Entry No. 185 — the Denver file — filed under: brothel history
Nineteen 25
A hidden 1920s-styled venue in a former brothel-and-speakeasy, with sealed Prohibition-era tunnels in the basement once said to connect toward the Brown Palace. Now an intimate, by-booking event space steeped in Denver's bootlegging and red-light history.
The story
In the 1920s, if you were a Denver politician or heavy spender trying to dodge Prohibition enforcement while visiting a second-floor brothel, you didn't stroll in through the front door on Broadway. You went underground. Beneath the brick structure at 2185 North Broadway, subterranean passageways were dug into the dirt—tunnels long rumored to run a mile south toward the Brown Palace Hotel, letting high-profile patrons slip between hotel rooms, hidden bars, and upstairs parlor rooms without ever stepping into daylight.
Today, that upper floor operates as Nineteen 25, a 2,100-square-foot space split across five distinct rooms. The current owner, James, has left the historic footprint intact: two dimly lit cocktail lounges, a dance space, a dedicated bar room, and a catering setup. The speakeasy identity here isn't a trendy design choice added after the fact—it is the original layout of a building where bootleggers unloaded illegal spirits and patrons navigated back staircases.
You won't find a neon sign on North Broadway, and you can't walk up to the bar for a casual weeknight beer. The entire five-room suite (Suite 200) is strictly private hire, kept off the public grid for full-venue buyouts, micro-weddings, and ticketed pop-ups. Down in the basement, the tunnel mouths have been bricked shut for modern safety, but standing at the edge of those sealed archways gives you a direct look into Denver's bootlegging infrastructure.
What it's like
Arriving means walking up a flight of stairs in the old brick building on North Broadway, where a bouncer or host checks ticket lists or opens the door for private walkthrough appointments. Inside, the five-room layout feels sprawling yet secretive, featuring lounge seating, vintage accents, and a dedicated dance floor. Because Nineteen 25 operates strictly on full-venue private rentals—often utilizing BYOB arrangements or contracted third-party bartenders—you will never be jostled by a street crowd or competing for bar space; your group owns the whole floor. Before your event winds down, ask the host to point out the basement entry spot where the sealed Prohibition-era tunnels begin.
The move: Book the private speakeasy experience, settle into the five-room 1920s layout with its own bar and dance floor, and ask about touring the sealed-off tunnels.
📍 Before you go This is a private-rental space, not a walk-in bar: the five-room second floor (Suite 200) books out whole, by email, with walkthrough tours by appointment only. The entrance is up a flight of stairs in the old brick building on North Broadway at the edge of downtown, and parking is in nearby lots and structures rather than on site. The basement tunnels are sealed off — ask to see where they begin, but you will not be walking them. The Brown Palace, the tunnels’ supposed far end, is about a fifteen-minute walk down Broadway if you want to bookend the lore with a drink.
- 📍 North Broadway, Denver
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 2185 N Broadway Suite 200, Denver, CO 80205
Hours: Added 2026-06-09 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Dark Side of Denver Ghost Tours — Pair Nineteen 25's private tunnel history with a guided walking tour through LoDo that descends into Denver's actual underground bootlegging passages.
- Retrograde — If you want a public hidden bar experience after a private event buyout, head south to Uptown and step through an ice cream shop walk-in freezer door.
- Ghost Saloon — Double down on Prohibition-era subterranean lore at this Larimer Square venue tucked behind a welcome room and tied to its own underground tunnel.
- 12 Spirits Tavern — Extend the secretive historic vibe into another hidden drinking space located in the basement carriage house of Capitol Hill's haunted Croke-Patterson Mansion.
Good to know
Is Nineteen 25 open to the public as a walk-in bar?
No. Nineteen 25 is a private-rental event space. You must book the entire five-room suite in advance or attend a specific ticketed event to gain entry.
Can you walk through the Prohibition tunnels in the basement?
No. The underground tunnels are permanently sealed off, but hosts can show you where the original bricked-up tunnel entrances begin.
How do you book a tour or venue buyout?
Walkthrough tours and full-venue bookings are arranged by appointment only via email or through the contact portal on their official website.
Where is parking located for events?
There is no dedicated on-site parking lot, so guests should rely on nearby downtown surface lots and street parking along Broadway.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Yelp · giggster.com · visitdenver.com
last checked: 2026-06-09