The Most Flavorful Cocktail Bars in Aurora

W XYZ Bar

★★★★☆ 4 (4)

"Hip and laid back. Nice staff and pretty bar! Not crazy busy but they have a decent selection of liquor. It's also not over priced for a hotel bar and I could go here even if I just want to have a chill night. They are always playing good music and the furniture is extremely comfortable. Drinks are made well and the bartenders are always happy to make something new that they haven't heard of."

Work & Class

★★★★★ 4.5 (1819) • $$

"Came at 5 pm on a Wednesday for early dinner and there was no wait. I tried a cucumber mint limeade with gin, then my boyfriend and I shared the jalapeño cornbread muffins, massive attack salad, 1/4 lb coriander roasted Colorado lamb and chickpea croquettes. Everything was pretty tasty and it was more than enough food for the two of us!"

Bamboo Sushi

★★★★☆ 3.8 (6)

"I love Bamboo in LoHi so I was super excited to see one open up closer to me. Stopped in for lunch on Valentine's Day and ordered my usual favs. The King Salmon was sadly super thin and did not taste as fresh as usual. The green machine roll was great. The spicy tuna crispy rice was not good. The rice was over cooked and hard. I'm chocking it up to being newly opened and still needing to train the staff and hope to give this spot other try in 6 months. Until then, I'll be driving further to the LoHi location."

Riot House

★★★☆☆ 2.7 (25)

"I was soo excited to go here. Just to find out they don't even play dierks music or any country music in fact. That was disappointing. The wait staff was fine but definitely not the vibe I was expecting"

Parisi

★★★★☆ 4 (684) • $$

"Really mediocre pizza served with a side of surliness. Pizza crust is floppy and quite unappealing. Best thing was the gelato All flavors were bland.Much prefer Marcos, Blue pan, and homegrown tap and dough"

Middleman

★★★★☆ 4.2 (91) • $$

The Secret Garden

★★★★☆ 4.2 (29)

"Lots of people are butt hurt at this automatic 19% service charge - so don't come. I am def a fan of this place. Otherwise - it's a lovely spot on the park, few parking spots in front if u don't live within walking distance in the hood, and lots of fabulous outdoor and indoor seating.I love that I can grab my Americano and a healthy salad. It's not going to be cheap - but this isn't your Mission star Beckon sit-down.Yes, things cost more now a days and they tell you upfront about this service charge. This is not a table service place. It's still take a number for food or wait for your coffee."

Li'l Devils Lounge

★★★★☆ 4.3 (80) • $

"Best bar experience since Covid, and it would've ranked highly even before. All the staff were charming/unique but Dick made our night, making us laugh and teasing the shit out of us/taking it back.Solid pours, felt like part of the (dysfunctional?) family!I will return when next in Denver!"

Reckless Noodle House

★★★★☆ 4.2 (129)

"I ordered the reckless fried rice and it was so flavorful, the pork belly was so tender and cooked perfectly The atmosphere is really nice and had a jungle like aesthetic. We sat at the bar and the food took around 20 mins. We also came in one a Thursday night at 7 and we got the last 2 seats at the bar so this place can get pretty busy for dinner"

Great Scotts Eatery

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (195) • $$

"Great food and atmosphere with a 1950' ambiance.I eat here every time I am in the area."

Sarahi's Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4 (5)

Hudson Hill

★★★★★ 4.5 (375) • $$

"Just stopped by for a place to work and a coffee. There is plenty of seating and it's a great ambiance to get a little work done. The coffee was good, the right smoothness. Great lighting and friendly staff. I can definitely see myself coming back for a cocktail or a little bite."

Junction Food and Drink

★★★★☆ 4.1 (105) • $$

"Junction is getting there!! I discovered this super cool food hall because I wanted coffee at Sonder and thought there would be a place to hang out for a few hours to get work done... SURPRISE!! It's not a café. Lots of great eateries (and a bar) to enjoy every hour of the day. Still not crazy busy like Avanti, Edgewater, or Milk Market, so take advantage while you can.Love the visibility of AV, subconsciously promoting private event space options to planner nerds like me. My main issue with Junction is that it's unclear where to bus dishes and glasses after meals. Other than that, I love the variety of cuisines represented. Solid selection of caffeine and booze. Wide availability of trash receptacles and restrooms. I've been here twice already, and it's a go-to suggestion for hangouts when I'm in the area.P.S. Cocktails at the bar are fantastic! There's also beer and wine. With only one person working, it can take awhile just for a single drink... worth it if you're not rushed. I had a Skinny Paloma, which was expertly crafted. Probably why cocktails take forever."

