12 NOVEMBER 24-30, 2022 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | kitsch has never waned. Paying homage to the thatch-roofed hooch huts of yore, it spe- cializes in modern and classic tiki cocktails as well as Prohibition-era tropical drinks and tasty tropical tidbits. B&GC 249 Columbine Street 720-925-8598 bandgcdenver.com This speakeasy fl ies under the radar, but there’s no hiding the sexy of B&GC. Half the fun is pretending to be not quite sure where you’re going as you initiate newcomers to the dim and swanky cocktail temple in the basement of the Halcyon hotel in Cherry Creek. Go for a Sazerac, choose from a long list of craft spirits, or have your mixologist create something just for you. There’s also a small menu of snacks, but be sure to wash your hands before digging in — if only to check out the restroom’s risqué wallpaper. Bannock Street Garage 1015 Bannock Street 720-216-0596 bannockstreetgarage.com In 2004, this former Volkswagen shop was refi tted as a bar with a massive garage door at the front, cement fl oors and a large, open patio. Since then, its divey vibes have made it a neighborhood favorite where crowds gather for First Friday. Whether you shoot a game of pool or play darts, or just settle in at the bar or a heated table out back for a bucket of Montuckys, this is the kind of low-key standby where you’ll quickly become a regular. Bar 404 404 Broadway 720-379-3141 bar404broadway.com The opening of Bar 404 in December 2021 is just the latest chapter in this spot’s long history. Built in 1929, it became a bar the day after Pro- hibition ended in 1933. In 1951, it was purchased by Jerry Feld, who ran the place for sixty years as Club 404. The building was briefl y Denver Wheel Club 404, a bicycle-themed bar, then Brendan’s Pub, then Rory’s Tavern until CO- VID hit. Now it’s back to its neighborhood watering-hole roots, with the restored classic sign beckoning thirsty patrons on Broadway. Bar Nun 1225 Logan Street 720-532-0757 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 friendly 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 addition to the neighborhood. Barry’s on Broadway 58 Broadway 303-722-8489 Housed in the space occupied by the original Skylark Lounge, Barry’s has been a divey escape on Broadway for nearly two decades, often with its namesake owner, Barry Za- dikoff, manning the door. Head to the back to play a game of Skee-Ball or pool, pop into the photo booth for some keepsakes, or belly up to the bar for strong, cheap drinks and bartender banter late into the night. Beacon 2854 Larimer Street be.thebeacon.co In early 2022, Robert Champion and Mario Nocifera debuted a dance bar/immersive venue inspired by Tulum and Burning Man in the heart of RiNo. The space includes several hubs created by a core crew of a dozen local artists, including a beehive-themed geodesic dome, a garden-like outdoor space and a bar enveloped in vines and forestry. Order a ne- groni based on how you’re feeling. Inspired? Go with vodka. Fresh? Gin. Burnt out? Mezcal to the rescue. Then settle in for a transportive night of music, art and human connection. Blake Street Tavern 2301 Blake Street 303-675-0505 blakestreettavern.com Just two blocks from Coors Field, Blake Street Tavern epitomizes the sports-bar model. Head here for a meetup before a Rockies game, a marathon televised sports session or just a night of drinks over billiards, shuffl eboard, Skee-Ball or Golden Tee. With tons of specials every day, this place is a bar- gain for afternoon or late-night revelry, and the food is far better than your standard tav- ern fare. However you plan your visit, mark a night at Blake Street in the win column. Brewery Bar II 150 Kalamath Street 303-893-0971 brewerybars.com Long before there were craft brewpubs in every neighborhood — during the Eisen- hower administration, in fact — the original Brewery Bar opened in the old Tivoli brew- ery. It moved to its Kalamath location while Nixon was still in offi ce (hence the II in the name). Today, if you’ve got a hankering for honest Den-Mex cuisine, you’ll be right at home among the road crews, maudlin-drunk insurance salesmen and local armchair quar- terbacks who frequent Brew II, drinking Tinys