18 NOVEMBER 24-30, 2022 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | LETTERS | CONTENTS | 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 on the weekends. Its rotating cast of regulars gives it 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. These days, you can pair your drink with a sandwich from Open, the concept that operates out of the kitchen. Hell or High Water 1526 Blake Street hellorhighwatertiki.com The team behind the Electric Cure debuted this more tiki-centric hideaway on the mez- zanine level of Honor Farm, the haunted bar they’re running on the main level of this his- toric building with a history of ghost stories. The theme of the small but mighty addition to Denver’s bar scene: a haunted gay pirate ship. Expect even more penis totems than at the crew’s original spot, 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. High Lonesome 3360 Navajo Street 720-287-4324 thehighlonesomebar.com The High Lonesome is no dive bar like its predecessor, the Arabian Bar. The bottle shelves are too precise and tidy, the cli- entele too young and attractive. But the place is still dark, comfortable and inviting, with few windows to let in annoying things like sunlight or a summer breeze. Denver has its share of patio drinkers in their tank tops and fl ip-fl ops, but you won’t fi nd them here. The High Lonesome is built for folks without a care for the outside world while they’re hunkered down over rare bourbons or local beers. Historians Ale House 24 Broadway 720-479-8505 historiansalehouse.com The long bar at Historians Ale House is reminiscent of something you would fi nd in Boston or Chicago, with its never-ending line of taps surrounded by warm brick walls and sky-high ceilings. Head upstairs to the roof- top patio for some of the best views in the city, and dig into daily specials, brunch cocktails on weekends and one of the best weekday lunch deals in town: a cheeseburger, fries, and beer, well drink or soda for $7.95. Horseshoe Lounge 414 East 20th Avenue 303-832-1180 thehorseshoelounge.com 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. The friendly, motley crew of regulars love the ’Shoe, as they call it, and the joint gets jump- ing 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. Inga’s Alpine Tavern 5151 Leetsdale Drive 720-389-6203 ingasalpinetavern.net This spot in the former Pete’s Patio Bar is a kitschy mix of rustic simplicity and retro elegance with solid bar fare and live music. Inga’s was inspired by a Swedish ski cabin, and the battle-scarred hardwood fl oors look as though they’ve been deliberately dented by the stomp of ski boots. Mean- while, tufted, swiveling, brass-studded bar stools are proper perches for imbib- ing, a dated jukebox blasts tunes that span generations (think Tom Jones to Vampire Weekend), and the back patio is the perfect après-anything escape. Ironton Distillery & Crafthouse 3636 Chestnut Place 720-532-0937 irontondistillery.com The spirits at this RiNo distillery are brought to life in custom-made stills and include genièvre, rye aquavit, rum, absinthe, whis- key and even a gin made with ponderosa pine needles sourced from a tree growing on the tasting room’s 10,000-square-foot, dog-friendly patio. Sip on a local beer or an option from a heavy-hitting drink list that stands up to that of any craft-cocktail bar in town; fl ights are available, too. Intrigued? Take a tour of the operation. 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. La Bouche 1100 East 17th Avenue 303-830-3967 labouche.wine The husband-and-wife team of Alexis and Alex Tréton have long had a passion for wine — so much so that the two left their jobs and home country of France in the middle of the pandemic in order to open this wine bar that bridges French and Ameri- can culture. It has an elegant black-and- white color scheme balanced by a casual atmosphere that’s ideal for lingering over a fl ight of vino, and it offers a small menu of classic French fare as well as cheese and meat board options. 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 weathered, classic saloon that time for- got. Clearly a drinker’s haven in an increas- ingly 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 excellent jukebox. For those wanting booze for breakfast, the bar opens at 7 a.m. Larimer Lounge 2721 Larimer Street 303-296-1003 larimerlounge.com The Larimer Lounge does one thing better than anyone else in the area: It brings the rock. Sure, the venue has brought in indie- rock progenitors like Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore and Sebadoh, but it’s also seen acts like Arcade Fire and Bat for Lashes, which have since outgrown the venue. You’ll feel like a member of the band (or at least a roadie) as you crowd the low-slung stage with a beer in hand after shots at the bar up front, which feels held together by nothing more than years of accumulated duct tape and grit. Lincoln’s Roadhouse 1201 South Pearl Street 303-777-3700 lincolnsroadhouse.com The rowdy blues and rock at the Roadhouse fi t the rough-and-ready crowds looking for beer and a band on the weekends, when the smallish joint can get packed. Big booths keep colleagues comfy and close for conver- sation, and the stage is right by the window, so prospective patrons can get an earful be- fore they even venture inside. There’s plenty of Southern fare on the menu, too, like po’ boys, grilled Louisiana hot sausage, gumbo and jambalaya, as well as Lincoln’s famous pot-roast burrito and meatloaf cheeseburger. Lion’s Lair 2022 East Colfax Avenue 303-320-9200 lionslairco.com The low ceilings and even lower bar top at the Lion’s Lair make you feel like you’re knock- ing back beers in someone’s basement. And when the music fi res up, you’ll feel like you’ve stumbled into band practice in that basement, with a guitar neck or mic stand only inches from your head. While Denver’s dive bars continue to disappear, the Lion’s Lair just keeps getting grungier; it’s a living piece of Colfax history that we hope never changes. Meadowlark 2701 Larimer Street 303-293-0251 meadowlarkbar.com Owner Loy Merck opened this charming dive bar fi fteen years ago, and the Mead- owlark has been a popular hangout ever since. To get to the bar, you have to go un- derground, where shots of cheap whiskey can be ordered without judgment. Outside, there’s a patio with a large stage and outdoor bar, perfect for the weekly concerts, DJ sets and live shows that this venue hosts. Grab a slice of pizza from the Redeemer window next door, and enjoy Drink Here continued from page 16 Get weird with the creative cocktails at Retrograde. MOLLY MARTIN continued on page 20