Santo Remedio

★★★★☆ 3.6 (42)

"If you're looking for a patio on Tennyson and some good food this is the place for you! They also have misters to help with any hot temps. I came here with my boyfriend during the hot days we've been having and grabbed a margarita and some dinner. The food was great and the margs were even better haha. The staff were very friendly and the atmosphere was awesome. Definitely check this place out and grab a tasty marg:)"

Queens Eleven

★★★★★ 4.5 (43)

"About time I wrote a review update! So glad that Queens Eleven is still open and doing well. It's my go-to spot in RiNo for a quick caffeine hit or cocktail when I'm in between appointments. Their espresso martini is fantastic, and their cold brew is strong. Customer service is fantastic, and the interior is so swanky. I love hanging out at the bar on my laptop. Definitely going to continue supporting this local business in the future!"

Blanco Cocina + Cantina

★★★★☆ 3.9 (279) • $$

"I remember when Blanco landed in Denver a few years back. I was blown away by the beautiful build out and their dedication to revitalizing this part of town. Years later, it's grown into one of my favorite chain restaurants because the food, service and cocktails are consistently top notch!Our last visit solidified it being a go-to when in this part of town. 9+Co has plenty of options, albeit many chain-type places. Blanco (and their other concept, Culinary Dropout) have always separated themselves from the rest.*Don't miss the weekday happy hour (3-6pm) and all day on Tuesdays*WARM QUESO ($13) -- Guacamole, Sour Cream, Pico de Gallo. We added Ground Beef ($3) and this elevated the already good queso into G R E A T queso. Chips were salted and perfectly crispy. The queso had the texture we all crave and love, and with the surrounding accoutrements we were devouring it faster than a race car at the Indy 500.TIGER SHRIMP FAJITAS ($23) -- Spicy Garlic Butter, Served with Caramelized Peppers & Onions, Elote, Guacamole, Pico De Gallo & Queso Blanco. Choice of Black or Charro Beans. I can't tell you the last time I ordered fajitas, but I'm really glad I ordered these. The amount of food alone was worth the price of admission. The shrimp were plump and juicy and had a great snap. The tortillas are made in house and you can absolutely taste the difference.Not to mention, my Cadillac Margarita, and even the salsa that came with the chips to begin the meal, were excellent. I literally have zero negatives at Blanco. Service is always spot on, and the vibes (whether indoors or on the patio) are always lively and fun.Impressed with this place since day one. No signs of slowing down. Check 'em out if you want a delicious meal in a trendy setting!"

Velvet Elk Lounge

★★★★☆ 4 (17)

"When a friend reached out and said his brother's band was making a pit stop in Boulder, we knew exactly how we wanted to spend our Friday night!Boulder, Bluegrass and friends? What could be better?Located just off the Pearl Street Mall - this intimate, cozy venue makes for the perfect spot for drinks and music. With the variety of seating, extended dance floor and stage, the unassuming little spot is much bigger than anticipated. The rustic yet chic interior creates one hell of a vibe that was easily felt by all! SO fun!Bartenders were friendly, fun and willing to go the extra mile when it came to fun cocktails and made sure we enjoyed our time in between sets!Cheers to good friends, good music and a new favorite venue up north!"

Salita

★★★★★ 4.5 (26)

"What a great find!! The same bartenders from the green russel have come over after the closing of the Larimer location (lease reasons). Drinks are fancy. Bartenders are incredible and the ambience is to die for. This painting makes me want to come back over and over. To make it even better, Luca is next door and the food there is the best in Denver!"

Mecha Noodle Bar

★★★★☆ 4.2 (13)

"They hail from the East Coast and just opened in RiNo next to Corsica and in the former Stem Cider location. This is actually a much welcomed addition to the Asian food scene in the area without being Hop Alley prices. You can actually come here multiple times a week - especially during their M/F 3-6pm HH with 50% their munchies (lots of good apps) and sake. The music is slightly loud if you are bringing your kids but you can entertain them with Naruto playing in the background.The Pros:1) Bar Seating, lots of room for groups and I hope they will have outdoor seating soon? 2) Very good service bc I always had water 3) The Red Oil Dumpling with pork and shrimp was my favorite. The huge amounts of herbs and spices were great. 4) Mushroom Miso Dumplings are a must for all the carnivores please 5) Bao Buns were good and I got the Soft Shell Crab but maybe the batter was slightly heavy. They should be on HH too!6) Kale Salad was a Kale Salad but helped cut the saltiness of some of the food and the sauces7) Lots of mocktails and cocktails and sake offerings. The drink menu is larger than the food menu. The Cons:1) OMG. They have the off-brand fake sriracha sauce. You know what I'm talking about when the original OG rooster sauce with the green cap was like MIA bc they had a supply chain issue. It's no longer an issue and they use the off-brand stuff here. I saw it on the shelves bc they put their sauces in smaller bottles but that is foul. How you have Pho without the OG sauce? So skip that - ask for the hot chilli oil. 2) Hard Hard Past on the Tuna Handroll. It was totally not really fresh and mushy and the rice was hard. It is not the Source Hotel handroll Temaki joint. 3) So - I actually liked the ramen broth, but the noodles weren't the ramen springy noodles. So Osaka is still better here. They were like the thin Loi Mein noodles. I knew they are still working out their service and being that this is walkable for me.. I will def be back for HH to try their wings and Pho offerings with brisket and Marrow. Don't expect federal Blvd Asian authentic food and vibes but I always welcome this Asian fusion date night spot to RiNo. Actually - I hope they do well and I'll be back."

