The Cruise Room

Housed within the venerable Oxford Hotel in downtown Denver, The Cruise Room is a time capsule of mid-20th century cocktail culture. It first opened the day after Prohibition was repealed in 1933, making it the city’s longest continually operating bar. The interior is a study in Art Deco elegance: deep red lighting, gleaming chrome accents, bas-relief panels lining the walls (depicting toasts from around the world), carved decorative details, and cozy, intimate booths. The very shape of the room is said to mimic a wine bottle (narrow at the ends, broader in the middle). A vintage jukebox plays jazz and blues standards to complete the mood. Though small and windowless, The Cruise Room feels grand in its details and historical resonance. It’s not about spectacle but about preserving a refined, hushed glamour. The bartenders here are stewards of tradition: expect a menu that honours cocktail classics — Martinis, Sidecars, Collinses — while also introducing interesting seasonal twists. The bar pairs its drink program with small-plate snacks: oysters, charcuterie, calamari, light bar fare. Because The Cruise Room is part of a historic hotel, guests often drift in before or after dinner at Urban Farmer, the adjacent steakhouse. The atmosphere is best suited to relaxed sipping and conversation rather than rowdy nights. It continues to attract a varied crowd — locals, hotel guests, cocktail enthusiasts — all drawn by the charm of an enduring classic.