R Bar

This establishment is now closed. 3209 E Colfax is now an expansion of Trattoria Stella next door.

What a lovely surprise THIS place was! The ambiance is so cozy, inviting and lovely. The food is brought in from next door (Trattoria Stella) and was some of the best Italian food I’ve had since moving to Denver. The service was also top notch. Just a heads up, the space is small and there’s not a lot of seating available — but I personally enjoyed that the space was intimate.

Great food (from Stella next door), great atmosphere, great service. Super casual. Very solid wines by the glass. We had the mussels special and the prosciutto pizza — both great. The prosciutto on the pizza is crispy — really delicious. Chocolate pot de crème and bread pudding desserts were fantastic. All around great experience.

Love this place and the atmosphere. The service is decent, not amazing! The only problem I have with this place is that the price of their wine is outlandish. I like hanging out here because it is in my hood, but maybe as a starter place for one glass of wine so I don’t break the bank.

I found this place because of Unilocal,and because my name starts with an R, it’s like it’s MY bar. So come on in to R Bar, because I said so. It’s my bar, and if you’re lucky enough to have your name start with an R, welcome to my club.
This bar has a classy neighborhood feel. The kind of bar that makes me want to order a Manhattan instead of my usual whiskey diet coke. And they do make a pretty good Manhattan here. I like to think of it as a hard drink with a soft side (it’s got a maraschino cherry in it, for goodness sake!).
It’s a dark, cozy, intimate type bar that allows you to escape the craziness of Colfax. I recommend this snug getaway for an after date nightcap or just for meeting up with a friend. I have yet to try the food, but I suppose I can go to Stella for that.

Dark, quite, and causal. I love going to R Bar for a quick dinner break when I’m working at the Bluebird Theater.
I usually start off with the mussels and bread and then move onto the 32^nd St. pasta or the truffle and asparagus pasta. All three are delicious and highly recommended, but you really couldn’t go wrong with anything on the menu.
The staff is very friendly and the service is quick and attentive. They always get us in and out quickly and we always leave full and satisfied.
Great spot in my book.

Cool little atmosphere and cozy. I prefer to come here since they share the kitchen with Stella’s next door. A great place to grab a drink or a meal.

Liked the space and the massive bar, plus the staff was sharp and friendly.
I was a tad disappointed, however, by the happy hour food. While deserving of props for being unique, it was lacking substance/​protein. In other words, I thought the dishes were tasty but I left hungry. Given their access to a big kitchen it would have been nice to have had a few more filling selections.
That said, I’d be happy to return.

Awesome cocktails, good eats, and a cozy atmosphere.
It’s a dimly lit bar with 8 or so tables and an 8 or so person bar. The bar back is huge and ornate and they project movies on the wall. The servers are friendly and make a stuff drink.
The best part is that you can order anything from Stella’s menu (they share a building). So if Stella is packed, head next door.
The only downside I’ve found is that a few times I’ve been there, they’ve been closed for private events.

Came here for HH and dinner on friday night with a few gal pals.
As everyone said, they share the kitchen with Stella’s, so you can order off their menu. During HH, my friend and I immensely enjoyed our vodka/​soda with lime ($ 3.50 each). I am sort of a light weight, but I was pretty tipsy halfway through. We ordered the proscuitto wrapped figs stuffed with goat cheese and candied brussel sprouts off the HH menu. The figs were on top of some greens with drizzled balsamic glaze. OH YUM. I wish we had ordered two separate brussel sprouts, b/​c they were delicious (a soup cup full). Fried, then roasted with brown sugar… so very good.
We continued to drink until our other friends joined. I shared the pear and bleu cheese salad and the brie app with my friend. A nice size piece of warm gooey brie with slices of green apples, strawberries, and candied oranges. Served with focaccia.
For what we ordered, it was very fairly priced. 3 HH drinks, 2 HH dishes, 1 app and 1 yummy salad was about $ 35. We will be back!
It can be a little dark in here, but I really liked the ambience. VERY mellow. Server was accommodating and friendly.

