10 NOVEMBER 23-29, 2023 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | by residents of all stripes in the Wash Park area. Once a seedy, smoky dive, the place has been spruced up over the years, with a notable overhaul in 2013. Consistency and simplicity are key here: You can count on no-frills, tasty pub grub, including one of the best no-frills burgers in town. The warm glow of the Candlelight’s vintage sign still il- luminates the way to one of Denver’s oldest and best bars. Carioca Cafe (Bar Bar) 2060 Champa Street 303-296-1250 denverbarbar.com It’s dirty and grimy and sometimes feels a little dangerous, but that’s all part of the grungy charm of this cash-only dive. Known as Bar Bar thanks to the triangular neon sign outside, the downtown holdout nearly went under when it had to put a pause on live music because of licens- ing issues in 2022, but now the bands are back — along with the late-night crowds that include an assortment of regulars, artists, hip- sters, transients and rockers. The drinks are stiff, the bath- rooms awful and the atmosphere beyond compare. The Castle Bar & Grill 6657 South Broadway, Littleton 303-798-5981 castlebarandgrill.co The sunken bar inside this castle-shaped building is one of the friendliest spots for im- bibing in metro Denver. The vibe is relaxing and unpretentious, as are the patrons. Snag a twenty-ounce personalized mug for $20, good for a lifetime of twenty-ounce pours for sixteen-ounce prices. The fare is simple but tasty, with budget food specials such as 75-cent wings every Thursday and buy-one- get-one-half-off burgers (among the best in town) on Tuesdays. With karaoke, bingo, trivia and chatty regulars of all stripes, you’ll never be bored when you storm the Castle. Charlie Brown’s 980 Grant Street 303-860-1655 charliebrownsbarandgrill.com Colorful characters from Denver’s past are rumored to have bellied up to the bar at Charlie Brown’s, which has been open since Prohibition ended. A sprawling spot fi lled with the music of nightly piano sing-alongs, it lives up to its slogan: “Something for ev- eryone.” Couples, friends, tourists, young professionals, senior citizens, college kids and even celebrities enjoy the stiff drinks, huge food menu, enclosed smoking patio and free drinks for revelers celebrating their birthdays. Here’s hoping the drinks will fl ow long into the future at this Denver landmark. Charlie’s 900 East Colfax Avenue 303-839-8890 charliesdenver.com Sometimes Colfax Avenue is so idiosyncratic that it risks becoming a caricature of itself. For evidence, look no further than Charlie’s, Colfax’s big, gay cowboy bar. Gaze upon the cowboy-boot disco ball that spins and glistens from the ceiling. Don’t miss the translucent machine that blows money (or whatever else) around as dancers — also spinning and glistening — put on a show within. And look to the stage and dance fl oor for drag queens, bikers and bears, oh, my. Charlie’s truly shines in its inclusiveness. City Park Tavern 3181 East 23rd Avenue 720-865-4396 cityofdenvergolf.com/city-park After reopening in 2020 following three years of reconstruction, the City Park Golf Course is one of the hardest tee times to book in Denver — even the driving range can require a wait. But the bar and outdoor patio, still shiny-new and overlooking the golf course and Denver skyline, always has a seat open. Catch a game on one of several TVs, wait for a spot on the course, or yuk it up with fellow golfers who’ve just fi nished their rounds. The beer is cheap, the food is fi ne and the views are prime, which is much more than a nineteenth hole requires — let alone at a municipal course. Hey, even the city can get something right once in a while. Cohesion Brewing 3851 Steele Street 303-997-7016 cohesionbeer.com When this brewery opened in 2021, it brought a special kind of foam on the range. Cohesion brews Czech-style lagers and serves them in a very traditional way: from side-pull Lukr taps, with plenty of creamy foam on top. (The exact amount depends on which style of pour you choose: hladinka, with a thick, creamy head; snyt, with four-fi nger foam; and the