The Rio Grande - Fort Collins

The Rio Grande

143 W. Mountain Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80524

970.224.5428

www.riograndemexican.com/fort-collins

Sun- Wed       11 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Thurs               11 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Fri  &  Sat       11 a.m. – 12 a.m

There is no question that The Rio Grande or “Rio” is the place to go for margaritas. It seems like every time we stumble in here there is some kind of drink special happening, allowing us to take full advantage of the margarita choices offered.

Atmosphere:  When walking through the front door you immediately get the feel that this place is strictly a restaurant, but once past the hostess stand you will see the bar hiding behind it. The bar seems to always be full of people with a margarita in hand. There is seating at the bar, if you can find a stool as well as in booths along the outer bar area. The place is decorated with a no frills Mexican theme. In fact, not much represents it being a Mexican restaurant except for the name. Off of the back of the restaurant is a nice  and spacious patio. It has a large fountain in the middle and makes up in Mexican flare where the inside falls short. The crowd is always very diverse but between 6 and 9 pm you are likely to see a more family crowd there for dinner.

Service:  The service is usually slow in the bar area because of the crowding factor. If you manage to get a table outside of the bar, the service is better and you are likely to get drinks faster.

Drinks:  The big draw at the Rio is the margaritas – period. They come in 3 sizes and 3 flavors, strawberry, mango and lime. You can mix the flavors if you want to spice things up, but overall they are good margaritas and not too strong. Other than margaritas they have a full stocked bar with an impressive selection of tequila offerings. There are only four beers on draft and the rest in bottles with most being Mexican beers, but again this place is known for margaritas.

Food:  The Rio has an impressive menu but don’t let that fool you. It’s not horrible food, it’s just not that good. They offer burritos, tacos, fajitas, appetizers and a few seafood dishes from $6 to $15. Chips and salsa is served at every table and a great pairing with margaritas.

Amenities:  Private party ballroom, huge outside patio with fountain, tequila vault.

Parking:  Parking available where you can find it in old town.

The Buzz:  College night on Thursdays from 9 to 11 pm with $4 margaritas, Happy hour Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 pm, Wednesdays  margaritas are only $5, go big with a $6 Big Tex margarita, Salsa dancing on Tuesdays from 7:30 to 10 pm for $3, weekend brunch.

Nordy's BBQ - Fort Collins

Nordy’s BBQ

151 N College Ave
Fort Collins, CO 80524

(970) 568-8358

www.nordysbbq.com/

Mon – Thu 11:00 am-10:00 pm

Fri – Sat 11:00 am-11:00 pm

Sun 11:00 am-10:00 pm

Although old town Fort Collins is lined with great places to eat, we find ourselves back at Nordy’s when we want to be engorged  and filed to the brim with meat – while sitting at the bar. What is it about this place that makes us go back? The sauce? The atmosphere? A large variety of smoked meats? Or maybe the large bar in the back with $2 beers (during happy hour).

Atmosphere:  Located in old town Fort Collins, Nordy’s is a two story brick building facing college Ave. You can enter through a standard glass door or take your chances in the turn style door when entering. The decor is rich and masculine with dark wood work throughout giving it a homey feel.  There are many booths as well as tables throughout and a bar area with additional seating in the very back of the lower level. The bar area is open and inviting with a few flat screen TV’s and daily specials written on a chalk board. The warm colored walls are simple for the most part and decorated with beer signs in the bar area. Country music can be heard throughout the place and the crowd seems to be made up of mostly families and friends out for a bite to eat.

Service:  Service here has been consistently good. There is always a hostess at the front door greeting us and offering us a table. Service at the bar is fast and friendly as well.

Drinks:   The bar offers the typical domestics brews, as well as a balanced selection of local micros and imports. Drink menu’s are displayed on the tables and offer a few fun concoctions wroth trying but they do have a fully stocked bar with daily specials and a happy hour.

