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1216 Washington Ave. Golden, CO 80401
303-279-9043
Ace Hi Tavern is a Golden institution: Residents of the sleepy foothills town have been living it up at this Washington Street bar for half a century. The cushy booths are just the thing for sinking into if you don't feel like perching on a bar stool, and the tavern has plenty of distractions for drinkers, including a pool table and television. There are bound to be several other people in the bar no matter when you walk in -- but on weekends, during happy hours and on beer pong nights, expect it to be packed. Ace Hi serves hot dogs out of a wire rotisserie for $1, plus the usual array of chips to help balance out the booze. The decor is Western-themed and Colorado-proud, with maps of the state and "Native" signs adorning the walls, and old-fashioned steer horns fancied up with Mardi Gras beads stationed above the cash register. The tavern features DJs on Fridays and karaoke on Saturdays, and when there's no live entertainment to be had, you'll find plenty of hard rock on the jukebox. More >>
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7576 W. Jewell Ave. Lakewood, CO 80232
303-987-5959
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1901 Youngfield St. Golden, CO 80401
303-862-6148
After the first Blondie's Firehouse in Lakewood had to relocate because the building was slated to be torn down, owner Dawna Schwiegerath moved the firehouse-themed Blondie's to Englewood, but then later sold the spot. In March 2011, Schwiegerath re-incarnated Blondie's in Golden at 1901 Youngfield, which has been home to Andolini's, Brando's and Bamf's over the years. While it's more of a distant step-cousin to the Blondie's in Englewood, Blondie's 3 retains some of the vibe from the other spot, starting with the faux-brick walls. It's a laid-back sports bar with enough TVs to catch games wherever you're sitting, a couple of pool tables and a shaded patio. The spot occasionally brings in live music, as well. More >>
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1224 Washington Ave. Golden, CO 80401
303-271-0730
http://www.bluecanyonbarandgrill.com
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1119 Washington Ave. Golden, CO 80401
303-278-6800
http://www.buffalorose.net Found in the middle of Downtown Golden, the Buffalo Rose offers more than just a few good drinks, it offers a great experience. The mid-sized venue has been transformed and continues to grow in popularity with an intimate setting, excellent sound, a huge dance floor with great local and national acts. The music varies diversely from blues, funk, hip-hop, rock, indie, country, reggae and much more. The bar offers drinks, plenty of seating, a full menu, karaoke, open mic and live music. During the summer months, the outside patio bar is filled with patrons, with live music seven days a week. More >>
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4651 Highway 73 Centennial, CO 80439
303-674-1564
http://www.cactusjacksaloon.com This saloon is a popular spot for music, imbibing and patio-sitting - and while you're soaking up the sun or knocking one back, you're bound to get hungry. Fortunately, Cactus Jack's has a solid menu of bar food, with a Mexican plate or two for good measure. Taking center stage are the two-dozen-plus Widespread Burgers, each named after a different Widespread Panic song and featuring toppings that range from fried eggs to Hatch green chiles to regular ol' bacon and cheese slices. You can order the Widespread Burgers with half-pound patties of all-natural, seasoned Anderson beef, marinated all-natural chicken breast or even Boca burgers. And that's not the end of the feel-good food: The establishment uses wind power and green products wherever possible, and it's been recycling bottles, cans and paper since back when "green" only referred to a color. More >>
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6045 W. Alameda Ave. Lakewood, CO 80226
303-238-9635
It used to be known Cleopatra's and Piano Lounge, but the name was a bit of a misnomer since there wasn't actually a piano in the joint, so the "piano lounge" part of the name was taken off. While it's easy to imagine the a bunch of folks huddled around a grand piano in this '70s-vibed dimly lit dive, which feels like something left over from the set of Boogie Nights, the only music you're probably going to hear in the place will be coming from a jukebox. But the place does serve some pretty damn cheap drinks and chances are you'll run into a colorful set of Lakewood's finest. More >>
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1521 Pierce St. Lakewood, CO 80214
303-233-9621
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525 24th St. Golden, CO 80401
303-279-7846
http://www.goldenbowl300club.com Yes, there's a bar at Golden Bowl, the historic bowling alley situated near Golden High School. There's also bowling, of course, plus a pizza place and a diner located in the building, so your food and entertainment needs are easily met. The bar area (otherwise known as Louie's Tavern) offers happy hour all day on Sundays plus weekly late-night drink specials for college students, ladies and gentlemen -- and the food and drink specials rolled out during Broncos games have to be seen to be believed. (We'll just tell you that free touchdown shots, $5 pitchers and a $5 pizza buffet are on the menu, plus your first pint is free if you come wearing a Broncos jersey.) Golden Bowl is also part of the summer-and-fall antique-cars show, Golden Cruise. The bowling alley has been around since 1952, back when scores were recorded by hand and displayed by projector, and its modernization and consistent popularity with both the high-school and college-age crowd guarantees it'll be around for a long time to come. More >>
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9500 W. Colfax Ave. Lakewood, CO 80215
303-238-0711
Since this funky neighborhood dive opens at 7 a.m. and has an early happy hour until 11 a.m. (and another one from 4 to 7 p.m.) every day of the week, Guido's Nickel attracts a fair amount of regulars who are serious about drinking. License plates from various states line one wall, while the black vinyl booths feel like they're at least three decades old. But part of the joint's charm is that it has a live-in, comfortable vibe with a fairly friendly set of folks who live in the area. While it’s a quaint spot to check out a game, Guido's Nickel also sports a pool table, an outdoor patio and a horseshoe pit. More >>
