FAQ

What modifications have you made for COVID-19?

On March 15th, the COVID-19 crisis resulted in a decision to shut down our dining room and our live performances. Hours after that choice, the mayor of Denver announced that all restaurants would close.

Now, as of June 2020, our state and city officials have determined that we may reopen restaurants. For the sake of providing hospitality and live music to our community, we are re-opening our dining room, while keeping the safety of our guests, employees, and musicians in mind.

Here's what that looks like at Nocturne for the time being.

-Continued commitment to hygiene, especially hand washing, and disinfecting all public areas every 30 minutes.

-Masks required for all employees, all musicians when not performing, and all guests when not eating or drinking.

-A health commitment from our staff, musicians, and guests prior to entering that confirms the following:

You or your party have not experienced symptoms of the COVID-19 virus experienced in the past 14 days.
You or your party have not tested positive for the COVID-19 virus in the past 14 days.
You or your party have not knowingly been in contact with someone experiencing the COVID-19 virus in the past 14 days.

-Reservations required for all guests to allow us to control the occupancy of our dining room to always be less than 50 people and to have six feet of distance between all parties.

Reservations include artist fees for live music and a prepaid three course dinner. The option to add wine pairings is available prior to your arrival or at your table when you arrive. We prefer that you select much of your menu choices in advance and a concierge will call you prior to arrival to confirm your selections and answer any questions. We are offering this to assist in limiting contact as well as assisting with communication issues that will inevitably arise with masks and live music. It's hard to hear with live music and lip reading is muted with our masks.

We are still here to help you throughout your dining process, and have re-worked our model of service to better accommodate the necessary changes for safety and health. Please be patient with us as Nocturne may look a little different for the time being as we modify for your safety and ours.

If you are unable to visit us in person, we understand. We wish you safety and health. We'll have several of the shows streaming live on our Facebook page and encourage you to get a dose of live music there if you are an at-risk individual, if you don't feel well, or if you are anxious to be among others. We understand, we miss you, and we hope to see you at a later date.

Is there always music? Is it always jazz? What if I just don’t “get” jazz?

Nocturne is open for service weekly, Wednesday through Sunday and there is live music on our stage each night we are open. Typically, sets run from 6:30pm to 7:45pm and 8:30pm to 9:45pm on weeknights. Friday/Saturday sets run from 6:30-8:00pm and 9:00-10:30pm. Sunday sets are 6:30-7:30 and 8:00-9:00.

Occasionally we feature national artists, special menu events, private parties, and holidays that can change our standard set times, so it’s always best to check our live music calendar when making your reservations.

One will always hear live jazz at Nocturne. The styles of jazz performed range from hard-bop and cool jazz to avant-garde, bebop and even vintage depending on the artist. One night you might hear exciting new and original works, and the next you might enjoy one of Denver's finest singers exploring the Great American Songbook; part of our mission in bringing Nocturne to life was the desire to make the great American art from of jazz accessible by presenting it alongside perfectly made craft cocktails, innovative plates and welcoming hospitality.

If you aren’t yet a jazz lover or you just don’t get it, that’s ok! Come enjoy a cocktail or a unique bottle of wine alongside or award winning food and you just might leave a new fan of the music with a little more appreciation for the magic that is live jazz.

Do you allow children?

When we designed Nocturne, we envisioned what it meant to have a great night out, and thus our space and hospitality is for adults 21 and older. We recalled our parents and grandparents getting dressed up to go to a nice dinner and a show - the kids stayed home so that they could enjoy a night of elegance, respite, and enjoyment. Many of our guests tell us that we are their date night spot; their go-to place when they opt to get a sitter or treat themselves to a night on the town. Other children (though not your children, we’re sure) can sometimes be a distraction to that experience. The music is loud at times, the environment and ambiance adult, and the food while delicious, is decidedly not kid-friendly.

On the other hand… we also have fond memories of our parents sneaking us into venues before we were of age so that we could experience jazz as it was meant to be heard -- live, on stage, and often in a dimly lit bar. If your child between the age of 14 and 21 is accompanied by you as parent or guardian and you have table reservation we try to accommodate such a situation. We certainly want young people to be exposed to the jazz artform, but want to be sure we are doing so responsibly, and without distraction to our other guests. We do not allow access to guests under the age of 14 for any reason.

Is there a dress code?

Officially, we don’t allow cut-offs, tank tops, jerseys, inappropriate costumes, or clothing with profanity and/or offensive images. Shirts and shoes are required per health regulations.

Unofficially, we suggest that you dress more toward the upscale side of casual. Sure, we’re still in Colorado and jeans are always welcome, but if you are looking for an excuse to get gussied up, you won’t be out of place here

Is there a cover charge?

We don’t charge at the door. Instead, an artist fee is added to your check or prepaid reservation.