Food:   During our visits we have sampled a variety of their offerings and have never been let down. The sides offered for sandwiches, burgers and entrees include mac n cheese, beans, slaw, onion rings, fries and sweet potatoes tots , just to name a few. The menu also features appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, combo meals, rib platters and a few salads. The serving portions are pretty healthy sized so we have never tried the home made desserts listed on the menu.While the  food has never disappointed, the sauces send  it over the top. They offer three BBQ sauces (Texas, Jalapeño and Kansas City) as well as a Spicy Brown mustard called Carolina, all of which are good, but the Jalapeño is our favorite.

Amenities:  TV’s, catering service, kids menu, gluten free menu.

Parking:  Parking is available in Old Town Fort Collins.

The Buzz:  Happy hour Monday through Friday 3 pm to 6 pm with $5 appetizers, $3 wells, wine and micros, $2 domestics, Saturdays and Sundays 50 cent wings and talls for the price of smalls, Monday through Friday from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM all you can eat Lunch Buffet. $10.95, All You Can Eat Dinner Buffet Monday through Thursday from 5:00 to 8:00PM for $12.95.

The East Coast - Fort Collins

The East Coast
238 Linden St
Fort Collins, CO 80524

(970) 472-8265

Mon- Sun 5pm to close – but no one really knows

When in old town, we usually end up at this bar and are always prepared to drink.  Besides people watching and consuming alcoholic beverages, there isn't much else to this bar.  It is a no frills kind of place that exhibits little east coast flare, unless you stumble upon the owner. He’s a friendly guy who is more than willing to have a drink with you . His concoctions usually include tequila - since that’s what he loves ( you have been warned).

Atmosphere:  This bar is dim by day and very dark by night. It is a small place with very little seating unless you find an empty stool at the bar. There is bench seating along the east side wall, but no real tables, only tall cocktail stands and the walls are lined with pictures of East Coast city scapes. You will find a mixed crowd on any given night, but always an even balance of genres. There are two very clean bathrooms located in the back but be warned -they are unisex. There is usually good music playing via DJ or band and people dancing throughout.

Service:  Mostly bar service is provided, but you will occasionally see a cocktail waitress on patrol.  The bartenders all know their “stuff” and stay on top of their job. Occasionally the bar gets crowded and it might take a minute or two longer to get a drink, but the owner seems ever ready to pitch in.

Drinks:  This bar is equipped with the usual selection of local craft and domestic brews at a little lower price than other old town bars. In addition to brew, it is a fully stocked bar. East Coast is also the home of the “Bombito” which is a smaller version of a Jager (jagermeister) Bomb poured into an over-sized shot glass with only a little bit of Red Bull.

Food:  No menu. No food. No kitchen. Who needs it? This place is strictly a watering hole.

Amenities:  Jukebox, small patio area out front, pool table, bubble hockey, small stage.

Parking:  Parking is available on the street in old town where ever you can find it.

The Buzz:  Comedy on Monday nights, live music and/or Dj on Tuesdays.

Tony's Bar - Fort Collins

Tony's Bar 
224 S. College
Fort Collins, CO 80524

(970)484-6973

Monday-Friday:   11:00 am to 2:00 am

Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 am to 2:00 am

Tony’s Bar is still a dive but was due for a re-evaluation since they have made some changes -for the better.  This is usually the spot we start at on a night out because of its south- side- of -old -town location and the cheap drinks. There is much people watching to be had here. You may see anything from stumbling old locals ogling stumbling young girls to frat guys being thrown out by security for being unruly. Do go with a group of friends.  Don’t go alone looking to make friends.

Atmosphere:  Now when entering the bar downstairs the aroma of urine and vomit are no more. It is still dark inside, but the floor is no longer dirty and speckled with old gum. It appears the floors have been resurfaced and replaced with hard wood. There seems to always be music blasting from the touch-tunes jukebox and the downstairs bar is usually lined with unsavory older men. If you make it to the upstairs bar, it’s a little more uplifting. The rooftop patio bar is covered and well heated.  It has ample seating around the bar and plenty of high top tables where the smokers tend to congregate. By day the bar is populated with the older crowd mentioned above.  At night there seems to be an unstable mix of some of Fort Collins shiftier residents and the lower end of the fraternity gene pool. Regardless, it's always a good time.

