Entry No. 24 — the Boulder file — filed under: speakeasy
Nora's Speakeasy
Opened in 2023 in the basement of The Simon events venue, Nora's is Louisville's quietly kept secret — entered not from Main Street but through an unmarked back door off South Street and down a staircase, with zero signage to guide the uninitiated. Inside, skull-and-flower wallpaper presses against hunter-green walls, and a glowing illuminated bar anchors the low-ceilinged room. The cocktail program, developed with Grove Street Alchemy founder D.J. Riemer, leans into Colorado spirits: Laws Whiskey, Stranahan's, and Boulder Spirits feature across a rotating menu of 52 drinks. Happy hour runs 5–6 pm nightly — all house cocktails $10. Named for Nora Kelly, Chicago-born mother and grandmother of the co-owning family.
The story
Don't bother looking for Nora’s along the storefronts of Main Street, despite what the mailing address tells you. To get inside this subterranean hideout—opened in 2023 beneath The Simon event space—you have to slip around to South Street, spot an unmarked back door with zero signage, and descend the staircase into the basement. The low-ceilinged room settles you in quickly with hunter-green walls, skull-and-flower wallpaper, and a backlit bar that glows against the dark.
The speakeasy is named for Nora Kelly, the Chicago-born mother and grandmother of the family that owns the venue. To build a cocktail program worthy of the hideaway, they brought in D.J. Riemer, founder of Grove Street Alchemy. The resulting 52-drink rotating roster leans hard into regional distillers like Laws Whiskey, Stranahan's, and Boulder Spirits, turning out balanced pours like the seasonal Comin Thro' the Rye.
What it's like
Finding the entrance off South Street feels like a mini covert operation—send the address to your date and let them hunt for the back door on their own. Inside, the vibe is low-lit and tight, dominated by cozy booths and low ceilings. Show up right at 5:00 PM to catch the daily 5–6 PM happy hour, when house cocktails drop to $10. Just make sure you eat a real meal beforehand: the food menu maxes out at light nibbles like pretzel bites, brie boards, and amaretto cheesecake.
The move: Arrive before 6 pm to catch the $10 house cocktail happy hour, then settle into one of the intimate booths for the evening. The no-signage entrance turns finding the place into a mini-adventure — send your date the address and let them figure out the door on South Street.
📍 Before you go Open Mon–Wed and Sun 5–10 pm, Thu–Sat 5–11 pm. No reservations needed for walk-ins; private parties can be booked via noras@thesimonevents.com. Street parking is available along Main and South Streets; the venue also offers validated parking. Food is light — a brie board, pretzel bites, and amaretto cheesecake — so eat before you go. Mocktails available.
- 📍 Louisville, CO
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 957 Main St (basement of The Simon, enter via back door off South Street), Louisville, CO 80027
Hours: Added 2026-06-11 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Tilt Pinball — Walk two minutes up Main Street after your nightcap for a few rounds of pinball in historic downtown Louisville.
- Rabbit Hole Recreation Services — Tackle award-winning escape room puzzles down the road before slipping underground for drinks.
- Majick Soul LLC — Pair subterranean cocktail night with an afternoon past-life regression session on a Crystal BioMat in nearby Lafayette.
Good to know
How do I find the entrance to Nora's Speakeasy?
Ignore the Main Street address and walk around the building to South Street. Look for an unmarked back door behind The Simon, then take the stairs down to the basement.
Do I need a reservation?
No, standard seating is walk-in only. If you want to book a private event, email noras@thesimonevents.com.
Is there food available?
Only light snacks—specifically pretzel bites, a brie board, and amaretto cheesecake—so plan on eating dinner elsewhere in downtown Louisville before or after.
When is happy hour?
Happy hour runs nightly from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM, featuring all house cocktails for $10.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · thebouldermag.com · Yelp · thesimonevents.com · thescoutguide.com · Reddit
last checked: 2026-06-11