Rougarou

Denver, Colorado

Top 4 finalist for Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar at the 2026 Spirited Awards.

Named Best New Bar in the 2026 Best of Denver by 5280, Rougarou at 2844 Welton Street brings Southern roots to Five Points with a cocktail program that draws on New Orleans, Louisiana Cajun country, and the American South. Owned by the same team behind Yacht Club, Mary Allison Wright, McLain Hedges, and chef JohnDavid Wright, Rougarou serves drinks like the muffaletta martini and the bananas foster julep alongside Southern-inflected food in a room that is a little bit fancy and a little bit funky. The wine and cocktail program complements rather than competes with the kitchen, creating an integrated dining-and-drinking experience that most bars-with-food struggle to achieve. The pedigree of its ownership ensures the cocktail execution matches the culinary ambition. It was a Top 4 finalist for Best New U.S.