Entry No. 44 — the Denver file — filed under: witchy
Fort Greene
“Community comes before cocktails — there's even a fridge on the sidewalk”
There's no sign. You'll walk past it, double back, and second-guess which door in this Globeville industrial pocket actually opens. Inside the 1880s former Slovenian/Polish dance hall: plant-draped rooms, velvet couches, genuinely good cocktails, and a rotating calendar of tarot readings, life-drawing sessions, drag, herb workshops and DJ nights run by owner Eleanor Cheetham. Community comes before cocktails — there's even a fridge on the sidewalk out front. The kind of bar locals guard.
The story
Drive into Globeville beneath the I-25 and I-70 interchange, and you’ll likely pass 321 East 45th Avenue without realizing you've arrived. There’s no exterior sign on the 1880s red-brick building—a structure that originally operated as a Slavic dance hall in the late 19th century. You have to trust the street numbers, double back along the quiet industrial block, and push through an unmarked doorway to reach what's inside.
Owner Eleanor Cheetham—who worked in New York's fashion industry before taking over the historic space—redesigned the hall into a dim, plant-draped sanctuary filled with velvet couches, vintage lamps, and shadowed nooks. But what keeps locals guarding the venue isn't just the craft cocktails. Community care takes priority here: a 24-hour community fridge sits on the sidewalk out front, while inside, the venue hosts nude figure-drawing classes, drag performances, tarot readings, modular synth showcases, and literary nights.
What it's like
You'll step off a quiet, warehouse-heavy street into what feels like a dark, plant-filled living room hidden inside an old dance hall. Weeknights are low-key and cozy—ideal for reading or hiding in a velvet corner with a drink—while weekends pack in for DJs, pop-up markets, and community events. There are no reservations, so if you're showing up on an event night, arrive early to claim a couch.
The move: Show up early on an event night — life-drawing or a pop-up market — grab the velvet couch, split a couple of their cocktails, and let the unmarked-speakeasy mystery do the icebreaking.
📍 Before you go Globeville is the industrial pocket wedged beneath the I-25/I-70 interchange, so trust your GPS to the street number rather than looking for a storefront strip — you're aiming for a lone old building among warehouses, with easy street parking on the quiet blocks around it. There's an outdoor patio that shines on warm evenings, while the indoor rooms and events carry the colder months. It sits on the edge of the RiNo Art District, so pair the night with a gallery crawl, brewery, or dinner a few minutes south. It's a residential-edge pocket — arrive and leave low-key.
- 📍 Globeville
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoor or outdoor
Where: 321 E 45th Ave, Denver, CO 80216 (Globeville; unmarked — no exterior sign, the building is the old 1880s dance hall)
Hours: Open evenings (typically Wed–Sun); event-driven schedule varies — check Instagram/site before going, and note no reservations (first come, first served).
Pair it with
- Squirm Gallery — Pair Fort Greene's velvet-and-cocktail sanctuary with a visit to Squirm Gallery, a historic DIY warehouse space located just six-tenths of a mile away.
- Forney Museum of Transportation — Browse hundreds of vintage vehicles inside a nearby industrial warehouse before tucking into Fort Greene's dim, plant-filled living room.
- Hell or High Water Tiki — Keep the speakeasy-style evening going less than a mile south in RiNo with irreverent tiki drinks inside a mock pirate ship.
Good to know
How do I spot the bar if there is no sign?
Look for the street number 321 on the historic 1880s brick building along East 45th Avenue in Globeville.
Can I reserve a table or velvet couch?
No. Seating is strictly first-come, first-served, so arrive early on event nights to grab a spot.
What kinds of events take place here?
The calendar rotates through nude figure-drawing, tarot readings, drag shows, DJ nights, modular synth music sets, and pop-up markets.
Is parking available nearby?
Yes. Street parking is accessible along the quiet residential and industrial streets surrounding the venue.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: coloradocommunitymedia.com · theinfatuation.com · Official site · Yelp · 303magazine.com · cbca.org
last checked: 2026-06-07