For all those bar-loving folks who live in Capitol Hill because of its proximity to good eating and drinking, Colorado Boulevard is a boundary rarely crossed.
It’s easy to get spoiled in Capitol Hill. Almost everything is walkable, from lunch at the Spicy Pickle to shows at the Fillmore Auditorium. When you don’t have to leave your neighborhood to get everything you need — you don’t.
Though the Capitol Hill stretches of East Colfax Avenue are familiar, the world east of Colorado is a strange and mysterious place to many Capitol Hill denizens. And with East Colfax’s sketchy reputation, venturing even farther east is considered a strange idea.
It’s ridiculous, though. Perfectly pleasant neighborhoods like Park Hill are east of Colorado. Take a trip down East Colfax, and it’s apparent that many of the neighborhoods are growing and changing. Recently built shopping centers stand next to old stalwarts, and there’s just enough grit at the edges to make it feel lived-in.
There are plenty of places to hang out too. Here are a few to consider, when a trip down East Colfax is on the agenda. Put one on there, if isn’t scheduled already.
The Mozart Lounge (1417 Krameria St.) is a good place to start. Located just south of Colfax, it’s a cheerful, stylish little joint that’s great for long conversations.
The main theme of the bar seems to be “comfort”: The lighting is soft. Plush couches and chairs are scattered about. A piano player plinks away near the front door, a small audience on the couches in front of him.
The waiters and bartenders are crisply dressed in shirts and vests, making the Mozart feel like a throwback to a classier era. The classic-movie posters on the walls add to the retro vibe.
Owned by the same folks who run the Barker Lounge, on Broadway, the Mozart is ostensibly a gay bar. Everyone’s welcome, however.
A little to the west, the bar at Solera restaurant (5410 E. Colfax Ave.) is where to go for a totally decent happy hour.
From 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 4 to 7 p.m. Sundays, Solera offers a selection of $4 glasses of wine and a special $4 draft beer. It’s a great bargain, and a good excuse to enjoy Solera’s warm, inviting surroundings without dropping a wad of cash on dinner.
Continuing west on East Colfax, The Elm (5001 E. Colfax Ave.) stands out.
Its exterior is strikingly modern in contrast with its neighbors. It looks, well, new — and most of East Colfax is quite happy with its oldness.
Inside, though, The Elm is reassuringly old-fashioned. It’s dark, wood-paneled and has Old Style on tap — a classic sports pub.
The Boston Red Sox are the team of choice here, and on game days The Elm fills with boisterous Bostonians.
Still, it’s a homey place to relax with a pint — and smokers will appreciate the heated smoking patio off the bar.
These places are just humble suggestions, mere starting points for an East Colfax exploration. Fill up the car and get going — there’s a lot of Colfax out there to discover.
The show to see this week:
Benny Benassi performs at Beta (1909 Blake St.) on Thursday. The Italian DJ and producer has remixed the likes of Public Enemy, Moby, Outkast and Goldfrapp. Expect a similarly eclectic sound when he spins in Denver. Tickets are $25 at .
