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By the time my husband and I got to the front of the line on a busy Sunday at Nest, an airy cafe in West Highland, a cold brew was poured and waiting for him. “I hope that’s what you wanted today,” said Molly, the barista behind the counter that morning.
Without trying, we’d become regulars at our neighborhood coffeeshop. After our daughter was born, we began walking there almost every weekend. In the early days, it was a welcome excuse to get out of the house; as she got a little older, it became a safe environment for her to get her wiggles out while we set our phones aside and talked or enjoyed a few minutes of peace. We had unknowingly discovered our third place.
Sociologist Ray Oldenburg coined the term “third places” back in the 1980s to refer to informal gathering spaces outside of the home and the workplace (spots one and two) with limited costs or barriers to entry, where people can engage meaningfully with others. Think of libraries, parks, cafes, bars, and makerspaces. These places are “immensely important for both individual health and well-being, but also collective social health and well-being,” says Jessica Finlay, an assistant professor at the University of Colorado Boulder who studies social environments.
Finlay’s recent research with postdoctoral associate Yue Sun shows that since the Great Recession, there have been widespread closures of these types of spaces across the country, particularly in rural areas and in communities with a higher density of socially vulnerable populations. The COVID-19 pandemic and the social distancing era is also partly to blame. Life has moved more and more online, from streaming shows instead of going to movie theaters to having groceries delivered to ordering your caramel nonfat latte via an app. As we spend less time engaging with friends and strangers in shared public spaces, public health experts are warning about a dangerous rise in loneliness, isolation, and anxiety.
“We know having a broader relational portfolio—the diversity of who you encounter on a daily basis—is strongly linked across multiple countries and tens of thousands of people to living healthier,” Finlay says. “If we lose these sites and the ability to have different kinds of connections on an everyday basis, we could see real impacts on physical, mental, and social health and well-being.”
It’s not too late to reverse course. There are still plenty of places where you can mix and mingle across the Front Range, no matter your interests, age, or income. Consider this a social prescription to get out and connect with the world. It’ll be good for you.
Jump Ahead:
- Third Places by Day of the Week
- Third Places for Networking
- Third Places in Cafes
- Third Places for Eating
- Third Places for Creative Arts
- Third Places in Libraries
- Third Places for Members Only
- Third Places for Outdoorsy People
- 4 Ways to Make Your Own Third Place
Denver Third Places by Day of the Week
Sudden Fiction Books
- When: Third Monday evening of each month
- Cost: Free
Skim the last few chapters in preparation for the Final Draft Book Club, held on the third Monday evening of the month at Sudden Fiction Books, an indie shop inside the Ecclesia Market in Castle Rock. A recent selection? Finding Your Third Place: Building Happier Communities (and Making Great Friends Along the Way) by Richard Kyte.
Kickin’ It Kids Gym
- When: Tuesdays
- Cost: $10
Pack up your diaper bag for a midday outing to the Mommy & Me class at Virginia Village’s Kickin’ It Kids Gym, where socializing and bonding is encouraged among new parents as they move alongside their six- to 12-month-olds.
Table Public House
- Where: Wednesdays
- Cost: Free; drink or food purchase encouraged
Kids and adults can find their voices during the 10:30 a.m. Kids Singalong at the Table Public House, located along the South Platte River south of West Evans Avenue.
TrashHawk Tavern
- When: Twice each month on Thursdays
- Cost: Free; drink or food purchase encouraged
Engage your right brain and your small-talk skills during an evening of embroidery and cross-stitch with new friends during the twice-a-month, post-workday Trash Stitch at TrashHawk Tavern in Overland.
Petals & Pages
- When: Friday nights
- Cost: Free
Build a chosen family during the monthly Trans+ Community Game Night (BYO cards, Scrabble set, or strategy board game) at the Petals & Pages bookstore on Santa Fe Drive.
Chaos Bloom Theater
- When: Saturday nights at 9 p.m.
- Cost: Free
Nothing brings people together like a shared laugh. Try out your best jokes or provide real-time feedback to those brave enough to take the stage by throwing their name in a hat at the weekly, 9 p.m. All Improv Comedy Jam at South Broadway’s Chaos Bloom Theater.
Edgewater Public Market
- When: First and third Sundays of each month
- Cost: Free; drink or food purchase encouraged
Make progress on your latest knitting project with the Tangled Ball Men’s Drop-In Group at Edgewater Public Market, held the first and third Sunday afternoons of the month.
Denver Third Places for Networking
The Company
This private LoHi gathering space launched in June 2024 as an informal venue for members to work, relax, and collab. But regular events are open to the public, including the monthly, Moth–like Glint series (12 people share personal stories around a chosen theme) and Weekly Wednesday Worknights, which are structured to help you get things done with built-in breaks for mingling.
