Sesh and supper at Colorado’s first cannabis club

By John Lehndorff - Jul. 2, 2025
cirrus3
Budtenders and a flight attendant help guide guests through cannabis consumption, with an eye on gauging experience and tolerance levels. Courtesy: Cirrus Social Club

We were deep into talking politics and music when I glanced at our table at Cirrus Social Club and noticed the tall glass bong sitting next to the caprese toast and a glass of sparkling water. I had to smile. The experience already seemed so normal that I’d forgotten for a few minutes that this was my first legal “sesh,” i.e., public cannabis consumption.  

Open since April in Denver, Cirrus Social Club is one of the first business offering public consumption of cannabis in Colorado. 

The lounge blew away any preconceptions I had about what a stoner eatery would look like. Leaving behind the hubbub of Colfax Avenue, we stepped into a well-appointed lobby you would expect at an upscale hotel or club. Gorgeous color-drenched art filled the walls under subdued lighting. A chandelier hung over the grand piano adorned with a huge bouquet of flowers. 

We settled into comfortable seats in the middle of the large room. Cozy curtained side booths are available for shy first-timers. Since Cirrus is a dispensary, IDs get checked a couple of times, but the guests we saw that Sunday afternoon were all well over 21.

The server, cutely named our “Flight Attendant,” did a great job introducing us to the concept and the menu of cannabis strains and ingestion options. She focused on gauging how experienced guests were with cannabis. 

Guests can enjoy a bag inflated with their choice of smoke which they can inhale a little at a time — similar to sipping a cocktail. We chose a flight of three from the lineup of house strains and a changing menu of premium strains. Like a wine or whiskey list, the menu details the strain and its grower. 

A lovely, classy ritual ensued as our Flight Attendant delivered our tall, water-filtered bong with three bowls, a lighter and two personal mouthpieces. The resident budtender stopped by our table to show off our strains so we could admire and sniff the manicured buds. He carefully ground and weighed it and filled the bowls. 

For those who don’t want to inhale, edibles in gummy form are available, along with THC infusions for beverages. Newbies can also smoke L’eagle, a “beginners strain” with a low 10% THC.

The reported appetite-enhancing effect of cannabis varies greatly from person to person, but Cirrus’ “Munchies & Bev” menu is clearly designed to hit you where your cravings live. It’s less a meal than a series of cool tastes to go with your sesh. How many adult lounges offer a build-your-own artisan PB&J sandwich and a classic cherry-topped ice cream sundae? 

We started with well-made caprese toast. Thick-sliced artisan Rebel Bread is topped with high-quality olive oil, fresh basil and tomato, milky fresh mozzarella with a balsamic reduction drizzle. I combined it with a creamy deviled egg.  

The chosen strains proved effective, leaving me feeling nicely toasted, not obliterated or ready to nap. As a finisher, we ordered mugs of coffee and cinnamon sugar-coated churros toast with fresh whipped cream. 

We appreciated the lack of boozy bar roar; no alcohol is served. And, unlike certain local concert venues, a cloud of second-hand smoke did not hang in the air since Cirrus Social Club is equipped with a powerful HVAC system. 

The folks at Cirrus Social Club made it clear that safety is their primary focus, just as it is at every restaurant and bar that serves alcohol in Denver. Their recommendation: Use Uber and Lyft to get there. (Good advice even if you’re not partaking: Parking is hellish in that neighborhood even on a good day.) 

Compared to the cost of a good dinner for two with cocktails, Cirrus Social Club is an affordable night out. It’s also the only dispensary in the state where you can sample a strain and then order a quarter ounce to take home. 

We sat in that wonderfully comfortable space and knew that Cirrus is the future of cannabis consumption in Colorado. It’s just a matter of time before these social clubs are a part of mainstream life. 

John Lehndorff is the food editor of the Boulder Weekly and former dining critic of the Rocky Mountain News.  

Cirrus Social Club. 3200 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, open Thursday through Sunday. Reservations:
cirrussocialclub.com 

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