You know what? I was tired of swiping. My thumb felt bored. So I tried speed dating in Denver. Twice, actually. Two very different nights, both worth talking about.
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For anyone else itching to trade scrolling fatigue for face-to-face connection, you might skim the practical primers over at InternetDating.net before your own lineup of mini-dates.
Where I went (and why I picked them)
I did two events a week apart:
- A SpeedDenver Dating night at The Celtic on Market (I’d skimmed their How It Works guide beforehand and knew the bell routine). It was a Tuesday. Snow flurries. Cozy, low ceilings. Smelled like fries and whiskey.
- A CitySwoon event at Odell Brewing in RiNo (their Denver event page explained the app-guided rotation). It was a Thursday. Warm patio lights. Big tables. That crisp brewery hum.
I’d read a few firsthand takes, including this deeper dive into Denver speed dating, so I felt semi-prepared walking in.
I picked them because I wanted a mix: old-school bell-and-card, and app-guided matches. Also, the start times were good for me. Doors at 7. Dates at 7:30. Home by 10. I could still drag myself to work the next day.
How check-in really felt
At The Celtic, I checked in at a small table near the back room. The host handed me a name sticker and a match card. First name only. There was a pitcher of water on a side table, which I liked. My hands were cold and a little shaky. I wasn’t the only one.
At Odell, CitySwoon used my phone. I had a QR code, a quick photo, and a few last-minute prompts. The host did a fast intro. Think cheerful camp counselor, but in jeans. We got nudged to finish our beers and sit when the app told us to move.
Both had staff who kept things moving. No weird pressure. No shady vibe. Denver casual, but organized.
The people (aka very normal, nice humans)
At The Celtic, my group was 30–42. About 18 of us total. There was a teacher from Lakewood with llama socks. A civil engineer who built a bike rack system and lit up when I asked about it. A baker who said, “I can’t talk sourdough again,” then laughed and talked sourdough again. It felt like a small town in a loud room.
At Odell, CitySwoon matched me based on my profile and short answers. Fewer random pairings, more targeted. I met a trail runner who knew every switchback at Mount Falcon. A nurse who brings gummy bears on call. A guy in a Nuggets hoodie who asked me, “Red or green chile?” (Green. Always green.)
The actual dates: quick, clipped, and kind of electric
SpeedDenver at The Celtic used bells and five-minute rounds. It sounds short. It is short. But it works. You hit a topic fast, then it’s time. The host gave a few icebreakers:
- First concert?
- Dogs or cats?
- Favorite Red Rocks show?
- Ski, board, or hot cocoa lodge?
Simple, but it shook off the nerves. I said “Backstreet Boys” for first concert. Not sorry.
CitySwoon felt a bit smoother. You sit where the app tells you. The matches felt better tuned. Five to eight minutes per chat. A tiny bit longer. It helped. I didn’t feel rushed when a spark showed up.
Real moments that stuck with me
- The teacher with llama socks asked, “Do you keep chapstick in every bag too?” We laughed way too hard. (It’s Denver. It’s dry.)
- One guy asked me who I’d bring to a game at Ball Arena. I said my best friend, J. He said, “She sounds like a good time.” That warmed me more than it should have.
- A woman told me Casa Bonita churros are only good if the mariachi band walks by while you eat them. I respect that logic.
- At Odell, a guy said he’d never been to Red Rocks. The whole table gasped. It was gentle judgment, but it was judgment.
The good stuff
- It’s real. Actual eyes. Real laughs. You feel the tiny jitters, then they fade.
- You learn fast. A yes or a no happens inside you within three minutes.
- The hosts were kind. I saw them check on a woman who looked anxious. She smiled after.
- It’s efficient. Twelve short chats in a night beats two weeks of dry DMs.
- Follow-up came next morning. I got my matches by 9:18 a.m. for The Celtic. 8:42 a.m. for CitySwoon. Clean email. Simple links.
The not-so-great stuff
- Noise. The Celtic was loud. I lost one voice by round seven. I lip-read the last guy like a champ, but still.
- The bar line. Two bartenders for a full room felt tight. I skipped a second drink to make my round start.
- The ratio. At The Celtic, we had three more women than men. The host gave free re-entry to a few folks. It helped, but still uneven.
- Parking. Market Street was a mess. I circled twice, then paid for a garage. My date card has a coffee stain from the walk.
- One no-show at Odell threw the timing off. CitySwoon adjusted, but I got a six-minute gap that broke my rhythm.
Costs and clocks
- Tickets: I paid $34 for SpeedDenver Dating and $39 for CitySwoon.
- Drinks: $8–$12, depending on your pick. Odell had a pale ale special. The Celtic had a whiskey happy hour that ended just as we sat down. Of course it did.
- Time: Check-in at 7, first chat at 7:30, last round around 9:15. I was in pajamas by 10. Denver bedtime.
Safety and vibe
I never felt unsafe. The rooms were public and bright enough. Hosts kept an eye on the flow. No one pressed for my last name. You write yes/no on a card or in the app. You only get contact info if it’s mutual. That part gave me peace.
Also, folks were polite. If a chat was not a fit, we both knew. A smile. A kind end. Bell rings. You move. It’s cleaner than a long, bad dinner.
Tips I wish someone had told me
- Hydrate before you go. The air here is no joke.
- Bring chapstick. Trust me on this one.
- Park once, then stop caring. Pay the garage and save your mood.
- Wear something you feel like yourself in. Not your “I saw this on TikTok” version of you.
- Use simple questions: “What do your friends call you?” “What weekend feels perfect?” “Favorite taco in town?” Keep it light.
- If you like someone, say one real thing before the bell. “I’d like to keep talking.” It’s small, but it lands.
- Don’t monologue about 14ers. Unless they did first. Then go for it.
Who this is good for
- Folks who are done swiping but still want choices.
- New-to-Denver people who don’t have a big social circle yet.
- Busy people who want quick yes/no chemistry checks.
- Shy people who need structure. The rounds help. The hosts help, too.
- Or, if you secretly wish every date involved boots and a two-step, you might appreciate the lessons learned from three months of cowboy dating before committing.
Who might hate it
- If noise makes you shut down.
- If five minutes feels rude to you. It can feel fast and choppy.
- If you want deep talk on date one. This is small talk, plus a spark.
- If you’d rather try a culturally specific online space first, see how niche platforms stack up in this honest real-world review of American Indian dating sites.
- If you’re passing through Southern California and prefer a spontaneous, one-on-one meetup instead of a structured event, browse the locally focused listings on OneNightAffair’s Garden Grove backpage page where you can scan real-time ads, verify photos, and set up a low-key coffee or night out without committing to a full evening of speed rounds.
Did I get matches?
Yes. From The Celtic, I got two. One fizzled after two texts. One turned into coffee at Little Owl. We talked about our worst Red Rocks rainstorm and laughed the whole time.