13 DECEMBER 11-17, 2025 westword.com WESTWORD | CONTENTS | LETTERS | NEWS | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | CAFE | MUSIC | cember 2023, just steps from her fi rst res- taurant, Annette. This cozy upstairs lounge that’s hidden from the crowds at Stanley Marketplace is one of the best places to catch a sunset. The menu is concise — just a hand- ful of thoughtful items with a special focus on creative rum-based libations, carefully curated wines and coastal bites like shrimp cocktail, anchovies and East Coast oysters. Union Lodge No. 1 Central Business District 1543 Champa Street unionlodge1.com Located just off 16th Street in the heart of downtown, walking into Union Lodge No. 1 is like entering another era, where fi nely crafted cocktails star amid the classy digs with a rustic, old-school Americana edge. Owners Lenka Juchelkova and her husband, Mike Huggins, also brought the city Arvada Tavern and the Tatarian, both of which are worth a visit, too. But in a com- plicated world, we’re loving the throwback simplicity of Union Lodge’s hospitality and pre-Prohibition era libations. Williams & Graham Highland 3160 Tejon Street williamsandgraham.com Sean Kenyon’s LoHi speakeasy, which opened in 2011, is the OG of Denver’s cocktail scene and remains at the top of the game today. To enter the bar, you go through a book- case, which you can only access when there’s a seat for you and your party inside; that means no crowding or people trying to encroach on your space or table. And you’ll want room to enjoy your cocktails, expertly made to your taste from the large menu — or you can ask the bartender to make a custom drink. Then pair it with bites like one of the best burgers around, deviled eggs and raw oysters. Yacht Club Cole 3701 Williams Street yachtclubbar.com While Rougarou is their latest hit, Mary Allison Wright and McLain Hedges aren’t slacking at their OG Denver spot, which was located inside the Source before moving next door to Brasserie Brixton in late 2021. Yacht Club effortlessly mixes high and low with a killer natural wine list and cocktails alongside a menu of hot dogs, all paired with a vibe that’s still cool enough for a fi rst date. In 2024, their efforts were rewarded when Yacht Club was named the Best U.S. Cocktail Bar at the Spirited Awards during Tales of the Cocktail — news that came as no surprise to anyone who has stepped inside. NEIGHBORHOOD BAR FAVORITES IN DENVER The comforting go-tos that always deliver a good time. Aspen Lodge Bar & Grill Westminster 8125 West 94th Avenue What do lava lamps, Christmas trees and Iron Maiden have in common? Mesut Cetin, the amiable owner and chef of Aspen Lodge, loves them all, which is why his Westminster joint is packed with an impressive collection of retro lights, year-round holiday decor and odes to metal. His other passion: sharing food from his native Turkey, which he serves alongside typical bar fare and “the best Philly cheesesteak in 666 miles radius,” as the sign out front proclaims. Bedlam LoDo 1516 Wazee Street bedlampub.com Longtime industry pro Jacob Berndt de- buted his fi rst solo venture in May 2024 inside the long, narrow downtown space that was home to Deep Roots Winery & Bistro before sitting empty for four years. With the help of his siblings, Berndt transformed the space with art and knick-knacks that give it the vibe of a well-worn neighborhood watering hole. A small food menu of upscale bar bites pairs perfectly with Bedlam’s decidedly not-crazy mix of high-end spirits, simple yet satisfying cocktails and low-bar, budget-friendly options. The Crypt City Park 1618 East 17th Avenue thecryptdenver.com Metal, mostly meat-free food (along with a damn good meaty burger) and a rever- ence for death are all on full display at this spot founded by longtime Tooey’s employee Priscilla Jerez and business partners Chris Maynard and Dale Canino in 2022. A desti- nation for live music and late- night revelry, it has a smoking patio out front that’s often fi lled with people trading stories (and lighters) under the moonlight. Inside, you’re highly likely to run into at least a few old friends while grab- bing a cocktail from one of two bars. Embassy Tavern RiNo 3463 Larimer Street This bar on a prime corner spot in RiNo is in a building that started life a century ago as a drugstore, then housed various incarna- tions 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 increasingly trendy neighborhood outside, complete with pinball machines, a spacious, smoker-friendly back patio and a giant moose head overseeing the action at the bar. Fort Greene Globeville 321 East 45th Avenue fortgreenebar.com Tucked away in a space that looks to- tally unassuming from the outside, this bar is a cool and quirky secret escape fi lled with plants and mismatched furniture. Before Fort Greene