Entry No. 10 — the Colorado Springs file — filed under: speakeasy
Shame & Regret
“behind a neon sign and a promise: your secrets are safe with us”
A gothic whiskey sanctuary tucked down a string-lit back alley between a falafel cafe and a comic book store, where 110 American whiskeys and 120 single-malt Scotches wait behind a neon sign and a promise: your secrets are safe with us.
The story
You don't end up down this back alley by accident—or maybe you do, if you're trying to drown something. Before it became Shame & Regret, the tucked-away 15 E Bijou nook was a cigar lounge called 15C. When co-founder Matt Baumgartner was processing a rough breakup years ago, his friends brought him to that exact space to nurse his wounds. Years later, after managing the subterranean morgue-turned-restaurant The Rabbit Hole down the block, Baumgartner teamed up with restaurateur Joe Campana to buy the alley suite and build a bar around the raw, bruised emotions that brought him there in the first place.
They brought in local woodworker Ryan Rodriquez to carve a back bar modeled after Catholic confessional booths—dark, ornate wood framing heavy ranks of amber bottles. But the room's weirdest altar is dedicated to a very specific Chicago penitence: Jeppson’s Malört. Baumgartner brought the windy city tradition west, stocking the notoriously bitter wormwood liqueur for anyone seeking liquid penance. Order a shot, and the bartender snaps your contorted reaction on a Fujifilm instant camera to join the wall of grimacing sinners who came before you.
Underneath the low red light sits a serious spirits archive: 110 American whiskeys and 120 single-malt Scotches line the shelves. If you want to lean all the way into the confessional motif, order the Forced Confessions cocktail—it arrives at your table accompanied by a pad of paper and a pencil. What you write down before leaving is strictly between you, your date, and whatever scotch you're sipping.
What it's like
Turn into the string-lit alley running north of Bijou Street between a falafel shop and a comic book store, look for Suite C's unmarked door labeled only with a subtle '15c,' and turn the knob without second-guessing it. Inside, it's pitch-dark leather booths, dim red glow, and heavy wood paneling that feels miles away from the sidewalk. The room is tight and fills up fast; groups larger than three or four will struggle to find a booth on peak weekend nights, so an early 4 p.m. arrival or a weeknight visit is the smart play. Don't expect a massive dinner menu, but order the deep-fried Chicken Cordon Bleu or a charcuterie board to line your stomach while exploring the Scotch catalog.
The move: Slip into the alley off Bijou, order a Forced Confessions cocktail (it comes with paper and pencil), and see what the dark leather booths and chandeliers make you admit to each other.
📍 Before you go You'll find it on the short passage running just north of Bijou, mid-downtown — Suite C, with nothing marking the door from the sidewalk, so commit to walking in before you second-guess it. It's a small, dim room that fills up, so an early-evening arrival (especially on weekends) beats waiting; it's an after-dark spot by nature. Park in the Tejon Street garages or on the street and walk in. Make a night of it: grab dinner along Tejon first, or pair it with The Rabbit Hole (a former city morgue reached by the "subway stop" stairs on Kiowa) for back-to-back hidden bars.
- 📍 Downtown Colorado Springs
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 15 E Bijou St, Suite C, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Hours: Daily 4pm–2am; closed major holidays.
Pair it with
- The Rabbit Hole — Co-owned by the same team, this subterranean Alice-in-Wonderland spot inside a former city morgue sits just two blocks away for a seamless gothic double-header.
- Shrunken Head Tiki Bar — Swap dark confessional wood for underground tropical kitsch just around the corner on Tejon Street.
- District Eleven — Keep your hidden-door crawl going by slipping through a taco shop's bank vault entrance just a block north.
Good to know
How do I find the entrance to Shame & Regret?
Walk into the passage running parallel just north of East Bijou Street, between Tejon and Cascade. Look for Suite C, marked simply by '15c' on an unadorned alley door.
What is the instant photo wall behind the bar?
It's a wall of photos documenting guests taking shots of Jeppson's Malört, a hyper-bitter Chicago wormwood liqueur. Order one, and the staff will snap your reaction on a Fujifilm camera to pin to the collection.
What kind of food and drinks do they serve?
The bar carries 110 American whiskeys, 120 single-malt Scotches, and craft cocktails like the Forced Confessions. The food menu covers light bar bites like charcuterie, pretzel rods, meatballs, and deep-fried Chicken Cordon Bleu.
Do I need a secret password or reservation?
No password or reservation is required—just walk down the alley and open the door, though arriving early in the evening is recommended to beat the rush.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · offbeateats.org · springslocalguide.com · thirstcolorado.com
last checked: 2026-06-04