Winter Drinks in Denver and “Breck”

You’ve heard the old saying “If you can’t beat them, join them…” We embraced the fact that Winter comes every year and took the opportunity to visit a state we hadn’t been before and enjoy the snow – Colorado.

First let’s say that altitude does impact how your body processes alcohol, particularly when you’re above 5,000 feet and even 10,000 feet above sea level. You tend to get drunk quicker and the hangovers last longer. Just trust us on that. That said, we didn’t make it to all the places in Denver and Breckenridge on our list this time. But the spots we did visit in both cities were pretty spectacular. 

Breckenridge is essentially a historic mining town turned ski resort town about an hour or so from Denver. There’s no shortage of good places to eat and drink. They fully embrace the Apres’ culture, or Apres’ Ski – which is a fancy word for “happy hour after you leave the slopes,” pronounced “Ah Pray.”

Our #tipsypick for Breckenridge is actually the first place we visited when we arrived (and we returned for dinner another night as well) – Tavern Underground. This cocktail bar is the closest thing to a speakeasy in Breck, located beneath the Carlin boutique hotel in the heart of town. Our favorite cocktail was the Curious George, their version of a Black Manhattan. They also make a fantastic Old Fashioned! The service and food were excellent as well.

While we didn’t ski this time, we couldn’t miss the chance to go up on the base of the Breckenridge Ski Resort slopes and partake of a cocktail or two while we enjoyed the view. Who would have thought you could get a great margarita at a ski resort? Check out T-Bar for that on Peak 8! Then we took the free gondola over to Peak 7 for espresso martinis at Sevens.

We think it should be a rule that you can’t visit Breckenridge without stopping at the Breckenridge Distillery, or at least their tasting room. Since they only do tours on the weekends, and the main facility is located just outside of downtown, we opted for the tasting room. Their award-winning bourbon is reason enough to visit, but everything we tried was smooth and delicious. They even had a barrel-aged Manhattan on tap, available only onsite. We hear the cocktails at the main room are worth trying – next time!

There are a number of breweries in and near downtown Breckenridge. After a hike to find Isak, the Breckenridge Troll, we chose Broken Compass Brewing. Their main facility is just outside downtown (near the above distillery) but they have a fun tasting room right on Main Street. That’s where we spent some time to warm up. They have a large selection of their beers on tap, including a delicious coconut porter. 

And we have to give a shout out to Hearthstone for one of the best meals we had (yes, elk and bison on the menu) and great cocktails!

Now on to Denver – there was no way to cover all the great options personally in one weekend. That’s why we have #tipsypicks just for you. 

While it’s not a true speakeasy, Union Lodge #1 does capture the cozy ambiance of a 1920’s cocktail den  in downtown Denver. They even told us they don’t offer vodka drinks, because they weren’t popular back then… But what the do offer are creative cocktails like the “Door Marked Pirate” and classics like an Old Fashioned and Sazerac. There’s also something magical about sipping cocktails in a window seat while snow is falling behind you. 

Denver has some excellent speakeasy spots! Williams & Graham appears to be a small corner bookstore, until the host opens one of the bookcases and escorts you to a dimly lit table with velvet curtains and lots of dark wood straight out of the 1920s! The “Complicated Boulevardier” was simply delicious!

Our next stop, Run for the Roses, has signage, but it’s stashed in the basement of a retail building and you have to follow the roses marking the path on the floor to get there. Challenge accepted. RFTR has one of the most extensive and creative cocktail menus we’ve seen – laid out in a deck of playing cards. That’s potentially 52 different drink options! Our group made an effort to try a variety of “cards,” including a barrel-aged Manhattan and Old Fashioned.

There’s also no shortage of great restaurants in downtown Denver. Two we’ll mention – ChoLon and Panzano – also have great cocktails! Cholon also has an option to try flights of sake, if you’re feeling a bit adventurous.

There are lots of places left on our list that we’ll have to visit next time, along with dozens of breweries in Denver. What spots do you recommend in Breck or the Mile High City?

New Year – New Fun Finds in St. Pete

Welcome to the third year of this little adventure we call Off the Tipsy Path! We’re going to start it off with a return to one of our favorite spots – St. Petersburg, Florida. This Gulf Coast city is also where the idea for Tipsy Path began (over a few beverages, of course)!

Downtown St. Pete, like a lot of cities, is seeing incredible growth. Tower cranes are everywhere as new condos and apartments are being built to meet demand. The city’s culinary and cocktail scene is growing at a similar pace. Here are just a few of the places we’ve found since our last visit.

So what’s new? How about a jungle-themed restaurant with a somewhat-hidden bar in the basement of a historic “Five and Dime” building? That’s Concrete Jungle! The restaurant occupies part of the main floor of the historic Kress building on Central. Its theme is “Tulum inspired,” meaning Mexican flair. It’s a great spot for date night dinner and cocktails! But don’t miss out on the downstairs bar! It has some added cocktails to the upstairs menu that are not to be missed – “Smoke and Mirrors” was an excellent smoked concoction and the “Platano” was a complex bourbon drink with coffee and banana. And the jungle theme ramps up to create very cool spaces around every corner. A #tipsypick for sure!

Staying with Mexico, Tequila Daisy is a tequila-focused bar (and other agave spirits like Mezcal) with some tasty drinks – and shots – and a dance floor where you can bust all of your moves that you think you should after a few said drinks/shots! Seriously, the signature cocktail the “Tequila Daisy” is seriously good! They don’t have food, but the taco truck that sets up outside is very popular.

