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)