Surviving the Dating Scene in Denver: The Do’s and Don’ts for Mixing and Mingling in the Mile High

While far less superficial than boys in the Midwest, the dating scene in Denver presents a whole different set of challenges (beyond the growing lumbersexual movement – is it really that hard to invest in a razor?). Everyone here seems to be in the Peter Pan phase of life, they came to play in the mountains and are not looking to grow up.

My personal philosophy is that Mile High boys love one of four things – weed, craft beer, the mountains, themselves, or a combination of all of above. I hope to be proven wrong, but in the meantime, here’s to the laughs and stories that come from the weirdness of dating in Denver. #theStruggleisReal

The Rules for Dating in Denver:

DO find a fabulous rooftop or patio.

There are tons of great spots from Linger’s perfect skyline view of the city to the hidden gardens at Domo. Just sitting outside Little Man with a glorious scoop of salted Oreo listening to their live music makes for a pretty great date. 

DON’T make it one of the LoDo (Wrigleyville West), “I just turned 21” kind of bars.

If you’re trying to meet someone for real, shots of fireball or buzz bombs probably should be avoided (or not, maybe they’ll loosen you up). Same goes for the Ginn Mill. ALWAYS a bad call.

DO get competitive.

Designed for the ADD crowd, almost every bar in Denver has some type of game, from the volleyball at View House to bowling at Punch Bowl to giant Jenga, just about everywhere. Challenge her – everyone knows that second place is just the first loser.

DON’T go to 1up or another barcade.

They’re dark, loud and really hard to get to know someone. Let your dorkiness come out gradually; you don’t want to overwhelm the person with an overwhelming knowledge of Dungeons and Dragons.

DO explore the inventive food scene.

I like to describe Denver’s dining culture as stoner chic. There are some very inventive combinations from the Pop Rocks Hamachi at Tag to Pad Thai Pig Ears at Euclid Hall. Be adventurous, open-minded and push each other’s limits. There are equally creative drink options if you’re looking to mix it up.

DON’T go to Casa Bonita.

As entertaining as it is, being sick all night is not sexy. That goes for most Mexican food, actually.

DO impress her with your craft beer knowledge.

Why not create your own bar crawl? We are the “Napa of Beers,” after all. But know your limits – there is such a thing as having one too many. And slurred speech? Not sexy. If you’re wondering where to start, you can try a bunch of local brews at First Draft which you conveniently pour yourself via a high tech card.

DON’T show up with a case of PBR, Bud Lite or any other shitty substitute you forced down that could be confused with water.

It stopped being cute after college (not that it ever was). This actually goes for dating in any city. We’re old enough to drink quality liquor.

DO take advantage of your backyard.

People really move to Colorado for access to the mountains. You could have an adventure in a different city virtually every weekend. Venture to Colorado Springs to drive Pike’s Peak, hit up one of the hot springs, or make some mountain magic in Breck or Rocky Mountain National Park.

DON’T limit yourself to grabbing a drink or meeting for coffee.

Get creative – there are so many unique date ideas from day hikes to scooter and mural hopping.

DO get outside.

Colorado has 300+ days of sun. Whether it’s riding the Cherry Creek bike path in summer or hitting the slopes in winter, take advantage of the desert climate. You know how to really get to know someone? Camping. Seeing how they fare in the outdoors is a major indicator of compatibility.

DON’T ski shame.

Not everyone grew up shredding pow and hitting black diamonds. If you’re unsure of your date’s abilities and don’t want to make her feel awkward, suggest a new to both of you winter sport like snowshoeing or even dog sledding.

DO get festive.

Denver has seasonal events year-round from Christmas lights at the Botanic Gardens and Zoo during the holidays to beer fests in fall. Take a stroll around one of the many farmer’s markets in the summertime, hit up Jazz in the Park, or catch a show at Red Rocks.

DON’T rely just on the dating apps.

There are plenty of places to meet people in-person from adult sports leagues (who doesn’t want a kickball boo) to the dog park as long as you’re getting and putting yourself out there. Although spoiler: Hinge is ultimately how I met my husband lol.

DO join teams, clubs, and classes.

Not only is it a great way to make new friends but you never know who you may cross paths with.

The Dating Scene in Denver is…Weird

Look, love in the Mile High City isn’t for the faint of heart (or the chronically indoorsy). Between the commitment to craft beer, the obsession with 14ers, and the fact that everyone seems to have at least one ex who’s now a shaman — the dating pool here is less shallow and more glacier-fed. Cold. Fast-moving. Full of unexpected dips.

But if you can survive a date that starts with a hike and ends with a kombucha tasting, you just might thrive. Because behind every gearhead with a golden retriever and every software engineer moonlighting as a bluegrass banjoist, there are real connections to be made. Ones that aren’t afraid to get a little messy, muddy, or emotionally vulnerable over overpriced tacos.

So swipe smart, pack layers (literal and emotional), and remember: whether it’s a forever thing or just a fleeting rooftop fling, every date in Denver comes with a view.

Denver dating is not easy, but it is easy to laugh about so at least there’s that. Tell me about your experience in the Denver dating scene!