Town Hall Collaborative
Trade your go-to coffeeshop for this women-owned, mixed-use space in the Baker neighborhood. Yes, it does have its own cafe and bar, but Town Hall also hosts regular meetups for graphic designers, female activist groups, and crafters with a penchant for social justice.
Denver Third Places in Cafes
Moonflower Coffee
- When: Tuesday mornings, from 8:30 a.m.
- Activity: Crafting
All skill levels are welcome at this casual drop-in gathering hosted by the owner’s mom. The West Colfax cafe’s inventive caffeinated offerings, like a pandan matcha or Filipino-inspired maja blanca latte, are sure to get your creative juices flowing.
January Coffee
- When: Saturdays and Sundays
- Activity: Unplugging
This sun-filled Boulder spot promotes its No WiFi Weekends as a way to foster “conversations and togetherness”—you know, what coffeeshops were designed for before we carried the World Wide Web in our pockets.
ESP
- When: Anytime
- Activity: Listening to tunes
Denver’s first listening bar, in Lincoln Park, is cozy (vintage rugs, earthy tones, lots of plants) and stocked with more than 500 thoughtfully rotated records. During the day, ask your neighbor what their top five albums are over tea or coffee; at night, flip the page to highballs, beer, cider, and natural wines.
Corner Beet
- When: Mondays, 6 to 8 p.m.
- Activity: Being entertained
Poets, musicians, comedians, spoken-word aficionados—anyone is welcome to sign up for open mic and showcase their craft at this funky vegetarian eatery that’s long been a gathering spot for the Capitol Hill neighborhood.
Whittier Cafe
- When: Some Sundays, from 2 p.m.
- Activity: Sipping and learning
This weekly East African coffee ceremony is about more than brewing really good joe. For over a decade, the cafe has educated customers on African coffee via this traditional event, which invites family, neighbors, and strangers to slow down and catch up with one another.
Subjective Coffee
- When: Daily until afternoon
- Activity: Competing
Unlike places that put time limits on your visit, this spacious Westminster coffeeshop was designed with lounge areas and plenty of electric outlets that encourage people to dawdle. Bring your friends and settle in to play Risk (or one of the many other board games on hand).
Denver Third Places for Eating
Boulder County Farmers Markets Seasonal Supper Club
Once a quarter, Boulder County Farmers Markets hosts its Seasonal Supper Club. At rotating locations, chat one-on-one with farmers, connect with fellow foodies, and nosh on goods made with the evening’s highlighted in-season ingredients (e.g., root vegetables or mushrooms). The spring community potluck will be held on May 14 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Crepe Therapy Café
Crepe Therapy Café opened in Boulder in October with a mission to be “a space that feels like a hug.” To that end, chef-owner Mawa McQueen hired someone to embody that goal. Steve Laser, Crepe Therapy’s “connector,” won’t actually embrace you—but five days a week, he does welcome and engage guests with genuine questions and conversation.
The restaurant also operates the Self-Care Society, a low-cost membership program (starting at $38 per month) that includes unlimited drip coffee and birthday specials; there’s a special rate for University of Colorado Boulder students. “We’re trying to be a spot for cross-generational belonging,” Laser says.
Read More: Chef Mawa McQueen Brings Her Aspen Crêpes to Boulder
Denver Third Places for Creative Arts
We all have inner artists—some are just more shy than others. It may seem counterintuitive, but a crowd of fellow aspiring creatives can be just the thing to draw them out. If you’re interested in visual arts, start with the Art Students League of Denver’s classes (adults can buy a $65 annual membership to get 15 percent off tuition), which cover mediums as varied as printmaking, pottery, and portraiture. Those 55 and older can deepen their social connections through the Denver Art Museum’s Creative Aging program, which includes monthly drop-in drawing sessions, specialized gallery tours, and immersive art experiences (most events are free).
Prefer to express yourself via writing? You don’t have to have published a word in your life to become a member of the Lighthouse Writers Workshop ($6 per month). Hit up the group’s monthly Friday 500 to spend an hour writing 500 words. Your reward is another hour of socializing and learning from published authors (free for members, $5 for nonmembers).
Those who lean more toward the “craft” part of arts and crafts can check out Denver’s makerspaces: open workspaces outfitted with tools, technology, and (sometimes) supplies. Popular venues include the free ideaLABs at six of Denver’s libraries, Lincoln Park’s Denhac ($45 per month), TinkerMill in Longmont ($70 per month), and Clear Creek Makerspace in Wheat Ridge ($20 day pass or $60 per month). For slightly more guidance, pop by the sewing (weekly) or crafting (monthly) drop-in workshops at ReCreative Denver, just northeast of Denhac on Santa Fe Drive ($5 suggested donation).
