12 NOVEMBER 23-29, 2023 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | old stamping ground. It’s a far cry from a traditional pub — Denver’s Dirty Duck is more of a low-key sports bar that serves cheap drinks, has Guinness on tap and offers a number of weekly specials. With a slightly older crowd, it’s a nice alternative to the DU bars farther west on Evans Avenue when you’re looking for a laid-back place to sip the hours away. The Dive Inn 1380 South Broadway 720-242-6157 diveinndenver.com The Dive Inn has defi nitely made its mark on Platt Park since taking over the BJ’s Carousel space in 2012. The decor — which includes an actual motorboat as seating — adds to the upbeat spirit of this neighborhood joint. Dogs love the patio, the bar stocks 99 types of tequila, and drink specials are all-day affairs. With activi- ties ranging from ping-pong and pool to cornhole leagues, there’s never a dull moment at this ca- sual spot. Don’s Club Tavern 723 East Sixth Avenue 303-831-0218 donsclubtavern.com Also known as Don’s Mixed Drinks (be- cause of the word- ing on the old-school neon sign outside), this is a dive with staying power: It celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2022. Purchased by local bar conglomerate Little Pub Company in 2006, Don’s has retained a certain welcoming “old man’s basement” atmosphere. The secluded smoking patio and Skee-Ball machine are highlights, as is the vending machine dispensing fun packs of such goodies as condoms, burritos, ciga- rettes, candy and who knows what else. The bar caters to old-timers during the day and is a packed hangout for the younger set at night. Dougherty’s 5 East Ellsworth Avenue 303-777-5210 doughertyspub.com You can consider Dougherty’s a semi-Irish pub, one that’s catered to all in the Baker neighborhood for over fi fteen years. It’s also home to hammerschlagen, a game involving a tree stump, hammer and nails — not the safest bar game ever devised, but a damn fun one. The drinks are strong, there are daily happy-hour specials, and when the time comes for soaking up that fi rewater, Dough- erty’s also has an excellent pub kitchen and a nice dining room separated from the bar. El Toro 4957 Colorado Boulevard 303-952-1931 eltoroco.com No bull here, just cheap drinks, great food and friendly regulars who appreciate the Garcia family, which also founded the be- loved Mexico City Lounge and is now on a third generation at El Toro. The decor boasts velvet paintings, paneling and an enormous TV in the corner; the menu is slightly less elaborate, featuring basics like greasy fried tacos, beef and bean burritos, and menudo seven days a week. Be prepared: This little joint is cash-only. The Electric Cure 5350 West 25th Avenue, Edgewater theelectriccure.com When an online review tried to dim the glow of this bar by calling it “Satanic,” owners and industry vets Lexi Healy and Veronica Ramos embraced the accusation, leaning in with enthusiastic irreverence. All things weird are welcome — and encouraged. Along with a selection of both tiki and other liba- tions, expect the unexpected: Odes to Jeff Goldbum? Penis-shaped totems? Bartenders wearing shark heads? It’s all fair game. Embassy Tavern 3463 Larimer Street 720-324-8477 instagram.com/embassy.tavern This bar on a prime corner spot in RiNo is located in a building that started life a cen- tury ago as a drugstore, then housed various incarnations before it became Phil’s Place in 2002. In 2018, it was taken over by a group of bar pros who changed the name but kept its spirit intact, offering a low-key respite from the trendy neighborhood outside, complete with pinball machines, a spacious back patio and a giant moose head overseeing the ac- tion at the bar. Englewood Grand 3435 South Broadway, Englewood 303-568-9948 facebook.com/englewoodgrand Phil and Erika Zierke opened an instant classic when they invited guests into the Englewood Grand in March 2016. Com- munity remains a focal point here, so you’ll often stumble into fundraisers or groups of health-care workers from the nearby Swedish Hospital complex. In 2022, they added an equally welcoming watering hole near DU that’s got all the same bare-bones charm — but no name. You’re