wordplay by Samantha Donen
images by Chancy Keller

Deep in the heart of Park Meadows’ shopping district, a cozy little cigar bar is transforming into one of the largest destination places for Denver’s hottest DJs and clientele. On a recent Tuesday night, I paid a visit to The Robusto Room to find out what makes this new hot spot tick. When I arrived, DJ Kinetics, who only plays underground hip hop and New Orleans funk, was already getting the bar area bouncing. It was there that I met the owner, Peter Roth, who created what critics are calling the new generation of cigar bars.

The atmosphere is that of a small neighbourhood bar with an upscale feel.  Roth wanted to provide a place away from downtown that would appeal to the younger demographic living down South. “People come here and hear some of the best DJs in Denver who headline all the big clubs downtown, like 5 Degrees, the Church, and Vinyl,” said Roth. “My goal has never been to compete with downtown Denver, but if this is your only choice (down South)…then it has to be up to par.” Part of his success has been in forging the right alliances with the right people, from hiring the best bands and DJs Denver has to offer to working with Denver’s hottest promoters, such as JFly Presents, Kylie Baker, Ryan Dykstra and others. His live bands run an eclectic gamut from hip-hop to funk to jazz to rockabilly. His DJs, such as DJ Danny and DeeJay Diabolic, have nights where they specialize in both hip-hop and top 40-esque music to nights like Tuesday’s Industry Night with DJ Kinetik.

Another unique aspect to the Robusto Room is the cigar room. As soon as I walked through the glass door separating the cigar shop and lounge from the bar, it was like entering an alternate universe. Although I could still hear the music from the bar, it was like a distant memory as the plush leather couches beckoned me to kick back, relax, and quite possibly…smoke a cigar. “How often do you walk into a bar and see four gorgeous girls smoking cigars?” asks Roth. His 400 plus cigar shop is just as much of an attraction to the young hip crowd as is his entertainment. “Many people come in and ask for recommendations,” said Chris Stone, who is a full-time cigar expert on staff. Stone finds out what cigars people want by asking questions about their lifestyle and tastes. Stone took me on a flavour tour and paired me with a sweet on the lips black cherry cigar. I then paired that with a chocolate martini…yummy!

The best part about trying a cigar at the Robusto Room was that I could enjoy it wherever I wanted, as they allow smoking throughout the entire establishment. Hanging out at the Robusto Room was like being on a “Robusto Flight”; there is no other place like it where you can experience so many different things in one night without leaving one place.

9535 Park Meadows Drive (Lone Tree)

TheRobustoRoom.com