Wedged between Interstate 25 and the river, Denver’s Platte Street has always stood somewhat alone, anchored by beloved institutions like My Brother’s Bar (Denver’s oldest bar), Proto’s Pizza and the 13-year-old Denver Beer Co. But in recent years, a number of storefronts along Platte have sat vacant where lively watering holes and eateries once stood.
However, that lull is coming to an end with a wave of new restaurants and bars bringing fresh energy to the street. Earlier this year, The Denver Post reported on two spots slated to open on the corridor in 2025 — chef Jose Avila’s Malinche Audiobar, a listening bar specializing in mezcal and yakitori; and Insee Thai, a counter-service noodle joint from the team behind Daughter Thai.
“We are big believers in Platte Street,” said Morgan Sowell, asset manager with Asana Partners, which bought several historic buildings on the block two-and-a-half years ago. “With the corridor fully developed — including adaptive reuse of some properties in our portfolio — we have been able to draw an exciting mix of experiential dining and shopping tenants.”
Now, joining the mix are a cocktail lounge, a bagel shop, and a Scandinavian-inspired cafe — all recently opened or set to debut later this year. Here’s the lowdown.
The Devil’s Drink
Known for its over-the-top espresso martini menu, The Devil’s Drink is moving out of its tightly packed spot at 3330 Mariposa St. and into the former Luci’s Shambles & Provisions, a 5,000-square-foot space at 1553 Platte. The new layout provides the speakeasy vibe that owner Andrew Harris had always envisioned for the cocktail lounge.
“I was always infatuated with that space,” Harris said. “I love speakeasy concepts, that’s always been my favorite type of bar, and this definitely has that feel. It’s not a hidden door, exactly, but you do have to go a little out of your way and follow the clues to find the entrance.”
When it opens in mid-September, guests will enter through a tucked-away courtyard door, marked only with a martini logo, into the completely underground bar. Haunting red lighting and Gothic brick round out the dungeon-like atmosphere. The space will double as an upscale pool hall, something Harris’ business partner, Spencer Foote, wanted.
“It’s the space our concept deserves,” Harris continued. “People are going to be wowed when they walk in.”
With the larger digs, Harris will be able to offer small bites — think chips and caviar, oysters, and maybe even fondue. But it’s the espresso martinis that will truly impress. “Right now we have 15, and we’ll probably have a few more at the new spot,” Harris said. “We’re going to add at least two more for Halloween.” There will also be specialty creations around Christmas.
“There’s just a great vibe there,” Harris said of Platte Street. “A lot of traffic, great food and drink, a younger downtown crowd.”
Leroy’s Bagels
While The Devil’s Drink plans to take the graveyard shift, Leroy’s Bagels is covering the morning crowd. The bagel joint — its first location has been a Sloan’s Lake staple since 2015 — has been drawing long lines at its second location at 1549 Platte Street since opening on Aug. 2.
For owner Sarah Greene, it felt like fate when she found the Platte Street shop. “I’ve been looking for a space for years, so many near misses that just didn’t pan out. This was the first one that actually went all the way, and it just feels meant to be. Everything finally fell into place for us.”
The new store (formerly Habit Doughnut Dispensary) is double the size of Leroy’s original outpost at 4432 W. 29th Ave., and maintains the brand’s teal walls, with a clean and airy aesthetic. The bagel selection is also larger with the addition of long-requested flavors like pumpernickel, plus a daily in-house pastry program and an espresso bar.
“I’ve always gone down to Platte Street. I’ve always loved spending time there. I walk Commons Park a lot with my dogs, grab a beer at Denver Beer Co., or go to Daughter Thai,” Greene expressed. “[Before] I was really focused on Uptown for a second location. When I saw that Habit Doughnuts and Carbon Cafe both went out, I reached out to my broker and I was like, ‘I think I can shift and get out of my own head and look to other neighborhoods.’”
Kaffe Åre
Hailing from the same owners of Kaffe Landskap, which has two Denver locations, Kaffe Åre opened on the ground level of a new office building in April at 1701 Platte Street.
Owner Tomas Tjarnberg is originally from a town near the Swedish ski resort of Åre (from which the new shop borrows its namesake), but he opened a cafe in New York City in 2008 with the goal of creating an inclusive, non-pretentious environment where people from all walks of life could gather and socialize or enjoy a quiet moment. In 2019, he brought his brand of Scandinavian-inspired cafes to Denver, drawn to the active lifestyle.
“I personally love running, biking, skiing and all of that,” Tjarnberg said. “It’s very similar to the way I grew up in Sweden with lots of nature, so it was an obvious place to expand.”
Platte Street has “a unique energy,” he continued. “You have REI, which I visit often, and Fjällräven, the Swedish outdoor company, which resonates with me. There are also excellent cafes and restaurants, and the street’s location is ideal — close to the river, the nearby park, and just across the bridge from the Highlands.”
The cafe, which roasts its own beans in New York, offers a rotating menu of espresso beverages, teas, smoothies, juices, house-made pastries and sandwiches. Its intentionally minimalist design — with white walls, light wood accents and clean lines — reflects the brand’s health-conscious ethos.
“The response from the neighborhood has been very positive,” Tjarnberg said. “We’ve been getting lots of returning customers, not just from nearby offices, but also from people who live in the area, which is really encouraging.”
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