Best Gay Bars & Bathhouses In Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs has a small but real LGBTQ+ bar scene anchored by two venues in the city itself. For a fuller night out — especially if you want a dance club, leather bar, or bathhouse — Denver is the destination, sitting roughly 70 miles north and about 65–75 minutes up I-25. This is the normal pattern for the region: Colorado Springs locals know the drive, and most do it regularly.
The Colorado Springs LGBTQ+ Scene
While Colorado Springs may not have a large number of LGBTQ+ bars and clubs, the ones that do exist offer unique experiences. The local community anchors itself around two bars downtown, a nonprofit community center, and annual events including Colorado Springs PrideFest each June. For a more comprehensive lineup — dance clubs, leather bars, Latin nights, and more — most locals make the run to Denver, where the Mile High City hosts one of the most diverse bar lineups in the West, with most of the action centered on East Colfax Avenue through Capitol Hill, part of the Lavender Hill Cultural District, Colorado's first designated queer cultural district. There is no single gayborhood in Colorado Springs proper, but downtown and the Lakewood area each hold anchoring LGBTQ+ venues.
Top Gay Bars & Bathhouses for Colorado Springs Locals
Retro Lounge
Type: Gay bar / Lounge / Drag venue
Location: 411 Lakewood Circle, Colorado Springs, CO 80910
Features: Founded by two survivors of the Club Q shooting, Retro Lounge frequently hosts drag shows, drag bingo, karaoke, and comedy shows, and was named 2024's "Best New Bar" by the Colorado Springs Independent.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/RetroLoungeColorado
ICONS
Type: Gay bar / Piano bar
Location: 16 E Kiowa St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Features: The owners and team members are all professional singers and provide a unique experience each night as they serve up craft cocktails. Icons celebrates iconic figures of the queer community through its artwork, entertainment, and even the bathrooms.
Website: https://www.icons-co.com
Charlie's Denver
Type: Gay bar / Country-western dance club
Location: 900 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80218 — approx. 70 min from Colorado Springs
Features: Established in 1981, Charlie's has operated for more than 40 years with a country-western theme, dancing, music, and drag shows. Line dancing lessons are offered on Thursdays and Saturdays.
Website: https://www.charlies-denver.com
Buddies Denver
Type: Gay bar / Neighborhood pub
Location: 504 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO 80203 — approx. 70 min from Colorado Springs
Features: Buddies has darts and a pool table, with food options including burgers and chicken tenders, and hosts a "Booze Bust" with select bottomless drinks — a relaxed, come-as-you-are pub on the Capitol Hill strip.
Website: https://www.buddiesdenver.com
Trade Denver
Type: Gay bar / Kink and fetish bar
Location: 475 Santa Fe Drive, Denver — approx. 70 min from Colorado Springs
Features: Trade is a gay men's bar with a kinky twist that welcomes all from the queer and kink community. It is a favorite of bears and their admirers, hosting diverse programming that ranges from drag shows and DJ nights to leather nights and Sunday beer busts.
Denver Eagle
Type: Gay bar / Leather bar
Location: 5110 W Colfax Ave, Denver, CO — approx. 70 min from Colorado Springs
Features: The Denver Eagle caters primarily to the leather and bear subcultures and is one of a few Black-owned gay bars in the United States, with a kitchen that serves food in addition to holding themed events.
Website: https://www.denver-eagle.com
Midtowne Spa Denver
Type: Bathhouse / Cruising space
Location: 2935 Zuni St, Denver, CO — approx. 70