Louis to Tulsa
• Route 66 Leg 1: Chicago to St. Louis
• Route 66 Leg 3: Tulsa to Amarillo
• Top 10 things to do in Ohio
• Offbeat Road Trip Guides
• Road Trip USA
• Scenic Routes America
• National Park Road Trips
• Terms and Conditions

• Win a $500 Visa Gift Card
• Win Billy Joel Tickets!
• NoCo Events Calendar
• Colorado Eagles Hockey
• CSU Rams Sports

One Denver Bar Makes Esquire’s ‘Best Bars in America’ List for 2023

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter

Every year Esquire magazine puts out their list of the best bars that we should be patronizing across America. For 2023, they've listed 27 bars, and one Denver bar made the cut.

The magazine lists bars from the West Coast to New York City, with a lot of big cities in between. The Mile High City gets a great shout out as having a joint that's not snooty nor really "divey."

The neighborhood that this bar is in dates back to the 1870s, when two brothers who were ranchers plotted out the boundaries. Today, you can hang out and relax, without feeling pressured; why not stick around for their trivia?

You may have heard of the RiNo District in Denver, just a bit southeast of I-25 and I-170. Off the northern edge of that district is the Cole neighborhood, and that's where you'll find this "Best" bar, at the corner of 37th Avenue and Williams Street.

RELATED: HARD ROCK CAFE DENVER CLOSING

What is the bar.

It definitely has a contrary name: The Yacht Club Bar. It's not near water, nor is it fancy, like a yacht. None of that matters to Esquire, apparently.

You have to very much believe that the writers/editors of the magazine have visited The Yacht Club Bar, because their website does not give much away, aside from their menu of drinks. It's a large menu of drinks, for sure.

WHY DOES ESQUIRE LIKE THE YACHT CLUB BAR?

The Yacht Club Bar falls into the " It's Time For Everyday Drinking " category of the "Best" bars.

The bar...  channels Margaritaville chill and has a divey lack of pretension..

The bar prides itself as being the "Anti-Bar, Bar."

WHICH DRINK DOES ESQUIRE RECOMMEND?

One of the drinks they recommend is the Fourth Color:

A fizzy gin punch made with Hendrick's gin, Empirical Plum, carrot, and bergamot.

I had to look up what bergamot is: It's a bitter orange.

DOES THE YACHT CLUB BAR HAVE FOOD?

It looks like they are proud of their hot dogs.

MORE Colorado Bars: Great Outdoor Bars in Colorado

More colorado bars: 14 of colorado's best dive bars, more colorado bars: a home in colorado that was once a bar, more from retro 102.5.

• Latest News
• Colorado History
• Environment
• Social Justice
• Transportation
• Latest Food & Drink

Openings & Closings

• Restaurant Guide
• Top 100 Bars
• Top 100 Restaurants
• Latest Arts & Culture
• Visual Arts
• Concert Calendar
• Concert Reviews
• Just Announced
• Local Music
• Touring Artists
• Latest Cannabis
• Ask a Stoner
• Dispensary Guide
• Colorado Cannabis Laws
• Psychedelics
• Strain Reviews
• Westword Burger Week
• Westword Feast
• Westword Out to Brunch
• Westword Pizza Week
• Westword Tacolandia
• Arts & Entertainment
• Cannabis & More
• Food & Drink
• Music & Venues
• Shopping & Services
• Readers' Choice
• Newsletters
• Advertise with Us
• Flipbook Archive
• Promotions & Free Stuff
• Support Westword
• Where To Find Westword In Print
• Sign Up/Sign In

Yacht Club Lands on List of North America's 50 Best Bars

Newsletter Sign Up

Enter your name, zip code, and email, sign up for our newsletters.

Enzo's End Owner Ready to Retire, Looking for Someone to Take Over the Colfax Pizzeria

By Molly Martin

Food & Drink News

Jim pittenger, founder of biker jim's, stepping away from company after business partnership goes bad.

Opinion & Commentary

Franks for the memories: biker jim is moving on.

By Jason Sheehan

Best of Denver

The ten best burgers in denver.

• View This Week's Print Issue
• Arts & Culture
• Things To Do
• Advertise With Us
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Westword Careers
• Shop Cover Art
• Voice Media Group
• Dallas Observer
• New Times Broward-Palm Beach
• Miami New Times
• Phoenix New Times
• V Audience Labs
• V Digital Services