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Mercury Cafe

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Mercury Cafe
Cassandra Kotnik 

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2199 California St. Denver, CO 80205

303-294-9281 

http://www.mercurycafe.com  

7 User reviews Write A Review
2199 California St. Denver CO 80205

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  • Coffeehouse, Health, Vegetarian
    Sun, Sat 9am-3pm, Sun, Tue-Sat 5:30pm-2am
    $$ $, $$
    cash, check
  • Banquet Facilities, Kid Friendly, Patio/Sidewalk Dining, Private Party, Takeout, Vegetarian Friendly, Wheelchair Accessible
    Brunch, Dinner, Late Night
    Live Entertainment
    Full bar
  • Accepted
    Lot Available, Street
Description

For thirty years now, Marilyn Megenity has hosted the town's most eclectic party at the Mercury Cafe, her club/cafe/community gathering place. Today it's an institution known as much for its enlightening entertainment options - plays, poetry slams, tango dancing - as it is for its healthy hippie fare. Whether vegan or carnivore, libertarian or commie, everyone feels at home at the Merc. A restaurant, dance club, music venue and speakeasy, the Mercury Cafe is in an orbit of its own, hosting everything from lindy hop lessons to poetry readings, high teas and Green Party meetings. Rock-and-roll shows were axed years ago, but classical, jazz, avant-garde and singer-songwriter performances still go on in the Merc's three baroque rooms. Every cultural subset can find something at the Merc, the embodiment of Denver eclecticism.








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Back to TopWestword Critic News & Reviews | Write a Review
  • 100 Colorado Creatives: Mark McCoin

    100 Colorado Creatives: Mark McCoin

    By Susan Froyd | Tue, April 23, 2013

    #77: Mark McCoin Experimental musician and multimedia artist Mark McCoin has paid his dues many times over, contributing a free-thinking, collaborative style of creativity to the Front Range scene ove... More »

  • Photos: Mercury Cafe\'s vegan prom raises funds for animals

    Photos: Mercury Cafe's vegan prom raises funds for animals

    By Cafe Society | Mon, April 01, 2013

    In 2013, proms are no longer just for adults -- or meat-eaters. Over the weekend, the Mercury Cafe hosted a spin-off of the traditional high-school rite of passage with a completely vegan affair to ra... More »

  • Tomorrow: Fancy Plants Vegan Prom night at Mercury Cafe

    Tomorrow: Fancy Plants Vegan Prom night at Mercury Cafe

    By Patrick Langlois | Fri, March 29, 2013

    The Fancy Plants Vegan Prom takes place tomorrow night at the Mercury Cafe, 2199 California Street. Marilyn Megenity's club that was awarded our Best Free Entertainment award in the Best of Denver 201... More »

  • Return of the Fancy Plants

    Return of the Fancy Plants

    By Amber Taufen | Thu, March 28, 2013

    Last year’s Fancy Plants Vegan Prom was such a success that even the proprietress of the host establishment, Marilyn Megenity of the Mercury Cafe, said she wanted to see a second incarnation. Organizer Joshua LaBure and his cohorts were happy to... More »

  • Alamo Drafthouse opens today, a vegan-themed prom Saturday and more on the culinary calendar

    Alamo Drafthouse opens today, a vegan-themed prom Saturday and more on the culinary calendar

    By Patrick Langlois | Mon, March 25, 2013

    The Alamo Drafthouse, 7301 South Santa Fe Drive in Littleton, is hosting a grand opening celebration tonight; festivities include a screening of some of Pam Grier's most famous scenes followed by a Q&... More »

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  • 2013 | Best Free Entertainment

    For more than thirty years, Marilyn Megenity's Mercury Cafe has given this city a movable feast of good works, good food and good entertainment -- much of it free. For the last two decades, the Merc has been doing it from the edge of downtown, in an area that was once sketchy and is now heading toward respectability. And you'll find both sketchy and respectable types at the Merc, where first-date diners sit next to Occupy meetings and poetry slams collide with tango lessons and live... More »

  • 2012 | Best Free Weekly Yoga Class

    Every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the Mercury Cafe, Kendall Perry and Piper Rose teach Community Yoga, a class open to all ages and skill levels. The best part? It's free -- for everyone. Whether you're a yogi with decades of experience, a first-timer, a senior citizen or a toddler, the instructors make sure the class is tailor-made to fit. The Merc's big wood floor and availability of natural light make for a comfortable, no-pressure environment, with plenty of room for stretching and... More »

  • 2011 | Best Experimental Music and Food Showcase

    Last year, Corey Elbin set out to create a special night of community-oriented experimental music and performances, which just happened to include reasonably priced vegetarian and vegan meals. And with Gorinto, his Wednesday-night showcase of some of the most interesting avant-garde musicians and performance-art and dance acts in town, Elbin has thoroughly succeeded. Hosted on the second floor of the Mercury Cafe, Gorinto benefits from a superb sound system and a comfortable environment in... More »

