The Pioneer Bar

This place is a dive bar. Parking is annoying, have to park several blocks away with street parking that doesn't have resident signs. Lots of seating downstairs and upstairs. I think it was mostly outdoor seating? I don't remember. But I saw dogs on the first floor patio. Not sure if dogs are allowed on the second floor. There were pool tables on the first floor. There was a table with a firepit on the second floor. TVs for sports.I got the chile rellenos. It was extremely underwhelming with no flavor. I asked for hot sauce so they gave me their house hot sauce but it was just OK with the hot sauce. The loaded nachos were just OK too.Def would not come back for the food.

Parking may be difficult to find. Only a few spots available on site.The ambiance inside is beautiful. With the music and variety of people talking, it's too loud inside for my taste. Upon arrival, the greeting was lackluster for a first timer. The customer service we experienced was below average. I was disappointed in our female server with long brown hair on this Wednesday evening. I had to wonder if she was high on marijuana.The food was enjoyable. We shared chicken nachos and buffalo wings. We also had two spicy margaritas that were enjoyable. I doubt we will be coming back for another visit. They had pool tables inside. The decor really is outstanding. I really think the disappointment in customer service is a reason to avoid any future experiences here. However, the female server that was helping the table next to us appeared to have a positive spirit. She had short hair and conducted herself like a manager.

Had a great experience here last night, drinks and chicken nachos, friendly helpful staff and a chill atmosphere sitting at the bar!

Very cool. Vibes. I have come now on a Saturday while school is out so can't speak to a "busy day" but the ability to sit inside or outside is awesome

I'm conflicted about this place because service is good and when it's slow it's great to play pool there but overall the vibes aren't incredible. I don't like their offensive 'boone' mascot on the rooftop but it's alright overall, margaritas are good.

A fun place. I mean, the ambience is primitive, but that doesn't bother me in the least. It adds to the charm. It's Mexican bar food but with a bit more attention paid than just throwing some chips and salsa in a pile. The sauces seem homemade, the tortillas have a nice fresh texture and the meat is properly cooked and well seasoned. Look at the drizzle of crema in some other pics! Props for using crema. Don't use a 13 year old reviews of the fish tacos. One last thing--are the staff young party people? Maybe! But I am here to party so that's not a problem at all. Enjoy the funky vibe and the well made food and have a tequila for me.

This old favorite neighborhood bar keeps slipping. Instead of opening or acquiring more restaurants, maybe focus on maintaining the old ones. Since 2020 when the cook of the evening was throwing pots and pans across the kitchen (which you could see from the bar) and we had to ask the bartenders to please go talk with him because it was so violent and uncomfortable, this place has never been the same. From watery queso with a couple of nuggets of chorizo in it (which apparently doesn't even exist on the menu any more) to burnt tostada chips, to tonight's horrible presentation of the once famous, delicious, stacked chicken nachos. I mean these were the best nachos in town. I have been eating them since 2012! Each individual chip was loaded with beans and cheese and chunks of chicken. There were 4 pieces of chicken on this entire batch, unmelted cheese (not even room temp) and brown guacamole. And why is there no bottled hot sauce anymore? The bartender comped, nice, but what would have been nicer would have been those nachos from years past. You can't blame a new cook, you have to have management who cares to train and watch what's going out of the kitchen. So disappointing.

I'd give 10 stars if I could! I've been in town for a barbershop harmony society conference this week on the campus of DU. Campus rules stated no singing after 10 PM which is a travesty for barbershoppers but The Pioneer stepped up and committed to staying open until 2 AM every night that we were in town so that we would have a place to gather and sing together. The drinks were great and the food was amazing (definitely recommend the nachos). And even when they were completely packed with people they were able to make drinks quickly and accurately. An all around great atmosphere and a wonderful business to go out of their way to accommodate us.

Spent a week in Denver, this was the only bar we went to and they refused service to a friend because she had a vertical ID but was of age.... It's a government issued document... stay away from this place!! The ambiance is a little weird too. KEEP CLEAR

Some of the male bartenders seem to have one gear, regardless of how busy they are. I thinks the name of this gear is "glacial pace," which exists somewhere between neutral and first. Additionally, all of the bartenders pour some of the the weakest drinks in Denver. This seems to be a universal theme - and an odd business model.