Hey ladies,
Want to know how to meet a (smart - cool) guy in Denver.
Bring your copy of "The Garden of Eden" to The Cruise Room. Order a scotch and soda and sip it slowly. When a guy approaches to ask about the size of the book, simply ignore him. Keep reading.
When a second guy offers to buy you a drink, politely decline. Go back to your book and keep sipping that scotch.
When a third guy in a hip flannel shirt wearing tennis shoes asks what you thought of David Bourne and his glamorous wife, Catherine, and the dangerous, erotic game they play when they fall in love with the same woman, and what were Hemingway's ideas of sexual transferenceuse?Use a napkin as a bookmark, invite him out for falafel in the park, and make plans to watch Fellini films as soon as possible.
Good luck ladies,
Don't forget to tip the bartender.
Ruined, ruined, ruined! I have been a regular for almost a decade. I loved the St. Germain cocktail, it was my absolute favorite drink. I introduced many people to The Cruise Room over the years and they grew to love it, too. Landry's has destroyed the charm that made The Cruise Room special, now it's just another overpriced bar that will be lost in the fold of all the other overpriced bars. They absolutely destroyed a Denver nighttime icon and turned it into a cheap imitation of its former glory. What were they thinking? Seriously! R.I.P. The Cruise Room
Review Source:The Cruise Room is THE PLACE to go for Martinis!! Whenever I am in Denver I make sure I end up at the Cruise Room till close. Have a seat in a comfortable booth and listen to some Rat Pack as your Martini and the cool vibe brings you back to a time where your friends and great cocktails was the reason you went out. Skip the other lounges and clubs and go to a real bar!
Review Source:The Cats Meow!!! This place is a little gem located in the historic, very cool Oxford Hotel in downtown Denver. Â Best cocktail I've had in a while - Â the California Fresh was almost too easy to drink, if you catch my drift. Â The drink had rhubarb tea, muddled raspberries and arugula. Â The bar has a great art deco theme with big band music blasting from the jukebox. Mixed crowd which I always appreciate. Certainly worth a visit but planning on staying til they kick you out, because the drinks and atmosphere are just that good.
Review Source:Used to be worth 5 stars, but they changed their menu and started serving smaller drinks. Â You used to get 2-3 drinks worth because they would give you the drink in a glass plus the shaker that held at least another drink. Â Now they've changed the menu to more fashionable cocktails and quite giving the shaker portion. Â So the price essentially went up 2x. Â Kind of sad because I would not have hesitated to go before, and not I'd only really go if someone hadn't seen the building before.
Review Source:We used to LOVE this place!! My husband and visited the cruise room last night and we were so disappointed. Â The Cruise Room is now owned by Landry's and they have made some TERRIBLE changes. Â There ARE NO LONGER MARTINIS. Â The drink menu is terrible and soooo over priced for the 4 oz cocktail you receive. Â Don't waste your time visiting The Cruise Room. Â So sad that Denver lost such a fun, special and amazing place. Â My husband and I had such great memories there!!
Review Source:4/1/13. We just got home from a pre-birthday celebration for my husband with one of our best friends. This was my favorite bar in all of Denver. I love a good martini and this place HAD it. But no longer :(
That has all changed now. No longer is it a martini bar, but a mixologist's (gag me) concoction of cocktails. They don't even have their old classic martinis on any menu at all. The staff doesn't even know the old drinks!! The bartender just kind of half-assed made my favorite old martini and it was not nearly the same. They were terribly watered down and not nearly as flavorful and all for $14/drink!!!!!! A total let down. I used to be completely finished after 2 martinis at the Cruise Room, and now after 2 I am barely buzzed and kinda bored. LAME!!
My husband and I have been going to the Cruise Room for years. Anytime we had family or friends in town, that was the place to take them to enjoy the ambience and amazing drinks. I went there for my bachelorette party, birthdays, after weddings, or just a fun night out. My husband's favorite was the 007 and mine was the pear martini. The best part was they actually gave you your own icy cold shaker that your specific drink was shaken in with the remnants of the extra martini still inside, so basically a martini and a half.
It still has the coolest look for a bar with it's 1920's style and red lighting. The weekends are probably still packed to the brim, but I will no longer be bringing any friends and family their way again. This was totally disappointing. BRING BACK THE OLD MENU & THE RELAXED VIBE FROM THE OLD CRUISE ROOM!!!!!!
Sorry, new management, or whoever you are that destroyed the best bar in Denver... You lost quite a bit of business from us.