likely to fi nd Phil behind the bar at one of the two spots, and he’s skilled at both bar banter and shak- ing up any classic cocktail you’re craving. Ephemeral Rotating Taproom 2301 East 28th Avenue 720-220-9341 ephemeraltap.com In 2022, Weston Scott and Shannon Lavelle debuted this concept that takes a different approach to craft beer drinking in Denver. The taproom is a place for beer nerds to dive into beers from around the country without having to leave the city; it hosts a rotating lineup of breweries, one at a time. It’s housed in the former Ben’s Super Market, which began serving the neighborhood in the 1950s, and the old sign still greets guests stopping by for cold beers and camaraderie. ESP HiFi 1029 Santa Fe Drive 720-751-8163 esphifi .co Vinyl records line the wall at this hipster spot, where music is a central part of the experience. Influenced by the Japanese kissa, ESP has cozy, almost homey vibes and a menu that offers everything from comfort- ing teas and coffee to highballs and a rotating selection of natural wines. It’s a quiet escape room that captures cool without veering into the overly pretentious. Esters 1950 South Holly Street 303-955-4904 estersdenver.com In 2015, the former Chinook Bar & Grill got a snazzy remodel and opened as Esters, a neigh- borhood pub that serves nearly two dozen craft beers (most of them local) and a diverse selection of cocktails, along with pizza, nachos and other pub fare. Now with outposts in Park Hill and Wheat Ridge, it’s a favorite for jam band followers, and on game days, Bengals fans gather at the Oneida Park location while the OG in Virginia Vale welcomes fans of the Bills. The Fainting Goat 846 Broadway 303-945-2323 thefaintinggoatdenver.com This bar is named for the myotonic goats whose muscles stiffen when they’re sur- prised, causing the animals to occasionally fall over. But don’t expect goat-inspired decor: This is a low-key neighborhood spot through and through, and it delivers stiff drinks in an old building that’s held great casual hangouts for decades. A comfortable joint where you can grab a beer and a quick snack or watch a game solo or with a dozen of your new best friends, it also boasts a secluded rooftop patio with a lovely view of the mountains. Family Jones Spirit House 3245 Osage Street 303-481-8185 thefamilyjones.co With luxurious blue velvet seating and a shiny copper still overhead, this is the most sleek and stylish distillery tasting room around. The fi nely crafted bottled spirits from the Family Jones are a treat on their own, but they truly shine when you’re sip- ping them in cocktails crafted by the mad geniuses behind the bar. Pair them with snacks like popcorn in rotating fl avors and charcuterie boards with locally made meats. Federal Bar & Grill 2544 Federal Boulevard 303-728-9479 thefedbar.com Micky Manor was a north Denver staple for decades before the dive bar succumbed to the ravages of time in 2011. But the Fed breathed new life into the space in 2013, giving the neighborhood a casual, inviting saloon with a nod to history. The Art Deco bar stretches toward a back room where you can play a game of shuffle- board, while a few comfortable booths in front provide the perfect place to enjoy beer and burgers. Fellow Traveler 3487 South Broad- way, Englewood 303-635-6621 ftbar.com Irreverent. Interna- tional. Eclectic. Fel- low Traveler’s drink menu mirrors the Englewood bar’s pa- nache for quality and quirky vegan fare; weekly specials in- clude fresh margari- tas and rotating Taco Tuesday options. You’ll fi nd carrot, cherry, guajillo and avocado adorning the menu, and those are just ingredients for the margs. Mondays are for the Malört fl ight, a triple dose of the bitter wormwood liqueur native to Chi- cago. “It is regarded as America’s worst spirit, and I love it,” says co-owner Joe Phillips, who also makes a rich Italian limoncello in-house. Finn’s Manor 2927 Larimer Street fi nnsmanor.co This indoor/outdoor craft-cocktail bar built on the grounds of an Drink Here continued from page 10 continued on page 14 Fellow Traveler is a bar that also serves stellar vegan fare. Fort Greene is a kitschy escape in Globeville. MOLLY MARTIN COURTESY FELLOW TRAVELER