Continuing the theme of “spaces that feel like different places,” Saigon Blonde may become one of our newest favorite spots! The décor is tropical-themed from the “1960’s” and includes three separate lounge areas that are about as unique as you’ll find – one is made from old airplane parts and the other is upstairs and overlooks the lower bar. And the drinks we had were superb - “Old Sin” is essentially an old fashioned with flavors of Vanilla AND chocolate! We will definitely be back!

One more tropical theme – this time on a rooftop!  Cane & Barrel is the new rooftop bar at the AC Marriott. It has a Cuban theme, with drinks and food to match. The indoor/outdoor spaces make for a nice way to spend an evening, or an afternoon with brunch. We admit we didn’t make our way very far through the menu, because we were drinking champagne for New Year’s Eve! We will check this one out again next time!

Now let’s completely switch themes – to Christmas! Xmas Bar is billed as a seasonal pop-up bar, but it’s still going strong as of January. We will say that this is a very festive space worth checking out if only for the décor. During the holidays, we’re told they had some great themed cocktails. But when we visited the weekend of New Year’s, we were told those are no longer being served - lots of canned drinks and shots going around. 

If you’re looking for a great space for cocktails and brunch that’s a bit #offthetipsypath… we suggest The Library. This space is part of the Johns Hopkins hospital complex just south of downtown, but folks in the know come here to enjoy the food and drink all week long. Our brunch meals were excellent. We’ll have to come back one evening for happy hour and let you know more about the cocktails.

And finally, an update on one of our #tipsypicks – a local wine bar called Bar Chinchilla has new owners! The intimate spot changed hands early in 2023, and the new owners have kept much of the cozy décor but have elevated the wine offerings… and the beer! Tipsy Hubs was most impressed with the lineup of Belgian beer on tap. The real secret is the deals on their “to go” bottles of wine! Love this place!

As always, we’d love to hear from you about your favorite places and anyplace we should check out on our adventures! Cheers to Year Three! 

Time to Revisit Nashville

 

Nashville is one of the fastest growing cities in the country. So it makes sense that there are new bars and restaurants popping up here all the time!  Not to downplay the explosion of celebrity honky tonks, but there are also plenty of places to get good cocktails off of Lower Broadway. So many, that we thought we’d update our earlier post with some more #tipsypick gems we found #offthetipsypath right in downtown Nashville.

You know we love a good speakeasy… and while it’s not a big secret (there’s almost always a wait) Hidden Bar in the Noelle Hotel downtown is one of the best in town. Not only is the location authentic – storage closet anyone? – but they go above and beyond with their holiday themes. Halloween 2023 was “The Shining” and Christmas was “A Christmas Story.” Such a fun way to spend an hour or two! But seriously, plan on putting your name on the list and visiting another bar while you wait – Black Rabbit is around the corner, and see below for another option . . .

Speaking of nearby bars, just down the street from Hidden Bar, Sinatra Bar & Lounge is another #tipsypick in downtown Nashville! Part cocktail spot, part restaurant and part jazz lounge, Sinatra has it all if you want to feel like you are as far away from a honky tonk as you can get. The cocktails are superb, with an emphasis on Frank’s favorite Jack Daniel’s, and they pair well with the live jazz most evenings. Note the artwork, some of which is from Sinatra’s own hand. The entire concept has been blessed by the Sinatra family. This is a great date night spot.

Did someone say date night? House of Cards has you covered! From the same team that brought us Skull’s Rainbow Room and Sinatra, this is another spot just steps away from Broadway but a world away as far as experiences. It’s a basement speakeasy under the Johnny Cash Museum. Yes, there’s a dress code! But they have live magicians in the bar and dining area, and live magic shows nightly. No, you can’t take pictures of the performers. Look for the artifacts like handcuffs owned by Houdini! Oh, the wine and cocktails are worth it as well – the house Manhattan and Old Fashioned for sure!

And since we’re talking about basement spaces – we bring you Pushing Daisies! This tequila and margarita spot isn’t exactly hidden. It has its own entrance from Broadway and is located under the sprawling Assembly Food Hall complex. But the atmosphere is fantastic – festive and intimate at the same time. And the drinks… way more than just great margaritas! The sangria was excellent and let’s talk about “Something Clarified, Please.” This cocktail requires an explanation from the professionals. Basically, it involves soaking bananas and washing mezcal with coconut. Don’t ask us… just try it for yourself! You’ll thank us!

Here’s one from the “you have to look for it” category. Pullman Standard occupies a space in the historic Cummins Station building with an entrance on Demonbreun Street. It’s #offthetipsypath unless you walk or drive past it. But it’s worth seeking out. This intimate cocktail space is perfect for a cocktail after work or just to hang out for a few. Their version of a black Manhattan known as the “Midnight Train” is very tasty!

Sometimes, presentation is everything. We visited the restaurant Hand Cut recently, where one drink in particular stood out – the Waffle Cone Old Fashioned! Unlike some smoked drinks that are just infused with wood chips, this one had a bottle of smoke all its own with a side of waffle cone in its own container. This relatively new chop house also has great food, but it’s worth a visit just for this cocktail. #tipsypick

And finally, we’ll give a shout out to one of our favorite East Nashville spots, the wine bar Authentique, celebrating one year with new owners in the same spot. They are a #tipsypick for food, wine and atmosphere. Check them out!

No doubt we’ll be visiting more #tipsypicks in Nashville. Let us know where we should go next!