Entry No. 33 — the Fort Collins file — filed under: speakeasy
Social Underground Cocktail Bar
Your only landmark is a black-and-white grandfather clock on a brick wall in Old Town — no name on the door, no sign at street level. Follow the stone steps down, push through the heavy wooden door, and you land in a dim prohibition-era lounge where a placard announces "Prohibition Dead: 21st Amendment Ratified" and a typewriter once allegedly owned by Hemingway sits behind the bar. Thirty-four cocktails rotate seasonally, the jazz is soft, and the whole room operates at a conspiratorial hush.
The story
When you walk along East Mountain Avenue in Old Town, there is no glowing neon or street-level sign telling you where to go. Your only marker is a black-and-white grandfather clock mounted against an unadorned brick wall. Find it, descend the stone steps below sidewalk grade, and push through a heavy wooden door to step out of modern Fort Collins and into a dimly lit subterranean lounge.
Opened in 2013 by Ty Fulcher and Ryan Houdek, Social operates on a post-Repeal speakeasy ethos. Behind the main bar sits an antique typewriter allegedly once owned by Ernest Hemingway, set beneath a historic framed placard declaring 'Prohibition Dead: 21st Amendment Ratified.' The room feels intentionally detached from the street above, styled around subterranean cellar architecture and warm wood tones.
The bar program relies on precision rather than novelty gimmicks. Their drink menu centers on 34 seasonally rotating cocktails alongside house-bottled concoctions, sommelier-selected wines, and custom charcuterie boards. Between the soft jazz soundtrack and low lighting, the entire cavernous room runs on a soft, conspiratorial hush.
What it's like
Stepping down into the cellar shifts the mood instantly, replacing Old Town's bright pedestrian walkway with low-lit booths, quiet chatter, and the clink of glassware. Weekend nights bring crowds and potential waits on the stairs, so arriving early or stopping by on a weeknight is the move if you want an immediate table. The bartenders operate with serious craft knowledge, turning out seasonally tuned drinks while staff slide charcuterie boards and small plates across polished wood tables.
The move: Start the night by hunting the clock on East Mountain Avenue, descend without explaining where you're going, and let the speakeasy reveal itself.
📍 Before you go Entrance is below street grade — stone steps down from the sidewalk beside the grandfather clock on East Mountain Avenue. No above-ground signage; look for the clock. Old Town Square has a public parking garage one block away.
- 📍 Fort Collins
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1 Old Town Square, Suite 7, Fort Collins, CO
Hours: Added 2026-06-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Speak Cheesy Lounge — Pair one underground speakeasy with another by walking a couple of blocks to Mason Street for grilled cheese and drinks in a century-old basement.
- Pinball Jones — Trade quiet subterranean cocktail whispers for loud arcade lights and 38 pinball machines in an Old Town basement right next door.
- Fort Collins Ghost Tour (Old Town) — Explore the historic bootlegger tunnels above ground on an evening walking tour before heading downstairs for a post-tour drink.
Good to know
How do I find the entrance to Social?
Look for the black-and-white grandfather clock mounted on the brick wall along East Mountain Avenue in Old Town Square. Follow the stone steps down beside the clock to the heavy wooden door.
Do I need a password or cover charge to enter?
No. There is no door password, secret code, or entry fee required to go downstairs.
What kind of drink and food options are available?
They feature a seasonally rotating menu of 34 craft cocktails, bottled cocktails, wine curated by a sommelier, and a kitchen menu focused on charcuterie and small plates.
Where is the best place to park nearby?
Old Town Square operates a public parking garage located just one block away from the entrance.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: collegeavemag.com · northfortynews.com · downtownfortcollins.com · townsquarenoco.com · Official site · denver.eater.com
last checked: 2026-06-21