20 NOVEMBER 24-30, 2022 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | LETTERS | CONTENTS | a lowbrow night reminiscent of Denver in the early 2000s. Middleman 3401 East Colfax Avenue 303-353-4207 middlemanbar.com Middleman snuck into an inconspicuous spot on East Colfax back in 2018 and started doing what many bars are doing these days: decorating the walls with street art, mixing creative cocktails with clever names and combining a hint of hipster with working- class sensibilities. But Middleman did it without hype or self-promotion, making this an ultimately unpretentious stop. Add the ever-changing and always impressive small plates of Misfi t Snackbar, which took over the food program in late 2019, and you’ve got some of the best bar food in town to go with Middleman’s many shot-and-beer combos. Milwaukee Street Tavern 201 Milwaukee Street 303-320-4710 milwaukeestreettavern.com One of the few sports bars in the heart of Cherry Creek North, the Milwaukee Street Tavern seems a bit out of place among the chic stores and restaurants in the area. Like the nearby Cherry Cricket, the place feels very un-Creek — a good thing if you’re look- ing to get away from the neighborhood’s high-priced spots, have a few drinks and catch a game on one of many fl at-screen TVs, or even play a game or two of mini bowling. The unpretentious tavern also serves a good selection of pub grub, including sandwiches, wings and burgers. Monaghan’s Bar & Grill 3889 South King Street, Sheridan 303-789-7208 facebook.com/Monaghans-Bar-and- Grill-563095003748497 The second-oldest bar in town, Monaghan’s opened in 1892, and its current liquor license dates back to the day after Prohibition ended in 1933. The saloon comes complete with underground tunnels leading to the old Fort Logan military offi cers’ housing, ghosts and committed multi-generational regulars. Rumor has it that Alfred Packer, Colorado’s most famous cannibal, drank at Monaghan’s when he lived nearby. Aside from the history, the bar stands out for opening early (8 a.m. most days), serving delicious green chile and pouring some of the cheapest buy-one-get- one-free happy hour deals around. My Brother’s Bar 2376 15th Street 303-455-9991 mybrothersbar.com Yes, My Brother’s Bar has a fascinating history: The building has held a bar since the 1870s; Neal Cassady hung out here when it was Paul’s Place; and as My Brother’s Bar, it’s survived with no TVs while playing classical music and serving as a neighborhood joint for the whole city. But the most interesting chapter is the current one: After four decades, a longtime employee and her family bought the place from the Karagas family, vowing to keep My Brother’s Bar going. And the Newmans have, without sacrifi cing any of that historic charm — or changing the condiment caddies that accompany the beloved parchment-wrapped burgers. Nob Hill Inn 420 East Colfax Avenue 303-860-7557 facebook.com/The-Nob-Hill-Inn- 205532859604209 The Nob Hill Inn has been a drinker’s para- dise for more than fi fty years; it’s daunting to think of all the people who have spent hours on the stools here. This is the kind of joint where it’s easy to lose track of time... for decades. The square-shaped bar makes for easy people-watching, and with some of Colfax’s fi nest camping out here, it’s usually entertaining as hell. If Bukowski were still alive, this might be his idea of nirvana. Noble Riot 1336 27th Street 303-993-5330 nobleriot.com Noble Riot, which was opened in 2019 by Noc- turne owners Nicole and Scott Mattson along with wine veterans Joel Kampfe and Troy Bowen, is a different kind of wine bar — one that ditches stodgy convention for something a little more intriguing and adventurous. Pop in for a glass of pet nat or elegant rosé, and if you don’t know what to order, the skilled staff will guide you. Plus, you’d be hard-pressed to fi nd another place that offers crispy fried chicken to pair with that glass of sparkling Le Monde Ribolla or light and airy Grüner Veltliner. Occidental 1950 West 32nd Avenue 720-291-0083 occidentalbar.com When owner Sean Kenyon grabbed the address next to Williams & Graham and prepared to install a more casual neighbor- hood bar, he wondered if Occidental would mostly function as a waiting room for its sibling, which sometimes