Service:  The service is average and you’re ordering will done at the bars, unless seated at one of the high top tables on the patio. 

Drinks:  You will find an average selection of beers on tap with your local breweries, featured in front of a few imports and domestics. They now tout having the coldest beer in town thanks to the ice taps beer is poured from. They did also add a new selection of wines displayed nicely in small wine barrels behind the bar.   The upstairs bar has a slushy machine on hand that is a dangerous concoction of vodka and Monster energy drink.  The bar staff always has a tasty shot in the repertoire that they are more then happy to shoot with you.  Do your self a favor and stay away from “The Jimmy Shot”.  Named after the charismatic owner, it’s an awful combination of vodka and diet coke. The flatness and flavor does not do “Jimmy” any justice. 

Food:  Apparently there is a menu but we have yet to dare try it. We did see a platter of fried food being delivered that actually looked edible and over heard people raving about the fried mushrooms.

Amenities:  Touch tunes jukebox, large covered patio upstairs, pool tables, shuffle board, TV’s, dart boards, bathrooms both upstairs and downstairs, skee ball games.

Parking:  You will have to find a place to park somewhere on the street. There is a parking lot behind Tony’s but you will have to walk around to the front to get in.

The Buzz:  Daily food specials,$2 anything on tap 8 p.m. to midnight on Wednesdays, bean bag toss on Tuesdays,  Happy Hour from 3 to 7 pm M-F.

The Astoria Bar - Fort Collins

The Astoria Bar

146 N. College Ave

Fort Collins, Colorado 80524

(970) 484-0995

Mon - Sat: 5:00 pm-2:00 am

Sun:    7:00 pm  -2:00 am

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:  The walls have been painted several shades of red with hints of gold, giving it an old time swank feel. There is a giant chandelier in the middle of the place and red pendant lights dangling above the bar area and the front windows are adorned with red sheer drapes. The floors are a hard wood and the bar top itself is black tile with wood trim. 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. We were told it is a work in progress.

Service:  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. The bartender informed us that they are constantly rotating in new beers and  they even have their own beer called “Astoria Ale”.

Food:   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.

Amenities:  Pool Table, covered patio, ATM machine,  local art work for sale.

Parking:  Parking is available in old town where ever you can find it.

The Buzz: Happy hour Monday - Thursday from 5pm - 7pm and again 10pm – midnight, daily drink specials, service industry specials Sunday and Mondays.

Jay’s Bistro – Fort Collins

Jay’s Bistro135 West OakFort Collins, Co 80524970-482-1867www.jaysbistro.netMon – Thu:11:00 am -9:30 pmFri: 11:00 am -10:00 pmSat: 5:00 pm – 10:00 pmSun: 5:00 pm –  8:00 pm

We stopped by this sleek old town restaurant on a weeknight and found the best kept Happy Hour secret in town. Jays Bistro’s happy hour sure beats the other “well drink and Coors Light” deals that dot the neighborhood. The new tapas menu makes it an even sweeter deal.

Atmosphere:  This colorful spot is tucked on Oak Street behind College Ave. It provides an inviting patio in front and a classy feeling when walking inside. The floors are wood and the walls are painted in colorful, warm, inviting hues decorated with impressionistic artwork. On the restaurant side there are tables and high rise booths lining the front as well as a fire place for those cold winter nights. The bar area has a small stage with a grand piano where jazz music plays 3 nights a week. The bar itself is lush and we shared the bar with only 2 or 3 other drinkers which we consider a sin.

Service:  We sat at the bar and service was perfect. Our glasses were filled and bartender explained the menu in detail. There appeared to be plenty of servers on staff to handle the crowd in the dining area.

Drinks:  Jay’s offers clever cocktails and a healthy wine selection as well as a few local micro beers on tap. The espresso martini was our favorite; it offers a coffee laced slap in the face. Other specialty martinis you will find here are the chocolate martini, pomegranate passion and the James Bond.

