Jordan’s is the new restaurant and watering hole near the University of Denver campus that is quickly becoming accepted as the top bar on among upperclassman, and not only are students flowing here, but also late 20’s early 30’s locals, proving this is not just another college dive.

Walking in you’ll be surprised by the elegant setup  that Jordan’s undertook. Just beyond the entrance there are high cocktail tables. The bar goes along the back wall of the tavern and connects the three semi-enclosed rooms. The East wing feels like a library with its filled bookshelves and wood booths with green vinyl. The West section is more open than the rest and has a platform for once they start housing live musicians.  

Jordan’s is home of one of the best happy hours in Denver, not because of the drink specials, instead, it’s their food. From 4pm - 6pm and 10-midnight, you can get such “tapas” (Spanish style appetizers) as BBQ chicken pizza, calamari or fresh tomatoes and mozzarella, all only $3 for each tapa. But you can’t forget the $1 cheeseburger, which is burger, bun and cheese, being bigger than McDonald’s burger two fill you up and they’re only a buck!

You can see the fire oven where they make all the pizzas through a hole in the wall behind the bar. The flame adds a soothing and romantic ambiance to the rooms.

Calling all DU students: there is finally a bar on campus that you’ll want to go to, not one you just settle for. And it is so inviting and elegant that it’s just the right fit for yuppies in the area to make Jordan’s their regular spot.

2363 E Evans Ave
Denver, CO

Jordan’s is the new restaurant and watering hole near the University of Denver campus that is quickly becoming accepted as the top bar on among upperclassman, and not only are students flowing here, but also late 20’s early 30’s locals, proving this is not just another college dive.

Walking in you’ll be surprised by the elegant setup  that Jordan’s undertook. Just beyond the entrance there are high cocktail tables. The bar goes along the back wall of the tavern and connects the three semi-enclosed rooms. The East wing feels like a library with its filled bookshelves and wood booths with green vinyl. The West section is more open than the rest and has a platform for once they start housing live musicians. 

Jordan’s is home of one of the best happy hours in Denver, not because of the drink specials, instead, it’s their food. From 4pm - 6pm and 10-midnight, you can get such “tapas” (Spanish style appetizers) as BBQ chicken pizza, calamari or fresh tomatoes and mozzarella, all only $3 for each tapa. But you can’t forget the $1 cheeseburger, which is burger, bun and cheese, being bigger than McDonald’s burger two fill you up and they’re only a buck!

You can see the fire oven where they make all the pizzas through a hole in the wall behind the bar. The flame adds a soothing and romantic ambiance to the rooms.

Calling all DU students: there is finally a bar on campus that you’ll want to go to, not one you just settle for. And it is so inviting and elegant that it’s just the right fit for yuppies in the area to make Jordan’s their regular spot.

2363 E Evans Ave
Denver, CO

Denver’s newest destination club isn’t in LoDo, it’s not even downtown for that matter. Sugar House is bringing the Denver nightlife scene an alternative to going to the business district, and being surrounded by frat boys and pretentious girls. With an original house party environment, world-class martinis, and over the top parties, this club is sure to he a hit.

Sugar House prides themselves on not only the best cocktails in Denver, but arguably second in the world. After entering in the Denver Vodka Cup and winning all three categories, went to the international competition and took home 2nd.  You’ll notice they are always chopping fresh fruit for the different flavored martinis, and different sugars to complement the cocktails.

There are beds on the main floor that might feel out of place, but once you go upstairs you’ll understand the house party feel they were going for. You can coast from room to room checking out the different social congregations. And the beds are tempurepedic so you can but down a drink tray and it won’t spill. Lodging license soon. You can rent a room, but if they are not rented feel free to hang in one of the many cozy dwelling it feels like prom’s hotel after party all over again.

Sugar House doesn’t want the downtown crowd because they don’t want stuck-up club-goers who are out more for their image than to have fun. “This is a bar,” says owner Scottie Ewing, “for young professionals who are sick of the college scene that’s all over LoDo.”

The themed parties here are already notorious. For Valentine’s Day they turned off all the lights and lit the rooms strictly with candlelight, and placed hundreds of roses all over to fill the venue with a fresh flower scent.

In the upcoming Fridays Sugar House welcomes DJ Bedz, who will be not only performing but also spinning a remote broadcast for One FM. He will be doing that for the next 5 weeks. For the next 10 Fridays they will be giving away airfare for two to Mexico, Las Vegas, and Jamaica.