We full heartedly agreed that this WAS Â the place to get a cocktail. It WAS reminiscent of "Classic Cocktails" created by knowledgeable bartenders. We have been to this (formerly) wonderful 1920's style classic art deco speak easy style martini bar on numerous occasions, usually to see it standing room only due to it's popularity.
We went 3/13 for our daughter's 26th birthday at her request (as she and we have been many times previously) and we were excited to go but only to be deeply disappointed. The bar has recently been "revamped" to include wait and bar staff in "flapper" / g'man style costumes and a completely redone cocktail menu. The flapper told us it was no longer a martini bar but that the bartender could still make the classics - not true.
The classic martinis have been replaced along with the bar staff that wore the simple/elegant black pants/vest/tie with white shirt and were knowlegeable and friendly and treated you as if you were their best customer. They knew their stuff. This new bar staff had to go to the restaurant next door to get some of the liquors to make the drinks. The one female bartender spent her time showing off her looks while chatting to one customer at the bar the entire time we were there. The new specialty drinks were not  worth the premium money charged - 4 drinks - $52!
Stop in to look at the classic art deco decor / lighting of the bar but don't bother with a drink unless you want to over pay for liquor brands you have never heard of at the premium prices of the very best brands that you know you would enjoy at any price. Its never been an inexpensive place but now it feels like a tourist spot. Won't be recommending the bar to anyone anymore.
When I want a real cocktail, and I mean REAL, this place claims a spot on a short list of places I will go where I am confident in the bartenders.
I like bartenders with a certain class of their own. Professionalism. Knowledge. Dress code.
Not the cheapest bar, nor the most pricey, but you do get what you pay for here!
Stick to the classics, martini, manhatten, so forth.
Love, love, LOVE this place. Great gin martinis in a world of vodka martinis. The service is always great and the ambiance is awesome. Also, the trip to the bathroom is a fun walk to take with girlfriends (that way you have plenty of time to look at all the photos and check out the beautiful building).
Review Source:What a neat place! Walk into the fancy Oxford Hotel, take a hard left, and you open the unimpressive door into the tall pink impressive room.
The ceilings are pink and soaring. The Art Deco facade covering the walls will transport you back in time.
The best part is the background music. Loud enough to hear but not too loud to make you yell. A swanky conversation hidden in each of the tall back booths. A great place for a date, a meeting.
Oh! The martini! I had the 007. He had their namesake. Both were served through the strainer and the extra left at the table. So for about 12 dollars a piece, we had about 3 drinks just from the extra.
A great deal. A cool hidden gem with a great product. Loved it.
Three words: Saint Germain Cocktail. I didn't even order it, but I gladly stole sips from my date's until he got smart and got me one of own. Really a delicious cocktail, as was mine, a grapefruit and vodka martini of some sort with a great kick to it. I had read reviews about the Cruise Room and one of them mentioned that the drinks weren't overly strong. I would completely agree with this statement and think it really showcases the bartenders' excellent skills with concocting outstanding drinks that don't taste like straight alcohol. Love the atmosphere, gorgeous art deco decorations  with red lighting that is flattering on everyone (always helpful on a date-right!). I didn't get any food but it is straight from the McCormick's next door so I am sure it's great. If you're not a martini drinker, don't fear, the Cruise Room can make whatever suits your fancy.
The bar is really small and narrow, which adds to its charm and 1920s feel but I could imagine it may get uncomfortable crowded on weekend nights. The name Cruise Room fits as you feel like you step into the dining area of an old cruise liner. I love that you actually have to open a door to this bar through the lobby of the Oxford. Usually hotel bars are very open and right in the lobby but this one feels like a separate entity entirely. There is always 1920s jazz playing which just adds to the entire experience, and who doesn't like some classic jazz with their martini?
Don't expect happy hour prices here at any time of day, usually upwards of $10 a drink, but they are uncommonly good. A great place to take out of towners or to have a quite drink with a friend who you want to get to know better.
The whole place is red art deco. Â It will stimulate your appetite for dinner at McCormick's, or you can have McCormick's meals brought to you (see review of the lump blue crab cake).
There are an endless number of martini choices. Â I went with a traditional martini that was carefully, and correctly, made with gin and a twist of lemon, and poured into the glass in front of me. Â All done with style.
