12 NOVEMBER 21-27, 2024 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | thaniel Rateliff’s nonprofi t, the Marigold Project. The bartenders know how to have fun with a cocktail, whether you’re sipping a gin-based concoction with spiked miso, mushrooms and green tea, or a whiskey libation fl avored with Creole bitters. The Cooper Lounge 1701 Wynkoop Street cooperlounge.com When Union Station was renovated a decade ago, the mezzanine was turned into one of the most enchanting bars in town: the Cooper Lounge. In 2024, the elegant drinking desti- nation got a refresh of its own that somehow made it even more lush. It’s a great place to meet up with friends from out of town, but it’s also become something of a favorite with locals, particularly on full-moon nights, when you can sit on a barstool sipping a martini and look over 17th Street bathed in moonlight. The view is magical. And you might need to be a magician to secure a spot here: There’s sometimes a two-hour wait. Death & Co 1280 25th Street deathandcompany.com This NYC-based cocktail institution debuted its second outpost inside the Ramble Hotel in 2018 with a trio of spaces, each of which offers a slightly different experience but equally impressive craft libations. There’s the opulent lobby bar, a second-fl oor lounge dubbed Suite 6A, and an outdoor space called the Garden, which is open seasonally and lit by a sign that says “Wish You Were Here,” an appropriate sentiment for this envy-inducing escape in RiNo. Emerald Eye 1403 Larimer Street emeraldeyedenver.com It could be easy to miss this subterranean cocktail lounge when visiting busy Larimer Square; its door decal gives away no secrets, but the words “parlor lounge” can be seen in the transom window above, along with a neon sign shaped like a Monstera leaf. Upon entering, guests descend a stairwell deco- rated with globe pendant lights and glossy, emerald-green subway tile before the space opens up to reveal tropical vibes matched by a menu of rum- and agave spirit-forward con- coctions that evoke the Caribbean circa 1955. ESP HiFi 1029 Santa Fe Drive esphifi .co Vinyl records line the wall at this spot, where music is a central part of the experience. Infl uenced by the Japanese kissa, ESP has a cozy, almost homey feel and a menu that offers everything from comforting teas and coffee to highballs and a rotating selection of natural wines. This is a quiet escape room that captures cool without veering into the overly pretentious. The Family Jones Spirit House 3245 Osage Street thefamilyjones.co/thespirithouse With luxurious blue velvet seating and a shiny copper still overhead, this is the most stylish distillery tasting room around, especially after a recent refresh of the space and the cocktail menu. The fi nely crafted bottled spirits from the Family Jones are a treat on their own, but they truly shine when you’re sipping them in concoctions created by the mad geniuses behind the bar. Pair them with snacks like pop- corn in rotating fl avors and adult lunchables with meat and cheese from So Damn Gouda. Finn’s Manor 2927 Larimer Street fi nnsmanor.co This indoor/outdoor craft-cocktail bar built on the grounds of an old salvage yard has a dedication to quality without the accom- panying attitude. As one of Denver’s top temples of mixology, there’s almost always a bowl of punch on special, and the tap list is a continuing exploration of rare beer styles. While summer nights are prime time for hanging out and grabbing grub out back from Twans Burger, which dishes up one of the best smashburgers in town, winter months give guests a chance to explore the deep list of rum, whiskey and other spirits. Forget Me Not 227 Clayton Street forgetmenotdenver.com When Culinary Creative, the restaurant group behind Bar Dough, Ash’kara and Señor Bear, among others, put its power behind a sumptuous Cherry Creek cocktail bar that opened in March 2021, expectations were high. And they’ve only been exceeded. Forget Me Not, with its lively patio, is a stunner in the summer and offers fun, balanced cock- tails year-round that breathe new life into a sometimes stuffy neighborhood. Fort Greene 321 East 45th Avenue fortgreenebar.com Tucked away in Globeville in a space that looks totally unassuming from the outside, this bar is a cool and quirky secret escape fi lled with plants and mismatched furniture. Before Fort Greene debuted in 2015, the ad- dress was home to divey favorite Crash 45, and before that the White Owl, and before that the Portulaca Cafe, a Slavic speakeasy. This incarnation has a well-worn