I really enjoyed Star Bar. Great prices, good music, and the staff was friendly. Also, a really nice selection of beers (I wasn't drinking hard alcohol this trip, so I cannot speak to that), and the tenders knew all about them and offered suggestions based on my taste. Definitely go back! Divey and awesome. Skee ball in the back, nice outdoor patio.
Review Source:There aren't enough stars to give Star Bar. Seriously one of the best bars in the LoDo/Downtown area. Star Bar has a carefully chosen selection of quality (mostly Colorado) craft beers and bartenders knowledgable enough to lead you to great choices based on your preferences. The Dry Dock Apricot Blonde was the perfect beer for my stated "light but tasty" on a recent visit. They also have some seriously good mixology going on here. I thoroughly enjoyed their take on a Moscow Mule which had honey-infused vodka.
They also have some fun, but low-key programming like the patio double-features they've been showing all summer. Their patio generally is one of the coolest in Denver with comfortable outdoor couches and an outdoor bar serving adult popsicles and slushies all summer. It was the perfect place to watch the double-feature Old School and Animal House.
And best of all the bar is completely unpretentious and reasonably priced to boot.
Star Bar deserved all the stars there possibly could ever be.
While at Starbar, the bartender said to me "Welcome to your new favorite bar." While he was dead wrong, I still had a great experience here. At first, said bartender came off a bit reserved, but once we got to talkin' about booze he opened right up. He knew his stuff pretty well. Anyway we were just passing through with the passport. The drink was the front range mule and it was pretty tasty. Made with Spring 44 honey vodka and New England cranberry liquor. Interesting combo. The atmosphere is super divey but they do have a patio out back.
Review Source:It's a bar. With a star. We went bar-hopping, the 1-Up, Swanky's and then the Star Bar. I guess I did not find that it stood out for any reason. But reading reviews here, I see that you can order out food...they do not have a kitchen. We came on a night that there was no band, so, I think that a band in this place would really change my impression of it. We will be back !
Review Source:Wandered in on a Saturday night with the bf... the place was packed and there was a cool cover band playing 80s songs. Looked like they had some good beers on tap and a mellow vibe so we stayed.
Grabbed some cheap beers and headed out to a really nice back patio with lights and greenery. Sat with some people we'd never met and chit chatted about booze and Denver.
The vibe was comfortable, not pretentious at all and everyone was friendly. There were a few people dancing inside to the band music and it had that dark chill vibe of the best dive bars. We stayed till closing.
Definitely a cool bar we'll be back to in the future.
Star Bar is no more and no less than it should be. Divey and dark, with stickers plastered across the bar cabinets, you know this place has earned the right to say "established in 1959."
Yes, I look slightly out of place here, but so what? The beer selection is amazing (and rotates regularly), the bartenders are usually up for a chat between pours, and the place just feels like home. Plus, I hear they host movie nights out on the patio--something that I fully intend to take advantage of this summer.
Star Bar is not the place for you if you're looking for something swanky or even really something hipster. But, if you're in the mood for a casual night with some great beer, good music, and chill surroundings, you should definitely check this place out.
Finally ventured into Star Bar last night for the first time, and I think I found my new favorite bar on Larimer Street! Â It has everything I love about dive bars: Â it's got some real history (old), is dimly lit, has a kick-ass jukebox and a few games, and it's mostly free from pretentious jerks. Â Unlike most dive bars this one also seems to be clean, the staff is super friendly and the craft beer selection is amazing. Â 4 Stone beers on tap? Â Yes please! Â We came here for drinks before dinner at Mario's, and if you're lucky enough to be doing that on a weeknight you can get free parking after 5pm in the lot adjacent to the bar. Â The beers selection was great and the bartender really knew a lot about the beers they had on tap, which was very helpful when we were trying to decide. Â We were settled in with some great brews when a Descendants song started playing on the jukebox, making my inner punk rock girl very happy indeed. Â Yep, I love, love, love this bar.
Review Source:This place is as close to a real "Bar" as you're going to get in LoDo. Â No pretention, no waitresses, no polo-shirted bouncers, no baseball cap rule, just good people, good beer, some live music and a kick ass back patio. Â Oh, and there's skeeball. Â Yeah.
We came here after a random Rockies game and had ourselves a good time hanging out in our booth for a few hours. Â Very chill and laid back, but it can be very crowded during Fri and Sat peak hours. Â Come on in, give it a chance!
Love craft beer? Good cocktails? Divey spaces? Smiling, friendly bartenders?
