113 MARCH 27-APRIL 2, 2025 westword.com WESTWORD | CONTENTS | SHOPPING & SERVICES | SPORTS & RECREATION | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | FOOD & DRINK | MUSIC & VENUES | about Colfax Avenue, which is one of our favorite streets to mosey down for a drink. If you’re in Cherry Creek and crave some down-to-earth fun like you’d get on Colfax, the Milwaukee Street Tavern is the place for you. The bar offers food for under $10 during happy hour and plenty of beers and spirits all day long. The mini bowling al- ley and numerous TVs showing sports are extra reasons to go. Best Bar in LoDo to Pretend You’re on Colfax Herb’s Hideout 2057 Larimer Street 303-299-9555 herbsbar.com This musician-owned venue in LoDo is a rare fi nd in a neighborhood where “old Denver” has been slowly pushed out in favor of out-of-state clubs and establish- ments where getting drunk at a premium reigns supreme. At Herb’s, the “low on pre- tension, high on energy” tagline is real. For starters, there’s rarely a cover, despite the club hosting great live music almost every night. If you can’t convince your friends to make the trip to a Colfax dive, head to Herb’s for the same bliss. Best Place to Become an Aurora Barfl y Noonan’s Sports Bar and Grill 13521 East Iliff Avenue, Aurora 720-246-0309 noonanssportsbar.com Becoming an Aurora barfl y means drinking somewhere tucked away in the bedroom city’s quiet suburbs, in a quaint and decent place. You need a place like Noonan’s, pa- tronized by fellow barfl ies, neighbored by fi ve-person households and townhouses, and furnished with booths and cushioned stools for long nights. Overlooking a golf course, Noonan’s feels like a swanky treehouse where a dad or his grown-up son who lives at home can escape, watch sports and drink cheap, simple beers like Coors or Modelo. Aurora is for people going home after work, where they spend their weekends in peace and quiet — and for the barfl ies among them, Noonan’s is the best place to sip away the days. Best Pour of Guinness The Fainting Goat Pub 846 Broadway 855-681-7817 thefaintinggoatdenver.com True Guinness lovers know that every pint of the black velvety ale deserves a chilled glass, a careful pour and absolutely no spillage. Few places get it right every time, but the bartend- ers at the Fainting Goat respect the name and serve it without spilling a drop, with a smooth dome of foam just barely over the rim and in Guinness pint glasses adorned with the golden harp icon. While some bars use (gasp) Ball aluminum cups for pours of Ireland’s fa- vorite brew, the Fainting Goat proves that it’s not just serving a beer, it’s serving a Guinness. Best Cocktail Bar for Any Budget Yacht Club 3701 Williams Street yachtclubbar.com Yacht Club lives up to its reputation as a dive bar with an ironically snobby name and a menu that caters to both big spenders and those on a budget. On the low end, the bar offers $3.50 Miller High Life cans (make it a combo by adding a $3.50 shot) and the Norm, a $5 hot dog. There are wines for around $10, and the long list of cocktails are around $15 each — which is pretty average these days for a well-made libation. A selection of high-end spirits and wines may cost you, but they’re sold at break-even pours. Our favorite splurge here is the $25 caviar dog. Or go even big- ger with the Royale With Cheese: two caviar dogs, a cheese ball spread (that comes with Ritz crackers!) and a bottle of champagne for $140. Best Mojito Pitchers Cuba Cuba Cafe & Bar 1173 Delaware Street 303-605-2822 cubacubacafe.com Cuba Cuba’s Golden Triangle location, which has been open since 2001, mixes some truly delicious mojitos that are heavy on the rum while still going down easy. The best option for imbibing here with a friend or two is to grab a mojito pitcher for $48 instead of single drinks for $14 each. For $2 extra, you can boost your booze with fl avors like mango, blackberry, pineapple, coconut, strawberry, jalapeño, ginger or grapefruit. Even better: Whatever you don’t drink in the restaurant, Cuba Cuba will package and send home with you, so not a single drop (or dollar) goes to waste. Best New Mountain Bar The Offi ce Bar 146 West 1st Street, Salida 719-539-6683 theoffi cebarsalida.com Poncha Springs brewery Elevation Beer opened the Offi ce Bar in Salida in 2024, and this classy retro watering hole has quickly proved to be a popular spot that draws an eclectic clientele. The beer list is extensive, with over 35 options available, from ap- proachable classics like Genesee Cream Ale and Narragansett Lager to limited beers from out-of-state powerhouses like Jester King and Fremont. There’s even an English beer engine on hand for those soft, creamy British-style cask pours. A few draft wines and spirits are available, too, but it’s the bottled wine and amaro selections that re- ally stand out. Best Wine Bar That Feels Like Your Living Room Cana 2554 South Broadway 303-993-7556 canawinebar.com Cana’s home is an actual old bungalow. Each room is a different vignette: The charming space in front has a fi replace; there’s an area near the small bar with plush maroon armchairs; a quaint side room has brown leather couches; and there’s a fi re pit on the backyard patio. You know the billiard room in the board game Clue? It’s kinda like that, minus the billiards. There’s usually only one person working, which is fi ne because it’s never jam-packed…just busy enough to feel like you’re hanging at home. continued on page 114