charm that’s made it a go-to spot for artists, musi- cians and other members of Denver’s cre- ative class. Hell or High Water 1526 Blake Street hellorhighwatertiki.com In 2022, the team behind the Electric Cure, a quirky and irreverent Edgewater bar, opened Honor Farm, dubbing it “Denver’s haunted spirit house” and embracing the building’s spooky history. Shortly after, a small tiki- centric hideaway was added on the mezza- nine that’s designed to emulate a haunted gay pirate ship. Expect plenty of penis totems, intimate party vibes and excellent tropical cocktails made with unexpected ingredients. The L 46 Broadway theldenver.com Launched by veteran Denver barmen Adam Hodak and Alex Lerman in early 2021 after many pandemic-related delays, the L is a straightforward, low-key place to get a damn good drink. There’s no food on site (though there’s plenty to be found nearby), and the cocktail list is smartly succinct — but every single option is a winner, from the House Salad, made with feta-infused gin, to a spin on the popular espresso martini. Ok Yeah 4337 Tennyson Street hk-oy.com The Id Est Hospitality group boasts many accolades, including Michelin stars for two of its concepts, Brutø and the Wolf’s Tailor, and a 2024 James Beard Award for Best Res- taurateur in the country for founders Kelly and Erika Whitaker. In 2023, it opened a two- in-one restaurant and bar three fl oors above Tennyson Street. Hey Kiddo subsequently landed on the Michelin Recommended list, and its tucked-away back bar, Ok Yeah, epito- mizes the group’s focus on two important tenets: being good and being fun. So settle in and just say “yeah” as you let the skilled staff serve drinks tailored to your taste. Run for the Roses 1801 Blake Street dairyblock.com/restaurants/ run-for-the-roses This subterranean, gambling-themed Dairy Block cocktail lounge has become a destination for drink afi cionados. Comb through the clever deck-of-cards menu and you’ll fi nd special re- serve cocktails made with vintage liqueurs and spirits — a passion of owner Steven Waters. He often imports these hard-to-fi nd bottles, having fi rst verifi ed their authenticity from halfway around the globe. The result is an impressive collection that makes it well worth fi nding your way inside (the bar’s not a speakeasy, just hard to locate) using the elevator inside Free Market. Salita 701 Grant Street bonannoconcepts.com/restaurant/salita After closing longtime Larimer Square speak- easy Green Russell in 2022, the Bonanno Concepts restaurant group debuted a new bar in Cap Hill where many of the former Green Russell staff continue to show off their cocktail expertise. In the mornings, Salita functions as a welcoming spot to get a caffeine buzz; at night, boozy creations take center stage and range from seasonal cocktails and classics to house specialties. On Tuesdays, look for tiki drinks and Italian aperitivo specials. Spirit Hound Distillers 3622 Tejon Street spirithounds.com This Lyons-based distillery has raked in na- tional and international awards since opening over a decade ago. In 2023, Denver imbibers were the winners when Spirit Hound took over the former Mythology Distillery space in LoHi, debuting a tasting room with Colo- rado-inspired decor, regular events including cocktail classes, and libations that show off the skills of the man behind the business, master distiller Craig Engelhorn. The Stockroom 5713 Olde Wadsworth Boulevard, Arvada thestockroomparty.com In the back of Spirits Wine Provisions is a door to an old stockroom. While it may say it’s for staff only, those who enter will be rewarded not with a job, but with access to a ritzy speakeasy and a list of classic cocktails as well as twists on the standards. Not sure what you’d like? Chat up the bartender and get a personalized recommendation. The Tatarian 4024 Tennyson Street thetatarian.com This bar from the owners of another cocktail heavy hitter, Union Lodge No. 1, is an homage to the Berkeley neighborhood’s past, when property buyers would receive a shade tree as a gift from the city; you’ll still see Tatarian maples standing proudly in the area. The cocktails here incorporate specifi c liquors, liqueurs, bitters and glasses to remind imbibers of oak, cypress, sequoia and Hawaiian banyan trees; the Scotch and whiskey list is extensive and surprisingly affordable given the neighborhood. Welton Room 2590 Welton Street weltonroom.com This elegant bar origi- Drink Here continued from page 10 continued on page 14 The staff at the Stockroom pour excellent cocktails. MOLLY MARTIN
