12 DECEMBER 11-17, 2025 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | pours for 16-ounce prices. The fare is simple but tasty, with budget specials such as ten wings for $10 every Thursday and buy-one- get-one-half-off burgers (among the best in town) on Tuesdays. With karaoke, bingo, trivia and chatty regulars of all stripes, you’ll never be bored when you storm the Castle. Charlie Brown’s Piano Bar & Grill Capitol Hill 980 Grant Street charliebrownsbarandgrill.com Colorful characters from Denver’s past are rumored to have bellied up to the bar at Charlie Brown’s, which has been open since Prohibition ended. A sprawling spot with nightly piano sing-alongs, it lives up to its slogan: “Something for everyone.” Couples, friends, tourists, young professionals, senior citizens, college kids and even celebrities en- joy the stiff drinks, huge food menu, enclosed patio and free drinks for revelers celebrating their birthdays. Cruise Room Union Station 1600 17th Street theoxfordhotel.com/eat-drink/ the-cruise-room As Prohibition ended, this bar inside the Oxford Hotel was designed to look like the lounge on the Queen Mary (hence the name), then got a quick remodel a decade later when the frieze with Hitler’s face — one of a dozen international toasts circling the walls — was deemed politically incorrect. In the 1960s, it was the headquarters for a group of carous- ers known as the Evil Companions; in the ’90s, it was discovered by hipsters. Today, you’ll fi nd all kinds of passengers hopping aboard barstools to bask in the red light and down classic cocktails like martinis and Manhattans. Don’s Club Tavern Speer 723 East Sixth Avenue donsclubtavern.com Also known as Don’s Mixed Drinks (be- cause of the wording on the old-school neon sign outside), this dive that’s nearing eighty years old has some serious staying power. Purchased by local bar conglomerate Little Pub Company in 2006, Don’s has retained a welcoming “old man’s basement” atmo- sphere. The secluded smoking patio and Skee-Ball machine are highlights, as is the vending machine dispensing fun packs of goodies such as condoms, burritos, cigarettes and candy. The bar caters to old-timers dur- ing the day and is a packed hangout for the younger set at night. Lakeview Lounge Edgewater 2375 Sheridan Boulevard While the patio outside the Lakeview Lounge has a prime view 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. Lions Lair Lounge Capitol Hill 2022 East Colfax Avenue lionslairco.com This address has long housed an inde- pendent venue — the Aladdin Tavern in the ’30s, then the Playboy Lounge until Hugh Hefner paid its then-owner $5,000 to change the name. In 1967, the club was purchased by John Lyons, who transformed it into the Lion’s Lair, and its current owners are keep- ing the bar’s legacy alive. Despite struggles during the BRT construction project, the Lair is still one of the best places in town to sip cheap drinks and see live music. This is a living piece of Colfax history that we hope never changes. My Brother’s Bar Highland 2376 15th Street mybrothersbar.com Yes, My Brother’s Bar has a fascinating history: The build- ing has housed a bar since the 1870s; Beat inspiration 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 neigh- borhood joint for the whole city. But the most interesting chapter is the current one: After four decades, a longtime em- ployee and her family bought the place from owner Jim Karagas in 2017, vowing to keep My Brother’s Bar going. And the Newmans have, without sacrifi cing any of that historic charm — or changing the con- diment caddies that accompany the beloved parchment-wrapped burgers. Pete’s Satire Lounge Capitol Hill 1920 East Colfax Avenue petesrestaurants.com Pete Contos, the late Greek restaurant magnate, purchased the Satire over sixty years ago. From its classic neon sign to its legendary history (Bob Dylan and the Smothers Brothers both performed here), this spot is old Denver through and through, even following a recent update and remodel headed up by Contos’s grandson Alex Barakos that includes a game room and revamped patio, from which you can watch the action on Colfax. The Satire is a straight-ahead saloon that doesn’t put on airs or follow trends, and the off-kilter assort- ment of characters who work and drink here wouldn’t have it any other way. PS Lounge Congress Park 3416 East Colfax Avenue The PS Lounge is a throwback like no other. The cash-only bar still looks and feels straight out of the ’80s, which is when it opened. Owner Pete Siahamis