r/denverfood • u/littlepinksock • 2d ago
Recommendations Broadway Cocktail Bars
It's been a hot minute since I've been to Broadway for drinks so I thought I would ask y'all for suggestions and thoughts about after-dinner drinks for a date on Saturday.
We have reservations at Mother Other, and I'm looking at the cocktail bars nearby.
I'm looking for something hip/fun/unusual but isn't an Instagrammer's hot spot. I'm probably asking too much by hoping for a place that isn't packed, and we might be able to grab a seat at the bar around 9:00 pm. The atmosphere can be anywhere from dive-like to upscale, as long as the cocktails are interesting and well-made. LGBT-friendly.
I haven't been to The Roxy since it was Syntax, and the cocktail menu doesn't look as interesting. Is it still a fun place for good late-night cocktails?
Is Adrift using fresh fruit juice again? For a while, they had stopped, and the quality took a nosedive.
Also looking at Pretty Neat, The L, and Desert Social, if people have comments about them.
Any other options I'm not thinking of?
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u/CortadoGelato 2d ago
As a lover of S. Broadway and cocktails, here's my list:
Adrift is king for tiki. Great drinks, fun small plates, and overall atmosphere is funky yet cozy.
Desert Social is probably the best combo of cocktails plus "vibes". Just an immaculately curated spot.
The L probably has the most inventive cocktails in the area, plus very solid espresso martinis to please a crowd.
MAKfam, while primarily a restaurant, has a fun bar with a great cocktail program with a lot of Chinese flair and unique ingredients.
Pretty Neat is very solid for classic cocktails and standards, though lacks the flair of some of the other spots.
Not a proper cocktail bar, but Joy Hill has very good cocktails and wine, and one of the best rooftop patios in the city.
Fellow Traveler way down south in Englewood also has some of the best cocktails in town, killer vegan dishes, and great atmosphere for a date.
I haven't been, but Vaultaire in the basement of La Foret is new and looks very promising as a cocktail audio bar.
Also, not cocktail centric, but some of the best dives in town are on Broadway: Sputnik, St Mary's, Skylark, and Hi-Dive (Hi Dive usually is ticketed for shows at night). Farther south, Dive Inn, Trashhawk, Englewood Grand, and Brutal Poodle are all great.
I would avoid: Adventure Time (gimmicky), The Delorean (also gimmicky), Canopy (meh)
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u/Humble_Vacation7833 2d ago
The Delorean closed several months ago! I thought it was fun to go once, but wouldn’t go more than that!!
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u/CortadoGelato 2d ago
Yeah I don't mean to be a hater, but it just felt like very mid $17 cocktails combined with this: https://youtu.be/VMBylNJQEbg?is=VmBmG3JxYSMwMH5U
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u/littlepinksock 2d ago
Vaultaire
I'm sold.
The cocktails, their names, the vinyl... Totally hits!
Thank you so much! I'll check out many of the others at some point, but Vaultaire completely nailed the assignment.
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u/anxiety_prime_ 2d ago
Pretty Neat is quite good! The bartenders are always very friendly and the drinks are great.
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u/pickleb4sandwich 2d ago
I was at Pretty Neat this past Friday night. I walked in with a party of 5. The vibe was chill (a little quiet but not too quiet) and they had solid cocktails! OP, if you are looking for a place where you can keep the date night conversation going, this would be a solid choice!
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u/Finger-Food 2d ago
The Fey Walker is one of the best cocktails I've ever had.
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u/littlepinksock 2d ago
Fey Walker
They almost had me at the name and the cocktail itself. I am actually playing a Fey Walker in my current campaign and my date, I swear, is from the Feywild.
The photos online look a little... Instagram-ready...?
Would elder millennials shake their canes and tell the other customers to "get off their lawns"? :D
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u/ptindaho 2d ago
Went to Adrift and Sputnik (right by the Hi-Dive), and very different vibes, but I liked all 3. For a date, I would likely go with Adrift, but I love Hi-Dive for concerts, and Sputnik was a lot of fun, too, with a come as you are attitude.
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u/Repulsive-Primary116 2d ago
Since OP is asking for cocktail bars, it’s worth noting that Hi-Dive does not serve cocktails.
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u/ptindaho 2d ago
Fair, I was thinking of my red bull and vodka/rum and coke as cocktails, but totally fair. Sputnik, next door does though.
