Best of Metromix Denver 2010Happy hour
Where would we be without happy hours? Seriously. Whether you sit in a cubicle all day at work or you like to socialize, happy hour works out for everyone. Cheap drinks and appetizers are always the draw, but just knowing you're boozing-it-up with friends is the best feeling in the world. Since pretty much every restaurant and bar in Denver tries their hand at happy hours, only a few caught our attention as offering the best deals and steals. We found the best in Denver ranging from an upscale wine bar in the Highlands to a sports bar in Littleton.
And the winner is…
Andrew's on Lincoln
1111 Lincoln St.
Denver, CO 80203Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
Andrews on Lincoln is a New York-style sports bar that offers reasonably priced drinks, bar food and a good crowd. The food is pretty basic—sandwiches, burgers and fries—but most people come for the atmosphere. There are pool tables for entertainment, but most of the crowd seems to mingle around the bar that offers a great singles scene on the weekends. Maybe it's just us who dig the single scene, but either way, it's there. It is also the area's best spot to catch free pay-per-view UFC events. So if you're a hot dogger and wanna strut your cool thang, this is your shack. They have a great happy hour that you should hit up on Mon.-Fri., 3 p.m.-7 p.m., $2 Coors, Coors Light & Killian's, $2 house wine and $3 well drinks.
Nominees
Eck's Saloon
9890 W. Girton Dr.
Lakewood, CO 80227The Wild West lives on - sort of - in this "no balls, no glory" south Lakewood tavern. Don't let its strip mall appearance fool you from the outside; it's huge once you're through the door, with 9,000 square feet of pool tables, a dance floor and bar space to keep your evening lively. Ask the managers and they'll describe it like it is: loud, dingy, dark and kinda trashy. Cover bands take over the stage on weekends, and local acts of all genres have their turn on school nights. You'll never have trouble finding a TV to sip your beer by - they have more than 40. They offer up happy hour daily from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. with $1.75 domestics, $3 wells and $5 drop shots (Jager bombs, etc.), they also have happy hour tacos, nachos and wings for way cheap.
Vita
1575 Boulder St., Ste. A
Denver, CO 80211Neighborhood: Highlands
On the outside, Vita in the lower Highlands, may look like any other place for the locals to gather for a quick after-work cocktail or for dinner. But, once you step inside, you’ll soon discover that chic is the name of the game. Classy people dine here. Many regulars who frequent the joint may call it their own quaint little place. Others come for the lobster meatballs and delectable dishes you can’t find anywhere else. Don’t let the fancy pants keep you away if that’s not how you roll. They have some serious happy hours, interesting dining options and the chill ambience of the rooftop bar makes for a very good time. From 3 p.m.-6:30 p.m. daily you can get down with 2-for-1 on wines, $2.50 Bud and Bud Lights and $4 well cocktails. Not too shabby indeed.
Dirk's Sports Tavern
7500 S. University Blvd.
Centennial, CO 80122Hey sports fans this one’s for you (Red Sox fans excluded, we’re still bitter). Dirk’s is set up with 38 TVs so you can watch the game no matter where you park your butt in the restaurant. Right across from Arapahoe High School, this is a great restaurant to bring the whole fam-dam or a place to get to know fellow ‘Centennial’s’. Don’t you hate it when you miss a happy hour by 20 minutes? This sports tavern has you covered with their happy hour running a whopping eight hours a day from 11 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Their buffalo wings go great with a pitcher of beer. If you’re on a health kick, you have got to try their salads—they’re great for a main meal and will tie your appetite over. I believe we’ve found your watering hole, Metromixers.
The Fainting Goat
846 Broadway
Denver, CO 80203Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
In days of old, fainting goats were used by shepherds as a type of early warning system against predators. The theory being that if a wolf, mountain lion or saber-toothed tiger approached the flock the fainting goat would swoon (thanks to a condition know as Myotonia) and give the herder a heads up. While the livestock would escape peril, unfortunately the goat would not be so lucky. Escape the occasional hazards of lower Broadway at the Fainting Goat, an Irish tinged pub with two floors and a roof-top patio. A neighborhood joint, the bar is welcoming and the staff is friendly. They offer happy hour daily from 3:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. with 2-for-1s on wells and drafts and half price appetizers.
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Best of Metromix Denver 2010
What are Denver’s best restaurants, hottest bars, and favorite places? You tell us! Which brunch made you actually want to get out of bed before noon on Sunday? Whose sushi spread redefined maki? And who’s serving up Denver’s most savory slice of pizza? Check out the list of contenders and vote for your favorite in each category. We’ll tally your votes and post the winners later this month.
What other people are saying...
dartmoose180 - January 12, 2010 at 8:34 AM
Not only does Eck's have a great happy hour, they have one of the best bands in Denver every Thursday night in Five13. Bruno's green chile is the ...
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Report This CommentNeesey - January 11, 2010 at 8:15 PM
I'm so glad that Eck's Saloon was nominated by the editors of Metromix! Eck's has won numerous awards and most recently "Top 100 Bars in the Natio...
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Report This CommentNeesey - January 11, 2010 at 8:11 PM
I'm so glad that Eck's Saloon was nominated by the editors of Metromix! Eck's has won numerous awards and most recently "Top 100 Bars in the Natio...
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