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5201 W. Mississippi Ave. Lakewood, CO 80226
303-937-3750
You can trace the history of Hart's Corner Bar & Restaurant, 5201 West Mississippi Avenue, through the black-and-white photos hanging on one wall of the building. Hailed as the oldest business in Lakewood, it got its start as a root-beer stand during Prohibition, then became a small barbecue joint/gas station in the '30s, expanded in the '50s into a bigger restaurant, turned into a biker bar -- and then some folks gave it a go as nightclub with DJs. But when the Moutsos family took it over again in April 2011, they brought Hart's back to the way it was: a gathering place where families would come in with their kids and feel comfortable. A breakfast-lunch-and-dinner menu includes omelets, Greek and Mexican food, burgers, salads, sandwiches and steaks. More >>
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695 Kipling St. Lakewood, CO 80215
303-205-1170
http://www.hooters.com
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14285 W. Colfax Ave. Golden, CO 80401
303-216-2469
http://www.hopsonline.com
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28055 74 Centennial, CO 80439
303-674-2433
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15600 W. 44th Ave. Golden, CO 80403
303-279-3888
http://www.inthezonebar.com
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12354 W. Alameda Ave. Lakewood, CO 80228
303-985-5818
The brewing machinery is prominently displayed in the window of Ironworks, where eight-ball tournaments are taken seriously and a lava-lamp tree sees all. Rock bands work the spartan, metallic pub on weekends; gamers turn up for darts, pool and good beer seven nights a week. The house brews can be purchased to go in 1/2 gallon Growlers. More >>
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14065 W. Colfax Golden, CO 80401
303-238-7500
http://www.kegsteakhouse.com
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8100 W. Colfax Ave. Lakewood, CO 80215
303-237-8051
http://www.myspace.com/lakewoodgrill_co The Lakewood Grill, a West Colfax fixture for more than half a century, is unpretentious. This sunny, cheery spot has the oldest liquor license Lakewood and serves up good, solid saloon fare to which the likely accompaniment is an ice-cold draft beer, anything from a Rolling Rock to Great Divide. Live bands play on Fridays and karaoke is on Saturdays. More >>
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28075 Highway 74 Evergreen, CO 80439
303-674-9991
http://www.littlebearsaloon.com Formerly a church and a drugstore, the Little Bear is the prototypical Western saloon - with the added attraction of rafters full of donated bras. With a reputation for being Colorado's rowdiest mountain bar, the Little Bear, which has been around for more than four decades, attracts a colorful group of locals, bikers and tourists. Most days of the week, the bar brings in a good selection of local and national rock and blues acts, which can be seen on the stage from the main floor or upstairs. The menu includes burgers, pizza, sandwiches and appetizers. More >>
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415 S. Teller St. Lakewood, CO 80226
303-935-5793
http://www.luckystrikebelmar.com
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11863 Springs Road Conifer, CO 80433
303-838-4600
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403 Bear Creek Ave. Morrison, CO 80465
303-697-5658
http://www.morrisonholidaybar.com Known by townies as "the local cure," the Holiday Bar is a relatively undiscovered treasure in downtown Morrison. Bikers know about it -- you'll often find them packing the bar on weekends to indulge in the cheap beer, strong drinks and live music the Holiday has to offer. The venue includes an expansive smoker-friendly patio with an outdoor area for when it's nice and a covered section for when it's not (and a popcorn machine with free popcorn for barflies). There are weekly Texas Hold 'Em and blackjack tournaments at the bar, and there's a doorway cut through to the adjacent Mill Street Deli, serving up enormous Angus and buffalo burgers as well as typical deep-fried bar fare; you can place an order at the deli and they'll deliver it right to you at the bar. There are large-screen televisions for watching the game, plus free Wi-Fi in case they're not showing your team of choice. Although it's sometimes overlooked, you can't miss the venue: It's also got the only legal light-up sign in this small foothills town, complete with a blinking arrow directing you in the door. More >>
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145 Union Blvd. Lakewood, CO 80228
303-988-5990
http://www.oldchicago.com In this day and age, Old Chicago locations are common enough across the country that many diners have forgotten this chain's humble beginnings: It got its start not in Chicago -- or anywhere else in Illinois, for that matter -- but in Boulder, in 1976. Old Chicago is part of the Rock Bottom line of restaurants, and beer features heavily on the menu; the bar has 110 kinds available at any given time. The pizza is another draw, served Chicago-style, original or thin crust, with signature toppings and build-your-own options. The rest of the menu is about what you'd expect from a pizza-heavy, beer-centric venue: burgers, pasta, calzones, starters and salads. But for dessert, you can't miss with the renowned Big Cookie. More >>
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11353 W. Colfax Ave. Lakewood, CO 80215
303-232-0609
http://www.piflersbar.com Pifler's was once part of the B.U.F.F. Brothers chain of sports bars, but the Little Pub Company took over the venue in April 2010 and cleaned up the neighborhood sports tavern, making it a bit more upscale. With a number of HD TVs scattered around the spot, there’s usually a good spot to catch a game, whether it be football, baseball, hockey, basketball or soccer. Since Pifler's is fairly spacious, there's generally room to spread out even when the place is packed. Even if you don't want to watch a game, there are pool tables, a shuffleboard table, and weekly beer pong and cornhole competitions. On the menu, there are burgers, sandwiches, Mexican food and a decent selection of appetizers. More >>
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7785 W. Colfax Ave. Lakewood, CO 80215
303-237-7511
This biker-friendly dive is about as unpretentious as they come. With its old school vinyl chair and wood paneling, it feels like not a whole lot has changed in the last few decades. But to the regulars, it doesn't seem to matter much. More >>
