Entry No. 39 — the Colorado Springs file — filed under: speakeasy
Hidden Peak Tiki Lounge
Somewhere under a historic feedstore in a 400-person mountain town at nearly 8,000 feet, you'll find a fully realized tropical tiki bar — bamboo, vintage cocktail recipes dating to the 1940s, and $12 mai tais that hit differently at altitude. Hidden Peak Tiki Lounge occupies the basement of B. Social Feedstore on Westcliffe's main drag, run by year-round local residents Katie and Rian James who apparently decided the Sangre de Cristo foothills needed a Polynesian speakeasy. The "hidden" part isn't marketing: it's genuinely tucked below street level in a town most people drive through without stopping. You didn't hear it from us.
The story
Westcliffe sits at nearly 8,000 feet in the Wet Mountain Valley, a high-alpine ranching town of roughly 400 people where you might expect a cold tap beer at a timber bar, not a rum-soaked 1940s-era speakeasy. Down a flight of stairs inside B. Social Feedstore—a historic farm supply building turned gathering hub on the main drag—lies a subterranean lounge carved out of bamboo, warm amber light, and vintage cocktail culture.
The basement bar is run by Katie and Rian James, year-round residents of neighboring Silver Cliff who decided the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains needed a high-altitude Polynesian hideaway. Rather than relying on party-store novelties, they focus on mid-century cocktail fidelity: precise rum recipes dating back to the 1940s, balanced craft mixers, custom glassware, and $12 Mai Tais that pack a noticeable hit when consumed at mountain elevation.
Because space is tight below street level, the room keeps things low-key and flexible. The kitchen operates through rotating food pop-ups—ranging from dim sum nights and steamed Korean-fusion buns to simple bar snacks—giving the hidden basement the unhurried feel of an off-the-grid local secret.
What it's like
Head down the stairwell into a compact, bamboo-trimmed basement room where seating is limited and tables are close together. You'll find a relaxed crowd of off-grid locals, cocktail enthusiasts, and stargazers drinking vintage-style rum drinks or non-alcoholic mocktails alongside whatever pop-up food menu is running that week. Operating hours vary seasonally and space fills up fast, so check ahead or call before driving the mountain pass, then step right out into pitch-black alpine night skies when you surface.
The move: Drive the Frontier Pathways Scenic Byway into Westcliffe as the sun drops behind the Sangre de Cristos, then descend into the basement for vintage tiki cocktails and whatever pop-up food concept is running that week — they've been doing dim-sum nights and Korean-fusion buns alongside the rum drinks.
📍 Before you go Westcliffe sits roughly 1.5 hours from Colorado Springs or Pueblo, reached via the Frontier Pathways Scenic Byway — a real mountain drive, so aim for clear days and warmer months when the pass is easy (winter weather complicates the route). The lounge is 21+. Because it's a small basement room in a tiny town, the days and seasons it operates are limited and seating is tight — message or call ahead before driving out rather than gambling on a walk-in. Pair it with what Westcliffe is actually famous for: it's a certified International Dark Sky Community, so surface from your mai tai and catch the stars at Bluff Park or a dark-sky party (May–October) at the Smokey Jack Observatory.
- 📍 Westcliffe
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 116 N 2nd St, Westcliffe, CO 81252
Hours: Added 2026-06-09 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Silver Cliff Cemetery Ghost Lights — After leaving the basement lounge, drive less than two miles to Silver Cliff Cemetery to look for the mysterious blue-white orb lights that have been reported floating over the graves since the 1880s.
- Bishop Castle — Break up the scenic mountain drive into Westcliffe by stopping to climb the ironwork and stone towers of Jim Bishop's hand-built fortress in the Wet Mountains.
- Rocky Mountain Star Stare (Starry Meadows) — Pair your high-altitude tiki drinks with world-class dark-sky stargazing during the annual high-alpine observing campout down the road in Gardner.
Good to know
How do I get to Hidden Peak Tiki Lounge from Colorado Springs or Pueblo?
Drive south along the Frontier Pathways Scenic Byway into Westcliffe—a roughly 1.5-hour mountain drive. Check road and pass conditions before heading out, especially during winter months.
Do I need reservations, and what is the age policy?
The lounge is strictly 21+. Seating in the basement is very tight and operating hours fluctuate seasonally (typically Thursday through Sunday evenings), so messaging or calling ahead is strongly recommended before making the trip.
Is there food, or is it strictly a cocktail bar?
They serve light bar snacks and non-alcoholic drinks daily, complemented by periodic pop-up food nights featuring menus like dim sum or Korean-fusion buns.
What else is nearby to make a full trip out of Westcliffe?
Westcliffe is a certified International Dark Sky Community. Pair a drink at the lounge with night-sky viewing at Bluff Park or attend a dark-sky observatory party at the Smokey Jack Observatory between May and October.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: visitwetmountainvalley.com · bsocialfeedstore.com · Facebook · Reddit
last checked: 2026-06-09