1860 Tavern, a Dive Restaurant Bar Dishing Homemade Comfort Foods
Ski bums, bikers, campers, and road trippers heading west out of Denver, often pass through the tiny mountain town of Empire, hungering for breakfast in the Colorado Rockies. Restaurants in Empire, Colorado are few and far between, but my recent stop at 1860 Tavern, a mountain dive bar, turned out to be one of those restaurant bars that serve up good ol’ fashioned home cooking.
Under new ownership, 1860 Tavern is a rustic building with a family-friendly atmosphere, typical of mountain bars. The marquis announces that 1860 Tavern is open every day at 4 a.m., making it a perfect stop for skiers on their way to Winter Park. The moment you step inside 1860 Tavern expect a greeting from the owner Gail or her boyfriend Paul.
Breakfast is served all day – which makes me do the happy dance, but even happier is the budget-friendly prices and big portions. Specialties of the house are their Steak & Eggs (always on special) and Corn Beef and Hash. Their 1860 Tavern Steak, top grade premium Colorado steak, is only $1 an ounce. Other menu items are typical bar food – burgers, sandwiches, salads. There’s also Gyro, Salads, and Havarti Pizza. Sundays order up a $2 Bloody Mary.
For me, I stuck with stick-to-your-gut home cooked Chicken Fried Steak, fresh made gravy, home-fried potatoes and eggs.
Made from scratch Chicken Fried Steak at 1860 Tavern
My husband opted for a burger, saying it was the tastiest burger he’s had in a long time.
Colorado Beef -- juicy cheesburgers at 1860 Tavern in Empire, Colorado
While we were there, Paul served a “Flaming Ooppa Fried Cheese,” to a couple that raved about the dish: fried cheese drizzled with fresh squeezed lime and flamed with Everclear & wine!
Order from a full bar at 1860 Tavern in Empire, Colorado
Entertainment is at your fingertips at 1860 Tavern – horseshoe pits and board games (Scrabble and Sorry!), or step out onto the wooden patio and enjoy a view of the mountains.
When heading west toward Winter Park, make 1860 Tavern a stop on your way, or even on your back. You’ll be glad you did.
NOTE: 1860 Tavern doesn’t accept credit cards, but an ATM is on the premises.
1860 Tavern
409 East Park Avenue
Empire, CO 80438
(303) 569-0333 or 569-5019
Blog by Diana Rowe
Photos © Diana Rowe
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6 Responses
[...] Colorado’s Highway 40 and finally gives locals a place to pull up a chair, order some good Colorado pub grub and have a beer or spirit. Just 10 miles west of Steamboat Springs, Daddio’s Bar & Grill is [...]
I stopped by the 1860 Tavern in August and had the best burger ever! I totally agree with the review. Excellent food, really fun atmosphere!
They hosted a meeting for us. They did a tremendous job, and the food was awesome!!!
Loved it, so did my kids, they ate grilled cheese and loved them.
We also enjoyed karoake, my kids sang too, it was lots of fun.
[...] and locals hang out at the Townhouse Lounge in historic Manitou Springs, Colorado. It’s a swanky Colorado dive bar, serving the comfort foods of home at a budget-friendly restaurant. Townhouse Lounge located on [...]
Thank you for the reviews, friends! 1860 Tavern now accepts VISA and MASTERCHARGE.