Sugar House is a promising venue with exquisite martinis and unique beds and multi-room setup. The location makes it a destination spot with no other clubs around, so you can’t just hop from spot to spot. However, their inexpensive room –not table- rentals come with no tab minimum, and are great for throwing parties.

www.sugarhouselounge.com

1395 W Alameda Ave
Denver, CO 80223
(303) 777-9900

Taste of Thailand is an authentic experience, from the serving dishes to the music playing, and we can’t forget the knick-knacks for sale in the front section of this restaurant. The food quality varies based on the dish, and knowing the right one to pick can change your whole meal.

For a modest room they prepare a first class table presentation. The napkins are folded into flowers as they are held in the water glasses, for a great presentation. They actually play Thai music, which is incredibly soothing.

The pad Thai is an obvious but exceptional choice, and has just the right amount of sauce to give it a fiery kick without drowning everything else out. The crab Rangoon is the perfect rich complimentary to the noodles, and are bursting from the seams with cream cheese and crab.

At the other end of the quality spectrum are the curries. They have a good taste but the texture is thin, and does not hold to the rice, with minimal amount of vegetables going with the curry. The heat of the curry is not even cooked into the dishes, rather a miniature mound of pepper flakes is plopped on top.

While we were disappointed with the quality of the curry, the extravagant chrome serving platter for the rice was a treat, and made the act of eating that much more enjoyable.

Come to Taste of Thailand for the traditional ambiance with the soothing string music and elegant place settings. The food is not the best, not even close, but if you stick to the usual pad Thai it’s a full meal with blazing pop to it.  

Average Meal: $15

www.tasteofthailand.net

502 E Hampden Ave
Englewood, CO 80113
(303) 762-9112

If you're looking for a new manual pad or fresh ledge, here are a few of my favorite session locations. 

This map works much better if you have it in the "Hybrid" setting.

Double Daughter’s Salotto is a unique experience from the moment your eyes take hold of the door, which looks like the entrance to the Wizard of Oz. This 12 foot-tall door is a little intimidating, but don’t worry - you’ll be able to open it.

Walking through the golden door feels like you’re going from Oz into one of Picasso’s dream. Growing in between the booths and in the corners of the bar are lit up trees wrapped in black linen. The trees draw your eyes up to the ceiling to see that there are white doves floating throughout the lounge, creating a creepy awning of birds and lights that belongs in a Tim Burton movie.

Once you’ve taken in the surroundings and settle down in one of the many booths that look like melting wax, you’re likely to notice the aroma of fresh dough and cheese. No, you’re not going crazy - you do smell pizza in this lounge. Double Daughter’s has same owner as Mario’s, which is next door, and that’s why you will find pizzas by the slice or pie on the drink menu.

Be sure to check out the top lounge, which has a great view of the entire bar and DJ, with a lot of space, but still a very private feeling.

Double Daughter’s has put in a lot of thought in decorating, and everything has meaning and a story to it, going back to the Italian legend of the Double Daughters, who were Siamese twins that loved to climb trees and briefly joined the circus. All of the fixtures from the doves in the trees to the axes in the banisters relates to the Daughters. You just have to ask if you want the whole ghost story.

www.doubledaughters.com

1632 Market St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 623-3505

Breckenridge Brewery without question makes some of Colorado’s finest beers, and was created by Richard Squire in the 1980’s – a time when microbrewery was a strange concept - even to Coloradoans. Richard’s dream was to “ski all day and drink great beer all night.” He began making his beer blends at home, and they soon became a Breckenridge hit. In February, 1990 Richard opened the first Breckenridge Brewery & Pub in Breckenridge CO, and since then his brew blends have become a staple with Colorado beer drinkers, in part because Breck Brewery features a long list of original recipes and every changing seasonal creations. 

Going to Breckenridge Brewery, food is an afterthought, so don’t waste your time looking at the menu until you’ve decided on what brew you want to start with. The staff has an extensive knowledge of not only the beer’s taste, but also its brewing process, and can help you decide on the right beer for your palate. 

MapBuzz always recommends the Avalanche Amber Ale, which consists of caramel malts and a pinch of bittering hops, which possibly makes it our favorite ale ever! The new brew to try is the Agave Wheat Beer, which is the proper wheat reformulated three weeks ago using glucose instead of fructose, making it a more flavorful and healthier beer - so drink up.

