Thinking about where to spend Valentine’s Day with a loved one, or its hipster sister spinoff holiday, Galentine’s Day with pals? Finding this Olde Town Arvada hidden spot offers an oasis of sips to enjoy any night away for any reason. Marmalade Lounge, located at 5665 Olde Wadsworth Boulevard in Arvada, serves up cocktails amid a beautiful backdrop, located just behind and under Clementine’s Salon & Skincare, with a semi-secret backdoor location. Its speakeasy vibe and artful libation creations offer a unique experience set among a colorful yet intimate bar bedecked by botanicals and neon signs. Find this hidden gem in time for February festivities (and all year round).
In 2011, Dani and John Everson opened Clementine’s Salon in the heart of Denver’s LoHi neighborhood. Inspired by its success, the Eversons took a leap of faith by opening two additional locations: one in Olde Town Arvada and one in Aurora’s Stanley Marketplace. In Olde Town, which opened in June 2022, the space offered creative possibilities beyond the stylists’ chairs. With Dani’s passion for offering a “whole client experience,” a cocktail bar opened and quickly found a life of its own.
General Manager Nicole Lowery explained that Dani wanted to create “a unique, full-service experience for clients to be fully immersed in” when visiting Clementine’s. A cocktail-with-an-appointment concept blossomed into using the salon’s additional space as a lounge and bar. Now with its own unique identity, it is still quite linked to the salon’s aesthetics. “Marmalade serves as a gathering space where you can spend quality time with your people…it’s not a loud, late night bar. It’s a place to have intimate conversations over elegant cocktails.”
The team loves attention to detail and guests are the full beneficiaries. With artful ingredients, garnishes and accoutrements along the bar plus a plush wrap-around banquette in the lounge, the treat of grabbing a front row seat for watching cocktail creation is a seating option as are private tables for tête-à-têtes.
Marmalade's bartenders prioritize high-quality and fresh ingredients. From premium spirits to handcrafted syrups and garnishes, every component plays a crucial role in offering patrons a chance to try something new and exciting, said Lowrey. While the bar menu is seasonal and ever-changing, the bartenders love to tailor recommendations based on individual tastes to create a bespoke cocktail experience.
“Follow the Neon Tiger” is the Marmalade call to action. For a cozy cocktail or one of the bar’s bustling themed events or trivia nights, when you spot the sign in the alley, you’ll know it’s the way to go.
The Last Dance
Marmalade Lounge and Boutique offers up an inspired seasonal cocktail, The Last Dance, which features Family Jones Vodka, is accentuated with flavors of blood orange, ginger, lemon, and of course, love.
Recipe: 2 oz. Vodka, 1 oz. Blood Orange Ginger Syrup and 1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice. Method: Combine all ingredients in a shaker, and shake. Pour over ice, add mint to garnish.
Stop in and enjoy with a loved one!