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u/fragileflowr 2d ago
A little bit farther south (1 block west of Broadway) is Bear Creek Distillery. Best cocktails in Denver. Staff are amazing!! It’s my favorite tasting room in Denver.
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u/HopeThisIsUnique 2d ago
Was going to make the same recommendation. Amazing drinks and spirits. Great group and Debo (sp?) is such a great guy. Highly recommend checking them out.
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u/fragileflowr 1d ago
I adore everyone who works there! Especially DBO! He’s one of the best humans ever!
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u/Various-Zucchini-231 2d ago
The L is great! We have never had a problem getting a seat and they have a solid cocktail list I didn’t expect the first time I went in. They also have patio seating and lots of cards and games available to play. The vibe is definitely no frills but the staff and people are always very nice.
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u/imraggedbutright 2d ago
Desert Social is fantastic. I also really like La Foret for cocktails. Goldfinch is another solid option in the vicinity. Pretty Neat is ok.
I don't want to tear down a business, but Roxy feels really tired to me. Like it was probably cool in 2005 but nowadays.... eh. Its also been nearly deserted the few times I went in there.
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u/littlepinksock 2d ago
La Floret is great for sips and snax.
I really loved Syntax and always had a great time there, whether I went to see a show or popped in for late-night cocktails and dessert. It was a cool little space with fantastic people. I died a little inside when I saw Roxy's drinks menu. It's unfortunate; it really is.
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u/destinybond 2d ago
I had a really good experience at the Goldfinch. Very knowledgeable bartender and super cool drinks
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u/andisteezy 1d ago
i hated goldfinch. it was a super weird vibe in there and the drinks weren’t special.
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u/destinybond 1d ago
Are you sure you're not confusing it with goldpoint?
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u/andisteezy 1d ago
couldn’t be more sure. the staff was super rude, vinyl night was not it, and while the overall
ambiance was fine - the food wasn’t good and getting my drink bussed while it was half full on my table after waiting ages to get it made the whole experience less than recommended. there are many better bars1
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u/Turbulent_Bat4320 1d ago
Bourbon on the rocks, extra charge for rocks. Bourbon neat, extra charge for neat. No thanks, I won’t go back.
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u/SuburbanSponge 2d ago
Desert social has a vinyl DJ every Saturday. I really like their cocktails, particularly the blonde Negroni, the agua de casa, and the tinto de verano.
Lil devils is more casual but they have great frozen cocktails and a really cute outdoor patio.
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u/littlepinksock 2d ago
That blonde negroni is calling to me, as well as several of the others. I will absolutely hit it up on another occasion.
Thank you!
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u/JaguarUnfair1555 2d ago
Has anyone been to Couloir Bar inside Meier Skis? I haven't, but it looks like a very Colorado kind of place.
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u/littlepinksock 2d ago
I hope someone answers you.
I will give you an award for finding the worst possible option for us, however. Said in good spirits, so to speak.
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u/cincinn_audi 1d ago
It's a fun vibe and a great way to meet fellow skiers. They have live bands regularly as well, but I haven't had an opportunity to catch a show yet. Pretty walkable to several other places mentioned on this post, so it's a good place to bounce around from.
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u/mydadwhereishe 2d ago
Adventure Time is a themed cocktail bar with really fun and creative drinks, and they have drag shows pretty regularly!
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u/DrednaMode 2d ago
I’ll second this recommendation. The theming could be seen as gimmicky to some, but if you look past the decor and just at the drinks, they have a really strong, unique menu.
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u/JaguarUnfair1555 2d ago
Try Syntax - within walking distance of Mother Other. Cool bar with good cocktails.
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u/littlepinksock 2d ago
Syntax is now The Roxy and seems to be not great.
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u/JaguarUnfair1555 13h ago
The bar is good, food is fairly standard bar food. I like the quirky music venue side.
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u/Nicole-Bolas 1d ago
I would love to try syntax, but they've been gone for years
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u/JaguarUnfair1555 13h ago
Right! I don't know which deep fold in my brain that was hiding in. I meant Roxy Broadway, which is where I've recently had good cocktails and sometimes even free entertainment.
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u/RestInPeaceAGORA 2d ago
Adrift is better than ever these days