  • 2009 | Best Anarchist Ball

    Louis Vuitton Night proclaims itself "too smart for New York, too hot for L.A." And indeed, Denver ought to be flattered that the $3 anarchist variety show takes place here every so often at the Mercury Cafe instead of one of those two other places. They even do kid-friendly; the most recent incarnation of LVN took place at noon instead of later at night. The important thing to remember is that it's not at all scary. It's just a big party, usually with a theme, showcasing musicians,... More »

  • 2009 | Best National Nod to a Local Institution

    Marilyn Megenity's Mercury Cafe is a Colorado institution, beloved both inside and outside of this state. It's also a no-brainer for a left-leaning catalogue of American collectives, co-ops, eco-conscious and alternative businesses, think tanks, coffee houses, favorite leftist anthems and restaurants for locavores, but we were still happy to see that The Nation Guide to the Nation mentions Denver's long-lived, free-thinking hippie outpost not once, but twice. Lauded for its rooftop... More »

  • 2008 | Best Breakfast for Hippies

    Marilyn Megenity has been working to save the world with food for more than three decades, and at the Mercury Cafe, it looks like she's winning. From wind-driven electrics and a fryer-oil-to-biodiesel recycling plan to a local, sustainable, green but not exclusively vegetarian weekend brunch menu featuring organic egg omelets with quinoa and whole-grain hotcakes, breakfast here is something even the most committed environmentalist can get behind. And true anarchists can enjoy making... More »

  • 2007 | Best Greens

    Who is this city's most fierce, forward-forging green advocate? The answer is blowing in the wind. This year, Marilyn Megenity -- who infuses her Mercury Cafe with good, organic food and intelligent entertainment and fuels her own car with vegetable-oil fuel -- took out a loan on her home so she could install two forty-foot-tall Air X turbines on the roof of the Merc's longtime home in downtown Denver. Though Megenity's quixotic installation (which is small in comparison to those that whir... More »

  • 2004 | Best Use of French Fry Grease

    Marilyn Megenity can't stand cars. Most days, she walks to the Mercury Cafe, the restaurant/cafe/community hub she's owned for more than two decades in an assortment of locations, most recently in this comfy two-story building on the edge of downtown. But even this dedicated piéd-ophile has to hit the road now and then. And when Megenity gets motoring, she drives her Peacemobile, a 1982 Mercedes sedan that's fueled by waste, not gas. Megenity uses a fuel hybrid that's processed from... More »

  • 2004 | Best Salsa Night

    Mercury Cafe 2199 California St. 303-294-9281 Salsa dancing is not for the meek: The moves are aerobic, and the music is full of frenetic polyrhythms and enough syncopation to make your head spin. But throwing your dancing shoe into the salsa ring is a lot less intimidating at the Mercury Cafe's Thursday salsa night. The community-style dance begins with a lesson from Mambo Dojo, a New York-style dance studio whose instructors make you feel slightly less silly about shaking your hips,... More »

  • 2003 | Best Exotic Martial Arts Class

    If the same old kicks and yells are wearing on you, you may be ripe for capoeira, the Brazilian dance/fight/acrobatic hybrid art form. And if you can study under Mestre Usamah Zaid, otherwise known as Baba, you'll progress quickly. Held in the Merc's spacious ballroom, the class features live music, expert instruction and a feeling of group accomplishment that's hard to describe. Students at any level are welcome anytime. Prepare to sweat! More »

  • 2003 | Best Hippie Dance

    The Mercury Cafe's indomitable life force, Marilyn Megenity, has seen it all -- good, bad and ugly -- in the many years she's been running the place. So if she personally endorses something, it's gotta be good. Right now she's touting the Middle Eastern Peace Dance, which is held the last Saturday of every month and features live music by Sherefe and the Habibis. It seems to encourage what Megenity calls "that old wild hippie freestyle," a sweet-vibed communal phenomenon some of us haven't... More »

  • 2001 | Best Place to Dance the Night Away

    From swing to salsa, dance crazes come and go with an almost Swiss precision. (We're still awaiting the return of the Freddy.) At the advance of each new wave, the Mercury Cafe is ready, opening its funky doors to dancers of all persuasions. While swing and lindy hop are still going strong, tango currently reigns supreme in Marilyn Megenity's luscious eatery/bar/cabaret on California Street, with weekly milongas, classes for dancers of all levels (from beginners to very advanced) and the... More »

  • 2000 | Best place to tangle with tango dancers

    Marilyn Megenity's eclectic and artful restaurant and nightclub is an unofficial home to many of the city's social and professional dancers. Nearly every night of the week, you can catch a class and/or performance from someone who's more than willing to swivel her belly, hop the lindy or swing all over the Merc's wooden floor. But more than any of the club's other weekly offerings, the Friday-night Tango events have begun to make the café's mercury rise. The sultry Argentinian dance... More »

