Fact: Some of the best bars in Denver are on that quick stretch of South Broadway just past the Mayan Theater.
It’s like a roll call of good times: Sputnik, Skylark, 3 Kings, Irish Rover, Hi-Dive, Hornet and SoBo. I even love a glass of wine at Deluxe’s tiny bar in the back – or a giant pour of whiskey at the Brown Barrel.
Bars such as the dilapidated Blue Ice and the trying-too- hard Barry’s have proven that even mediocrity can call South Broadway home. Still, the percentages of finding your new favorite bar are in your favor, which is why I was psyched to see a bizarre little enclave open on a side street right there, Capone’s Hideaway.
We were DJing at 3 Kings later, so we were moving that direction anyway. In the car, Tim was laying down Weezer’s “Pinkerton” and I was singing loudly along to “El Scorcho.” Because singing Weezer songs is my and Julian’s tradition, I texted him, “Dudes, i’m so singing weezer, and yer not even here!” He called back immediately. “We’re at Capone’s. Where are you guys? It’s completely empty here.”
When we got to the fittingly dark Capone’s a few minutes later, it was dead. I’d been drinking mojitos previously at the 9th Door, and when I asked the barkeep if he stocked fresh mint, he smiled kindly. “Dude …” Fil snapped at me. And rightly so. The namesake gangster of this establishment would never have put such a garnish in his glass. “What about Red Bull?” The served nodded sheepishly.
“OK, we’re gonna get creative,” I told him, and together we crafted a tasty drink of Bacardi Razz, Sprite and a splash of cran. Al Capone would not have approved, but my stomach couldn’t handle whiskey – and I still don’t drink beer.
Staff writer Ricardo Baca can be reached at 303-954-1394 or at rbaca@denverpost.com.
Capone’s Hideaway
5 E. Ellsworth Ave.; 303-733-0841
Funky: It’s dark and dank and tucked away off South Broadway – a true hideaway.
Skunky: Especially with a name like Capone’s, this bar needs to be overwhelming with personality – in staff, design and service. But it’s not. It’s just another dive bar with cheap drinks and a bizarre clientele.
