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Categories: Bars, Music Venues
Neighborhoods: Southwest, SpeerIt's a great punk rock dive bar. If cheap beer, pinball, loud punk music and hanging out with fellow enthusiasts of those are your thing, you'll love this place. If you like your beers microbrewed and overpriced and your music top 40/dave matthews, you'll hate this place.
They also have a monthly punk rock garage sale with all kinds of cool used records, artwork and collectibles for sale. It's also free to set up a table.
I love Three Kings. There are a few reasons why.
1. They treat bands really well. Any and all of my friends who have played there always make comments about how they love to do it. They seriously hook the bands up, and I love to support a venue that is good to local bands.
2. They have Mickeys bottles. 40oz. That's pretty rad, and very cheap.
3. The bartenders are efficient and nice.
4. The area out front is always interesting.
5. The sound is good and the booking agent or whoever books the bands is good at picking great bands.
6. Pinball!
Now, let me warn you, don't go to Three Kings if you're all uptight about clean bathrooms, crowds, or noise. It's effing loud, and the doors on the women's bathrooms don't always shut.
Another downfall is that the door guy is almost always an a-hole, and the last time I went the show was supposed to be 15 but Three Kings decided to raise it to 20. When I pointed that out to them, they only charged me 15, but they were overcharging a lot of other people. That in itself is the only reason I'm not giving 5 stars.
enjoy!
I really enjoy this place.
Is it because of the pinball? Yes
Because of the great music they bring in? Yes
Because of the 40oz Mickeys that make me feel a inch taller after I drink one? Yes
I think this is probably one of the best bars in Denver for a guys night out.
I've had many a good time in this fine establishment. Bars like this are always painted red and black inside. I like bars like this...
Sometimes Three Kings is dirty. Sometimes it's loud. Sometimes it's quiet. Sometimes it's calm. Sometimes it rocks your panties off and leaves them in the green room because it's so rock and roll.
For live music in a small venue, Three Kings has some of the best sound around. They don't always have the best bands for my musical tastes though. So, that's unfortunate. But, when the bands I like are playing there you can bet your collection of vintage LPs I'll be there watching.
Bartender with bright pink/red hair - awesome.
Drink prices - cheap
Entertainment - plenty of it, dance floor and all
I don't think I can ask for more.
OK, for being pretty well known as a punk rock venue/bar in Denver, this place is pretty focking clean!
I went and saw a band play here over the weekend and really enjoyed not only the performance, but the way I got to experience the performance. Now, I have horrible hearing, so I couldn't tell you if the sound system is good. All I know is it was loud. And that is good.
They had two bar areas up that night and it made getting a beer super easy. Also, I'm going to say here and now that I may be in love with their lady bartender with the awesome red hair. It could be love, or it could be the fact that she was one of the fastest, nicest bartenders I've ever seen in a crowded concert setting like that.
Sometime I'm going to go and play some of those pinball machines they have on one wall. And by play, I mean put a lot of money in and lose it very, very quickly.
Also uncharacteristic of a punk bar, the bathroom is insanely nice. I mean, like, Macy's nice. Like if Macy's decided to go punk nice. God, I love a good, clean bathroom.
As several other people have stated, the unfortunate thing is that this place rarely has bands that I want to see, so I don't get to go here as often as I might like. And with a cover charge on most nights, I tend to choose places where I am guaranteed that the entertainment will suit me.
Has just about everything I look for in a late night bar, but I do kind of wish that I didn't have to pay cover so often. I do any way though, this place rocks.
Let me count the ways: PBR tall boys, perfect cross-section of Denver subcultures as the crowd, stiff-as-hell mixed drinks, the staff has a lot of fun just about every time a band isn't playing (I've seen 70s exploitation flicks projected on the walls while Easy Rider played on the TV), I've challenged a lot of people to the suspiciously well-kept pinball machine collection...plus it's centrally located.
