Denver is beginning to outshine Seattle as what some might call the coffee capital of the United States. Almost every other block in the metropolitan Denver area boasts some sort of coffee shop or coffee roaster, further attracting the creative class of the 21st century and naming Denver one of the most progressive cities in the nation.
Yes, you read that correctly. This is all because of coffee.
One block north of Alameda and Broadway, a member of the this rapidly emerging coffee scene stands. The Bardo Coffee House welcomes an eclectic crowd—locals, foreigners, artists, students, young and old, contemporary and traditional. Enter right off of Broadway just after Antique Row into its cozy living-room atmosphere. Non-imposing nor pretentious, the Bardo consistently presents a warm and inviting ambiance perfect for staying until ungodly hours of the night to study—open until 1 a.m. on weekdays and 3 a.m. on weekends—or catching up with old friends by playing some of the board games provided. Make sure to take some time relaxing in the back room on the rustic couches with one of their specialty drinks like the Blondie ($4.25 for a 16 ounce), a latte made with white chocolate and caramel, or the Viennese ($5 for a 16 ounce), a breve latte with whipped cream and nutmeg.
All of their coffee is from Kaladi Coffee Roasters, located just west of campus on Evans. Their ice cream is from Sweet Action, located just a few blocks north of the Bardo and their baked goods are from the Buffalo Doughboy and City Bakery. Impressive culinary quality is clearly not lacking at this coffee house, nor is their appreciation for local businesses.
On top of their appreciation for well-crafted coffee and pastries, the Bardo loves to recognize local Denver artists by presenting the opportunity to use their coffee house space to double as a gallery. Anyone can apply by printing out their Artist’s Application and reading over their Artist’s Agreement. No qualifications necessary—simply apply for the possibility of getting to hang your art on the Bardo’s cozy, urban brick walls.
Even despite this perfect score on the checklist of what makes a coffee shop trendy, the Bardo is not just any other hip cafe. While most close in early evening, the Bardo is open from 6 a.m. until 1 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and 6 a.m. until 3 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, making it the perfect location for late night study sessions or a necessary caffeine-fixing before an early start to your day.
To get to this delicious, multifaceted coffee house from DU without a car, simply take the H-line or E-line light rail north to the Alameda station, and the Bardo is just a 10-minute walk to the northeast.