Yes! Well you can find all of this and more at Star Bar.
Sure, there are some who treat this place like it's their living room (dare to sit at the back booth where heavy drinking tripsters and their ilk like to "office"--who knows you may end up meeting your new best friend) and it's not the place to be on an ubersunny day (it's dark in there--though I like their cozy back patio with extra bar), but these are really incidentals. Star Bar is a GREAT bar. It's the kind of place you go to because you have the inside scoop and you understand that there's more to Denver nightlife than mixologists and ice hacked from a huge block with an antique ice pick. The beer selection is top notch (make sure you check out both handle locations, one behind the bar and one to the left, also behind the bar but more hidden), the bartenders smile and will chat you up and you can always hit up Biker Jim's across the street if you need something to soak up the alcohol. Star Bar lets you bring in food, no problem. Bring in a case of Hamm's, however, and you may have a real problem. Nevermind consumption laws, you just can't drink that kind of swill in a place where there's such good stuff a'pourin'.
Good variety of beers on tap. However, half the taps weren't working. Apparently neither was the bartender, who overcharged us (his coworker later told us); $12 for two beers, neither of which was posted or told to us being 10oz? No way. They charge more than the breweries less than a mile away that MAKE the beer! Â Very disappointed - left immediately (but not before being asked what my rent was by a local vagrant). Never again - highly overrated.
Review Source:I had never been at Star bar but perceived it quite divey as many of the places around....it was a matter of time before I went in and was pleasantly surprised.
The bar itself looks like a dive bar and later in the night live music brings people in for dancing around. However, it has a great selection of beers and proper British pints so you are getting 20 oz of beer on each order.
The outside area is great...a little break from the crowds inside with lounge seating area and tables.
After patronizing just about every restaurant and bar surrounding the Star Bar, I finally ended up there for the first time after a Yelp event.
As usual, I started with a Manhattan. Â It was made with CO spirits and reasonably priced. Â I also scored a bonus mispour beer -- gratis! Â Don't judge my double fist. Â
The place was seemingly dead on a Thirsty Thursday night, that is until the karaoke rolled in. Â Within 15 minutes, this place became packed. Â I wish that we could have stayed for more than 2 songs.
I will definitely go back to the Star Bar.
Here is what I know. Copious amounts of cocktails were consumed at Mile High Spirits and it was time for a change. Star Bar was first on my list as I have never been and everyone seems to love, so we stumbled in to a fully packed house, drank a beer and made our way to the outside bar and Britt, the drink making queen. We sampled some boozey ice pops and chatted with her about how this outside bar is kinda her "thing". She clearly loves what she does and is great at it.
One of her concoctions, Purple Rain, was so insanely delicious that I texted myself the name of it so I would remember. Granted, I did this with one eye closed and my text actually read 'purole rain' but the next day I regained my facilities and the use of both eyes and realized the error in my spelling. I plan on asking for this next time I am there. And there will surely be a next time.
I luvs me some Skee-Ball. Â Star Bar has two of them tucked in the back, by the restrooms. Â And even though the machine on the left is crammed against the wall, impeding proper Skee-Ball forms and flourishes, they are only $.50 to play, and that works for me. There was also a
Rolling Stones pinball machine.
I would call this place upper-divey, and it seems a bit cleaner and nice than many similar establishments. Â I liked the patio area out back. Â It had some nice chalk art and varied seating. Â I will be back in the future to imbibe.
Every time I'm at Star Bar I say "Why don't I live closer so I can visit here more often?!" Because my liver would hate me.
Unassuming inside and out, and I love that about Star Bar. The bartenders are always on top of their game, and they provide a really creative list of brews. No, you won't find 50 different beers on tap, but you'll find a very well planned list that often includes beers you haven't seen around town. And with Marco's and Biker Jim's within a stone's throw, why wouldn't you come here more? Screw your liver - come to Star Bar. Unless you're coming from The Gin Mill...y'all can just stay right there.
I feel like Star Bar was transplanted from a much cooler and less duechy area into  LoDo.  It doesn't fit with the other bars in the area, but I'm NOT upset about that at all.  SB has a great selection of beer, and a good portion of that is local CO craft beer.
I'm also a huge fan of the patio area out back. Â On summer nights it could possibly be my favorite spot in LoDo. Â I don't know if I'd call this place a dive bar, primary based on the location but it's pretty close on all other accounts.
