Recess Beer Garden is hauling its patio vibes onto the Auraria campus, with plans to open inside the Tivoli Student Union before the fall semester kicks off. The LoHi‑born beer garden is set to move into the space most recently home to Quad Side Tavern and, before that, Tivoli Brewing, bringing in picnic tables, dozens of taps and Recess’s trademark outdoor‑heavy setup.
The Tivoli project is part of a busy year for the Recess crew, which is lining up multiple Denver openings. CEO Jason Romero and his partners have been publicly walking through their expansion plans, including a Virginia Village build‑out announced in March, and say the new locations will be self‑financed. That growth strategy was detailed by bets big on Virginia Village, as per Hoodline.
Recess Moves Into Tivoli
In a statement to Westword, CEO Jason Romero said, "When we first created Recess, the goal was simple: build a place where people could take a break," and the company confirmed it is aiming to open the Tivoli location before the start of the fall semester. The announcement notes that Recess will take over the corner that most recently held Quad Side Tavern and previously housed Tivoli Brewing.
What’s Changed At The Tivoli Space
The Tivoli Student Union serves as the central hub on the Auraria campus, which is shared by CU Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver and the Community College of Denver. Quad Side Tavern lists its address inside the historic Tivoli building, and the Auraria campus website lays out vendor hours and event spaces there, underscoring how visible this slice of the union is to students and visitors.
What Students Can Expect
Recess’s original LoHi spot built its name on a sprawling patio, a lengthy tap list and a casual, dog‑friendly atmosphere that seems tailor‑made for a campus crowd. The Recess website lists more than two dozen taps, indoor and outdoor bars and regular events, suggesting the Tivoli outpost will lean on shareable plates, beer‑friendly snacks and plenty of outdoor seating.
An Earlier Controversy
Earlier this year, the group drew national attention after an anti‑vaccine dating event was booked at a Recess location and then quickly canceled by management, a move that later prompted a lawsuit. Westword reported on the organizer's reaction and the venue's decision to pull the plug.
For now, Recess has not announced an exact opening date beyond its target of welcoming customers before students return for fall. Campus vendor hours and semester schedules typically solidify in late summer, so an official launch notice from Recess and the Tivoli Student Union is likely to follow closer to opening day.
