FIND MORE FOOD & DRINK COVERAGE AT WESTWORD.COM/RESTAURANTS CAFE Fun and Games THE BEST PLACES TO WATCH THE WORLD CUP IN DENVER. BY CONOR MCCORMICK- CAVANAGH The World Cup, by far the most intense and entertaining international sporting competition in existence, has fi nally ar- rived. It’s been a long four years since the last one, and an especially long eight years since the U.S. Men’s National Team last participated. This time around, the World Cup will be played in late November and December instead of in the summer, thereby avoiding the intense summer heat in Qatar, the small Middle Eastern country serving as host for the 2022 competition. Given the ten-hour time difference between Denver and Doha, Qatar’s capital, serious soccer fans in the Mile High City could soon be losing a whole lot of sleep. While there are plenty of good spots around metro Denver to take in the World Cup, here are our top choices for viewing tournament matches: Raíces Brewing Company 2060 West Colfax Avenue 720-324-8550 There’s a real chance that Argentina or Bra- zil could win the World Cup, so watching games surrounded by Latin Americans, who eat, sleep and breathe soccer, would be a smart move. Raíces Brewing Company is the perfect place to do it; the venue will have a large projector set up for maximum view- ing capacity. Be sure to try the Manguito, a dangerously delicious beer that will go down pretty quickly, even in the morning. Raíces will list all of the games it’s showing at raicesbrewing.com/calendar. Maria Empanada 1298 South Broadway 303-934-2221 For those who are Argentina fans or worship Lionel Messi, Maria Empanada will offer the ultimate experience. “We will even open at 3 a.m. for the fi rst Argentina game. That’s how committed we and our Argentina fans are,” says Victor Arango of the Argentinian cafe, whose owner, Lorena Cantarovici, hails from Argentina. The fl agship location on South Broadway will stream every game of the tournament, even when Argentina isn’t playing. “Even our team will be sporting new uniforms — the Argentina team jersey!” Arango notes. The best tournament in sports is back. “We will be raffl ing things off at all games. It’s going to be crazy, like usual,” he promises. During the Argentina v. Saudi Arabia game that starts at 3 a.m. on November 22, for example, Maria Empanada will raffl e off an offi cial tournament ball. Celtic on Market 1400 Market Street 303-484-1066 Celtic on Market is the place to catch patri- otic vibes while watching the USMNT try to scrap its way out of the group stage. The Denver chapter of the American Outlaws, the fan group for the USMNT, will be host- ing watch parties at the Celtic, and there’s a good chance everyone here will learn the “I believe that we will win” chant. Aside from showing all of the U.S. games, the Celtic will be open for all England and Mexico games, as well as all games slated for 8 a.m., 9 a.m. and noon in the group stage. After that, Celtic will show all the games in later rounds. “We have a full breakfast menu, including a full Irish breakfast,” says Noel Hickey, the Irishman who owns the bar. Cervecería Colorado 1635 Platte Street 720-279-8248 A creation of Denver Brewing Co., Mexican- themed Cervecería Colorado will be showing all of the Mexico group stage games, in ad- dition to the USMNT group stage matches. The Platte Street Cervecería will have a food truck on site, and also offer brunch, a michelada bar and giveaways including “limited-edition Cervecería Colorado Jer- seys and more,” according to DBC’s Diana Crawford. The same continued on page 26 25 westword.com | CONTENTS | LETTERS | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | CAFE | MUSIC | WESTWORD NOVEMBER 17-23, 2022 COURTESY OF ROBERT WILSON
