Can't Miss Nightlife in Crested Butte

Not sure where to get your party on in Colorado's hippest mountain town? Check out our guide to Crested Butte nightlife!

Posted on February 6, 2024

Fireworks over Crested Butte Mountain Resort
Those looking for a fun and exciting Colorado Rocky mountain experience, head to Crested Butte. Besides some of the country's top ski and snowboard slopes and endless backcountry fun in the open wilderness, Crested Butte nightlife is also an adventure. From 19th-century cabins turned cocktail lounges perched high on the mountainside to bar hopping in the tightly packed historic downtown, nightlife in Crested Butte is eclectic, varied, and raging just about every night of the week.  

The Umbrella Bar at Ten Peaks 

Sitting high above the snow line at the top of Painter Boy Lift right within the Crested Butte Resort, the Umbrella Bar at Ten Peaks was once a small cabin in the wilderness. Now, with its extended patio that offers views over the town down below, it's one of the area's top après-ski destinations. As far as nightlife in Crested Butte goes, the circular bar here opens and closes early, but it's a great place to start the night off right or simply relax in between downhill adventures.  

The Ice Bar Uley's Cabin 

Riding out over the frozen landscape in a snowcat-driven sleigh to enjoy a cocktail or two is a Crested Butte nightlife highlight for many visitors to this unique small mountain town. Also renovated from an old cabin that once housed a lonely miner, Uley's Cabin is now a can't-miss facet of the nightlife scene in Crested Butte, and one of the main nightlife attractions within the Crested Butte Resort. Enjoying a craft cocktail from the bar made entirely of ice as the stars twinkle in the sky above you is an experience you will not soon forget! 

Kochevar's Saloon 

The oldest bar (and gaming hall) in town, Kochevar's Saloon is a Crested Butte nightlife institution. Founded in 1886, the bar has housed everything from a brothel to a bowling alley over the years, and now is one of the best places to rub shoulders with locals and visitors alike. 

Legend has it that Butch Cassidy once drank so much here that he forgot the gun he had checked in on the way out. Despite its Wild West backstory, Kochevar's Saloon is one of the few Crested Butte nightlife options that allow the whole family inside, because it also serves a full food menu. 

The Eldo Brewery 

Sporting a large sunny terrace on the second floor overlooking Elk Avenue, downtown Crested Butte's main drag, the Eldo Brewery is a craft beer lover's dream destination.  With a half dozen house-made beers on draft — everything from a milk stout to a "cleansing" pale ale — and a full food menu that focuses on Indian curries, it draws the after-the-slopes crowd every night of the week. Events and entertainment, including local live musical acts, frequently take place here.  

Talk of the Town 

The Talk of the Town is a two-story bar that is a social gathering place for visitors and locals, and it packs to the gills most nights of the week. With two jukeboxes, a foosball table, several pool tables, and large-screen TVs, plus outside seating on the sidewalk, Talk of the Town is a Crested Butte icon that must be experienced by all visitors. It's also one of the handful of live music venues in Crested Butte, featuring both local and touring bands.  

The Iron Horse Tap 

With a custom pine-crafted main table for communal drinking and an industrial-style garage door, the Iron Horse Tap is a modern version of a classic Colorado mountain drinking hole. A large fireplace keeps things cozy on cold winter nights, while, during the warmer seasons, the outside patio offers panoramic views over the mountains. Besides a large selection of Colorado and American craft beers on tap and in bottles, this Crested Butte nightlife destination is also known for its wood-fired pizzas.  

Irwin Brewing Company's Public House 

If live music is what you are looking for, Irwin Brewing Company's Public House is probably your best bet any night of the week. Known for being an epicenter of nightlife in Crested Butte, this pub, music venue, and loft-style accommodation option all in one is located right in the heart of the historic downtown area. 

While it specializes in unfiltered and unpasteurized cask ales, all brewed on-site, Irwin Brewing Company's Public House also offers a wide selection of handmade craft cocktails and wines by the glass and bottle. It also offers cask ales to go in both six packs and growlers so that you can take the party back to the resort with you. 

Montanya Distillers 

Stopping by the cocktail bar and tasting room at Montanya Distillers is a must on any Crested Butte nightlife tour. This female-owned rum distillery, which now ships its product to more than 40 states and seven countries, is nothing short of a local source of pride and joy.  

Montanya creates several types of high-quality rum, including dark and platinum varieties aged to different lengths of time, and serves them straight or mixes them into cocktails for you to enjoy. The onsite bar features both tables and bar seating as well as several outside sidewalk tables, but come early as the place shuts down at 9 p.m.  

The Dogwood 

The Dogwood is located at the edge of the historic downtown in an ancient cabin that has been lovingly restored. Those looking for finely crafted cocktails will find their hidden treasure at this Crested Butte nightlife option — it specializes in house-infused syrups and hand-crafted simples.  

The dark wood furnishings and small outdoor patio area are cozy but also designed to host small parties and groups of friends. Besides an extensive selection of hand-made cocktails, the Dogwood also serves a selection of light plates meant for sharing.  

The Princess Wine Bar 

What do you get when you cross a wild Western-themed bar with a good selection of fine wines? The answer is the Princess Wine Bar, a unique Crested Butte nightlife experience that you will want to bring your camera to.  Located in a historic town hall, the bar also hosts various live music events during the week.  

The Best Nightlife in Crested Butte 


Crested Butte nightlife options run the gambit from formal to hole-in-the-wall drinking dens, but one thing is for sure — you will have a good time and meet new friends. To get ahead of the crowds this year, book your room or suite at the Crested Butte Mountain resort today!