Short Stop // Denver, CO

It’s Saturday night and we’re in search of food and drinks. We hop on the train and head downtown. With so many options in the Dairy Block area of Denver, how could we just choose one? We decide to embark on a bar hopping journey, and see what’s good in this up-and-coming Denver neighborhood.

A short 25 min train ride from DEN/DIA, we begin at Union Station. It has been recently renovated as of 2014, and is a must visit, even if you don’t train in. It’s full of great culinary choices, eclectic boutique shops for gifts, and Terminal Bar, serving Denver distilled spirits and regional draft beers. Seeing how busy it was inside Union Station, starving and thirsty, we opt to check out options elsewhere. We spot Machete Tequila + Tacos across the street. Being somewhat of a taco snob, I walk in with low expectations. The decor was reminiscent of a trendy DF (Distrito Federal, MX) restaurant. I order a margarita and an order of arrachera tacos. Marinated sliced steak paired with a avocado salsa verde, the meat was tender and delicious! P ordered the al pastor, roasted pig in a guajillochile marinade, topped with pineapple, onions and cilantro, as well as the langosta, grilled lobster tail with smoked avocado, chile moritaaioli, served on a squid ink tortilla. With fresh ingredients, and a great atmosphere, this has made it onto our list of places we’ll visit again! They also have an excellent Happy Hour Monday through Friday, with $6 margaritas, $3 draft beers, and $2.50 tacos!

Revitalized and with full bellies, we head back out and pick a direction to walk. We attempted to go into the Wynkoop Brewing Factory for some Denver goodness, but were told it was closed for a special event. We continued on and found ourselves at For[a]ged, a restaurant that made its debut on the LoDo scene in 2019. Led by recognized Denver Chef Duy Pham, Its namesake comes from Pham forging his own Japanese carbon steel knives. We weren’t there for food though, so we headed to the bar. We met Autumn, our sweet bartender, who gave us a brief overview of For[a]ged and the surrounding area. The bar was whiskey driven, with great Happy Hour options. I decided to stick to tequila, and ordered a Monte Alban Blanco margarita, while P switched it up with a whiskey mule. Making it feel like we were part of some secret, Autumn then led us to our next destination through a back exit.

With the entrance through a nondescript door in the middle of fun alley, and an elevator in the middle of a restaurant, Run for the Roses feels like the Dairy Block’s invite only, secret bar. Enough people knew about it, though, because when we walked in, it was full, save for 2 seats at the bar. Brick walls, a custom deck of cards (with 52 custom cocktails), and tufted couches to sink into, this is the type of bar where you forget about time. We sat next to two locals, who recommended drinks from ————. A Paloma and a moscow mule later, we made our way out. Although the decor and speakeasy was pretty neat, the drinks weren’t very impressive, the “mixologists” not very friendly (even when it slowed down) and frankly, it was a little overpriced.

The time was drawing near, and our end goal was to watch a UFC fight, so we headed to Hayter’s for a beer and greasy bar food while we waited. It wasn’t very busy, but had a beautiful rooftop area, and bar games on the main floor. Although this seems like it would make for a great warm weather watering hole, we didn’t spend much time here. We headed next door to The Sports Column, which was the most recommended place by locals on where to watch the fight. The Sports Column was massive, and packed to the point where there were parts of me touching parts of others I didn’t want to be touching, but one of the most laid back large sports bars I’ve been in. We made friends upstairs and scored a seat with them at their reserved table. I could see this being a place I would come back to watch a game or fight next time we’re in town.

Overall, a great evening out in the Mile High City, full of new discoveries, satisfied appetite and new friends. In a city known for cowboys and rodeos, the Dairy Block provides a chic urban environment without losing that Denver feel. I’ll definitely be going back to try out some new spots as well as my newfound favorites!

Short Stops:

Machete Tequila + Tacos
1730 Wynkoop St
Denver, CO 80202
(720) 612-7698

For[a]ged Restaurant
1825 Blake St
Denver, CO 80202
(720) 826-2147

Run For The Roses
1801 Blake St #10
Denver, CO 80202
(720) 573-9155

Hayter’s
1920 Blake St
Denver, CO 80202
​(303) 297-8279

Sports Column
1930 Blake St
Denver, CO 80202
​(303) 297-8279