This is, by far, my favorite place to drink in Denver. Classy atmosphere, excellent drinks, super-friendly bartenders. Did I say excellent drinks?? I have tried just about every martini on the menu and they have all been sophisticated and delicious (my favorite is the Elderflower and champagne martini)! This is the perfect place to just go and chill out. Downside, it can get pretty crowded on the weekends, so if you go in with a large group, you might have a hard time finding a place to sit or even stand.
The bartenders here know their stuff, so don't be afraid to name your poison and ask them to make you something special. A few of the bartenders have been working there for quite some time, and it's always great to walk in and see familiar faces serving the drinks. They don't act annoyed when you have a questions about the history of the bar, even though I'm sure they get asked the same questions over and over again. The martinis here will run you around $12 a pop, but they are worth every penny. No watered down drinks here, I can assure you.
Head to the Cruise Room if you're in need of refuge from all the LoDo hoopla, and, how should I say this?, a "grown-up" night out.
I'm not really sure why this spot is so loved - I went there once, it was overpacked and massively dated. It's a historical spot for sure, which is part of it's pull, but they've literally left everything the way it was 60 or so years ago. Everything. I'd say while it's okay to keep in touch with historic roots, it hasn't exactly aged well.
They do have solid drinks, though!
The Cruise Room is an absolute MUST while visiting Denver. Upon entering the lobby of The Oxford Hotel a gentleman opens a door just to the left of the entrance and you are immediately teleported to a prohibition-era speakeasy faithfully maintained in Art Decco style awash with red light. The lounge is long and narrow with barely standing room for one person between the bar stools and the booths, all of which were full on this particular Saturday night.
Expert mixologists dressed in classic tuxes mixed martinis and other sumptuous cocktails to a range of patrons from the "last weekend before school" college kids to well-to-do middle aged couples. I rubbed elbows with a bachelorette party who were celebrating one lucky girl's last night of freedom. The drinks took a while but it was fascinating to watch the bartenders render their alcoholic works of art with amazing precision and skill.
Weekends look like they're probably always crowded so I personally would rather be here on a quieter night sipping a cocktail in the sexy red light since this place is on the small side.
Classy classy classy!
A classic Denver spot that everyone should hit at least once. Â The only thing that keeps this from being a 5-star experience has been the occasional spotty bartending.
With that said, stop in, order a classic cocktail, and think about what it would be like if it were 80 years ago and the feds were waiting to bust you for your secret consumption. Â It sure makes your Manhattan taste even better.
I went to the Cruise Room on a recent Monday night while in Denver for work. It was a wonderful experience all around. I liked that there were booths available and that the atmosphere was relaxing. It's a small place, so I could see it getting crowded on busier nights, but we had no problem getting a booth or getting served.
I had a White Cosmopolitan (which included white cranberry juice) that was quite good. As some other reviews have noted, you are served your martini in a glass and then also given the shaker for the rest of the drink, so I think it's actually a fairly good value for the quality of the drink and the overall atmosphere and experience. Our server was attentive and prompt.
The decor is unique and interesting without being over the top. That's also a good description of the Cruise Room itself. It's a cool place, but it doesn't ruin it by trying to be overly cool, in my opinion. It just does what it does extremely well.
Additional notes: The Cruise Room is close (walking distance) to the Colorado Convention Center and the 16th Street Mall.
I've only just had the pleasure of visiting the cruise room. Obviously there are many reviews but let me say my piece :)
Christmas! Oh yeah! The oxford hotel has put up their decorations so that is reason enough to visit alone!
The cruise room itself is like an art deco time capsule! Luxurious surroundings perfect fro bringing friends and sharing a cocktail. Be warned though it can get quite busy on the weekends (That and the room itself is quite small)
The hungry kitten says: The history here is a great, and if you like to surround yourself with some sexy history while drinking then this is the place for you!
What: Birthday party for miss Katie T.
When: 7pm.
Theme?: "Mad Men" inspired, 60's chic.
Where: CRUISE ROOM [awesomely known for their martinis!]
In celebrating a birthday party, we got all dolled up in our best "mad men" attire and had a night on the town...Donald Draper style! It's easy to see why everyone loves this place. Super tall and roomy booths, dim and intimate lighting perfect for something special, an extensive martini list [just about anything and everything you can imagine!], a wonderful food menu [try the calimari!] and some of the best wait staff around.
i love you cruise room. i just do :)
There are so many reasons to love The Cruise Room:
~ Cool art deco architecture.
~ Best bartenders in town.
~ Bathrooms are downstairs, you feel like you are in the Shining.
