16 NOVEMBER 24-30, 2022 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | LETTERS | CONTENTS | Don’s Club Tavern 723 East Sixth Avenue 303-831-0218 donsclubtavern.com Also known as Don’s Mixed Drinks (because of the wording 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 oldtimers 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 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, Dougherty’s also has an excellent pub kitchen and a nice din- ing room separated from the bar. El Toro 4957 Colorado Boulevard 303-952-1931 eltoroco.com No bull here, just cheap drinks, friendly regulars and beans and rice — really good beans and rice, courtesy of Ed Garcia, whose family founded the beloved Mexico City Lounge. 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 An ode to all things weird, the Electric Cure — motto: “Drink rum, stay weird” — opened in August 2021 with a powerhouse duo of in- dustry vets, Lexi Healy and Veronica Ramos, behind the project. Along with a selection of both tiki and other libations, expect the un- expected: Alpacas on the patio? Penis-shaped totems? Bartenders wearing shark heads? Yelp reviews accusing the place of Satanism dis- played proudly outside? It’s all fair game here. 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 century ago as a drugstore, then housed various incar- nations 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 action at the bar. Englewood Grand 3435 South Broadway, Englewood 303-568-9948 facebook.com/englewoodgrand Phil and Erika Zierke opened up an instant classic when they invited guests into the Engle- wood Grand in March 2016. As the bar grew in popularity, the bare-bones joint received a few upgrades: a neon sign above the door, some new patio furniture. Community remains a focal point here, so you’ll often stumble into fundraisers or groups of health-care workers from the nearby Swedish Hospital complex. After a little over fi ve years, the Grand has be- come as welcoming and comfortable as Phil’s ubiquitous leather cowboy hat. ESP HiFi 1029 Santa Fe Drive 720-751-8163 esphifi .co Vinyl records line the wall at this spot, where music is a central part of the experience. In- fl uenced by the Japanese kissa/kissaten, ESP has cozy, almost homey vibes and a menu that offers everything from comforting teas and coffee to highballs and a rotating selec- tion of natural wines. This is a quiet escape room that captures cool without veering into the overly pretentious. The Fainting Goat 846 Broadway 303-945-2323 thefaintinggoatdenver.com Yes, there really is such a thing: A myotonic goat is known as a “fainting goat” because its muscles stiffen when it’s surprised, and the animal occasionally falls over. The drinks at this neighborhood joint are stiff enough that a few regulars have been known to keel over, but it’s better known as a great casual hangout in an old building that’s held great casual hang- outs 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 If you’re familiar with the Family Jones lineup of bottled spirits but you haven’t yet made it into the distillery’s bar, you’re in for a real treat. Not only will you fi nd an impressive menu to match cocktails created with your favorite vodka, gin, rum or whiskey, but you’ll taste spirits made just for the bar that aren’t sold anywhere else. It’s like a secret apoth- ecary where mad geniuses work behind the scenes to match the perfect elixir to your tastes. Above your head on the mezzanine, the shiny copper stills bubble and whoosh with something new for your next visit. 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, invit- ing saloon with a nod to history. The Art Deco bar stretches toward a back room where you can play a game of shuffl e- board, while a few comfortable booths in front provide the perfect place to enjoy beer and burgers. Finley’s Pub 375 South Pearl Street 303-282-4790 fi nleysdenver.com Finley’s opened on South Pearl Street in 2012, but it feels as if it’s been in Denver much lon- ger, partly because its neighbor is the much older Candlelight Tavern. It’s a small room with a two-sided bar, which means you’ll feel like you’re part of any conversation that may be happening as you pull up a chair. Beer choices range far beyond typical Irish stout, with a tight selection of craft beers from around the world. You’ll fi nd Irish-fusion bar food, but Finley’s also serves one of the best burgers in town, with shreds of braised short rib mixed in with the ground chuck. Finn’s Manor 2927 Larimer Street fi nnsmanor.co This indoor/outdoor craft-cocktail bar built on the grounds of an old salvage yard has a dedication to quality without the accompa- nying 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 continu- ing 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. Forget Me Not 227 Clayton Street 720-259-5369 forgetmenotdenver.com When Culinary Creative, the restaurant group behind Bar Dough, Ash’kara and Señor Bear, among others, put its power behind a sumptuous Cherry Creek cocktail bar that opened in March 2021, expectations were high. And they’ve only been exceeded. Forget Me Not, with its lively patio, is a stunner in the summer and offers fun, balanced cock- tails year-round that breathe new life into a sometimes stuffy neighborhood. Fort Greene 321 East 45th Avenue fortgreenebar.com In 2015, Fort Greene took over the Globeville space that was previously Crash 45, and be- fore that the White Owl, and before that the Portulaca Cafe, a Slavic speakeasy. This in- carnation was founded by Eleanor Cheetham and Bretton Scott, two former residents of Brooklyn’s Fort Greene neighborhood, and Cheetham has owned it outright for the past fi ve years. Part comfortable living room, part nightclub and part dive bar, Fort Greene has become a go-to spot for artists, musicians and other members of Denver’s creative class. Gennaro’s 2598 South Broadway 303-722-1044 gennaroscafeitaliano.com Gennaro’s is a restaurant, sure: This Italian spot has been slinging red-sauced pasta and pizza for more than sixty years. But it truly shines as a superlative neighborhood bar. As in feng shui or a Radiohead song, everything is in its right place. The 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. Goosetown Tavern 3242 East Colfax Avenue 303-399-9703 goosetowntavern.com Located across from the Bluebird Theater, the Goosetown Tavern draws beer drinkers and music fans from Drink Here continued from page 14 The Englewood Grand is a low-key neighborhood watering hole. EVAN SEMÓN continued on page 18
