Denver LoDo Nightlife Gets Even Better With El Tejano, Loaded & Smash Face Brewing

Already a hotspot for nightlife, Denver’s Lo Do area (lower downtown) is getting even better now that these places have burst onto the scene.

El Tejano restaurant and bar, Loaded bar and Smashface Brewery & Tap Room are new venues all with roots born in Los Angeles . Together, they occupy a sprawling, historic 25,000 square foot space boasting a 10,000 square foot rooftop, at 1941, 1949 and 1937 Market Streets next to Coors Field.

For those familiar with the area, El Tejano is in the Tavern Downtown location, Smash Face takes the place of Cowboy Lounge’s and Loaded is in the space of the Cook Street School of Culinary Arts.

All three are owned and operated by nationwide entertainment and hospitality group Knitting Factory Entertainment (KFE), Los Angeles’ Buckhead Group and San Francisco-based Fillmore Capital Partners.

El Tejano is as big and bold as the Rocky Mountains. Under the supervision of chef Ian Scortino, El Tejano is serving up Tex-Mex classics like grilled Mexican street corn, Frito pie, tacos from land, air and sea of all shapes and sizes, burritos, enchiladas, and even Carne Asada Tater Tots—along with a free self-serve chips and salsa bar.

It has an an extensive craft beer list (very important in Colorado) and an extensive selection of tequilas, mezcals and specialty margaritas.  It also serves Texas size 36-ouonce margaritas and beers and, get this, a self-service upstairs tap room.

Loaded is modeled after Los Angeles’ brash, gritty rock-and-roll haunts as they were in their 80’s heydays, such as Sunset Strip’s Viper Room, Roxy, and Whiskey A-Go-Go. It features themed evenings – 80’s night Wednesdays; 90’s night Thursdays, and Get Loaded weekends – as well as numerous other one-offs and recurring themes. Drinks also reflect the era with throwbacks like Sex on the Beach and Harvey Wallbangers to 80’s juice shots and other themed and craft cocktails. There will be live music in the future.

Smash Face Brewing opened in August and  features several exclusive craft brews,  some inspired by “smash faced,” dogs, such as “Shih Tzu Session” and “Pekingese Pilsner.“  The dog-friendly brewery makes donations to local rescues such as The Dumb Friends League on selected brews.

Some cocktails are similarly canine themed, including “Mighty Show-Low Dog,“ (Tanteo Jalapeno Tequila, Agave, Lime, Scrappy’s Firewater, Tajin; “Off the Leash,“(Ketel One Botanical Peach and Orange Blossom, Lemon, Soda Water, Sage); and the “Red Setter“ (Jalapeno-infused Vodka, Fresh Strawberry, Agave, Ginger Beer).

Smash Face’s food offerings are eclectic and familiar gastropub fare from Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Cheddar Tater Kegs, Grilled Caesar Salad, Burgers and chicken three ways to the most extensive selection of hot dogs east of the Continental Divide. Because it’s Colorado, dog lovers can get pheasant, elk, rattlesnake, rabbit, alligator and Beyond Sausageâ dogs.