14 NOVEMBER 21-27, 2024 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | LETTERS | CONTENTS | nally opened in 2019, serving libations that were as much a show as a drink. The bartend- ers often use smoking wood chips, whipped foam, liquid nitrogen and other fl air to create eye-catching concoctions. There was just one problem: The bar was on the small side, so in 2022 it expanded into the Monkey Lounge at Welton Room, which remains cocktail- focused but also has a kitchen. Williams & Graham 3160 Tejon Street williamsandgraham.com Sean Kenyon’s LoHi speakeasy, which opened in 2011, is the OG of Denver’s cock- tail scene and remains at the top of the game today. To enter the bar, you go through a bookcase, which you can only access when there’s a seat for you and your party inside. That means no crowding or people trying to encroach on your space or table. And you’ll want room to enjoy your cocktails, expertly made to your taste from the large menu — or you can ask the bartender to make a custom drink. Then pair it with one of the best burg- ers around, deviled eggs and raw oysters. Yacht Club 3701 Williams Street yachtclubbar.com Bar pros Mary Allison Wright and McLain Hedges resurrected Yacht Club — once located inside the Source — next door to Brasserie Brixton in late 2021. The new spot effortlessly mixes high and low with a killer wine list and cocktails alongside a menu of hot dogs, all paired with a vibe that’s still cool enough for a fi rst date. In 2024, their efforts were rewarded when Yacht Club was named the Best U.S. Cocktail Bar at the Spirited Awards during Tales of the Cocktail — news that came as no surprise to anyone who has stepped inside. NEIGHBORHOOD FAVORITES Comforting go-to spots that always deliver a good time. Aspen Lodge Bar & Grill 8125 West 94th Avenue, Westminster What do lava lamps, Christmas trees and Iron Maiden have in common? Mesut Cetin, the amiable owner and chef of Aspen Lodge, loves them all, which is why his Westminster joint is packed with an impressive collection of retro lights, year-round holiday decor and odes to metal. His other passion: sharing food from his native Turkey, which he serves alongside typical bar fare and “the best Philly cheesesteak in 666 miles radius,” as the sign out front proclaims. Bar Max 2412 East Colfax Avenue barmax.co Max Hopewell-Arizmendi and Yuki Koyama founded Cafe Max in 2013 and transitioned the airy, European-fl avored bistro to Bar Max in 2016. Now owner Marshall Smith is behind the bar, and the Denver native is offering a rainbow of possibilities that allow guests to design the custom cocktail of their wildest dreams. The Flavor Wheel and Flavor Deck help spark the imagination, introducing guests to Bar Max’s massive inventory of rare and esoteric spirits while allowing them to remove ingredients or taste profi les that they fi nd unappealing. Bar Nun 1225 Logan Street barnundenver.com The former Capitol Hill Tavern was resur- rected in 2020 when Bar Nun opened in that space, with irreverent decor (think a painting of Jesus with Juggalo face paint and plenty of nun imagery) and a staff that will make you feel like a regular immediately. Whether you’re pounding pickle shots on the enclosed patio or pairing a cold beer with hot wings and pizza at the bar, this spot is a casually cool neighborhood joint. The Brutal Poodle 1967 South Broadway brutalpoodledenver.com How do poodles and heavy metal mesh? The unlikely combo somehow works at the Brutal Poodle, opened in early 2018 by Wes Moralez, Ryan Oakes and David “Yosh” Yo- shikawa, members of Denver band Son Sur- vivor. Beyond the goofy, dog-themed art on the walls and the (just loud enough) tracks pumping from the sound system, good food and a classic sunken bar beckon the faithful. Drink Here continued from page 12 Order a pickle shot at the Brutal Poodle. MOLLY MARTIN