nearly all- foam mlíko.) Plus, the bar itself is striking, with gorgeous tile work serving as a backdrop, and a wood-paneled nook reminiscent of old Europe. Colorado Pinball Pub 6209 South Santa Fe Drive, Littleton 303-598-4391 coloradopinballpub.com Pinball isn’t the only draw at this bar that opened in 2020 and is owned by Dan and Holly Nikolich, who started the Rocky Mountain Pinball Showdown in 2004. It also puts an emphasis on the “pub” part of its name with an impressive collection of over 200 whiskeys, along with beer, cocktails and fun shots. It regularly hosts events like monthly whiskey tastings, live music and themed trivia nights, as well. The Cooper Lounge 1701 Wynkoop Street 720-460-3738 cooperlounge.com When Union Station was renovated, the mezzanine was turned into one of the most enchanting bars in town: the Cooper Lounge. With elegant seating areas and a long bar fronted by comfortable stools, it’s a great place to meet up with friends from out of town. But it’s also become something of a fa- vorite 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. The Cruise Room 1600 17th Street 303-628-5400 The Oxford Hotel echoes with Denver his- tory, back to the days when Bat Masterson relieved himself in the giant urinals in the basement bathrooms. The Cruise Room boasts slightly more recent history: As Prohi- bition ended, it was designed to look like the lounge on the Queen Mary (hence the name), then got a quick remodel a decade later when the frieze with Hitler’s face — one of a dozen international toasts circling the walls of the bar — was deemed politically incorrect. In the 1960s, it was the headquarters for a group of carousers known as the Evil Companions; in the ’90s, it was discovered by hipsters. Today you’ll fi nd all kinds of passengers hopping aboard bar stools to bask in the red light and down classic martinis. The Crypt 1618 East 17th Avenue 720-542-9543 thecryptdenver.com Metal, mostly meat-free food (along with a damn good meaty burger) and a rever- ence for death are all on full display at this spot founded by longtime Tooey’s employee Priscilla Jerez and business partners Chris Maynard and Dale Canino in 2022. A desti- nation for live music and late-night revelry, it has a smoking patio out front that’s often fi lled with people trading stories (and light- ers) under the moonlight. Inside, you’re highly likely to run into at least a few old friends while grabbing a cocktail from one of two bars. Death & Co 1280 25th Street 720-330-2660 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. Desert Social 1312 South Broadway 303-282-1312 desertsocialdenver.com The family behind Adelitas and Ni Tuyo introduced Desert Social in the summer of 2023, bringing Joshua Tree vibes to South Broadway. You won’t go thirsty at this so- phisticated spot with a warm, welcoming at- mosphere: The bar is pouring a variety of appealing cocktails, including its take on the retro favorite espresso martini and a Blonde Negroni made with prickly pear and orange- blossom gin. Dew Drop Inn 1033 East 17th Avenue 720-612-4160 dewdropinndenver. com Delightful cocktails at the Dew Drop Inn come in some of the best glassware you’ll fi nd around town. That’s just one of the many details, like the tiger-print wallpaper, that set this Uptown watering hole apart. The women-owned bar, operated by the same group that’s behind the Horseshoe Lounge, the Embassy Tavern and more, knows what it’s doing. Pair your drinks with delicious (and gluten-free) fried chicken, stop in for one of its two happy hours, or snag a shot and a beer at any time of day for just $8. The Dirty Duck Bar 4780 East Evans Avenue 303-758-3667 the-dirty-duck-bar.business.site From the looks of this friendly neighborhood dive that survived a fi re in 2016, it’s hard to imagine the place having anything to do with Shakespeare. But the bar’s name was actually inspired by a pub in Stratford-upon- Avon, Shakespeare’s Drink Here continued from page 8 continued on page 12 Candlelight Tavern excels at the no-frills bar burger. Ephemeral brings in breweries from around the country. KRISTIN PAZULSKI MOLLY MARTIN
