Beneath the countless hip places to eat, drink and shop around LoDo’s Larimer Square is The Green Russell, a speakeasy-style cellar-bar offering a unique experience for even the most avid bar-hoppers. This spot has a sophisticated atmosphere and elaborate menu that make it a prime place to drink in Denver.
Entering The Green Russell is an incredible experience in itself. It appears to be diner-themed upon walking in, but the bar actually lies behind a discreet swinging door, which seems to lead to a kitchen. After slipping through this clever second entrance, the mood changes entirely. Lit almost completely by lanterns and candles, The Green Russell is dim, intimate and quiet. Classical music assists the mellow mood, and the roaring twenties-style interior confirms this bar as a completely awesome place to grab a drink. Feast your eyes upon the gold-framed mirrors, old school phone booth and leather seats while sipping on a classy cocktail from your bowtie-wearing waiter. Even the walls, made of rock and brick, capture this speakeasy style magnificently well. Everything about this place screams old-school authenticity.
The Green Russell is a fantastic place for couples. Nearly all the tables seat two, and there are even a few curtains for ultimate privacy. There are, however, three booths in the back that seat about six each, so don’t be afraid to bring a crew too. Make sure to call ahead of time to see if a reservation is necessary because this space is small and fills up quick.
Business people make up the crowd’s majority, so make sure to wear something decent unless you don’t mind some guy in a custom suit smirking over your t-shirt. Smirk back, however, because he’s probably missing college big time. Seriously though, it’s fun to dress up a bit and pretend to be classy for a drink or two.
Bar menus tend to be fairly bland and repetitive, but the same cannot be said at The Green Russell. They offer a crazy variety of cocktails with fantastically unforgettable names, such as the “I shaved my legs for this”, made with gin, orange juice, lemon juice, black pepper simple syrup and apricot liqueur. Or perhaps go for the “You’re killin me smalls”, made with a tornado of ingredients such as, gin, egg white, creme de violette, lime juice and lemon juice. You’ll be sipping better than most places near DU. For a totally custom beverage, ask for the bartender’s special. They’ll ask you what kind of tastes and spirits you’re into and make you one heck of a libation.
One cocktail alone will cost you about twelve bucks, so don’t plan on hunkering down for a full night of drinking. The food is equally expensive and should probably be avoided if you’re on the average college budget. However, if you do grab a bite to eat, there’s a fantastic variety of small plates such as the Brisket Sliders with taleggio, onions, peppers ($10) and the Potted Smoked Trout with tarragon, pesto and toasted baguette ($12).
For those trying to grab a real meal, the main entrance has a more obvious door into Russell’s Smokehouse, an all American-food restaurant under the same ownership as the Green Russell. They have good old-fashioned comfort dishes for a much more affordable price, and it’s a low-key spot to get grub downtown.
When it’s time to leave The Green Russell, it feels like you’re sneaking back into prohibition. Walking out of the cellar and back into the real world is a strange feeling that points to how distinctive the bar’s atmosphere really is. This place offers a fun experience that’s hard to match elsewhere in Denver, and it’s a must-see spot when wandering LoDo.
