A Real Deal: $5 'til Five at Postino LoHi

You know the saying, “It’s five o'clock somewhere?” With Postino LoHi's killer $5 ‘til 5 beer and wine special, you don’t even have to wait until 5 p.m. to imbibe; a great daytime deal means discounts on full pours as early as 11 a.m. With house wines by the glass and 32-ounce pitchers of beer (yes,that includes quality, local craft beer — and you're not at a LoDo sports bar; rejoice!) for a mere five-spot every day of the week, you can get your day-drinking done without the typical Highland price tag.

Postino, an Arizona transplant that has made itself at home in the trendy neighborhood, is everything you could want in an afternoon hangout spot. The ambiance is bright and airy, the music is upbeat and pulsating, and the patio offers killer views of downtown. The décor is funky and feels fresh, from a book wall that pays homage to the building’s former life as a book bindery to quirky Star Wars skateboards as wall fixtures. Billed as a "WineCafe," the space feels like a full-on restaurant, even if the food options are kept light, with a variety of bruschettas, charcuterie and cheese boards perfect for snacking and pairing with a good glass of vino. Mix-and-match sandwich, salad and soup combinations round out the menu, ringing in at just a few bucks more than Panera for quality that’s leaps and bounds beyond the popular fast-casual chain.  Bruschettas and sandwiches are built on bread from Denver's own City Bakery, making for tasty and local bites, but the drinks are what sold me. The lengthy and well-curated wine list showcases the wine merchant’s extensive knowledge of grapes around the globe, with plenty of varietals and blends that were completely foreign to me. I was curious to drink up my new-found knowledge of words like Godello, Gaglioppo and Tempranillo. The beer list also shows that Postino did its Colorado research before opening; names familiar to Denver beer drinkers include the likes of Upslope, Odell, Great Divide and Funkwerks, along with  national acts like Victory — and that's just the draft list. A wider variety from around the world is available in cans and bottles.

Verdict: Along with what amounts to a super-long happy hour, Postino knows how to treat guests. On Valentine's Day, the wine bar skipped the hefty pre fixe meal offered by many other eateries in town and instead simply offered every patron a free glass of rosé to celebrate. It’s safe to say, we’re in love.