  • 2000 | Best restaurant when you're in the Zone

    The Mercury Cafe is the ultimate Zone zone -- not just because it offers nutritious dishes that pull from all of the food groups in ways you can easily regroup to fit your ideal zone, but because after you eat, you'll likely be pulled into some swing dancing that will take you straight to your ideal heart-rate target area. For 25 years now, the Merc has been a hip-hoppy, snap-happy spot that serves great food for carnivores and vegetarians (vegans, lacto-ovo, macro-micro, you name it) alike,... More »

Back to TopUser Reviews & Comments | Write a Review
  • westwordbestof
           (0)    (0) Flag

    | Denver, CO | 102 Reviews

    4
    | Wed, May 6, 2009

    Marilyn Megenity's Mercury Cafe is a Colorado institution, beloved both inside and outside of this state. It's also a no-brainer for a left-leaning catalogue of American collectives, co-ops, eco-conscious and alternative businesses, think tanks, coffee houses, favorite leftist anthems and restaurants for locavores, but we were still happy to see that The Nation Guide to the Nation mentions Denver's long-lived, free-thinking hippie outpost not once, but twice. Lauded for its rooftop windmills, organic fare and alternative politics, this Mercury is still rising.

  • AshleyG
           (0)    (0) Flag

    | Denver, CO | 124 Reviews

    4
    | Mon, June 28, 2010

    Hosts great events

  • neecola21
           (0)    (0) Flag

    | Parker, CO | 156 Reviews

    4
    | Mon, March 22, 2010

    Local organic food and dancing

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People Who Like Mercury Cafe

Back to TopMenu
Dinner Menu
Appetizers
$6.00
John Long's Ham
with grilled apple and caramelized gjetost cheese
$6.00
Vegetarian $5.00
Quesadilla
edam and gruyere, salsa, tomato, avocado, colorado trout or chicken
$10.00
Fruits And Cheeses
$8.00
Mixed Grill
chicken, elk and ham with mushrooms and bell peppers, two sauces
$6.00
Vegan Grill
breaded tofu with mushrooms and vegetables; two vegan sauces
$6.00
Colorado Haystack Feta
spinach, tomatoes, olives
Salads
With Vinaigrette Or Feta Dressings
$10.00
Large Green
greens, vegetables, herbs and tomato
$16.00
River Food
green salads with alamosa striped bass, and grilled potatoes
$12.00
Vegetarian Chef
green salad with cheese and nuts; choose: plain or breaded tofu
$15.00
Carnivore Chef
green salad with ham, turkey and cheese
Enchiladas
Covered In Vegetarian Green Chili And Melted Edam And Gruyere. Garnished With Lettuce, Tomato, Onion And Salsa
$9.00
Vegetarian
with beans, mushrooms and spinach
$12.00
Elk, Bean And Cheese
$10.00
Tom's Enchiladas
with turkey, beans and spinach
$8.00
Bean And Cheese
Sandwiches
Served With Grilled Potatoes, Onions, Lettuce And Tomato On A Rustic Spelt Roll Mayonnaise Upon Request
$10.00
Ground Elk Burger
$12.00
Elk Burger
with cheese
$8.00
Sauteed Vegetables
open face with cheese and avocado
$10.00
Roast Turkey
A La Carte
Cup $3.00
Bowl $5.00
Soup Of The Day
or miso broth or green chili
$4.00
Small House Salad
$4.00
Corn Chips
with salsa
$6.00
Chips, Melted Cheese And Salsa
$8.00
Nachos
corn chips on a bed of beans and green chili; topped with melted cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, salsa, fresh corn and garlic upon request
$12.00
Chicken Or Elk Nachos
$5.00
Tony's Potatoes
grilled potatoes with melted cheese and salsa
$4.00
Beans And Quinoa
served with salsa
$8.00
Bob's Tofu Burrito
with potato, onion, mushroom, bell pepper, cheese and green chili
$6.00
Leiza's Tofu
sauteed with tomato, onion, bell pepper and mushroom; with potatoes
$6.00
Santa Fe Breakfast
beans, quinoa and corn covered in vegan green chili and cheese
$8.00
Susan Jane's Tofu Chop
breaded tofu with quinoa and vegetables
Supper
organic food is your birthright
$16.00
Alamosa Striped Bass Linguini
bass and linguini tossed with garlic, olive oil, hot peppers and herbs
$14.00
Vegetable Linguini
vegetables, tarragon, cream and wine sauce served with linguini
$9.00
With Spinach & Tomato $10.00
Garlic Linguini
linguini tossed with garlic, olive oil, hot peppers and herbs
$16.00
Turkey Stronganoff
turkey and mushrooms in a cream sauce over linguini
$14.00
Grilled Tempeh With Black Bean Sauce
with quinoa and vegetables

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