calls it a “girls’ bar” and makes sure every woman who crosses the threshold gets a single rose and a syrupy-sweet Alabama Slammer shot. Stop in to pre-game before a show at the Bluebird, or to shoot a game of pool, or to play all your favorites from the old-school jukebox, and if you have one too many shots, you can even things out with a pie from Enzo’s on Colfax, which replaced the former long-running Enzo’s in the connected space next door in March 2025. The Thin Man City Park 2015 East 17th Avenue The Thin Man emanates a strong gravi- tational pull from its location on a darkened string of blocks between Colfax, Uptown and City Park, drawing in drinkers from near and far. Owner Eric Alstad, who is Greek Ortho- dox, got his priest’s blessing before opening the joint in 2001, covering the walls of the narrow space with Christian icons. These days, the patrons are as eclectic as the de- cor — and just as entertaining. Praise Jesus! DENVER COCKTAIL BAR HOT SPOTS The bars that are mixing up the best boozy concoctions. The Block Distilling Co. RiNo 2990 Larimer Street theblockdistillingco.com It shouldn’t be a surprise that some of the best places to get a high-quality cocktail are distilleries. Spots like the Block know their spirits inside and out, after all, but this one truly steps things up by consistently serving some of the most creative libations in the city, often made with unexpected ingredients and special touches, like its current seasonal spin on a Greyhound made with Hatch green chile and smoked cactus-infused vodka. The Electric Cure Edgewater 5350 West 25th Avenue theelectriccure.com Lexi Healy and Veronica Ramos know how to create a memorable tiki bar expe- rience, from the horror theme of Honor Farm to the gay pirate ship theme of their upstairs hideaway Hell or High Water. But it’s their original spot that’s kept us coming back most frequently. Over four years, the Electric Cure has become dependable for being completely surprising. You never quite know what you’re going to fi nd go- ing on in this funky bar that’s not afraid to embrace being all-out weird — although at least one fl aming cocktail is typically a solid bet. The Family Jones Spirit House Highland 3245 Osage Street thefamilyjones.co/thespirithouse With luxurious blue velvet seating and a shiny copper still overhead, this is the most stylish distillery tasting room around, espe- cially after a recent refresh of the space and the cocktail menu. The fi nely crafted bottled spirits from the Family Jones are a treat on their own, but they truly shine when you’re sipping them in concoctions created by the mad geniuses behind the bar. Pretty Neat Baker 114 South Broadway prettyneatbar.com Xanthus Be Dell and his wife, Cristy, moved to Denver in May 2021 after years of running large-scale beverage programs for music festivals and other events while based in Los An- geles. With Pretty Neat, which debuted in November 2023, the goal was to offer well-made, classic cocktails for a reason- able price (most these days are around $13). The formula has been a hit on South Broadway, where the place has become a staple for regulars who just want to enjoy a good drink for a good price — and that’s pretty neat. Run for the Roses Union Station 1801 Blake Street rftrbar.com This subterranean, gambling-themed Dairy Block cocktail lounge has become a destination for drink afi cionados. Comb through the clever deck-of-cards menu and you’ll fi nd special reserve cocktails made with vintage liqueurs and spirits — a passion of owner Steven Waters. He often imports these hard-to-fi nd bottles, having fi rst veri- fi ed their authenticity from halfway around the globe. The result is an impressive collec- tion that makes it well worth fi nding your way inside (the bar’s not a speakeasy, it’s just hard to locate) using the elevator inside Free Market. The Stockroom Arvada 5713 Olde Wadsworth Boulevard thestockroomparty.com In the back of Spirits Wine Provisions is a door to an old stockroom. While the sign may say it’s for staff only, those who enter will be rewarded not with a job, but with access to a ritzy speakeasy with a list of classic cocktails as well as twists on the standards. Not sure what you’d like? Chat up the bartender and get a personalized recommendation. Traveling Mercies Aurora 2501 Dallas Street travelingmerciesbar.com Chef and restaurant owner Caroline Glover opened her second concept in De- Cafe continued from page 11 Mezcaleria Alma’s agave spirits collection is impressive. SHAWN CAMPBELL