and ordering some of the fi nest crispy chiles rellenos in town. The British Bulldog 2052 Stout Street 303-295-7974 britishbulldogdenver.com The Bulldog’s dark and shadowy space ac- tually looks and feels like an Old English pub — not a nightclub or a cocktail lounge or a fern bar or even the Punch Bowl, which once occupied this spot. It’s a double-barreled shotgun of a room with the long oak bar on one side and rickety, high-backed wooden booths on the other that are devilishly uncomfortable until you get a couple of drinks in you. Out front, there’s a covered patio just big enough for six smokers to stand without bumping elbows. From the kitchen come a variety of simple pub dishes, livened up here and there with hints of Indian and Pakistani cuisine. The Brutal Poodle 1967 South Broadway 720-379-6281 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” Yoshikawa, members of Denver band Son Survivor. 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. Loaded tots, great green chile and outrageous metal-inspired specials keep bellies full, the better to soak up rounds of unpretentious drinks and Colorado beers. This poodle’s bite is as good as its bark. Bull & Bush 4700 East Cherry Creek South Drive, Glendale 303-759-0333 bullandbush.com Compared to its centuries-old brethren in the United Kingdom, the Bull & Bush Brewery is just a baby, but here in the New World, fi fty- plus years is a long time to stay in business. Step inside this dark and cozy English-style pub, though, and you’ll understand its stay- ing power. Now run by its second-generation owners, “the pub you’ve been practicing for” (as its motto goes) serves a long menu of England-meets-Colorado comfort food, like bison burgers, bangers and mash, and green chile, as well as both innovative and traditional house-brewed beers. There’s also a Scotch list to warm the cockles of your heart. Campus Lounge 701 South University Boulevard 720-379-5671 campusdenver.com Bonnie Brae is a neighborhood that’s seen a lot of changes lately, with the loss of Bon- nie Brae Tavern and the Saucy Noodle, but the Campus Lounge remains — even after a number of ownership changes. It was founded by the late Jim Wiste (a retired pro hockey player and DU Pioneer alum) fi ve decades ago, and hockey fans still gather here on game days, drinking beer and enjoying classic bar fare done right, from the smoked wings to the newly reinstated salad bar. Candlelight Tavern 383 South Pearl Street 303-778-9530 candlelighttavern.com The Candlelight Tavern is a friendly neigh- borhood bar, beloved 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, as well as solid service. The warm glow of the Candlelight’s vintage sign still illuminates the way to one of Denver’s oldest and best bars. Carioca Cafe (Bar Bar) 2060 Champa Street 303-296-1250 We’ve lost many of this city’s celebrated sa- loons over the past few years, which makes the survival of Carioca Cafe — better known as Bar Bar, thanks to the triangular neon sign outside — something to celebrate. Perhaps with a drink or ten. For more than a cen- tury, this spot has held down the corner of Champa and 20th streets, serving an assort- ment of regulars, including artists, hipsters, transients and rockers. The drinks are stiff, the bathrooms awful and the atmosphere beyond compare. Leave your credit cards at home: This place is strictly cash and carry on. Casey Jones 24 Broadway 303-862-6805 instagram.com/caseyjonesdenver It’s the bar you didn’t know you wanted — but now that it’s here, you’ll love it. Casey Jones, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles- themed bar serving New York-style pizza, opened along Broadway in May 2022. The bar top is plastered with pages from the comics, TMNT pinball machines are up against the wall, and there’s a large mural depicting characters from the series, includ- ing a particularly buxom April O’Neil and the bar’s namesake, hockey-mask-wearing vigilante Casey Jones. While the bar and its concise drinks menu approach divey, the pizza is no afterthought, with hand-tossed dough and a strict ban on pineapples and ranch dressing. Drink Here continued from page 11 You can drink in a boat at the Dive Inn. EVAN SEMÓN continued on page 14
