Welcome to Eater's "dinner and a show" series, wherein the experts help you plan your perfect night out - broken down by the city's top notch music venues and the neighborhoods surrounding them.
This week, we focus on West Denver's charming Oriental Theater and the growing neighborhood it calls home. The Oriental is a 1920's era, small to mid-sized venue with a calendar chock-full of local and national musical acts, comedy shows and film/sports screenings. Take your date to one of these fine establishments before your next show.
Easily one of Denver's hottest breweries of the moment, Call to Arms is right around the corner from the Oriental, and the perfect spot to show off your excellent taste in beer to your date before a show.
This family-run Greek restaurant is the O.G. of the Berkeley 'hood, and would make for a romantic, Mediterranean-themed date night. An eatery that more often than not takes the cake for the best Greek cuisine in town, and boasts a snappy cocktail program to boot, Axios is a staple in Berkeley. Pictured below is the "Ouzo Sunrise." Opa!
One of Berkeley's finest, Hops & Pie packs the house every single night with its tap list (easily one of the best in town) and excellent pies. It would be a low-key date spot to fuel up on pizza and beer before dancing it all off at the Oriental. Try to arrive early to avoid the crowds.
Two words: fried chicken. Quite possibly the best pre-game known to man. Everything else on the dinner menu at Block & Larder is also on point, but we find it hard to stray too far from the crispy bird. This would be a great option for a slightly more classed-up pre-show meal.
The Nip in Sip is a quick jaunt up 44th from the Oriental Theater and has an atmosphere with the perfect amounts dive and lounge. If stiff cocktails and moody dive bar vibes are for you, this would be a great destination before or after a show.
Local 46 is a go-to beer bar for Berkeley residents. It has fun, boisterous vibes and a massive patio for the warmer months. There is often live music at this watering hole - if the band billed at the Oriental doesn't have an opener, seek out your own!
Parisi is located directly across Tennyson from the Oriental and would be a good option for standard Italian fare and wine. The Italian eatery has two components: the Parisi fast-casual unit and the Firenze a Tavola sit-down dining experience. Sweep your date off of his/her feet with Tuscan style cuisine in a romantic setting before laying your dance moves on thick.
Spice up your night at this bistro serving Mexico City style food, tequila and beer. Cocktails here are a highlight and a great way to pre-game for a show.
Atomic Cowboy has moved itself and its little sisters, Fat Sully's Pizza and the Denver Biscuit Company, into the happening Berkeley neighborhood. The beer list is always excellent here, the vibe friendly and convivial, and the bar snacks on-point.
There is certainly no shortage of good beer flowing in Berkeley. Berkeley Untapped has a killer beer list in addition to kombucha on tap, a great wine selection, whiskey and cocktails. Food is limited at this neighborhood bar, but you and your date will both benefit from the range of drink options before your show.
Brazen is the only spot we've included that lies on the opposite side of 38th Ave., but we think it's worth the walk from the Oriental. The menu is thoughtful and the space is intimate - perfect for a dinner date. If you find yourself starving post-show, Brazen serves up a late night menu, in which the ramen is not to be missed and cocktails go on happy hour.
West End is a great addition to the Berkeley neighborhood. The food menu has options large and small that will surely appeal to just about everyone, as well as a pages-long selection of draughts, bottles and canned beer. Cheers!
Get your pad thai fix at Swing Thai before boogeying directly across the street at the Oriental. The local chain serves solid thai fare and cheap booze to fuel your dancing fire.
Easily one of Denver's hottest breweries of the moment, Call to Arms is right around the corner from the Oriental, and the perfect spot to show off your excellent taste in beer to your date before a show.
This family-run Greek restaurant is the O.G. of the Berkeley 'hood, and would make for a romantic, Mediterranean-themed date night. An eatery that more often than not takes the cake for the best Greek cuisine in town, and boasts a snappy cocktail program to boot, Axios is a staple in Berkeley. Pictured below is the "Ouzo Sunrise." Opa!
One of Berkeley's finest, Hops & Pie packs the house every single night with its tap list (easily one of the best in town) and excellent pies. It would be a low-key date spot to fuel up on pizza and beer before dancing it all off at the Oriental. Try to arrive early to avoid the crowds.
Two words: fried chicken. Quite possibly the best pre-game known to man. Everything else on the dinner menu at Block & Larder is also on point, but we find it hard to stray too far from the crispy bird. This would be a great option for a slightly more classed-up pre-show meal.
The Nip in Sip is a quick jaunt up 44th from the Oriental Theater and has an atmosphere with the perfect amounts dive and lounge. If stiff cocktails and moody dive bar vibes are for you, this would be a great destination before or after a show.
Local 46 is a go-to beer bar for Berkeley residents. It has fun, boisterous vibes and a massive patio for the warmer months. There is often live music at this watering hole - if the band billed at the Oriental doesn't have an opener, seek out your own!
Parisi is located directly across Tennyson from the Oriental and would be a good option for standard Italian fare and wine. The Italian eatery has two components: the Parisi fast-casual unit and the Firenze a Tavola sit-down dining experience. Sweep your date off of his/her feet with Tuscan style cuisine in a romantic setting before laying your dance moves on thick.
Spice up your night at this bistro serving Mexico City style food, tequila and beer. Cocktails here are a highlight and a great way to pre-game for a show.
Atomic Cowboy has moved itself and its little sisters, Fat Sully's Pizza and the Denver Biscuit Company, into the happening Berkeley neighborhood. The beer list is always excellent here, the vibe friendly and convivial, and the bar snacks on-point.
There is certainly no shortage of good beer flowing in Berkeley. Berkeley Untapped has a killer beer list in addition to kombucha on tap, a great wine selection, whiskey and cocktails. Food is limited at this neighborhood bar, but you and your date will both benefit from the range of drink options before your show.
Brazen is the only spot we've included that lies on the opposite side of 38th Ave., but we think it's worth the walk from the Oriental. The menu is thoughtful and the space is intimate - perfect for a dinner date. If you find yourself starving post-show, Brazen serves up a late night menu, in which the ramen is not to be missed and cocktails go on happy hour.
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