~ Best Martinis, and cocktails in town.
However, my favorite factoid about TCR is - it opened the day after prohibition was repealed!
The one negative is it is a bit pricey, but it's a fun place to go if people have never been there before.
Style, class, Hollywood, to die for martinis? Â All this and more at the Cruise Room.
The Cruise Room is where my girls and I go when we want to get all glammed up and go out for a wild night on the town. Â But don't let that steer you away from a true Denver gem, we're often the overdressed girls in the corner, not everyone there is wearing stilettos! Â
The first thing you'll notice are the bartenders, no matter how busy it is, and it is usually packed, they manage to get your order within the first five minutes of being there. Â If you can grab a seat at the bar you've hit gold and should relish in the most coveted spot for the rest of the night as you get to talk with the bartenders and learn about their recommendations which usually hit the spot every time. Â
The St. Germain is by far my favorite followed by the white cosmo. Â I am not a sweet drink kind of girl and these martinis are a good way to start the night without going overboard. Â
If the food and the martinis weren't so highly priced, I would immediately give five stars....but it is easy to get stuck with a pretty large tab if you're not careful. Â Of course, if you have the expendable income, you won't have to worry, and in that case, can you take me to the Cruise Room!?
On a steamy hot Friday summer evening, while everyone is trying to be seen at the newest hottest roof patio, I escape with some colleagues to the cool red-hued Cruise Room. Â Windowless and sparsely populated for Happy Hour (due to the fact that everyone is next door at McCormick's famous cheap Happy Hour - good, the more room for us!). Â Aaron is a fabulous bartender with a deep sexy voice, and he was completely attentive to our every need. Â However, when he stepped out for a break, the replacement 'tender was lacking in every aspect. Â When he returned, we bowed down to his glory, and left a tidy tip.
Also, the gazpacho was outstanding. Â Summer in a spoon. Â
I can't afford to stop in here every Friday evening, but it was lovely to take a break from reality for a few hours after a hellacious week last night.
You've read it all already. This place makes delicious martinis and has old-school charm. Two things I really liked were the old-fashioned jukebox and the St, Germain martini. It's made with champagne of course.
A few other tips that I'd offer is they don't have a happy hour and if you want food it's coming from McCormick & Schmidt's. So, if you don't like seafood you should probably eat before you go. Other than that, it's a lovely place for a cocktail as long as you go during the weekdays or early in the night so you can get a seat.
Wow, this place is a great bar. The bartenders are funny, professional and make great drinks. I'm not much for Lodo but this is a small place and can be a little crowded but I would say it's worth it. Don't think of it as small, think of it as intimate.
Yes, it does feel like the bar from the Shining a little bit, and I know for a fact that the bartenders have heard all your jokes relating to it, but they were good natured about it and above all gave great service. "Your credit is always good here sir." said one of the bartenders. Funny. You just went from 4 stars to 5.
I recommend the Key Lime but it you gotta work up to it. Start with the 007.
And really, what could be cooler than drinking on a corner that Tom Waits mentions in a song?
"Maybe you're standing on the corner of 17th and Wazee Streets, out in front of the Terminal Bar, there's a Thunderbird moving in a Muscatel sky" (Nighthawk postcards, 1975)
I've been meaning to yelp this place up for a while now. Â I haven't been for a couple months, so I usually think about it when I'm right about to fall asleep. Â Or when I'm in the middle of doing something else...and then I forget. Â
Anyway. Â This is one of my favorite places to go when my boyfriend and I want to get a couple drinks and have a good time. Â The staff are always friendly, though a couple times it seemed that they were a little short staffed. Â And the drinks are always made perfectly. Â
Ohhh...and the way it's decorated. Â Oh, so old movie...ish. Â I really like this place alot.
Finally i got to play with the cool kids!!!
We popped in there after an networking event.
Loved the red lighting - gotta bring hubby here, that's what he replaced the internal lights in his car with, red! Makes reading maps oh so easy - but i digress...
For hanging out in the evening - fabulous lighting!
We were able to grab a table right quick. Â FYI -the ladies room is across the lobby and down the stairs
The waitress was FABULOUS!
She gave us good advice on drinks and kept up with our water intake!
I got the muscles - mmmmm! And the koolaid martini! Mmmm!!! Â (of course i did since i usually get the jello martinni at dazzle!)
My co-horts got some stuffed mushrooms and wine. They liked their choices. Â (FYI - food is from McCormick - not same extensive menu, but you get the idea)
Presentation was fabulous.