Star Bar, I love your freakin' face! Â
The beer selection rocks my world. Â I have taken a serious liking to sours and this is where I go to get my fix...they have a couple different ones on tap at the moment. Â And if I'm in the mood for a cocktail, I just tell one of the amazing bartenders my tastes and they whip me up a tasty little refresher...something I never would have dreamed of concocting on my own!
I love dropping by on a Tuesday and checking out the karaoke, and usually there is a live band once a week. Â The jukebox is stocked with a mix of good tunes, and there's a touchscreen game at the bar in case you feel like playing naked lady photo hunt! Â The beer garden out back is welcoming, comfortable and a perfect place to unwind with a boozesicle on a nice Denver night.
Overall, this has become my favorite bar in Denver, hands down.
Two words: Beer Cocktails.
(I'll get to those in a second)
Star Bar is a couple of blocks away from the bustling nightlife of LoDo, so it's often an interesting mix of characters.  The bar looks like it hasn't been renovated since the 70's, but  you don't really come here for the atmosphere...you come here for either:
a) a small, but amazingly thoughtful selection of (often-rare) craft beers
b) karaoke night
c) beer cocktails
The last time I was here, they offered a small selection of sours (the owner likes sours and talks about beer like its an art-form) and a lychee-flavored beer for $6. Â LYCHEE BEER! Â It was tart, refreshing, and AMAZING. Â Where else can you find something like that?
Karaoke night can be a little...interesting...but it provides a fun time whether you are enjoying the entertaining or providing it yourself.
And, finally, the beer cocktails. Â We had a great bartender who asked me what type of beer I liked along with a particular spirit I enjoyed and mixed them together in a large pint glass along with some other bitters and liquors (I think I had both beer and at least 3-4 liquors in there...YIKES), but it tasted pretty great! Â (For reference, I believe I had an apricot ale mixed with a peach liquor and vodka and some orange bitters.)
Definitely a great spot to try out if you're in the mood for a very casual night and to try some new beers (or new twists on beer with the cocktails)!
I had pretty high expectations of Star Bar before ever setting foot in it. I have a few friends who are regulars and they have talked up and down about this place. I had the opportunity to go the other night and I'll tell you, I wasn't disappointed.
It's a little divey, but I like that. You won't find a "Chad Fest" going on here like most other places downtown. They have a great selection of craft beers on tap as well as in cans and bottles. They have a sweet juke box, although, I mostly heard country on our first visit here. I'll let that slide. The bartenders are very friendly and know their stuff. Ask the bartender to make you a Hemingway Daiquiri. Trust me, you won't be disappointed, especially on a hot Denver night.
I look forward to spending some more time at Star Bar.
Oh, Star Bar - please please please don't go the way of the douche-bag bars in the neighborhood. I couldn't stand to lose another solid drinking locale. So far so good - solid times and not many memories. That means the booze is cheap and there's lots of it.
I really do enjoy the dive feeling of this bar. The staff is nice and pretty relaxed considering the common drinkers in this part of town - meaning the lame wads that are all over LoDo. The employees keep me coming back.
The front patio is small but quaint, which is all you need. The back patio is where it's at! Skinny little strip with an exit out to the alley and a fair sized area for smokers. Don't tell anyone but there's a small bathroom back there too :-)
As with most places in this hood I prefer the daytime drinking at this bar. There aren't a lot of people around to piss you off and that means more opportunity to get plastered.
There is a decent selection of beer on tap. Plus they usually come in huge plastic cups which is great for us booze hounds with butterfingers. I think I've had a few shots here and they are strong and cheap, just like me.
All in all, if this place stays jackass free, it's a good stop.
If you're a bar in Lodo, it's pretty key to me that you separate yourself in a good way from the rest of the area. There are plenty of bro-centric bars with thumping loud music, expensive but small mixed drinks, and crowds that require you to all but elbow your way to the bar.
Well good news-Star Bar is none of those terrible things!
First of all, great vibe here. Very laid back, both the patrons and the bartenders. As others have mentioned, very impressive beer list...two New Belgium Lips of Faith series on top! So much win!
The bartenders are super friendly and will tell you about any beer you might not recognize but would like to try. They're also incredibly attentive, so major points for that.
There's a good amount of space inside with a lot of tables, plus a great patio out back that offers even more room if you wanna get some air.
My one small gripe is the prices...$6 for a tap beer that doesn't seem all that big. I realize that's part of going to a bar in Lodo, but it still stings a little.
Overall though, Star Bar is one of the better bars in the area, for sure. I will definitely be back!
