For a dose of classy cool, Nocturne delivers on all counts. Tucked into a brick warehouse around the corner from Central Market in RiNo, it would be easy to walk by and miss the entrance. Happily, Denver found this gem and after eight years, Nocturne’s jazz club survived the pandemic’s disruptions and is thriving. During a time when so many other Denver dining venues have come and gone, what is their secret?
Co-owners Scott and Nicole Mattson attribute their success to “doing everything well,” and credit their staff for executing on all fronts; cuisine, cocktails, service, and music. Despite contrarians who told the couple it could not be done, that they should focus on one of those elements and not attempt all three, they persevered and gave life to a dream that started in college. Scott was a student at Metro State studying music, and Nicole was pursuing a business degree. They wanted to open a unique, quality venue to pass America’s original art form – Jazz – to the next generation, and to do it in a way not already done in Denver. They feel it as their calling.
Together, after years of dreaming, they decided to take action and make their dream a reality. Each leveraging their unique talents, Scott would handle the music and food (he became a sommelier, one of two at Nocturne), and Nicole would handle the business management and bean-counting side of the house. A match made in heaven. And it shows.
Nocturne’s Art Deco Industrial Age chic décor stands out in RiNo’s gritty artiness; behind the bar, a dramatic wall installation upscales the room as do the vast velvet curtains draped to soften and refine the edgy, raw space. It has the feel of an airy speakeasy, beautifully balancing hard lines of steel with softer, swooping lines. Outside and in, gloriously colorful murals lovingly depict Jazz Legends, crafted by one of Denver’s favorite artistic sons, Detour. They ground this place in Denver’s neighborhood known for street art.
We were invited to attend a gathering hosted by Nocturne to experience and taste their dinner menu, and here’s what we learned and enjoyed:
Nocturne’s cocktail program offers unique creations crafted by a dedicated team who uses only high quality spirits they love. We enjoyed the Gold Miner’s Lore – inspired by the mining history of Idaho Springs, this autumnal sip blended Cognac, Barrel-Aged Gin, Madeira reduction, Limoncello and bitters. To keep ourselves in tune, we sampled two of their Ain’t Misbehavin’ non-alcoholic cocktails; a fluffy fruity purple concoction and a riff on an old-fashioned – both were deliciously satisfying, and the booze wasn’t missed.
Nocturne offers a versatile menu of small plates as well as a three-course dinner. Food is served during the shows, so you may dine and enjoy the jam of terrific local and traveling jazz musicians on stage.
Highlights from our three-course dinner at Nocturne include:
First Course: Octopus Ceviche Tostada – This drop-dead gorgeous harmony of flavors took us back to Peru – where fresh and colorful ingredients combine deliciously with different textures.
Entrée: Sea Scallops – Although I would have liked them seared a tad more, they were beautifully done and paired nicely with a bed of coconut curry, black rice porridge, purple cauliflower, and a mixture of pickled and spicy ingredients that gave the dish spark.
Dessert: We shared bites with our friendly table mates, and these desserts hit all the right notes…
Pumpkin Croissant Bread Pudding – Yup. Pumpkin, but done to decadent perfection. The ginger buttermilk whip could solo as its own dessert.
Chocolate Tahini Terrine – Rich, creamy, and the raspberry brandy syrup put it over the top.
As the show ended, so did our meal. We lingered a bit as the musicians joined us upstairs for an after-set dinner of hamburgers and spicy fried chicken sandwiches. Yes, Nocturne does it all exceedingly well. In a Denver where the standard of service has fallen, and the good vibes have drained away from our center city, Nocturne inspires us all to help the 303 once again find its groove. By believing in each other, striving to do it all – we can do it exceedingly well, together, like a jazz combo.
Nocturne is located at 1330 27th Street in Denver. Visit their website to learn more about their offerings.
-Story and photos, except where mentioned, by Jimmy McDonough for InGoodTasteDenver.com.
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