This neighborhood bar is a cute place to catch up with a friend over a glass of wine. They have a long wine list great for trying different things, I only wish they had a couple selections that were under $ 8 a glass.
They also share the kitchen with trattoria stella next door and you can order food and have a delicious meal in a quiet low lit spot, maybe a good date option too!
Bartenders are friendly and each time I’ve been in here it hasn’t had the typical raucous Colfax crowd you’d expect to see in a bar on the strip.

It seems that some of the best places are the ones you find because you are trying to get out of the rain. R Bar is just that kind of spot. It was a safe haven from the downpour my group was enduring at Wash Park and I’m ever so glad we happened upon it!
When we entered, soaking wet and still thirsty despite the previous rounds of jell-​o shots in the park, we were promptly greeted by the folks behind the bar. There were only two other people inside at the time but they just went about their business and paid no mind to us.
Slowly some other patrons showed up but by then we had taken over most of the space at the bar. No one was rude but rather just open to seeing the craziness that takes place at bars on Colfax.
The space isn’t huge — I would call it intimate. A bit darker than most places which I like. They had a few drink specials but we decided they should have round the clock Happy Hour for anyone who’s name starts with an «R.» Who’s with me on that one?
While I am aware they serve food here I have no idea what it’s all about cuz I was on a liquid diet during my first visit. This seems like a good place to take a date so I hope to check it out in the future.
Really good location on The Fax, nice peeps, dark wood interior = totally four stars and maybe five if the food is good. I’m a fan, hands down.

On a Tuesday night, I tried to head to Stella’s for dinner. It was closed, so we popped over to R Bar instead (they share a kitchen).
When we walked in, I was immediately relaxed. The space is dominated by a classically beautiful, large wooden bar. Its stateliness is not diminished by the robot statues that decorate the carved alcoves. Instead, that little quirkiness adds to R Bar’s charm.
The service was great: attentive, but not overbearing. Our waiter was funny, but didn’t inject himself into our conversations. Lovely.
But this is really what prompts the five star review: the food was delicious! There’s something so wonderful about twirling pasta around a fork, and I got so excited to see their house-​made gluten free spaghetti. It was tender and firm, and the sauce was yummy. I asked how they made the pasta — it is just long strands of squash! I could not believe that this pasta was delicious AND healthy. Score!
Try this place! You won’t regret it.

Went last night for a small private party.
It’s a bar. I drank carbonated alcohol.
Yum yum.
But actually, what makes this neat neighborhood gathering place a 4, and not just an OK 3 star spot, is the welcoming sweet attitude of the servers and their surprisingly good snack plates (especially their dish of warmed brie!).

I just love this place, and it baffles me that it isn’t more packed for the killer happy hour that lasts until 7! Cheap drinks AND reasonably priced small plates. The white bean bruschetta is a must-​order; however I’ve tried just about all of the happy hour menu and it’s a great place to swap in cheap dinner.
This place is cozy; if you’ve got more than maybe three or four people, best to pick another bar. It’s slightly more upscale than the surrounding bars (in a good way).

I stopped in one night after a workout, as a friend and I had planned to go to Stella’s for dinner, but Stella’s is closed on Tuesdays (huh?), so we went next door to R Bar. Thankfully we arrived during Happy Hour and I was able to order a small plate from the HH menu, as well as drinks and then food off the regular menu.
The drinks menu had plenty of hand-​crafted drinks, which was an unexpected treat, as well as a nice menu of spirits, wine, liqueurs and beer. It is a small space, but not crowded or cramped. There are three cozy booths, as well as seats at the bar and around the bar. It is a pretty cool place and quick, efficient service, understated but not helicopter service either, just right.
I enjoyed the food, although the 32^nd St. pasta is no longer my favorite, it was still tasty and a good-​sized portion that was enough for leftovers. My friend ordered the pasta arrabiata and cleaned the bowls, so I think it’s safe for me to assume that she enjoyed it as well.
I hadn’t planned to try R Bar, but I’m glad I gave it a chance. Definitely enjoyed it.