I've lived near here for a while, and for some reason I always avoided Star Bar as I mistakenly thought they wouldn't have any good beers on tap. Â And by "good," I mean craft beer. Â Wow--was I ever wrong. Â I now love this place. They often have cool, fun events too, lots of them featuring Great Divide brews as the two are so close in proximity. Â I've been to a beer/chocolate pairing, a Ska beer release party, and a couple of great events during American Craft Beer Week too.
Sometimes the music drives me crazy (Pandora stations that blare classic rock songs I've heard more than a million times), but they have a pretty decent juke box if you'd like to hear something different. Â
And once, a bartender gave me a delicious homemade cupcake. Â You can't beat that.
Star #1 - Crazy beer list. Lots of rare and experimental brews. I embarrassed myself on Friday after ordering a tasty Great Divide Belgian style Yeti for myself, and then a PBR for my husband. Doh. To be fair, he asked for it! Received a stony-eyed glare from the bartender. Well deserved.
Star #2 - Live rockabilly band and the super talented dancers to go along with it! If I knew I could hear Buddy Holly songs while drinking delicious beers, maybe I'd go out more often.
Star #3 - There were at least two dogs hanging out in the bar Friday night. I don't know if it was because of the rain outside or what, but I always love to pet cute pups in a bar.
Star #4 - They let us bring a pizza inside. We had been down the street at Great Divide when their glycol system failed due to a power outage. But we'd just bought a Basic Kneads pie outside! Dilemma. Luckily Star Bar let us eat inside with no grief. Unfortunately we brought the bad luck over to Star Bar because after our first round, their co2 system went out, leaving us with only canned beers. Much better canned beers than PBR though. Don't order a PBR!
Okay, okay. Â Considering that Star Bar is pretty much my favorite, it gets five stars. Â I love that we always run into someone we know here, even if it's the only other people in the whole bar. Â I love it when the bartenders get a bit of a 'tude when a drunk group wanders in up from LoDo and orders "top shelf" vodka and cheap, lame beer. Â I love it when we're sitting in a booth and all of a sudden a rockabilly band starts playing. Â I love that their jukebox is a mere 50 cents a play. Â I love that they didn't serve green beer on St. Patricks day, thus keeping the idiots out. Â I love that they never have the same beer on tap in any two visits (except when your visits start getting closer and closer together). Â I love the fact that we were there one night and there were open containers of coconut milk and aloe vera juice for beer cocktail experimentation.
I guess I just love YOU, Star Bar.
Man oh man, do I love the Star Bar!
For beer geeks such as myself, this is the mountain top. Â They always have cool rotating tap handles and a great selection. Â The bartenders are really knowledgeable and the juke box is solid.
I prefer to hit the taps in the afternoon when possible. Â Karaoke at night can be a little trying. Â In fact, they have a tally board behind the bar for every time someone sings Journey. Â If that's your thing, go nuts. Â I prefer the afternoons when the juke box is kicking out Johnny Cash.
Dim lights, busted booths, wobbly tables, carpet that you probably wouldn't want to pass out on - that's just where this place starts to get good.
From the street, this has all the tell-tale signs of the locals-only, dive bar where legends are made. Inside - all locally made spirits, a bevy of heavy ABV beers made in Colorado, and the kind of people who enjoy drinking craft beers and who will gladly talk to you about them until neither of you are sober enough to string together words.
Don't drink Coors Light here. Really now, don't be that guy.
What did I expect walking in here? Well, after talking to all of my friends who basically live in this bar, I expected a boozy theme park. Water slides filled with IPAs. A whiskey sprinkler. And a man in stilts pouring stouts into your mouth from three feet above your face.
(Note to self: Open this bar some day.)
What I got was a low key, divey bar with the most impressive beer list I have ever seen. And I liked it.
I mean, when you know your beer and liquor and stock your shelves accordingly, why would you ever need to focus on gimmicks?
I'm prone to loving dive bars anyway, but I think this one's got it right. Focus on great inventory and friendly, knowledgeable staff. If you've got that, who the hell cares if you have paneled ceilings?
I was lucky enough to pop into Star Bar twice last week. I'm back to re-review. I heart you Justin. He mixed up a salted IPA w/grapefruit liquor concoction.
They appear to thoughtfully keep a diverse beer selection while including the average guy favorites. (sorry NO PBRs)
They had New Belgium's Cocoa Mole on tap. A rich dark and flavorful beer with hints of chocolate and Chile. Also on tap was a special Oskar Blue's Gordon barrel aged in Leopold Brothers Apple bourbon barrel. YUM!!!
