The Broadmoor After Dark

When night falls, this sprawling mountain resort takes on a life of its own. BY CHAD CHISHOLM

AS NIGHT FALLS ON ANOTHER DAY AT The Broadmoor, I head to the Golden Bee gastropub, a hive of upbeat live piano music, yard-long beer, and Old English ambiance to kick off my evening.

Cheese spread and crackers are placed on the table before an embroidered bee buzzes toward me, tossed by the waiter. “Stinging” guests with adhesive-backed bee appliqués is a tradition at the Golden Bee; sometimes, special seasonal bees even become collectors’ items. I proudly wear mine on my vest while perusing the menu.

Transferred to The Broadmoor directly from the United Kingdom, the wall-length bar is

.ESSENTIALS. THE BARS & LOUNGES OF THE BROADMOOR

The Broadmoor offers an array of cafés and lounges for drinks and light bites, including:

• BAR DEL LAGO • THE GOLDEN BEE • THE HOTEL BAR • LA TAVERNE • PLAY AT THE BROADMOOR • SUMMIT LOUNGE • CAFÉ JULIE’S • PENROSE LOUNGE

Visit Broadmoor.com or call the Concierge at (855) 498-7558 for information. backed by mirrors and framed with intricately hand-carved details. A polished veneer reflects the dim light, casting a golden glow. While happily munching on another cheese-smeared cracker, I sip the specialty Flight of the Bumblebee cocktail—made of Lee’s Lavender Gin, lemon juice, St. Germain, Crème de Violette, and maraschino liqueur—and take in the bar. As the room fills up, locals share their favorite not-to-miss Broadmoor activities with hotel guests while friends gather in groups to order drinks or dive into pipinghot malted potato wedges or bangers and mash. A roar of laughter echoes off the tin ceiling as the pianist cracks a joke to a group gathered around the piano to sing along. I slide off my barstool to join in. The Golden Bee is one of many bars, restaurants, and lounges that make evenings at the Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five-Diamond resort special. Because when the sun sets, this sprawling property takes on a life of its own. After harmonizing with my fellow singers, I head to The Hotel Bar for a nightcap and the perfect end to the evening. Off the mezzanine in the main building, the historic spot is anything but timeworn. Red leather banquettes, polished brass, dark wood paneling, and sculpted glass fixtures invoke the comfort and style of a velvet smoking jacket. Indeed, cigars are lined up in a humidor, and a gentleman puffs one on the outdoor patio beside a crackling fire. Grabbing a handful of pistachios, I take in the plethora of standout offerings behind the bar: Rémy Martin Louis XIII cognac, Blanton’s

bourbon, Don Julio 1942, and The Macallan (a 25-year-old rare cask Scotch)—all displayed prominently in their beautiful bottles. I select a snifter of Marnier Cuvée du Centenaire (a 100-year-old Grand Marnier seems appropriate for the 100-plus-year-old property) and gently eddy the contents in the glass, causing a bouquet of orange and vanilla to bloom in the warmth of the room. Hushed conversations and polite laughter emanate from the clusters of deep leather seats. The next night, I watch a brilliant Colorado sunset dazzle in vermillion and crimson. The colors are so vibrant that guests stop to take photos. Swans glide across the golden waters of the central lake, and I have a bounce in my step. I swing open the stained-glass-accented door to La Taverne and am greeted by strains of lively conversation and laughter. Smiles abound as guests chat and savor crab claws and oysters from the raw bar. I sip my Champagne with a grin, feeling as buoyant Scan the as its bubbly effervescence. A few Kumamoto Code oysters, some more sparkling, and the Eagles for More Nest Ranch Wagyu featured cut, and I’m in for the night, filled to the brim in body and soul. Information No matter the time of year, you can count on evenings to remember at The Broadmoor.

GOLDEN BEE