debuted in 2015, the address was home to divey favorite Crash 45, and before that the White Owl, and before that the Portulaca Cafe, a Slavic speakeasy. This incarnation has a well- worn charm that’s made it a go-to spot for artists, musicians and other members of Denver’s creative class. Li’l Devil’s Lounge Baker 255 South Broadway lildevilsdenver.com For thirteen years, this li’l spot has been a gay-borhood bar with a hidden-in-plain- sight patio oasis on South Broadway. It even has its own parking lot (a rarity in this area), which leads directly into the outdoor party that typically ramps up every evening. From simple mixed drinks to creative cocktails and a damn fi ne martini, the bartenders here can do it all, and the friendly vibes beckon patrons to stay for just one more round... okay, make it two. Lincolns Union Station 1801 Wynkoop Street instagram.com/lincolnsdenver You’ll have to work to fi nd the entrance to Lincolns, but that’s half the fun. The space, outfi tted with plenty of comfy seating, opened…somewhere inside the Ice House building near Union Station in August 2024. Owner Mark Ohlson was over overpriced cocktails, and set out to create a different kind of bar experience. He debuted the fi rst Lincolns in Portland, Maine, then added a second in Burlington, Vermont, before bringing the concept — a hidden, cash-only bar where all the simple mixed drinks, beer and wine are $5 — to the Mile High, and we’re happy to be privy to the secret. Lincoln’s Roadhouse Platt Park 1201 South Pearl Street lincolnsroadhouse.com Unlike the new, hidden Lincolns, this rowdy bar has been rocking loudly for over a quarter century. It draws crowds on Friday and Saturday nights, when live blues fi lls the space, but it’s a hit anytime, thanks to its no- frills, all-fun New Orleans-inspired attitude. We love to sip Hurricanes at the bar, and the kitchen is no slacker, either, dishing up some mighty fi ne Cajun fare, including po’boys, gumbo and crawfi sh etouffee. My Boy Tony Berkeley 4280 Tennyson Street myboytony.com There have been a lot of changes on Ten- nyson Street in recent years, including the clo- sure of BookBar after a decade. That’s when Eli Cox, owner of Berkeley Supply, stepped in to make sure the space continued to be a com- munity gathering place. In November 2023, he opened My Boy Tony, a warm, welcoming and beautifully designed bar and patio where friends and neighbors greet each other with smiles over cocktails, mocktails, craft beers and an impressive natural wine list. Pony Up LoDo 1808 Blake Street ponyupdenver.com Pony Up’s incredible staff and surprising cocktails make it well worth a trip to LoDo. The neon signs, French bulldog art and refer- ences to The Outsiders only add to the ambi- ence at this bar, which is particularly popular with those in the hospitality industry, thanks to a late-night food menu that includes stellar French dips. The Get Crazy & Pony Up shot showcases everything great about this spot, with George Dickel Tennessee Whisky and an au jus chaser that somehow work perfectly together. We’ll never stop saddling up. RiNo Country Club RiNo 3763 Wynkoop Street instagram.com/rino.country- club There are a few reasons that this bar has become one of our favorite spots to pre-game for shows at Mission Ballroom since it opened in 2022. First, it has some solid drink specials, making it way more affordable than or- dering booze at the music venue. It’s also home to a nine-hole mini golf course, and lifetime mem- berships are available for just $10. Plus, you can grub at Dalton’s, the walk-up window that slings one of the best burgers in town, along with Eagles game-day specials during football season that include a cheesesteak, roast pork hoagie with broccoli rabe and crab fries. River RiNo 3759 Chestnut Place riverbar.art This building was once a true dive, the Welcome Inn; River took over in 2021. Four years into its run, River has found its fl ow as a spot that makes you feel like you’re hanging in the basement of the cool artsy kid from high school, complete with a back “patio” that’s re- ally just a mish-mash of old furniture. Check it out during Power Hour, from 6 to 7 p.m.,when you can score Bud, Bud Light, pickle shots and lemon drops for just a buck each. The bar also regularly hosts events like Tuesday open mic sessions and Dub Wub Saturdays. The Scapegoat Sunnyside 3801 Osage Street instagram.com/scapegoatdenver A solid neighborhood bar needs a few ingredients to become truly great, though they are hard to pin down. There’s the natural camaraderie that forms between patrons and staff alike, the kind of atmosphere that lends itself to sudden sing-alongs with whatever is playing on the sound system, and hey, a game of Buck Hunter Traveling Mercies is a glowing escape inside Stanley Marketplace. @DANRICHARD.CO continued on page 14