So, I'm telling owner/bartender Justin how my good friend recently infused some vodka with his home grown jalapenos. He pulls out a shot glass and has me try the house-made sour mix... OMG! It has chopped Serranos floating in the cantainer. He mixed me up the BEST Marg I HAVE EVER HAD. If you are affraid of heat, just ask for a taster before going for it.
Then we got hungry. We ordered take out from Marcos (next door) and ate at the bar while listening to a funky local folk/bluegrass band play.
I need to make a list.... "Bars I want to get married in"
GREAT PATIO RENO.
I went here for a chocolate and beer pairing with Great Divide. It was awesome! Got to try six beers from Great Divide each paired with a different/unique type of chocolate. My faves were the cayenne pepper chocolate and chocolate/peanut butter/sea salt. All of the beers were great of course.
Star bar is an interesting place..total dive feel. Straight out of the 60s with drop ceilings and wood paneled walls. I swear they stole my parents basement!! But, at the same time they have a great rotating tap selection.
Later at night on thursdays they start up the karaoke, and boy is that entertaining! Was a nice treat after the beer and chocolate haha
I seem to be drawn to this local establishment every time I happen to be down in Lodo. Â From the 1st time I went in here(3 years ago) until now quite a bit has changed. Â It went from a local's hangout in the middle of trendy bars to becoming increasingly trendy itself. Â They kept with the Dive barrish feel, but have now been attracting the PBR drinking hipster's who can't handle the Gin Mill. Â I have no problem with this, but could see how some would get annoyed. Â
The bar is typically packed Friday and Saturday night, they usually have either a great band or Karaoke going on which is always fun. Â The drafts on tap range from your standard Coors lights to some crazy Microbrew you probably have never tried. Â The prices have been increasing with the crowd of people, but still tend to be reasonable. Â
The patio is the shining star of the bar. Â Not sure why people don't hang out there more? They have tables and chairs, with plenty of space to hang out with a group adding to the charm are the strings of Christmas lights lighting up the space. Â You can hear the music fine and it's a good place to chill when you need to get some air and want to enjoy a cocktail outside.
I highly recommend anyone to go here if you're in the area and need a beverage.
Used to walk by each morning and see a gentleman in a wheel chair either waiting for the bar to open or still there from the night before.
Since the ownership changed, it looks a lot less scary, they added a window, cleaned it up a bit.
I love that they are particular with using particular glasses per type of beer!
Happy Hour deals are fabulous
Yeah for a fun bar in lodo!
I admit, Star Bar used to creep me out.
I'd walk by and there'd be someone waiting to get in or just leaving and it was always someone I would NOT want to be a in a dark bar with.
However now, it's well lit, has a great staff and awesome beer selection.
Definitely a good typically hipster d-bag free bar.
Another great "dive bar".
I haven't been to too many places in the five Points area- but I am learning to like it based on my experience at Star Bar.
Tuesday night was another Denver Tweetup.
About 60-80 Denver area twitter-ers gathered to chat and get to know each other - this month at Star Bar.
Great staff- very friendly and engaging. I flt very welcome on my first visit.
If you like spicy and sour- Star Bar has your back. They make their own concocktail with New Belgium's Sour beer, Chili pepper extract and tequilla!! OH YES= TRY ONE. Try two if you like-- by the third one- however I was feeling it!
Star Bar doesn't have food- shame so make sure to eat before you visit( yeah-- I didn't)
Also KARAOKE MADNESS!! Great energy and some really fun singers can be found on any given night.
This is a very comfy bar. I don't know any other word to use. Even though this was only my second visit, I felt like I could walk in and make myself at home.
My first visit was on a busy Saturday night. A band was setting up and a super nice guy was selling BBQ. We only stopped in for a quick drink so I didn't get to sample the BBQ :( But wouldn't that be lovely? Rocking out to a band with BBQ sauce on your shirt? I hope I didn't miss my only chance for that.
My latest experience here was on a quiet Sunday afternoon. Some mates and I walked from the practice space building to grab some drinks before attending a vinyl and record expo. There were a couple regulars at the bar enjoying their conversation with the bartender. We grabbed a booth, some drinks and enjoyed the tunes coming out of the jukebox.
All of the bartenders have been really friendly and the prices of the drinks are just right. Looking forward to coming back!
Had a lot of fun here on a Saturday, two weeks back.
Good drinks, great jukebox and they really let us party!! People were standing on the booths. It was just a good time. Will definitely be back.
I think I remember a pool table and single bathroom. The place isn't too big so it works out just fine.
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