Danielle Lirette
Audio By Carbonatix
When Pete VanItallie opened Finley’s Pub in the former home of a Mexican restaurant at 375 South Pearl Street in 2012, he told Westword it was “exactly what I had envisioned when I dreamed of opening a neighborhood place,” with odes to his Irish heritage including a photo of the Finley homestead on the wall and Guinness on tap.
Finley’s kept that welcoming neighborhood atmosphere throughout its twelve-year run, which will come to an end on Saturday, October 19. “It saddens us to announce that Finley’s Pub will be closing… We would love to see all of our amazing patrons come in to celebrate our last days! Our thanks to all of our wonderful customers, friends and family who have made the past twelve+ years possible!” reads an Instagram post announcing the news.
In 2019, Westword contributor Sarah McGill wrote about her love for Finley’s. “It’s a charming and welcoming little spot with some tasty food,” she said, citing a burger made with shreds of braised short rib mixed in with the ground chuck and topped with bacon, cheddar and a velvety Béarnaise sauce.
Candlelight Tavern’s simple take on a bar burger is different than the fan favorite at Finley’s, but it’s still satisfying.
Molly Martin
While Finley’s will be missed (and we’ll be watching to see what takes its place), bar-goers in the neighborhood still have a beacon for affordable drinks and burgers (albeit less fancy ones than Finley’s take) next door at Candlelight Tavern, which is on our list of the top 100 bars in the metro area and an essential entry in our Denver burger guide.