If you’re musically inclined and not afraid of the spotlight, try jam sessions (suggested $10 donation) at Swallow Hill Music. Weekly events are open to various genres while monthly offerings are instrument- and style-specific (see: Jazz Jam or Denver Uke Community)—and both guarantee a friendly audience.
Denver Third Places in Libraries
Starting a new book can feel like being welcomed into another world with open arms. That’s true of libraries, too—some of the last free public spaces that exist in many communities. Denver Public Library encompasses more than two dozen locations. Programming varies from site to site, but one thing is consistent: People of all ages connect with groups that match their interests and stages of life.
That includes hard-to-please teenagers. When Denver Central Library unveiled its $69 million renovation in late 2024, the new look included new digs: a teen library. Created with feedback from community youth, the 7,607-square-foot space is outfitted with comfy seating, young adult books, funky jewel-tone pendant lights, and a bright pink boundary line that only those ages 19 and younger can cross (anyone older must be accompanied by a teen). Study rooms, sensory-sensitive spaces, a project garage, and access to VR sets and video game stations—all free—speak to the unique needs of young adults.
Of course, to foster a love of books that carries through to middle and high school, you should start much younger. Story times, which combine reading with singing and play, take place at several branches and are hosted by age group, so babies, toddlers, and preschoolers can all giggle along to age-appropriate content.
On the other end of the birthday count, Denver Public Library runs a variety of programs specifically for older adults, including individuals experiencing memory loss and their caregivers. Themed Memory Cafes at the Virginia Village branch are low-key afternoons designed for socializing, while Circle Singing sessions bring music from around the world to Berkeley’s Smiley Branch Library. “Libraries are essential,” city librarian Nicolle Davies says. “We are one of the last remaining spaces where anybody from all walks of life can visit and be welcomed.”
Denver Third Places for Members Only
Playdate
- Best for: New-ish parents
- Cost: Memberships start at $90 per month for one child.
Westminster’s pastel indoor playground has plenty of room for littles to slide, jump, and play make-believe while you swap sleep (or lack thereof) stories with other moms and dads in the cafe or patio.
Our Third Place
- Best for: Women in the workforce
- Cost: Membership is $179 per year; events have added costs.
The Denver chapter of Our Third Place, a national group built around giving women a space to connect outside of the office, hosts small-group dinners and monthly gatherings. The idea is to avoid the transactional nature of traditional networking and facilitate lasting friendships.
Movement Climbing, Yoga, and Fitness
- Best for: Weekend warriors
- Cost: Memberships start at $129 per month.
Work out, catch up on emails (thanks, free Wi-Fi!), plan your next mountain adventure, and build a squad of belayers at any of the six Front Range outposts of Movement Climbing, Yoga, and Fitness.
Tetra Private Lounge & Garden
- Best for: Cali sober people
- Cost: Memberships are $50 monthly or $420 for the year.
Socialize and par-toke (BYO cannabis; free rolling papers and rentable consumption devices are provided) during Wednesday game night, Thursday ladies’ night, or sport and movie Sundays at RiNo’s Tetra Private Lounge & Garden.
Denver Third Places for Outdoorsy People
Denver Skatepark
If nonmotorized four-wheeling is your thing, roll over to the 60,000-square-foot Denver Skatepark, next to LoDo’s Commons Park north of Union Station, to show off your nosegrabs and kickflips. Progress your skills by linking up with regulars who can share tips.
Yoga on the Rocks
A Centennial State rite of passage, Yoga on the Rocks has been going strong at Red Rocks Amphitheatre for more than a decade. All you need is a yoga mat and water (and, yes, a $20 or so ticket), and you can connect your breath with more than 2,000 fellow yogis on mornings from late May through mid-August.
Wednesday Night Cruisers
Biking in Colorado isn’t all about steep grinds or flowy downhills. Join up with the Wednesday Night Cruisers for weekly themed rides that set out from the Mill, on Larimer Street near Coors Field.
The Phoenix
The Phoenix in Five Points has long been a safe workout space for people in substance misuse recovery. When the snow falls, the group focuses on indoor activities like yoga, boxing, and CrossFit sessions, while sober open mic nights, art and sewing classes, and other regular events help participants build new, healthy networks. It’s all free to access so long as you’re at least 48 hours sober.
4 Ways to Make Your Own Third Place
1. Picnic: Pack enough snacks to share at Alamo Placita Park, where flower beds set a beautiful scene and cottonwoods provide welcome shade.
2. Playground: Kids and caregivers flock to the large play structure that debuted in November at Joe P. Martinez Park.
3. Pick-up volleyball: In Washington Park, rows of nets reliably pop up after work on weekdays.
4. Live music: Ruby Hill Park’s Levitt Pavilion hosts a series of concerts—many are free—that kicks off in May.