sees waits of three hours. Several years later, he has his answer: This bar has an identity and a following all its own. Occidental’s punk-rock vibe and open seating have made it a neighborhood mainstay, a casual place to get an excellent cocktail or a beer without pretense. Olde Towne Tavern 2410 West Main Street, Littleton 303-794-4329 ottlittleton.com Don’t confuse Arvada’s Olde Town Tavern with downtown Littleton’s pub of the same name. The Littleton spot is a cozy neighbor- hood watering hole with wood paneling, a long bar and high-backed bar stools. It’s a nice little place to get an inexpensive beer or cocktail, but the tavern also serves a good selection of bar food, including big, meaty wings, burgers and sandwiches. It also has plenty of televisions, and a game room in the back with pool tables, Skee-Ball and more. The Owl Saloon 5026 East Colfax Avenue 720-379-5085 theowlsaloon.com An ode to Colorado’s mountain bars, The Owl is packed with treasures, from license plates to the old maps that sit under the bartop glass to the sign from the former Sid King’s strip club. Look up and you’ll see a collection of dollar bills, à la the now-closed Bucksnort Saloon. Settle in for a mystery shot, a cold beer and a lineup of bar grub like loaded tots, sandwiches and pizza. The bar also regularly hosts karaoke and offers day drinking (aka brunch) on weekends. Palenque Cocina y Agaveria 2609 West Main Street, Littleton 720-928-3318 palenquecya.com Mezcal mecca Palenque originally opened in 2018 as a second location of Adelitas but took the Palenque name after former co-owners Silvia Andaya (who still runs the original on Broadway) and Brian Rossi cut ties in 2020. Two years into its new iteration, there’s no better place south of the city to learn about — and sip plenty of — a well-curated selection of agave spirits and cocktails paired with eats like tacos, ceviche, mole, enchiladas and more. Bonus: the rooftop patio. Pete’s Satire Lounge 1920 East Colfax Avenue 303-322-2227 petesrestaurants.com/satire-lounge No list of essential Mile High haunts would be complete without a location founded by Pete Contos, the late Greek restaurant magnate. He purchased the Satire sixty years ago, and from its classic neon sign on Colfax to its legendary history (Bob Dylan and the Smothers Brothers both performed here), the Satire Lounge is old Denver through and through, even following a recent update and remodel headed up by Contos’s grandson Alex Barakos. The Satire is a straight-ahead saloon that doesn’t put on airs or follow trends, and the off-kilter assortment of char- acters who work and drink here wouldn’t have it any other way. The Pioneer 2401 South University Boulevard 720-536-4802 thepioneerbar.com University of Denver sports teams are dubbed the Pioneers, and we think any frontiersman (or -woman) would appreciate the hearty fare found at the Pioneer, a DU watering hole. The fare is bar food, but it’s quality bar food, including top-notch green chile and some of the town’s best nachos, with every chip loaded individually. And if you don’t feel like order- ing off the extensive beer menu, wash down your meal with one of the signature margs. Piper Inn 2251 South Parker Road 303-755-0771 piperinn.com The Piper Inn looks like a biker bar — and it is. But it’s also an everyone-else bar. You can fi nd your mom, your co-worker and dudes who ride Harleys all enjoying cold brews and house specialties like Chinese- style wings, burgers and carne asada fries. The bar, which opened in 1968, was named for the Piper airplanes that used to land on a dirt airstrip when this part of town was still the country; people even rode horses to the bar. Today it still offers up free birthday drinks, televised sports, an affordable happy hour and delicious bar food, much of it straight from the pages of a classic Chinese takeout menu. Pony Up 1808 Blake Street 720-710-8144 ponyupdenver.com Reasons to love this LoDo bar: late-night kitchen hours, ponies, French bulldogs, French dip sandwiches and sly references to The Outsiders. But even without the pop culture and pups (including an imposing portrait of owner Angela Neri’s dog done up as French royalty), Drink Here continued from page 18 Catch a game at Campus Lounge. MOLLY MARTIN continued on page 22