If you do a Broadway pub crawl of any sort, this had better be one of your stops. It'll probably be your last.
I love me sum 3 Kings. Well, at least most of the time. It's not really my type of music 99% of the time, but that remaining 1% has lead to some very dear discoveries. Also, the sound here is spot-on.
The first non-metal/non-punk/non-rockabilly band I saw here was Red Orange Yellow (now defunct, but whatever - you can still listen to em online). The second band along the shoegazey line was The Overcasters, who I was *really* impressed by. And thankful to the 3 Kings for having a wide array of bands even though they seem like a niche venue at a glance.
And yes, the bathrooms are scary and should be avoided if at all possible.
But it's worth a trip for the Burlesque and Boylesque shows, Panties at the Bar nights, fun pinball machines, pool tables, and good strong drinks. They also have a small art gallery downstairs where I've seen some good if not interesting stuff by local and national arteests.
I am not a fan of this bar and here are the reasons: the bathrooms are disgusting, there are sometimes more bartenders than customers, and it is expensive (3 dollars for a PBR...really?). The customers are an assortment of smelly South Broadway bum mixed with smelly wanna be punk rock.
The only redeeming quality that this bar has is that they get a variety of bands and the sound is good. I think as a venue, Benders or even the Hi-dive is a better choice.
This place is awesome. I mean come on, burlesque on a Monday? Punk, rock, and metal shows all at one place? Yes please! The owners are great people and I always have an awesome time. Rock on!
I definitely enjoy this bar. Everytime I stop in, the staff takes great care of me...possibly too well sometimes because they don't have a problem cutting me off, haha. The drinks are cheap and the shows are always reliable. I saw Velvet Elvis there and was blown away! With Arms Raised was a great punk show but I was too drunk to give it a good listen.
All the patrons are very cool, people are always open for conversation and they don't have that "clicky" mentality like a club.
I like Monday nights there since it is a little slow and the whole theme night is pretty fun. During the day, it's a great place to stop in for a beer or 10 and at night there is usually some great entertainment. This place gets packed on Friday and Saturday nights so be prepared to bump shoulders.
This place is has a very rockabilly vibe but is enjoyable for anyone whether or whether not your wardrobe is influenced by the rockabilly scene.
I remember this place from my punk rock phase. Ahh... those were the days. It was called The Cherry Pit. Then there was the fire that changed it all. No more Cherry Pit. It was changed into Three Kings Tavern. Still love it. Last night I went to see a show there and the sound was great, the drinks were cheap and strong. Plus, the staff was SUPER friendly. I also love the crowd that the Three Kings draws. Friendly, not creepy. Helpfull and funny, and almost always rock-a-billy. SWOON!
4.25 stars. I loved it when it was Cherry Pit and I love it now. I can get my bad-girl side of me out in a few hours, flirt with tattooed boys and bartendars, play pool(very poorly) and drinks are cheap.
I like it here. Loud music. Velvet elvis. What else could you ask for?
I liked this place a lot. Large venue with a dance floor. Pool tables, yeaaa! The bartenders were cool and they had a large selection of beers on tap and in bottles.
I wasn't a fan of the particular band that was screaming that night, but I'm a big fan of local bands and the bars that support them.
Live music yeah!
This place has a great stage and pretty good sound, but rarely has bands I want to see. I saw some great acts play here at the Denver Post Underground Music Showcase, but typically it's more of a hard rock and punk kind of place which just isn't my thing. Ample room for shooting pool, though. I'd like to check out their Grindhouse night sometime, which sounds like a cool idea, but I definitely have to advise against the Monday night Panties at the Bar (and I will not elaborate any further on the matter).
The 3 Kings is quickly becoming my favorite music venue in Denver. Why? Here's a list:
- Great layout. Large bar in the front, adjacent to another large area with pool tables, chairs, etc. and a good sized stage and floor area in the back. Why is this important? Because I hate going to a show where, when I'm watching the band play, I'm having to deal with the people that are interested in doing anything but being quiet and listening to the music. The 3 Kings is set up in such a way where everyone can do their thing, and not step on the toes of others.