Once you have your beer, it’s time for food. We recommend staying away from the BBQ. While the meat used is top quality, they drench it in a thin sauce, that lacks any original flavor and makes the meat uneatable.

The sandwiches and burgers are a regular’s favorite. MapBuzz recommends the California club sandwich, which has a plentiful amount of chicken and bacon, topped with avocados and an incredible mayo blend. The breads and buns at Breckenridge Brewery are full of flavor and make the burgers and sandwiches luxurious. The fries that comes with the entrees are some of the best fried potatoes we’ve ever had, cooked with the right balance of a crisp, lightly spiced outside and a smooth potato inside.

The shrimp and chips are a great pick if you’re not in the mood for a sandwich. The shrimps are large and full of flavor and make up for the cocktail sauce, which needs more of that after kick that separates it from marinara sauce.

The real reason anyone comes to Breckenridge Brewery is for the impeccably brewed beer, and great happy hour. But if you get hungry, you’ll be happy to find that food is prepared with the same care. Breckenridge Brewery is also just a hop-and-a-skip away from Coors Field, making it a must before or after Rockies’ games.

Average Meal: $21

www.breckbrew.com

2220 Blake St
Denver, CO 80205
(303) 297-3644

2220 Blake St Denver CO

L.A. has so many sushi restaurants that it can be hard to know where to go, especially if you don’t want to empty your wallet. East Japanese Restaurant stands out for its specials, which allows even starving artists to enjoy some fresh fish.

This mid-range sushi place is packed in the beginning of the week, and for good reason. On “Salmon Mondays” and “Tuna Tuesdays” you can get sashimi of the featured fish at $1 and rolls from $2-3.

The dining area’s bent wooden beams give you the feeling of being in an 18th Century fishing boat’s cabin. The crowd tends to be younger than not, probably because East is great for people on a budget.

The low prices make sense when you see the size of the rolls, which are mostly rice. “We only come to East for the specials,” says L.A. resident Parker Davis, “The rest of the time it’s not worth the trip.”

329 E 1st St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 437-0563

Pearl Street encompasses some of Denver’s hidden gems of restaurants, and one of the perennial standouts is Black Pearl. This contemporary American cuisine is mixed with an excellent wine list and romantic but lively environment.

The wooden floors and well-lit atmosphere gives the Black Pearl an elegance that matches its food. The rooms are not large but never feel crowded, and if you’re lucky enough to get a seat in the top level, you get a bird’s eye view of the restaurant and the passing scene on Pearl Street.

The tasting menu is a new addition to the Black Pearl. It consists of a three-course meal that changes every week, so there is always something new for the regulars.

The calamari is lightly breaded with a rich soy sauce, topped with diced green onions, lightly fried. Mac and cheese soufflé is a must for any first-timers to Black Pearl. It’s served in a mini hot pan and is a creamy mix of pasta shells, mushrooms, and three cheeses.

Black Pearl dishes have an amazing presentation, but all the toppings end up drowning out the flavor of the meats and fish.

You can sit outside around the campfire table, excellent for crisp spring nights in Denver. And this is a great spot to relax while waiting for your tables and start a bottle of wine.

The patio and sensual atmosphere make Black Pearl a great couples restaurant, especially on Sundays when almost everything on the menu – and wine menu - is half off! And being located away from downtown makes parking effortless.

www.BlackPearlDenver.com

1529 S Pearl St
Denver, CO 80210
(303) 777-0500

Denver doesn’t have many authentic diners that specialize in breakfast food, however Breakfast Queen is the one delicious exception, and it definitely offers the best morning meal in all of Denver.

Ask any regulars what they recommend and they’ll tell you to order the “Breakfast Queen.” The meal that dons the same name as the establishment consists of two eggs any way you want, homemade hash browns that are solid chunks of fried potatoes, two pancakes and your choice of crisp, thick bacon or sausage logs or patties.

Breakfast Queen is a one-room trucker style diner, with only a countertop separating the kitchen from the customers. In the back you’ll find the owner, who seems to be working everyday.

So if you’re working off the hangover from the night before, or have to be at work early and want a full meal that’ll keep you going all day, Breakfast Queen #2 is the best bang for your buck in all of Denver.

3454 South Broadway
Englewood CO 80113
Tel: 303-761-9800
Hours: 6:00 am to 3:00 pm