Casa Agave

★★★★☆ 3.6 (50) • $$

"The best of the best in Longmont in regards to Mexican food and strong drinks that would knock even the Chupacabra out after a few. Super friendly staff and most are bilingual which is awesome. Some of the best food I've ever had, no joke! The dishes are so well made, huge servings, and so fresh. For starters try the queso dip. It's served on a sizzling fajitas platter with chorizo mixed in and I swear it made me closer to god. Any of the main courses are ideal, and there are so many things to choose from. The chicken dishes are so damn good! Everything is good! They also make so many awesome margarita options, make sure to explore the menu to see them all before ordering. Can't wait to go back to this place due to the friendly staff, amazing food options, and great ambience. Vámonos!"

My Neighbor Felix Boulder

★★★★☆ 3.6 (245) • $$

"My wife and I love the ambiance, but the food and service are always disappointing. The margaritas taste like they don't have any liquor in them. In fact, the bartender offered us free ones because he'd made too much for other customers, but we turned them down because of the taste and just had more water.We've been 4 times, and service always takes forever. It doesn't seem to matter if the place is full or empty.The food is fine. It's generally pretty bland. Our guacamole came out somewhat brown, so it'd been sitting out for a while. Nachos looked great but were surprisingly tasteless. After those, not wanting to be disappointed again, my wife just skipped ordering an entree.Everyone was nice and the place looked great. If you're looking for good Tex-Mex: Efrain's. If you want (okay) mod Mex: BarTaco. Excellent fast casual Mex: Nopalito's."

Locales Tacos Y Tequila

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (33)

"Sigh. Disappointing on multiple levels. The food - very tiny portions priced very high. Service - prompt, but not charming and I guess the bartender had just been having a cigarette outside, because when he came over and exhaled, the cigarette smoke came out. Ugh. That's so 1970. The ambience? None. I live in this neighborhood, and when I saw the signs go up a few months ago, I groaned. There are some very good taco places within walking distance. Why would anyone open up yet another one, particularly at this level? The rest of the menu is not inspiring. Need a taco? Skip this place and go anywhere else."

The Canyon House

★★★★★ 4.5 (2)

"This place is the proverbial hidden gem. I never knew there was a restaurant over in this development. We had reservations which were handled professionally and on time. We were seated right by the fireplace service was quick and the food was incredible. The drinks were also very good and unique. It's not a huge place so as they get more popular, it might be challenging. The bread pudding for dessert was especially good. They also have a great wine list."

Snooze, an A.M. Eatery

★★★★☆ 4.3 (153) • $$

"Despite this being chain in several states, it does not disappoint! The menu made it nearly impossible to choose what to order because everything looked SO GOOD. I settled on the pork belly jasmine fried rice and shared the pancake sampler with my friend. I also had the greens juice (could have done without any ice, usually pressed juices aren't served with ice.) The food was delicious and the server was super friendly as well! I was able to get free parking two minutes down the road which was ideal as well."

Point Easy

★★★★★ 4.7 (57)

"WHAT A HIDDEN GEM! AMAZING NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT!We spent a night in Denver before our morning flight back home, and we're glad we finished our recent Colorado trip on a high note!We arrived at around 5:30pm, and the place was quite packed already - no surprise as it was New Year's Eve! Glad we made a reservation, and we were seated right away.Service was amazing! Our server was very attentive, friendly, and considerate. We were going to order some appetizers first as we needed more time to decide on main courses. He politely asked us to place food order all at once since the kitchen was busier than usual due to holiday season. We appreciated his full transparency, and his tone and the way he handled the situation was perfect - he took good care of their kitchen crew without offending the customers!Their cocktail was probably the best I've had during the whole trip. I had the "Birdwatcher" (bourbon based), a refreshing cocktail that's well balanced between citrusy and bitterness.I'll highlight a few dishes we had from that night:- Persimmon Carpaccio + Truffle: this is an item from the "kitchen fun" section of their menu, and honestly we didn't even know what to expect. It turned out to be a very pleasant surprise! Persimmon's sweetness and truffle's earthiness complimented each other nicely, and the nuts on top added more texture to it!- Beet & Chicory Salad: just imagine having a bite mixed with sweetness from beets, citrusy from grapefruit, richness from goat ricotta cheese, and chewiness from pistachio. This is so satisfying! - Truffled Mushroom Tagliatelle: what a great change from the lighter carpaccio / salad dishes to a "full-body" pasta dish. Without surprise, the truffle butter further enhanced the nutty and earthy flavor of the porcini mushroom, and the pasta was cooked to perfection.We thoroughly enjoyed our experience at Point Easy, and will definitely visit again when we're in the area next time!"