- Awesome staff. Everyone that I've ever dealt with their has been top notch. The peeps behind the bar are always friendly and super efficient.
- Great sound that is almost always spot-on, regardless of what kind of music the band is playing.
- 2 BARS FOR BUSY NIGHTS! Nothing worse than missing half a band's set cause you're waiting in a line 5 people deep at the bar for a drink.
- Retro pinball machines.
- A display case full of rock paraphernalia and other assorted toys and goodies.
- The wall covered with comic book covers. Really, it makes me happy.
Seriously, the place kicks ass, and I'm super stoked to have it as part of Denver's already killer set of independent venues.
I humbly bow down to the 3 Kings.
Cheers!
This place rocks! I love it when my band plays a show here, they treat us really well. The sound is usually pretty good, they give the bands a huge tub of free beer. The only thing I have to say is bands need to keep all the bffs and groupies out of the green room, free beer is for band mates only. Great staff good prices, love this place. I also remember when it was the Cherry Pit and I loved that place too.
Place serves 40s, has good sound, and books quality bands.
What else are you looking for?
There are a lot of cool bars in Denver. In fact, there are a lot of cool bars in this five block stretch of South Broadway. But if you're looking to do some serious, no-holds barred drinking, Three Kings is your place.
I guess if you had to pigeonhole Three Kings into some sort of genre, you could call it a Metal/Hard Rock bar. But that's not really it. Unlike "certain other South Broadway bars," you don't have to conform to a particular clique to feel welcome at Three Kings. They take all kinds. They're an Equal Opportunity Drunk Factory.
Granted, if you aren't into scary, screamy, gutteral music... the live acts probably aren't going to be your cup of tea. No matter though... just hang out on the bar side and leave the stage show to the fans. Just be prepared to fork over a cover charge (usually no more than $5), even if you're not there for the live show. And who knows? You might actually like the band!
Or you might actually not.
Here's an Insider Secret: make your way to the bar and, when you have the attention of one of the friendly, easygoing bartenders, hold your index and middle fingers together and tap them against your chin twice. Then hold up your fingers indicating how many you want. You've just ordered a BlackBall (or two... or three... or four...), the bar's secret shot for those "in the know." Hand your keys over to your designated driver and try to hang in there, champ. Oh... and good luck.
Has pretty much all you want in a dirty bar:
Cheap strong as hell drinks.
Great stage set-up.
Free pool til 7 each day and all day Sunday.
Cool bands and cool jukebox.
Great location.
Strong drinks, strong attitudes, always great mix of bands
I have never had a bad time here (although a buddy and I had an incident just after leaving we would like to forget, but that was unrelated... welcome to S. Broadway I guess). It's kinda hard not to enjoy yourself here if you like good eclectic music. They have a great bar, pool tables, a stage with a dance floor, pinball, comfy booths and almost always a good crowd. I might give it 4 stars, but I have to give extra credit to the owners for turning a very ho-hum bar into Denver's best small live venue (and that whole "as good as it gets" thing... in this town, it is). In the top 3 of my list to look when I'm trying to find something to do in this godforsaken town.
Ah, 3 Kings, my home away from home! You know you may drink too much when every bartender, doorman, and barback knows you by name...oh well!
The "3 Kings" who run the place (Jeff, Jim, and Marty) are so friendly and helpful. They make sure their bar is clean, inviting, and staffed by great folks at all times.
3 Kings consistently books great local bands, and occasionally awesome national acts. I saw an incredible High on Fire concert there, and I met my kick-ass boyfriend at an Iron Maidens show at this bar! Even love can bloom in the warm embrace of 3 Kings. Awww.