Despite the lack of signage (or at least barely visible at night), if you can find it, some mighty delicious cocktails can be had at this inconspicuous bar connected to the side of Stella’s.
Denver definitely has acquired a stylized signature for the types of bars around town — if you’re looking for a classier crowd over the other hipster-​ridden options around the area, this should be your stomping grounds.
In the mood for something nice and constantly well-​made? Try one of those traditional whiskey concoctions, you can’t go wrong.

I adore R bar. It is an intimate place with subdued lighting, delicious food and drink and delightfully nice service. We had clams and some delicious cocktails before seeing a show at the equally intimate and delightful bluebird theatre.

Frequenting restaurants and bars around the Blue Bird regularly, I had no idea that this was it’s own operation seperate from Stella’s until my friend swore by their martinis and how cute this place was. It provides a nice change of pace from the Atomic, Goosetown, and Mezcal that is needed from time to time.
Although the interior is incredibly charming and a breath of fresh air from the insanity of Colfax and the previously mentioned bars, my experience was all around lacking. Interior aesthetics and atmosphere aside, every other aspect was subpar.
Service was pretty dismal. When walking in, we verified with the server that we would be served if we sat on the patio. He assured us that it would be no problem. Apparently it would be a problem. There was no menu brought to us, the first site of a server was after happy hour had ended (we arrived well before the end of happy hour), and the only other sign of a server was when our only round of drinks were delivered (might have had another round or two had they asked). Our request for napkins to wipe off our drink glasses was disregarded and we had to resort to pay for our tab by walking back inside to the bar.
Aside from the service, the outstanding martini that my friend had spoken of (despite being in an abnormally large glass) was watered down. The Manhattan that I had was unlike any Manhattan that I have ever had. Had it been a blind taste test and someone had asked me what I had just drank, I would have responded with equal mixed with bottom shelf whiskey.
I haven’t dismissed this place all together, though. With it’s visual appeal and charm, I’m sure to give them another chance.

Bottom Line Up Front: A very upscale yet casual establishment right off of Colfax? Let alone one with cuisine offerings that you’d find in 5 star restaurants? Unheard of. With said cuisine and drinks being extremely modestly priced? Double unheard of. Unless you’ve been to R Bar/Stella’s.
They have your typical Crawling Colfax drink specials, ie $ 2 PBR, but they’ve also got some magical happenings behind the oak when it comes to cocktails. I had one of their basil martinis. I never would have thought basil would work in a cocktail; nevertheless, it proved to be a great introductory drink to my meal.
I had the 32^nd Street Pasta, which is a (house made) spinach spaghetti (smaller than traditional spaghetti noodles, yet a tad larger than angel hair) encircled by finely prepared tiger shrimp, dried cherries, pecans, and a little bit of cream cheese. Hands down it was the best dish I’ve had while living in Denver thus far. Many many MANY kudos to the culinary masters that the establishment keeps on the payroll. If the management is reading this, give them a raise.
One of the ownership took my order, and recommended that I try their Belgian IPA with the dish which proved to be indeed a great choice. Clean, crisp, not a very hoppy beer despite it being an IPA. It complemented the dish wonderfully.
R Bar side of the establishment is a very cozy little place. I went on a Friday night, and the place had a good amount of business going, yet there wasn’t that dreaded crowded feeling that tends to accompany a great eatery. They had live music throughout the evening which suited the establishment well.
The overall architecture was impressive, the bar itself is a quaint, gorgeous sight to see. My only input (not negative, just a suggestion) would to put more beers on tap. They have a sizable amount of liquors and bottled beers; however, I’d love to see more taps in this bar.
Great for a date, meet-​up with friends over a phenomenal meal, courteous and punctual staff. This is an establishment which I will most definitely be frequenting again soon.