The 100 Best Denver Bars We Can't Live Without

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The 100 Best Denver Bars We Can't Live Without

Carioca Cafe (Bar Bar)

Carioca Cafe (Bar Bar)
Molly Martin
It’s dirty and grimy and sometimes feels a little dangerous, but that’s all part of the grungy charm of this cash-only dive. Known as Bar Bar thanks to the triangular neon sign outside, the downtown holdout nearly went under when it had to put a pause on live music because of licensing issues in 2022, but now the bands are back — along with the late-night crowds that include an assortment of regulars, artists, hipsters, transients and rockers. The drinks are stiff, the bathrooms awful and the atmosphere beyond compare.
2060 Champa St., Denver, 80202