Food:  the menu is brimming with international flare with a tapas menu that includes items like peppadews, tomato bruschetta, and green pea hummus and shrimp ceviche tacos. The dinner menu begins with a heavy seafood appetizer selection followed by several steak dishes which include fillet mignon and rib eye classics but also rack of lamb and even a red deer loin dish.

Amenities:  Patio, HD TV’s, catering, stage area, banquet rooms, live music, fire-place.

Parking:  Parking is available in old town where ever you can find it.

The Buzz:  Live Music on Wednesday’s starting at 7:30pm and Thursday through Saturday at 6:30pm, happy hour Monday-Saturday from 4-6:30pm and until close on Wednesdays.

Trailhead Tavern - Fort Collins

Trailhead Tavern
148 W. Mountain Ave
Fort Collins, Co 80524
970-221-5757
http://trailheadtavern.com
Monday – Sunday 11 am to 2 am

The Trailhead Tavern is a dive-bar-gem, nestled on a side street just west of College in old town Fort Collins. The mix of local drinkers and sports fans, all looking for a no-nonsense good time, makes Trailhead a great place to catch a game or just relax and grab a couple of drinks.

Atmosphere:   The dimly lit ambiance doesn’t do justice to one of the largest and most popular dive bars in Fort Collins.  When walking through the front door, we were assaulted by a collection of beer, art-work and outdoorsy memorabilia strewn from the ceiling and covering the walls.  They have a great projection TV set-up, combined with Flat screens all in good viewing angles, so we could  catch any big game. The bar and kitchen dominate and bottle neck the central part of the bar, but open into an expansive gaming area filled with pool tables, video games, and pinball machines.

Service:  We experienced good old fashioned bar service with a random cocktail waitress here and there.

Drinks:  With a fully stocked bar and 14 beers on tap, Trailhead had us covered. If you prefer a girly drink with fruit and swords, you may be in the wrong place. The chalkboards and signs around the bar area should answer all your questions on pricing as well as present daily drink specials.

Food:  Trailhead offers mostly average bar fair, but at a great price. When we’re eating out and on a budget, we usually give the daily special a go. When the special doesn’t fit our mood, we order the Mountain Fries which are a heaping platter of beer-battered fries smothered in cheese. Seriously? How can you go wrong with that?

Amenities:  Large Projection TV, lots of flat screens, 3 pool tables, pinball, video games, patio in front.

Parking:  Parking available in old town where you can find it.

The Buzz:  Daily happy hour from 11 to 7 pm, Wednesday trivia night.

Snooze - Fort Collins

Snooze
144 W Mountain Ave
Fort Collins, Co 80524
970-482- 9253
http://www.snoozeeatery.com/ft-collins
Monday – Friday: 6:30 am to 2:30 pm
Saturday & Sunday: 7 am to 2:30 pm

Two things make a good breakfast or brunch. First is filling your nauseous tummy with greasy food and protein to counteract the pain from the night before. Second is the ability to have a cocktail or two to “replenish liquids” and prepare you for the next night out. Snooze has it all.

Atmosphere:  Walking into this brightly lit eating establishment, we were immediately taken back into another time or place…or maybe an episode of the Jetson’s? The décor is simple but quite space- age retro. Most of the colors are neutral beige’s, hints of yellow and lots of silver metals. There are half-moon booths throughout the middle of the place and booths on the outer walls, equipped with star like coat racks. There is a coffee -shop- style- bar directly to the left, lined with morning coffee drinkers reading the paper. The music playing was 80’s flashbacks while the cartoon network aired on the TV above the bar.

Service:  Everyone seems very helpful and nice especially the bartender at the bar where we sat. This place usually has a long wait time so you are better off just sitting at the bar.

