Entry No. 107 — the Denver file — filed under: speakeasy
The Electric Cure
Two service-industry veterans built a rum-and-tiki bar that answers the question 'what if a tropical bar fell into the lap of Satan herself?' — and then leaned all the way in. It's crammed with thrifted velvet paintings (a rotating collab with the self-styled Denver Museum of Velvet Arts), vinyl, and Edgewater oddities like a nod to Roger the Elephant supposedly buried under the neighborhood. The decor theme shifts with the seasons and the events run weird — think Zombie Jesus Easter drag shows. Cocktails aren't all tiki; the vibe is irreverent, queer, and tiny.
The story
You didn't hear it from us, but Edgewater—the tiny, independent municipality pressed against the western shore of Sloan Lake—is hiding what happens when two service-industry veterans decide traditional tiki bars are far too earnest. Co-owners Lexi Healy and Veronica Ramos crammed their ~800-square-foot storefront with thrifted velvet paintings, neon, and heavy-rotation vinyl, building an irreverent, queer-friendly sanctuary where tropical rum culture collides with satanic goth oddities.
The room doubles as a rotating showcase with the self-styled Denver Museum of Velvet Arts, lining the walls with thrifted, estate-sale, and hand-painted velvet canvases depicting devils, pop culture icons, and fever-dream landscapes. Between the record crates, the space drops specific nods to local history—including drinks named after Alferd Packer (the Colorado Cannibal), defunct Lakeside Amusement Park rides, and Roger the Elephant, a circus beast local legend claims is buried somewhere beneath the neighborhood asphalt.
Seasonal shifts here are taken strictly over the top. Depending on when you step inside, you might encounter Zombie Jesus Easter drag shows, Krampus holiday pop-ups, or wall-to-wall horror decor during the Halloween rush. The cocktail program hides serious mixology behind blasphemous names, serving purple ube-and-miso concoctions, rotating daiquiris, and rum-heavy tropical drinks crafted with precision.
What it's like
Expect a tight, packed 800-square-foot footprint where seating disappears quickly and the soundtrack spins from vinyl. Grab two stools under the velvet devil paintings, order whatever rum drink the bartender swears by, and split a hummus-and-charcuterie platter while hunting the room for the most bizarre thrifted curio on display. It is walk-in only, 21+, and closed early in the week; arrive on a weeknight or early evening for elbow room, keep in mind an automatic 20% gratuity is added to every bill, and note that outdoor patio seating closes down at 10 PM.
The move: Grab two stools among the velvet devils, split the hummus-and-charcuterie snacks, and order whatever rum drink the bartender swears by — then hunt the room for the strangest object you can find and make your date guess the story behind it.
📍 Before you go 📍 The Electric Cure sits in Edgewater — the tiny independent city wedged against the west edge of Sloan Lake, not central Denver — so map the street address rather than the neighborhood name. It's a walk-in, no-reservations bar packed into a roughly 800-square-foot room, so it fills fast; a weeknight or early-evening arrival buys you elbow room, and the run-up to Halloween is its busiest stretch by far. It's closed at the start of the week (hours shift seasonally — check ahead), and being a bar it's 21+. Street parking along the low-key commercial strip is usually easy. Pair it with the Edgewater Public Market food hall or a sunset loop around Sloan Lake nearby.
- 📍 Edgewater
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 5350 W 25th Ave, Edgewater, CO 80214
Hours: Evening hours, typically closed early in the week; current exact hours not published in search — verify on theelectriccure.com or Yelp before going.
Pair it with
- CC Oddities by Cera — Walk three blocks down 25th Avenue to browse Cera's ethically foraged bones and curio specimens before stepping into the velvet lounge.
- The Terrorium Shop — Head under two miles north into Berkeley to shop living-plant terrariums grown around ethically foraged Colorado skulls.
- Alley Brews — Follow up Electric Cure's satanic tiki vibes with a hidden craft beer hangout tucked down an alley off Tennyson Street.
Good to know
Do I need a reservation for The Electric Cure?
No, seating is strictly walk-in only. Because the room is roughly 800 square feet, stools fill up fast on weekends and during seasonal rushes like Halloween.
Is The Electric Cure located in central Denver?
No, it sits in Edgewater—a small independent city wedged against the west edge of Sloan Lake—so map the exact address at 5350 W 25th Ave rather than searching central Denver.
What is the deal with the velvet paintings?
The bar features a rotating collaboration with the self-styled Denver Museum of Velvet Arts, showcasing vintage thrifted pieces, estate-sale finds, and original velvet art painted by co-owner Lexi Healy.
Do they serve food or non-tiki drinks?
They offer light bites like hummus-and-charcuterie snacks, but it is primarily a bar; while rum and tiki options lead the menu, the bartenders craft a wide range of non-tiki seasonal cocktails and classic drinks.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Westword · 303magazine.com · Yelp · Official site · Reddit
last checked: 2026-06-07