76 APRIL 6-12, 2023 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC & VENUES | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SHOPPING & SERVICES | CONTENTS | Best Restaurant Patio Tom’s Starlight 601 East Colfax Avenue 303-353-4122 tomsstarlight.com For twenty years, Tom Messina ran the 24- hour Tom’s Diner in this Googie-style build- ing on East Colfax, but he nearly sold it in 2019 to developers before a few members of the community launched a petition to get historic designation for the building. Mes- sina eventually got on board, reimagining the space as a Palm Springs-inspired cock- tail bar. As part of the makeover, the outside area at Tom’s Starlight, including most of the former parking lot, has been transformed into a Capitol Hill oasis, complete with an artifi cial turf-covered lawn area, fi re pits, tiki totems, private cabanas, fountains and more. Best Patio for Pets Zuni Street Brewing Company 2355 West 29th Avenue 720-328-4681 zunistreet.com Located in LoHi, Zuni Street Brewing has welcomed patrons and their beloved four- legged companions for the past six years. The brewery boasts a massive open-air front patio and enclosed back patio with picnic- style tables that accommodate large groups and ample room for furry friends. Beyond being extremely welcoming to canines, Zuni Street delivers tasty suds and hosts a weekly roster of some of the best food trucks around, as well as a regular live-music schedule. So if you fi nd yourself walking your pooch in the area, drop in for a craft beer pit stop. Best Patio With a View City Park Tavern 3181 East 23rd Avenue 720-865-3410 When City Park Tavern reopened in 2020 on the City Park Golf Course, it gave guests one of the best views of the city, period. Originally at the corner of York Street and 26th Avenue, the tavern-slash-clubhouse moved to a higher point on the slanted course, with a fi fty-seat patio. While snack- ing on pub fare like nachos and burgers, diners can enjoy a nearly 180-degree view of the Rockies, the Denver skyline and the sweeping green golf course leading to the stately spires of Saint Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church. In rough weather, they can still take in the scene from inside the restaurant, which has fl oor-to-ceiling two- story windows that face west. Best Patio for Tortured Writers Charlie Brown’s Bar & Grill 980 Grant Street 303-860-1655 charliebrownsbarandgrill.com A piano bar that has been open since Prohibition ended, Charlie Brown’s has hosted all sorts of colorful characters over the years. While you can’t go wrong bellying up to the bar, it’s the expansive patio that beckons those who are driven to scrawl prose into worn notebooks or type furiously in the glow of a laptop screen. Cigar and cigarette smoke wafts through the air, drinks are cheap, service is fast and friendly, and there are plenty of outlets to keep all your technology charged while you sip away afternoons that turn seamlessly into evenings at the longstanding landmark. Best Ice Cream/Gelato Shop Right Cream 2423 South Downing Street rightcream.com David Right began making and delivering ice cream via Instagram with his business partner, Josh Siege, during the pandemic. The venture quickly gained a following for its creatively named concoctions, which are super-rich and creamy thanks to a house- made base and fl avors that are loaded with mix-ins, most of which Right also makes himself, including Oreo toffee, “almost-too- salty” caramel and ooey-gooey butter cake. After a couple of moves, Right Cream made the right call, and now serves pints, scoops, cones and sundaes next to Denver Beer Company’s Downing Street location, with plans to open a scoop window and large production facility on Tennyson Street. Best Churros Churreria de Madrid 2501 Dallas Street, Aurora 720-637-7399 churreriademadrid.com In 2022, Jose Manuel Marquez opened the Churreria de Madrid stall at Stanley Mar- ketplace, where you can pick up freshly fried, light and fl uffy Spanish-style churros sugared to order. The best part, though, is the rich, thick drinking chocolate served alongside for dunking and sipping. It’s made with 65 percent cacao and only a hint of sugar, for a treat that’s light on sweetness while delivering a big dose of satisfaction. Best Sandwich Shop Spinelli’s Market 4621 East 23rd Avenue 303-329-8143 spinellismarket.com Spinelli’s opened in Park Hill in 1994, and is a friendly neighborhood market stocked with essentials as well as some gourmet fi nds. For a varied assortment of hot and cold sandwiches, head directly to the deli counter in the back, and don’t forget to grab a pickle once your Food and Drink continued from page 72 continued on page 78
