Here's the deal on The Astoria in Fort Collins. It's changed owners a number of times. It's origin is of being a bank converted to a restaurant, then another restaurant (Vietnamese even!) and to a another place where it sits now as more of a bar then a restaurant with the owners coming from New York. What does all this mean? Well, it's an interesting feeling when you sit down with a drink and reflect on the history and character from all the years of the building being used in different ways.
The entire interior is red paint with grandiose 16'-18' tall ceilings. There's eclectic paintings on the walls even one of Kramer from that infamous Seinfeld episode. The actual wooden bar is old & beautiful. And you can actually see where the bank teller booths are covered up on the far wall if you look close enough. There's a back patio with a pool table under lattice work and a Budweiser sign hanging above making it great to sit under during warmer days.
The Astoria has a Sunday Brunch from 12PM-5PM with Chicken and Waffles, Eggs Benedict, Breakfast Burritos, Cuban Sandwiches and other breakfast items. On Wednesdays they have open mic night w/ performances (begins May 29th, 2013) at 8PM. And there's a Dance Party Cabaret on Saturdays at 10PM. This place has character and right now it's trying to bring a bit of night life East Coast style to the FC downtown. Some of my favorite drafts are on tap but this would also be a good place to get a Vodka Martini or Absinthe. It's worth checking out but I don't see myself being a regular here.
The Astoria was rated as a place for the post college crowd and it is a nice place, but I felt the night I went it was nothing but twenty-somethings ordering drinks by quantity, not quality. The food was very good and atmosphere interesting. I will go back for the food, but there is no comparison to Jay's or Ace's.
Review Source:Astoria has been on my "to try" list for a while now and it finally came to fruition last week for happy hour with a friend. Â The space is small but nice and there wasn't a large crowd the night we went.
Not being terribly hungry I ordered just the plantain chips. Â Plantains are one of my favorite foods and I always get excited when I see them on the menu. Â Thinking I wouldn't be able to eat the whole basket, I found myself staring at the bottom within twenty minutes. Â Yes, that good. Â They were served two ways - one in long thin crispy strips with just the right amount of salt and the other was sliced and lightly pan fried. Â On the side I opted for the cilantro aoili. Â
My friend ordered the Cuban sandwich and although I didn't try a bite, it looked tasty and she didn't leave any behind so I take that as a good sign.
On the drink side, I was surprised at some of the prices. Â I opted for a beer/sparkling wine/pear syrup cocktail which I've completely forgotten the name of. Â Hands down, it was fantastic but at $8 (and during Happy Hour too), I only ordered 1. Â Same thing for the salted caramel martini my friend ordered (which I tried and it was delicious). Â Some of the beers were discounted during Happy Hour.
Overall, we had a great service and food and while we liked the drinks, Happy Hour prices they were not.
I love the Astoria! From its unique and warm atmosphere to the service and food offerings, it has become a favorite in Fort Collins. The food is exceptional and the menu is unlike any other in town. I really enjoy the appetizers in particular. They're heavy enough to constitute "dinner" and go well with the array of local beers offered. Fun vibe, cool ambiance, occasional live music, great food, good service. An all-around "WIN" for Fort Collins.
Review Source:Non-responsive employees, over priced and a hair in one of their specialty drinks. Sad, so sad. I like the fireplace and the artwork. The lack of service makes this a nix for the foco night on the town. If only you stopped to notice the thirsty patrons exiting in droves, you could make a killing. It's a Saturday night and you have twenty people in the bar.
Review Source:I have been so excited to eat at this place. Â Currently Great Plates is going on so they were offering a good deal. Â The seating was awkward and the service was fine. Â The appetizers were phenomenal and made me so excited for the rest of the meal. Â Unfortunately, the main course did not have a lot or really any flavor. Â The desert was good. Â I am always looking for a place to take out of town guests for my job. Â I don't think I will be adding this place to the rotation. Â It is a shame. Â The decor is great, but they need more tables to avoid turning away several patrons. Â I would like this place to stay open but from what I observed they are fighting an uphill battle with what appears to be inexperienced management and servers. Â You should not have to ask if my empty water glass needs to be refilled only to never refill it.
Review Source:What a great bar! All red on the inside which gives it a goth kind of feel. We were there on Wednesday in the middle of the week, so not much was going on. A few people on the patio in the back, but that's about it.
That means we had time to chat with the bartender who was super helpful. Not only did he make great drinks, he showed us a more scenic way to get to the Rockies. (We were planning to just take the highway the whole time.)
They seem to have a Cuban theme, and even have a flaming drink that gave my husband quite the hangover the next day. Awesome.
When the Vault closed, old town was lacking a local's kind of place that was big enough to accommodate a crowd, but small enough to still feel intimate. When it was announced that a new lounge called Astoria would open, we thought (or knew) redemption might be at hand. After a visit and a few drinks, Astoria has proven to be a top - notch kind of cocktail place and raised the "bar" in old town.
