14 NOVEMBER 23-29, 2023 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | LETTERS | CONTENTS | old salvage yard has a dedication to quality without the accompanying attitude. 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 from rotating food trucks under the stars, winter months give guests a chance to explore the deep list of rum, whiskey and other spirits. 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, musicians and other members of Denver’s creative class. Gennaro’s 2598 South Broadway 303-722-1044 gennarosca feitaliano.com Gennaro’s is a res- taurant, sure — this Italian spot has been slinging red-sauce pasta and pizza for more than sixty years. But it truly shines as a superlative neighborhood bar, where crimson stools dot the checkered fl oors as inebriated locals take in cover bands, half-heartedly participate in trivia night or adjourn to the back patio for a smoke. There are windows that face Broadway, but you hardly notice them: All the action at Gennaro’s is happening inside. Golden Moon Speakeasy 1111 Miner’s Alley, Golden 720-638-1155 goldenmoonspeak.com In 2007, when the U.S. government fi nally allowed absinthe to be made and sold in this country, distiller Stephen Gould was ready. By 2008, his hobby had become Golden Moon Distillery, which has since expanded to an eclectic lineup of liqueurs. In 2014, this tasting room that doubles as a destination for classic cocktails opened in downtown Golden, in an alley just off the main drag. All of the booze on the back bar comes from the distillery, which is located across town, and the skilled bar staff excels at showing it off in a variety of libations. Goosetown Tavern 3242 East Colfax Avenue 303-399-9703 goosetowntavern.com Located across from the Bluebird Theater, Goosetown Tavern draws beer drinkers and music fans from the East Colfax corridor and beyond. After Bluebird owner Chris Swank, who also owns Mezcal next door, bought Goosetown from the Wynkoop Restaurant Group in mid-2014, the bar started hosting live music. It typically has a neighborhood-bar vibe, but the energy picks up post-Bluebird shows with a wide-ranging cast of characters sitting in the big booths or taking a smoke break on the patio along Colfax. Honor Farm/Hell or High Water 1526 Blake Street hellorhighwatertiki.com The team behind the Electric Cure debuted Honor Farm in 2022, embracing the build- ing’s ghoulish reputation as one of the most haunted spaces in the city. It’s also named after a place with its own dark past — a farm in Pueblo that was once part of the Colorado State Insane Asylum. Upstairs on the mezzanine level is a small tiki-centric hideaway with a big personality, themed after a haunted gay pirate ship. Expect plenty of penis totems plus an intimate party vibe that’s unmatched in the metro area. hi-dive/Sputnik 7 South Broadway 303-733-0230 hi-dive.com 3 South Broadway 720-570-4503 sputnikdenver.com The bars at these conjoined spaces are two sides of the same coin — both a little worn and gritty, but still good for quick shots or planting yourself for the long haul. Since 2003, the hi-dive has been a refuge from crass commercialism and bland bars cater- ing to the masses. Cheap, stiff drinks and a revolving door of creative talent have kept the music venue ahead of the game. Sputnik, on the other hand, offers a mid-century vibe, along with plenty of meatless fare. Hops & Pie 3920 Tennyson Street 303-477-7000 hopsandpie.com Drew and Leah Watson opened this spot in 2010; ever since, it’s been a go-to for beer lovers thanks to its long, ever-rotating tap list and lots of special hop-fueled events. In 2023, it debuted a new, expansive patio, which is an ideal place to settle in with a cold one and a slice of sourdough-crust pizza — which it serves in several styles, including Detroit — or its stellar sandwiches of the week. Horseshoe Lounge 414 East 20th Avenue 303-832-1180 instagram.com/thehorseshoedenver The Horseshoe Lounge is a powerhouse bar in the Uptown neighborhood with quirky yet tasteful decor, including vintage furniture and a bar top made of thousands of dice. A friendly, motley crew of regulars love the ’Shoe, as they call it, and the joint gets jumping with all sorts of folks venturing in and out of downtown on the weekends. Order a beer and a shot inside along with a pizza from the kitchen, or spend the evening sipping a cocktail on the back patio, the ideal oasis for a smoke and a conversation with a new friend. Hudson Hill 619 East 13th Avenue 303-832-0776 hudsonhilldenver.com This half-coffee, half-cocktail institution some- how manages to be the perfect cozy place on a winter night and an oasis during broiling summer months. No matter the time of year or day, Hudson Hill has something for every visitor. Its rotating specialty cocktails showcase the variety to be found at the bar, which plays music on an actual record player, and its gener- ous happy-hour deals (which are available all day on Sundays) make the spot even sweeter. Irish Rover 54 South Broadway 303-282-4643 theirishroverpub.com While the number of Irish bars in Denver has dwindled over the years, the Rover is still going strong. Open since 2005, it’s the perfect place to catch a Saturday-afternoon buzz, preferably kicked off with a proper pint of Guinness. On cold winter days, the comfy pub offers refuge, while its rooftop patio beckons when the sun is shining. After a drop of the hard stuff and a cold glass of beer here, good conversations are sure to fl ow freely. Kentucky Inn 890 South Pearl Street 303-778-9600 kentuckyinndenver.com The Kentucky Inn, one of the oldest bars in the West Wash Park neighborhood, closed in July 2017 for a remodel and the instal- lation of a new kitchen. Inside, decades of cigarette-smoke stains were scrubbed away, new fl oors and wood paneling were installed, and a billiards room was added at the back. The original Kentucky Inn never had much of a kitchen, but the expansion brought a menu of bar favorites and a few Southern specialties to match the Kentucky theme, including the award-winning KY Cuban. The L 46 Broadway 720-940-8715 theldenver.com Launched by veteran Denver barmen Adam Hodak and Alex Lerman in early 2021 af- ter 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 cock- tail list is smartly succinct — but every single option is a winner, from the mezcal-spiked Old Fashioned to the throwback espresso martini and the brightly hued, rum-based Whirly Dirly. Lakeview Lounge 2375 Sheridan Boulevard, Edgewater 303-238-2149 While the patio outside the Lakeview Lounge has prime views of Sloan’s Lake, Sheridan Boulevard and the Denver skyline, those who love authentic dives will be more captivated by the view inside. The Lakeview is a weath- ered, classic saloon that time forgot. Clearly a drinker’s haven in an increasingly upscale area, the dimly lit lounge serves mystery shots in brown paper bags and very stiff, cheap drinks. Regulars throw quips, dice and dollar bills at each other, taking a break to plug the ex- cellent jukebox. For those wanting booze for breakfast, the bar opens at 7 a.m. Lakewood Grill 8100 West Colfax Avenue, Lakewood 303-237-8051 lakewoodgrill.online The Lakewood Grill has been around even longer than the city of Lakewood itself. The bar was built in 1950 and poured its fi rst drinks (offi cially) in 1951, back when this stretch of West Colfax was just unincorporated Jefferson County. Lakewood became a city in 1969, and the Grill was there for that, too. Over the years, the bar has been through plenty, including a period when the rooms upstairs were used by ladies of the night. There have been various owners over the decades, but the Lakewood Grill has remained a consistent hangout, welcoming neighbors and passersby alike. The Lazy Greyhound 2570 Main Street, Littleton thelazygreyhound.com This bar opened in 2021, but you’ll think it’s been there for decades. Leather-bound books and scents of rich wood fi ll Kristin and Jason Ungate’s upscale cocktail bar and lounge, which Drink Here continued from page 12 continued on page 16 This Colfax classic is a go-to for cheap drinks and live entertainment. At the Marigold, you can grab a cocktail and a new houseplant. KRISTIN PAZULSKI MOLLY MARTIN