Drinks:  Nothing like a full bar at a breakfast place to start your day off. There are several types of breakfast drinks on the drink menu like Bloody marys, mimosas and vodka types with grapefruit juice. There are several types of bloody marys to choose from. We had the mmm..mmm..mimosa and the Bloody Maria.  The mimosa was good and if you love tequila over powering the taste of your bloody mary then the bloody maria is your drink. Drinks set us back $7 so next time around we will make sure we like them or stick to coffee.

Food:  Snooze is a breakfast and brunch place and that is what is on the menu. They offer your basic eggs (free range eggs), hash browns, toast and bacon type of dishes, as well as huevos rancheros, breakfast burritos, pancakes, French toast and other variations of them all. The brunch menu has items like burgers, rueben’s and fish tacos if you are not in the breakfast mood. We had the Juan’s breakfast tacos and pineapple upside down pancakes with a side of hash browns. Both were good but portions seemed small considering most items on the menu are over $9.

Amenities:  HD TV, patio area, snooze merchandise for sale, newspapers.

Parking:  You will have to find parking where you can in old town.

The Buzz:  Kid friendly

Luscious Nectar Juice Lounge – Fort Collins

Luscious Nectar Juice Lounge
253 Linden Street
Fort Collins, CO 80524
(970) 482-3786
Mon – Sun 11 am – 2 am

Ahhhh to be a kid again! It’s never that simple, but for us a trip to Luscious Nectar is pretty damn close. Actually, it’s better than close because we not only get to drink slushy style drinks, but they have alcohol in them! Plus this is a pretty cool spot to chill out in more ways than one.

Atmosphere: This place is as colorful as the drink selection. The walls are painted deep purple, bright purple, royal blue, and lime green with animated local art work displayed in bunches. The bar area is off towards the back left with plenty of seating around the bar as well as in high top tables. The opposite side is lined with black booths and black tables with soft pendant style lighting. The upstairs area is a dedicated dance floor complete with its own bar. There is a small patio out front with heat lamps and an awning. The crowd here was mostly younger groups and couples.

Service:  We had great service while sitting at the bar. We arrived with a group and none of us went empty handed. There were 3 guys working behind the bar that not only knew every flavor but helped make our drink choices easy by providing us samples.

Drinks:  There are so many variations of drinks you can choose from. There is an entire color- wheel- pie- chart in the center of the menu. This chart shows the color and flavor of a drink, but then there is an entire section of flavor infused liquors to add in. The base of most of the drinks starts with what they call a “lushie” which come in a variety of flavors and are displayed in there large dispensing machines.  So if your “lushie” style drink isn’t enough, you can add a shot of their homemade infused alcohols that come in a variety of  fruity, spicy, sweet or sour flavors. The lower half of drink menu also has a section of their recommended concoctions for the less creative. Drinks come in a short or tall glass or as they call it a single or double. We tried the mojito with a shot of cucumber gin, the root beer float, and the cherry poppin with a shot of skittles. YUM.

Food:  There is one menu with two sides. One side features food and fruit smoothies or the non-alcoholic sort. The food is mostly tapas, wraps, sandwiches and small organic pizzas but we did not eat during our visit. The other side of the menu is a cumbersome drink menu that can keep you busy for hours planning your lushie drink.

Amenities: Dance Floor, patio, free wi-fi, heat lamps, vegan friendly, HD TV’s.

Parking:  Parking available where you can find it downtown.

The Buzz: Daily happy hour from 3 pm to 7 pm, Tuesday night trivia, ladies night on Wednesdays, first Friday art showcase.

Stuft Burger Bar - Fort Collins

Stuft Burger Bar
210 S. College Ave
Fort Collins, CO 80524
(970) 484-6377
http://www.stuftburgerbar.com
Mon – Thu:         11:00 am  -  10:00 pm
Fri – Sat:             11:00 am  -  12:00 am
Sun:                    11:00 am  -  10:00 pm

Of course we don’t go to Stuft just to drink, but it’s definitely a perk when building your own burger. This is an ideal starting point when hungry and in need of a drink and it’s what we have done several times. We don’t believe in drinking on an empty stomach!

