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Inside Denver’s Winter Olympics-Themed Pop-Up Bar

Wayward’s seasonal Podium bar is serving sports-themed drinks throughout the PyeongChang 2018 games

The Podium, Wayward’s Olympics-themed popup bar, is open Tuesday through Saturday throughout the Winter 2018 Games
| Jonathan Phillips

For the team behind the new Podium bar on Little Raven Street, this is its biggest year yet. In August partners Chad Michael George, Jared Schwartz, and Kade Gianinetti opened a sprawling restaurant, Wayward, in Riverfront Park. They’re getting ready to re-open their winning first bar, The Way Back, in Berkeley by the end of the month. And for the second time this winter, they’ve launched a pop-up bar in an adjacent space to the restaurant.

As with the last, Christmas-themed pop-up — Miracle on Little Raven — this one is a decked-out ode to the biggest event of the season. The Podium offers six TV screens for viewing the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. It’s got an Olympics-themed cocktail and food menu (see playful country-specific drinks and Korean-style bar snacks). And it provides hockey tables and shot skis for more active viewers, and couches and a chair lift for the relaxed watchers of the group. Eater photographer Jonathan Phillips stopped at the bar mid-week to find a packed house of drinkers and fans.

Status: The Podium is open at 1610 Little Raven Street, Suite 100 starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday through the end of the Winter Games, on February 25. Find more information for the restaurant and pop-up on Wayward’s website.

Wayward, at 1610 Little Raven Street Suite 100, has opened its popup bar for fans of the Olympic Games
Wayward has transformed the empty space next door into The Podium, an Olympic themed cocktail bar
Jonathan Phillips
A door in the right-hand corner of Wayward leads to The Podium, its Olympic themed cocktail bar
Jonathan Phillips
Jonathan Phillips
Jonathan Phillips
Jonathan Phillips

This picture of chef Tim Kirk, found behind the bar, is also a spoof on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un

The Podium isn’t just about food and drink, there are also games to compete in such as spin hockey and air hockey
Jonathan Phillips
Couches at The Podium provide comfortable seating for the Games
Jonathan Phillips
Actually watching the Olympics is possible on six television screens
Jonathan Phillips
Korean barbecue wings on The Podium’s food menu are fried twice for extra crispiness
Jonathan Phillips
Flags and torches make up some of the decor inside The Podium
Jonathan Phillips
Afour-person shot ski is an option at the bar of The Podium
Jonathan Phillips
So much glory
Jonathan Phillips
Air hockey is an official Olympic sport at The Podium
Jonathan Phillips
One couple can opt for the chairlift at The Podium
Jonathan Phillips
Bartender Ben Dowson adds the finishing touches to a cocktail at The Podium
Jonathan Phillips
Discussions of skating technique abound at The Podium
Jonathan Phillips
Fair-weather fans can get into their own winter games at The Podium
Jonathan Phillips

Wayward

1610 Little Raven St., Denver, CO 80202 Visit Website
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