Drinks kept you happy!
The juke box was off and we were gabbing up a storm, so it felt loud, (probably the others in the bar felt it was louder!) But the waitress said - no worries, it's the cruise room, gab away, anything goes at the cruise room! Love that!
I love this place - i'll be visiting again!
A friend and I were there before an art opening. It was packedddddd...... There was one waitress for the room and the bartender had the two tables in the front. We ordered drinks at the bar and then swooped on an open table.
We waited 20 minutes to order our appetizers. Once the bartender did come around though she was pretty prompt and brought the sour dough bread and whipped butter quickly.
We ordered the escargot and Rhode Island Fried Calamari with Three Dipping Sauces. The escargot were served in a little plate already out of their shells - bummer. I think they committed suicide by diving into a salt bath. Way too salty and I am a fan of the stuff.
The calamari was OK, there were three dipping sauces:
1. Traditional cocktail sauce, hard to mess up
2. I-think-it-was-pink-no-taste-sauce
3. Something that seemed to have a hint of marmalade *shudder* - it was sort of clear with stuff in it Â
4. If you shook the calamari the fourth "sauce" could have been salt.
My friend had been going there for years and said it was better before they lightened and brightened it up and some of the clientele began wearing flip-flops and backwards baseball caps. Â No offense fellow Yelpers, I am just repeating his opinion.
We went back after the opening (not my idea) and sat in the bar. Another friend ordered a vodka rocks with three olives and was given gin, not once but three times and the waitress did not give a rats-%ss. He wasn't thrilled to say the least. We ordered the fried shrimp and it was overly battered and fried within an inch of its life. I think there was shrimp in there, I couldn't taste any shellfish in all the batter. Did mention that it was also salted to beat the band?
Maybe it was just because it was busy.....
If you're looking for a classic martini bar - this is it. The place has dim red lighting, art deco design, and a long list of tasty drinks. The cozy booths are excellent seating if you're with a group but the small tables or up at the bar is the best place to hang out if you want to mingle with strangers.
It's a small space, but we went on a weeknight and it was not terribly packed or too loud. They do have a beer menu for those not interested in martinis.
This is one of the most amazing places I've been to in quite a while. The art deco panels were incredibly unique. The creative drink menu was very reasonably priced. Most about $9. I've paid more than twice that much for a bev of less quality! Throw in the fact that much of the fruit juice was replaced with fresh, hand muddled fruit and I'm in cocktail heaven! This certainly isn't a place I'd come to throw back a few brews but rather sip big, sexy drinks with good friends or as part of a fun date.
Then there was the service. The two guys behind the bar certainly knew how to do their jobs. The guy we had was fun, friendly, outgoing and informative. Definitely a master of his craft. We stayed for 2 cocktails and were on our way but I have every intention of making this a regular stop off whenever I'm in Denver. Unique spots always hold a special place in my heart!
There was a time when people dressed to go out. They would put on the finest they had, and go live a little in elegant rooms, like the Cruise. Styled after the Queen Mary, this room is from that lost era. A finer time I wish I'd been alive to experience.
  It used to be that people still dressed to come here. It was a hideaway for those who didn't wear ball caps to the dinner table, who still tucked in their shirts. Unfortunately that time is over. A memory falling away into mediocrity or oblivion.  I have been here several times recently, and not had a good one. Not like the class this room used to exude from the very woodwork.  Raised voices over seating? No Host/ess? An actual fight? Wow, where am I? Lodo's or something?
Sad...
This place was cool, very old school and slightly sophisticated; but very comfortable and unpretentious. But THE SERVICE was the stand out - really great both at the bar and when seated  AND it was packed. I was really impressed.
Drink options were really fun and tasty -  I had never been here before and the bartender offered many suggestions and even pointed out his strong suits. The  Puerto Rican Mai Thai was my favorite.
More than a few years ago, I had my first martini here. My friends and I would sink down into one of the swanky booths feeling glamourous and hip long before hip was fashionable. This little bar on the bad side of town was, for those in-the-know, THE trés chic spot to go.
22 years later, on a recent trip to home, I wanted to see if this little gem still had the 'cool factor' I remembered. It did. Lo-do is no longer "the bad side of town" and there is a lot of competition in the area now, but still... when I walked in and the walls still glowed a-red and Frank Sinatra was still crooning "I left my heart in San Francisco," I knew my heart still belonged to The Cruise Room.
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