Along the Tennyson Street Arts District in the Berkeley Neighborhood of North Denver sits a cozy and quaint bookstore. However, this is no ordinary book store. People can drink wine in this book store. And beer. And eat food while they read or peruse the shelves for something new. Welcome to BookBar.

The BookBar is the invention of local, Nicole Sullivan. She often enjoyed her evenings reading a novel with a glass of wine and wondered, why shouldn’t others do the same in a peaceful environment? With that simple idea, BookBar was born. While the store and bar have been open for almost three years now, Sullivan has recently expanded the space. Still in place is the large and comfortable bookstore and bar up front, but there is now a new children’s wing with reading area and in the very back is a small reading and working room complete with fireplace. The back room is a quiet place to escape the conversations taking place up front. Outside off the backroom is a small patio area and firepit that will open when the weather warms.

For Bar Manager Catherine Olah, BookBar is the perfect place to work on a laptop, find a new book to read, or to simply meet a few friends for some drinks and conversation. The BookBar is beer and wine only, however, Olah makes sure it is some of the finest beer and wine guests can enjoy. The wines come from far and wide, including Bordeaux from France, Pinot Grigio from Italy, and even bottles from Denver’s own Bonacquista Urban Winery. The beers are some of Colorado’s best including Dry Dock from Aurora, Epic from Denver, Eddy Line from Buena Vista, Fort Collins Brewing Company and Telluride Brewing Company. Regular beers come in bottles that staff will pour into a glass for you, however, there are three taps of draft beer that change on a rotating basis.

Like any good bookstore, BookBar hosts events like book club meetings, author talks, and poetry readings. BookBar also has a full service espresso machine serving locally roasted coffees from Method Roasters in Denver. There is even a finger food menu featuring pastries, mini-pizzas, and crustinis. Olah says the bar wants to serve food that you can eat without having to put it down to turn a page. They really have thought of everything at this bar!

Happy Hour at BookBar is Monday through Thursday from 3–6 PM and features $2 off wines, beers, and hor d’oeuvres. For you parents out there, BookBar offers a children’s story time, or what the bar calls Happier Hour Story Hour, on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Bring the little ones for a cookie and a story read by a retired school teacher while you enjoy half-off wines and $3 beers. Happier Hour Story Time is from 4–5 PM. The bar also has Trivia on Tuesday nights, and Fridays and Saturdays feature housemade sangrias and mulled wines.

BookBar is located at 4280 Tennyson Street in Denver.

Photos by Carrie Dow