The Penthouse Club used to be...

The Penthouse Club used to be my favorite spot in Denver area, but after spending a disappointing hour there, decided to head back towards my hotel downtown and visit the Diamond. Reviews seem to have it right - Penthouse has lost some of its touch. The few 8s and up were completely focused on their regulars, so there wasn't even a chance to get 2 words in with them, much less a dance. Also, that club lineup tends too much toward the very thin dancer-type, which isn't my type. So onto the Diamond.

It's very close to the downtown hotels - and in good weather like I had, you can even walk it and save cab fare. Reasonable cover, and no hassles entering the place. The club is pretty darn big - a huge main room on the ground floor right when you walk in, complete with cigar room. Main stage has room for 3 or 4 dancers at a time, so you always have options. The usual tip rail around the main stage, but plenty of cushioned chairs and small tables all around the room. There are waitresses, and a bar in the back left.

There's an upstairs club, that you need a $10 wristband to access - but the second floor is pretty empty early, with almost nothing going on until around 2, except some hookah pipes. After last call, the after hours club kicks in up there, with no more alcohol served, but dances continue. But here's a great tip a friendly bouncer let me in on - in the upstairs club, in a room toward the back, there's a bar that has great drink price specials before midnight. In fact, when I bought a drink up there, they offered and brought me a girl to do a stage dance in that bar area, basically just for me. Unfortunately, she wasn't all that hot - but she made a good effort, so I tipped her well.