Uncle

★★★★☆ 4.3 (334) • $$

"Time for a mini updated review! The main reason to visit THIS Uncle location is because it takes reservations. At this point, I really only go to order the Veggie Khao Soi which is one of the best things on their menu. The starters are delicious as well, especially the Crab Buns. Oh, and a side of crispy tofu is a must!! I personally like sitting at the bar and watching the chefs work their magic. Still wish they had hot sake but will always come back to satisfy my ramen craving in-restaurant or to-go."

School House Kitchen & Libations

★★★★☆ 3.5 (958) • $$

"Something has changed...And I love it! The food has improved. Plates and ingredients seem purposeful and in harmony. (BRISKET TACOS = YUM!) Bloody Marys are flavorful, garnished, and don't break the pocket. This place is charming! After a few elementary-level whelmed trips to school house over the last few years , they have graduated to a place where you want to go and study the whisky selection."

Sorry Gorgeous

★★★★☆ 3.9 (8)

"I'm a fan. This is a rooftop cocktail bar with one of the best Denver Skylines. It's not a huge place but there have a lot of outdoor seating. I would opt for the velvet couches but the bar was lively too.It's a small menu with N.A. options without me asking with a very very small snack menu. I don't know if all the pairings of cocktails and food make sense but I like the vibe.Tips:1) Park at the novel garage bc it's for shops too2) It's in the Novel building so do not be thrown off from the residential exterior3) make a reservation if u want a window seat view4) great for medium size groups and date nights Put on something sexy and take yourself back to an art deco decor."

Los Arcos Mexican Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (347) • $$

"I came to this place on Mothers Day and the place was packed! but the service was quick and we were seated right away. Upon entry the hostess gave all the moms a single long stemmed rose and free margaritas! The menu was loaded with tons of delicious foods of both Mexican and American varieties. After ordering our food arrived freshly prepared which was both pleasing to the eye as well as to the tastebuds. The servings were so big that we had to ask for several to go boxes. Great service all around."

Cuba Cuba Sandwicheria

★★★★☆ 4.1 (304) • $

"I'm pretty picky and this one is near perfection! I get the Picadillo. I know it may seem simple and rather American, but the beef is seasoned so well. And it is so good with the black beans and plantains. Don't judge me. The beans are perfect. The plantains are amazing. And I get a side of tostones (not greasy). This is big enough to share or to have two meals! Sometimes I get a little ham croquette as a little treat. Also delicious and not oily or greasy. Thanks for having awesome food for me to enjoy! 10/10 would do it again. 10/10 on speed for the delivery, too. Skrt skrt!!"

Elevated Q

★★★★☆ 3.8 (93)

"First off, a shout out to our server, Elle. She did a great job waiting on us! We had two toddlers with us and we were also celebrating an adult birthday, and she really took good care of all of us. The food was really good! We shared wings, loaded fries, a platter of turkey and brisket. I recommend all of them! They also had a good kids meal so we were all happy. The happy birthday pecan pie was delicious with plenty to share with the table. Nice atmosphere. We enjoyed everything."

Sinners & Saints

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (49)

"Celestial mural on the back wall and an eclectic assortment of tables and chairs makes for an interesting decor, but it still remains a little bland. Very friendly service and tasty eats. Spendy."

Acreage

★★★★☆ 3.6 (474) • $$

"Come for the view and if you enjoy ciders. We have sat inside and out. I am not generally a cider fan but it was fun to enjoy a flight. I like the chili cider. On hot days the have a cool mist going which is a nice feature."

Laws Whiskey House

★★★★★ 4.7 (102) • $

"This is my second time doing their tour. It is always great, and I learn a ton. The whisky I really enjoy! They also have an agave spirit that is so good if you like tequilas. I will be back, especially when you open up next door!"

Welton Room

★★★★★ 4.6 (261)

"AMAZING time at @weltonroom to enjoy their dining and drinks menu. Favorite was the mocktail featured in the first video called the Passion Fruit. I also enjoyed the Carajillo and Green Global cocktails too! PEI Mussels Broccolini Gnocchi Carajillo Green GlobalPassion Fruit (Mocktail)"