We feel strongly that our musicians deserve to be paid fairly. Whether it’s a quiet night or standing room only (which won't be available for a while this summer), the musicians are giving you their time and and incredible talent and deserve to know in advance what they can count on us to pay them for their craft. The artist fee is an opportunity to collect a small fee to ensure that we can continue to fairly support local artists, national artists, and organizations in our community.

Can you accommodate allergies, dietary restrictions, and/or aversions?

Yes. Please let the concierge know when you receive your confirmation call or let your server know on arrival if you have any allergies or strong aversions. Our menu is adventurous and we would love for you to put your trust in our talented kitchen staff as you enjoy each dish as the chef created it. However, if it’s possible for us to modify a dish to accommodate you, we will. Please note that we have small kitchen and are unable to avoid all potential cross-contamination, especially for gluten. There are always vegetarian dishes on the menu and many of them are available as vegan dishes with a small modification, just ask your server.

How do I recommend a band/artist for you to consider in your lineup?

We are fortunate to have a world class jazz scene in Denver with so many great musicians to partner with and feature in our stage. If you have a favorite band or player that we haven’t hosted yet, we encourage you to submit examples of their work and contact information to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so that we can consider them for future dates.

How do I make a reservation for my party that is bigger than 8 people?

For the moment, our maximum allowable party size is 8 people. For parties of 9+ people, we may be able to work with you on private dining options outside of our normal operating hours. We are happy to work with you to ensure your party has the best possible experience. Please contact us at 303.295.3333 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your requested date and party size and we will follow up with more details. For larger events, see our private events link.

Do I need a ticket to see the music?

At the moment, you do need a reservation to attend Nocturne. If you are making last minute plans, please call us at 303-295-3333 and we will check on availability but we highly recommend reserving at least before noon on the day of your visit so that we can call you to confirm your menu choices, health commitment at this time, and answer any questions about our modified experience.

Occasionally, we host national artists or special events that require an advance ticket. If you are unable to get a reservation at www.nocturnejazz.com/reservations, then please contact us or check the calendar for a ticket link. Special nights such as New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day are ticketed events.

Do I have to leave after the first set?

For summer of 2020 and possibly beyond, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are asking all parties to leave after the first set to allow our staff time to thoroughly clean and disinfect all areas before welcoming those attending the second set. Your reservation time determines which set you will be attending.

When we return to normal the following will apply: Much like a standard restaurant we offer dinner reservations nightly. Due to higher demand on Friday and Saturday nights, our reservation times are designed to fit around early and late seatings. Early seating reservations are typically available at 6:00, 6:15, and 6:30 (with music on stage some nights as early as 6:30pm). Late seating reservations are typically available from 8:15-8:45 (with music on stage happening from 8:30 - 9:45). If you make reservations early in the evening, we may have additional guests with reservations for your table later that night. If your meal is complete and you would like to continue your evening with us, we would be delighted to try and accommodate your party in the bar area for nightcaps. Likewise, if you are arriving later in the evening, we might need a few extra minutes to get your table ready for you depending on the guests who were seated before you. We appreciate your patience in these instances. We always do our best to honor your reservation time and kindly ask that you let us know if you are running late or need to cancel. While some of our bar seats and smaller cocktail tables are reservable, we also hold a number of those seats aside for walk-in guests on a first come, first serve basis. Bar and cocktail table seating offers equally great views of the stage as the rest of the room.

Are there tables that are quiet or away from the music if I’m just there for the food and drink?

Our dining room and bar seats were all designed with the intention that guests would be focused on the stage and music. There is not a separate room away from the music and we encourage you to enjoy the live entertainment while you enjoy our great food and drink.

Please let us know in your reservation requests if you prefer to be further away from the stage and we will try to accommodate you. Note that we have reduced the number of tables and seats available to accommodate safe physical distancing requirements so your favorite table may not be available to you at this time.

What's up with parking?

The RiNo Arts District is bustling lately, which means that parking can be tricky on some nights. Street parking on 27th street is not metered but has a 2-hour limit before 10:00pm. Other streets such as Walnut and 28th do not have time limits. There is also a lot located on Larimer Street just behind our building. Prices range from $5 to $15 depending on special events and Rockies games. Taxi, Uber, or Lyft are also great options and typically under $10 for fares from most locations within Denver's downtown area.

Is there a minimum charge required if I’m just there for the music?

With our reduced capacity, the ability to join us without a prepaid reservation that includes dinner will be limited to just a handful of bar seats.

The artist fee that supports the musicians is applicable regardless of how much you are spending. If you aren’t intending to enjoy our food and drink while enjoying the music, please consider other guests that may want a seat at the bar or a table in order to enjoy all that we have to offer. We love that you are joining us to support musicians and we don’t want to have to implement a minimum requirement for food and beverage. Help us to continue to do what we love to do by grabbing a bite to eat or a drink while you are here.

We accept all major credit cards.

Photography is courtesy of Armando Martinez Photography