Atmosphere:  Stuft is located in a choice spot along College Avenue. The front of the building is brick with a patio right up front. This place has more of a restaurant feel, but has a nice inviting bar. The inside is dim with a lot of dark wood booths, tables, floors and walls. The bar area is a good size with a wood bar and some high top tables. TV’s played local sports while some top 40 music played softly. The crowd is mixed with families, college kids and groups of 30 something’s enjoying burgers.

Service:  Service was decent and our food came very fast. Service at the bar was good but at times the bartender disappeared.

Drinks:  They have a fully stocked bar with a couple of domestics and local micros on tap. The drink menu has a couple of sweeter cocktails, as well as a few classics with a twist.  We were intrigued  by a passing  bloody mary named ‘Hair of the Dog’  that had a whole slice of bacon garnishing it, but decided that we would have to return for that treat on another day.

Food:  The genius of their menu is that if your burger isn’t delicious, you have nobody to blame but yourself.  With a selection of 4 meats and a veggie option for your patty, 12 different cheese choices, 26 toppings, 18 sauces, 3 bun choices (one of those is a glazed donut), we got so caught up in checking the boxes off on the clever little menu/order form that we were caught off guard when the waitress asked us what sides we would like. Bacon mac’n cheese? Yes please!  Parmesan fries, salad, onion rings and regular fries are available as well. (We apologize for the lack of pictures  but we were way too hungry to realize we forgot! )

Amenities:  Patio, take out, catering, 7 HD TV’s, vegan menu.

Parking:  You will have to find parking where you can in old town.

The Buzz:  Happy Hours every day, from 3pm to 6pm and again from 9pm to close.

Old Chicago - Fort Collins

Old Chicago – Old Town Location
147 S. College
Fort Collins, CO 80524
(970) 482-8599
http://www.oldchicago.com
11am to 2am Daily

Old Chicago has been serving up pizza for 30 years now, but don’t be confused about this restaurants tie to Chicago; it is a Colorado based chain. Although there are locations in several states now, including Illinois, there is no Old Chicago in the city of Chicago. Regardless, it’s a decent place to grab a beer and pizza.

Atmosphere:  There are several dining areas inside the restaurant including in the bar side. The front dining area was small and lined with wooden tables and chairs and has windows that open up for a more patio feel in summer months. The bar, which serves as a center piece in the restaurant, offers raised booths around several pool tables and bar seating. There is an entire back dining area lined with booths and tables as well, which has a more open feel. The walls are mostly brick  with wood trim, warm painted walls and Chicago themed memorabilia. Music played from the jukebox at medium levels and groups of people played pool while waiting for their pizza to arrive. The crowd was everything from families to college kids. All in all, this place had a warm and cozy feel to it whether there to eat or drink.

 Service:  Service is hit or miss here. We have sat at the bar and received excellent service and other times in a booth near the bar and were ignored. We recommend the bar of course.

Drinks: Old Chicago has a fully stocked bar and its big draw is the 110 beers they carry. If you can’t decide what beer you want, they do offer flights with craft, import or custom samples. Not a beer lover? They have a cocktail menu with variations of classic libations as well.

Food:  The menu consists of everything you would expect from a pizza place and more. The appetizers have an Italian influence with items like mozzarella cheese sticks, Italian nachos and Sicilian pepperoni rolls. There are several pasta dishes to choose from, as well as cal-zones, sandwiches and burgers – all under the $10 range. They do offer three styles of pizza – New York , Artisan and of course Chicago. Pizzas are available in four sizes,starting at individual up to 18 inches and you may build your own or choose one of their specialty pizzas.

Amenities:  Dance floor (when pool tables are moved), touch tunes jukebox, pool tables, HD TV’s, video game machines, change machine, open/outside seating up front, kids menu.

Parking:  You will have to find parking in old town.

The Buzz:  Happy Hour twice a day, 7 days a week from 4pm-6pm and 10 pm-12 am, Kids eat for 99 cents on Thursdays from 5 pm to 8 pm.