The Retro Room Social

It is rare to walk into a dive bar and hear the buzz of hair clippers over the music, but the styling station at the back of this room is fully operational. Established in 2008, The Retro Room Social operates as a dual-concept venue in LoDo where getting a trim and ordering a round are not mutually exclusive activities. While the salon component provides the novelty, the space functions primarily as a neighborhood watering hole, fitted with exposed brick walls and a soundtrack that relies heavily on 90s music videos playing on loop. The back bar is lined with large glass jars containing the house vodka infusions. While flavors range from fruit-forward to spicy, the pickle shot is the standard order here – a briny pour that tends to appear on tables in rounds. For those looking for something more aggressive, the menu includes a scorpion shot, complete with the edible arachnid. Food follows a simple, utilitarian pattern with a menu of burgers, wraps, and appetizers. The long-standing beer and burger special is a consistent draw for the lunch and happy hour crowds. The energy tends to spike after local sporting events, when fans spill onto the front and back patios to recap the game over cheap drinks.