The Room That Old Town Was Missing
Ace Gillett's is tucked into the lower level of the Armstrong Hotel at 239 South College, a historic 1923 property that anchors downtown Fort Collins. The entrance alone sets the tone — a staircase down into a warmly lit room with a long bar, low ceilings, velvet banquettes, and a small stage that has hosted Fort Collins' jazz community regularly since the lounge opened. The acoustic design is quietly excellent. Even when a trio is playing full tilt, the room holds conversation without shouting. Very few supper clubs in the American West manage this. Ace Gillett's does.
The concept is a modern reading of the classic American supper club. The cocktails lead — genuinely among the most considered programs between Boulder and Cheyenne — and the food menu is a tight, well-executed lineup of bar snacks and entree-sized plates designed to pair with the drinking rather than compete with it. Shareable charcuterie and cheese boards, a house-made pretzel with dipping sauces, oysters when they are running, and a handful of entrees that rotate seasonally. The burger, the gnocchi, and the roasted chicken have all been running as long-term staples for a reason.
Live jazz runs multiple nights per week, with a rotating lineup that leans toward Colorado-based players but pulls in regional touring acts. The music is scheduled to respect dinner service — typically beginning around 8 or 9, continuing into late. There is no cover in most cases. Reserving a table for the dinner hour and staying through the first set is a complete evening in itself.
The staff skew toward bartenders and servers who take the craft seriously and are happy to walk a guest through the list. The menu is updated seasonally and announced without fanfare — regulars learn to trust the house recommendations. Whiskey is a particular strength; the back bar is deep, and there is almost always a bottle worth asking about.
What to Order at Ace Gillett's
Start with the Old Fashioned or whatever seasonal cocktail is on the board — the bartenders build them properly. A charcuterie board for the table, the house pretzel, and either the burger or the chicken depending on appetite. If jazz is on, order dessert and a second round and stay for the set. The whiskey flight is a worthwhile investment for anyone who cares about brown spirits.
At a Glance
Why It Works for First Dates
Ace Gillett's is the single best answer to the first date question in Fort Collins, and it is not close. The lighting is flattering. The cocktails do the opening work that conversation has not yet earned. The shareable food format lets the date develop at its own pace without the committed formality of ordering two entrees. The jazz, when it is running, is something to talk about without having to perform conversation. The room encourages lingering. And the whole evening — one cocktail, one shared plate, one entree, one set of music — comes in under eighty dollars a person if you pace it reasonably. Few restaurants offer this combination at this price point anywhere in Northern Colorado.
It also works for a low-key proposal — a corner banquette, the jazz set, a properly timed champagne bottle. For solo dining, the bar is excellent — a stool, a cocktail, a book if you want, and the music. The staff treat single diners with the same care they give couples, which is not universally true in Fort Collins.
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