The crowd here varies depending on the entertainment of the day, and ranges from neighborhood locals to punks to metalheads to burlesque girls to guys who just want to watch the football game. Whatever the crowd, though, the vibe is always welcoming and chill.
After banking hours, you can park in the bank's parking lot across the street for free. Hooray for no parallel parking!
The only downside to the 3 Kings is that the sanitary integrity of the ladies' room tends to deteriorate very quickly on busy nights, and it seems like the worst warm-up bands are always cranked up the loudest.
All in all, 3 Kings is the place to be on Broadway!
Maybe I'm biased but this is the coolest bar in town. The Rev, Jeff and Martin are the coolest guys in town. Maybe cause their good friends of mine but either way it's true!!! The staff is awesome. The decor is rad as ever. If it's not your scene don't bother going. As for it bieng clean, I can't think of any bar that you could eat off the floor of. Love it for what it is. A kickass. hardcore. rocking punk bar!!
Love this spot - totally laid back bartenders who are attentive but without attitude. I kinda felt like I was in Seattle in this place and it was refreshingly not overly-hipsterized.
They even have a pinball tournament on Sunday nights which I participated in and realized just how sucky I am at pinball compared to the regulars who were getting free games galore.
I had the 90 shilling beer there for the first time and I dunno if it was the altitude, the time change, or just that I hadn't eaten anything but Attune bars all day but I got a buzz off two of these.
Great spot that I totally felt at home at!
Awesome joint for the rockabilly set. Punk rock, PBR and hot tattooed chicks (and guys I suppose)... What more could you want for a night of hopps inspires angst and rebellion?
love the beer, love the bands, love the art, although i havent made it to the gallery downstairs yet, and i love the atmosphere. Just be prepared to take a cab, because no one make it out alive, i mean sober.
I go here a lot - mostly for the awesome pinball games and the bowling video game. The owners look tough but they are all truly nice guys and the service is good too. Bloody Mary's are generally quite tasty and good jukebox. It's even cooler now that they have the glass garage door on the front. If you need to use the potty though, choose your stall carefully. Drinks are cheap. Come on your scooter/bike b/c it can be tough to park during prime time, but isn't that always the case in Denver?
This bar is rock n' roll. Cheap drinks. Usually a cheap cover. Local bands and underground touring bands. I should go there more often.
I heart ROCKABILLIES!!! I have been known to grab a couple asses at this establishment. Sorry to all the men out there that have fallen victim to my iron grasp, it was the Espresso flavored Van Gogh shots that were forced upon me!!
Definitely an edgier crowd that Sputnik, and the Burlesque shows are always fun. Reminds me of Bar-B-Q Bar in Orlando, FL. Without the smokescreen.
pool. alcohol. and music.
lots of fun!
Really like going here with friends. Love to drink and play pool.
Fun! Fun! Fun! The bartenders are friendly and the other patrons take this cue. From listening to the bands, watching burlesque girls on the dance floor to shooting pool with my guy this is a great little bar to spend some time. The drinks are reasonably priced and cold.
on the right night, the outside of this dive bar looks like a vintage scooter parking lot.
pros: on the broadway drag, 2 pool tables, arcades, good-ish DJs (depending on the night), and clean bathrooms.
cons: no photobooth, no coke blak, and creepy stage.
Three Kings has one of the best Juke Boxes in town. If you go on a weeknight when they don't have some death-metal band playing you can actually use it. This is probably my favorite bar in Denver, but you also have to check out some others nearby, like Skylark Lounge and Cafe Ceros.
Great place! I've gone out for the night without any plans or people to meet and have had a great evening on the spur of the moment. highly recommended. Also, if you are a musician, it's the best place to play in town besides red rocks.
good barstaff, host to some amazing shows and a lot less of the hipster vibe that is becoming oh so prevalent in our town.
bathrooms are really bad... my girlfriend says the for the ladies it is unbelievably bad.
yeah, definitely a step above bender's that's for sure.
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