Atmosphere: Â The walls have been painted several shades of red with hints of gold, giving it an old time swank feel. Â The actual bank vault is still there and inside of the vault room hangs local art work. There are tables throughout, with chairs and bench seats, and a few couches near the fireplace. The vaulted ceilings and old architecture gives the whole place a very Gothic feel. The patio in the back is still reminiscent of the old vault, but has been painted in shades of orange.
Service: Â Service was great at the bar and the bartenders know their drinks. The entire staff seemed like they genuinely enjoyed their jobs and were having a good time taking care of their patrons.
Drinks: The bar is fully stocked with a well-rounded variety of higher end liquors. The drink menu has a Latin theme in tune with the Cuban food menu. With twelve tap handles, they offer a great selection of Colorado crafted beers and not just the bigger brew houses..
Food: Â We were in for the drinks on this occasion, but a couple of the patrons said that the Cuban fair being served is delicious. The menu is pretty simple offering appetizers, salads, entrees and desserts all for under $10.
The Old Town bar scene is often cast in an unforgiving light with stories of irresponsibility, immaturity, and violence. When the sun goes down and the stars come out over Old Town Square, we mostly hear about an atmosphere that appeals to those living young, wild, and free. Such stories leave the impression that there's nothing notable about our local nightlife if you're over the age of 30. But, I beg to differ. Aside from the classy Ace Gillett's lounge, Fort Collins now has another respectable hangout for those who are looking for a unique spot to sip a cocktail over conversation- The Astoria Bar.
The Astoria Bar replaced The Vault in February of 2012. Owners Peter Munro and Lindsey Anderson remodeled the entire space, creating a large bar stocked with international spirits. There are sultry tones of red and gold from floor to ceiling and a chandelier that exudes style and soft light. Fortunately, they kept the historic bank vault from when it was originally the Commercial Bank & Trust Co. in 1907. The seating isn't that comfortable, but it's worth it to stop by for a Dark and Stormy and some Cuban cuisine from the kitchen.
Most of the bars in town aren't exactly known for their food. The Astoria brings something different to Fort Collins - it's the only Cuban-specific menu available in the city. Because this is a bar, it is bar food, but it's better than most.
Many people have asked me where to find the best Cuban sandwich in Fort Collins. Well, the answer is here. The hefty meal is filled to the brim with pork. The salty, savory, tangy combination is fantastic. Being quite large, it's enough to split with someone, or if you go at it alone, there's no need to order anything else. This will satiate your hunger for days. It was large enough that I had to bring the leftovers home.
With many of the Fort Collins bars catering to partying college students, the more relaxed places are a little difficult to find. If a unique Old Town hangout with quality drinks and savory, spicy Cuban food is on your wishlist, make sure to swing in The Astoria Bar when the stars shine over Old Town Square. When the shadows come out, it's not always irresponsibility, immaturity, and violence. You can find cocktails, conversation, and Cuban flavor.
The Astoria is simultaneously sophisticated and laid back. The clientele and scene are relaxed-- It's a great place to go if pushing your way through a packed bar of college kids isn't your thing.
In addition, the staff is really friendly and knowledgeable (they make by FAR the best Dark and Stormy in town-- even better than at Elliott's) and the food (cuban style tapas) is amazing.
Nicely done! A good vibe and nice decor make this a new fav spot for those who are not the college $1 beer crowd and yet not the in bed by 6 after shuffleboard crowd. Reminds me of places in Portland... hip but not pretentious.
Good little wine list, leaning heavily on the Italian side I knew most.
Try the cucumber jalepeno drink, it's smooth and i'm not even a hard drinker!
We were there late night so didn't notice/ask for a food menu.
Service was nice and friendly.
More cozy chairs around would be great.
They  aren't doing music like the old vault but some sweet live jazz trio every now and then to make this a destination would make this have more stars ;)
Absolutely outstanding...agree, agree, agree, to the reviews above! Â Cozy and comfortable ambiance, unique flair, great drinks (and prices), friendly staff and owners.. Â Well done Astoria! Â It was my first time there, and would like to repeat what I said when I was there: Â "This is my new favorite place!"
Review Source:The Astoria is the kind of place you'd expect to run across in NYC or San Fran. It's got a warm, romantic vibe and features original and tasty mixed drinks.  Plus, some good and unexpected beers on tap.  No gimmicks here, just a lovely, sophisticated  place to while away an evening.
UPDATE:  The kitchen is now open and the food is tremendous.  Some creative dishes with a Cuban/Spanish flair  Reasonably priced, too.
Find yourself in old town Fort Collins and you don't want to visit the college scene bars? Then stick your head into The Astoria and say hello... a super sweet new bar in old town that gives you the appearance of a high end lounge without the pretentiousness of high end lounges... an ideal place for cutting loose after a long day at the office or unwinding with friends for happy hour ( which is held twice a day ) with a laid-back vibe and a friendly staff, the astoria is the place for memories to be made.
Review Source:
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