8 pool halls on the Front Range to hit

Story and photos by Jay McKinney

The game of pool requires concentration and the ability to see your next shot as you duel an opponent. From pool sharks looking to make some cash to casual bar patrons, everyone can find enjoyment in a victorious pool game. Here are eight pool halls to rack ‘em up.

Tarantula (Denver)

With a prominent downtown location on the corner of Stout and 15th Streets, Tarantula Billiards is a popular attraction for players of all skill levels. It has an abundance of pool tables and a vibrant atmosphere with the art decorated walls and flags strung from the ceiling. Tarantula and its sister location, Zanzibar, take credit for being the first pool halls to offer free pool in the Denver area, while growing the game in doing so. With a purchase of food or drink, patrons can play for free daily. However, Tarantula does charge $10/hour per table on Friday and Saturday from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Zanzibar (Denver)

Across downtown, Zanzibar is located just a couple of blocks from Coors Field in the Ballpark District on Larimer Street. It delivers the same welcoming atmosphere and free pool with the purchase of food or drink that Tarantula does, including 11 Gold Crown tables. In addition to the pool, patrons can enjoy shuffleboard, foosball, air hockey and arcade games while sipping one of the 20 beers offered on tap.

Felt (Englewood)

Felt is a premier pool hall located in the heart of Englewood. The expansive location boasts an amazing restaurant menu, over 20 tournament quality tables, and a variety of other games including skeeball, arcade basketball, foosball and more. Felt also has a great bar, with 10 beers on tap and some of the best prices in the neighborhood. There are a variety of tournament options throughout the week on both seven-foot and nine-foot tables.

Matchups Pool Hall (Fort Collins)

For pool sharks in northern Colorado, Matchups Pool Hall in Fort Collins has everything one could ask for. The pool hall is proud of its quality tables with ample lighting and some of the best public cues. Matchups also hosts leagues Monday-Friday along with weekly 8-ball and 9-ball tournaments. For the serious billiard locals, they offer lockers to rent out for $25/year so that they can store their custom cues and other playing necessities. Aside from the great pool, Matchups also has darts, a substantial restaurant menu and an amazing crew of talented bartenders.

Mile High Billiards (Arvada)

Open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., Mile High Billiards is the neighborhood billiard hub that everyone wishes they had. There are four 9-foot regulation size Diamond pool tables, twelve 3.5x7-foot Diamond Bar tables, one 6x12-foot. Brunswick Snooker Table and, last but not least, the only two 3-cushion billiard tables in the metro area. A variety of tables to play on, paired with an extensive daily happy hour (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) will erase any thoughts of going home.

Gerard’s (Denver)

Gerard’s Pool Hall may be Denver’s best kept secret. This elegant hall is in an unlikely location in the alley between Walnut and Larimer Streets. Inside, seven Brunswick tables and the Victorian-inspired bar provide a classy setting to meet with friends and play a game of pool. The walls are decorated with historic billiard related photographs that pay homage to the sport’s rich history that the late co-owner Gerard Encinas wished to preserve through this location. Encinas unfortunately passed away in 2021 but his love for pool was undeniable and his legacy will carry on through this incredible pool hall.

Rac’m (Colorado Springs)

Rac’m is the pool hall for serious players and occupies the former location of Sticks Billiards in northeastern Colorado Springs. Rac’m was opened in October of 2021, by Christina Hubler and her pool-shooting family, Rick, Angie and Monique. Using each of their first initials and seeking a pool themed name, they came up with the name RAC’M. Christina is an avid player who fell in love with the game – and her husband – nearly 15 years ago after meeting at a pool hall. Rick has been playing for almost 30 years and the couple has competed in tournaments together and passed their love of the game on to their two daughters. Rac’m has 16 tables, 4 dart boards, a full bar and its kitchen specialty is panini sandwiches.

Zooster’s Pub and Pool Hall (Broomfield)

Established in 1998 by two sisters with a love for billiards, Zooster’s Pub and Pool Hall has been a popular spot for shooters in the metro area for more than 20 years. The bar had a shift in ownership when the Garcia family bought it in 2013, but the reputation for being an inviting pool hall did not change. Zooster’s prides itself on its 11 well-maintained Diamond pool tables and a friendly staff that keeps people coming back. Ten big screen televisions line the walls with sports always being shown. During Zooster’s happy hour that runs Monday-Friday from 3-6 pm, players enjoy half price on the hourly table rental and a dollar off domestic pints.

Jay McKinney grew up in Sedalia and graduated from the Metropolitan State University of Denver with a bachelor’s degree in communications. During his free time, he enjoys playing golf, shooting pool and hiking throughout Colorado and neighboring Utah.

This article appeared in the January-February issue of our print magazine. Click here to read the full magazine online.