Nightlife in Golden

Five times a week, Impulse Theater's cast of comedy players fields spontaneous audience suggestions and molds them into 10–12 original scenes that make up 90 minutes of improvised comedy. Though the fast-paced, interactive shows split sides with a mostly family-friendly brand of hilarity absent of profanity, some scenes may deal with situations or themes more appropriate for an audience suited to view a PG-13 movie or a no-holds-barred political ad. Inside the intimate theater, guests file into seats with unfettered views of the stage, where they can order their one-drink minimum, which includes nonalcoholic beverages.

Belly up to the bar or kick back in marshmallow-like sofas and prep your palate with a specialty sip. MiniBar's inventive cocktail menu includes everything from mouth-watering martinis (try the miniBar'tini with Grey Goose L'Orange vodka, citrange, white cranberry, and a spritz of lime, $8) or a bubbly miniBar bellini (Lunetta prosecco, white-peach puree, and peach schnapps, $6). Small plates such as the spiced nuts (coated with kicky Cajun spices) or bacon-wrapped medjool dates are prime for sharing (served 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., start at $5 for one item). MiniBar also features a well-edited selection of salads, dips, and cheese plates to satisfy more intense cravings. Try the caprese salad ($9), flatbread and dips ($8), or the barbecue baby back ribs ($11).

Exposed-brick walls, soft string lights, and eye-catching art serve as the backdrop for a relaxing night over carefully selected wines, small plates, and conversation at Sienna Wine Bar & Small Plates. Shareable dishes include Toblerone chocolate fondue, house salads, and gourmet pizzas to tantalize taste buds and fill diners' stomachs, complemented by sips of wine from the bar's large list of libations.

Named for the basement vault hidden beneath the historic building for more than a century, the Blake Street Vault embraces its history. The dining room bears the original tin ceilings and exposed brick walls, and the menu is inspired by the food of early Denver immigrants. Dishes such as smoked green chili, burgers made from Colorado buffalo, and flaky chicken pot pies hearken back to campfire cooking, while only slightly more modern treats such as the restaurant's signature moscow mule cocktails impart an old-fashioned touch by being served in copper mugs. After eating, guests can explore the 150-year-old building, venture into its mysterious vault, and track down Lydia, the ghost whose high heels have been heard clicking across the saloon floors when the eatery is empty and trying in vain to start a conga line when it's full.

Since 1981, legendary standup comedians of the likes of Dave Chappelle, Ellen DeGeneres, and Joan Rivers have climbed onto Comedy Works' stages to ignite spirited laughter. The comedy club has also served as a launching pad for the careers of several hometown comedians, including Josh Blue, winner of NBC's Last Comic Standing. Comedy Works' calendar of upcoming shows divvies laughs between its two locations, splitting sides at The Landmark with spot-on celebrity impersonations performed by comedian and actor Kevin Pollak from March 22 to 24 ($20–$25). Before wiping away chuckle-induced tears and uncontrollably slapping strangers' knees, visitors at the downtown location can lap up cocktails from the lobby bar starting 75 minutes before every show.

Along the walls of Tessora's Barra di Vino, a cultivated selection of boutique wines from across the globe perch on handsome wooden racks while bistro tables invite patrons to relax and indulge. A rotating list of wines by the glass (usually $9–$15 for a six-ounce glass) features more than 20 varieties at a given time, each of which may find a delightful dance partner amid the sweet and savory small plates. Sip a slightly spicy pour of the Yangarra Shiraz, hailing from Australia's McLaren Vale, with eucalyptus and anise on its breath, and prop your subsequently tipsy head up on pillowy squares of roasted-pepper and basil focaccia, served with olive oil and balsamic vinegars from Campbell's Olive Bar ($8). Asparagus fries—fresh stalks outfitted in phyllo and baked to a crisp and buttery finish—lounge beside roasted-pepper aioli ($9 for a order of eight). Allow your veggie fries to waltz with a glass of the Two Angels sauvignon blanc from the Mayacamas Mountains, where bouquets of thyme and sage dress buffets of kiwi, melon, and basil, or order up three pulled-pork sliders in rosemary barbecue sauce ($11.50) with an intense malbec and cab-sauv blend from Mendoza that is full of wood smoke, black currant, and blueberry. Tessora's also offers beers, salads, cheese and antipasto plates, desserts, and, on Thursdays, pizza.