Green Russell

This place is the best bar I have ever been too hands down! If you come to town this is a must stop. Ask for Brad he is a mad scientist with the drink lol.

The best. I take all my out of town people here. The food is awesome. They literally chip the ice from a big block. You can’t get more authentic.

Rudest most incompetent staff I’ve ever come across… Atmosphere is a C+ at best. This place is a pass.

Fantastic cocktail bar! Great mixologists who know their stuff. Hidden gem with a speakeasy feel.
My husband and I go here a lot and I really love their old fashion. He loves their gin drinks and doesn’t really like gin drinks anywhere else.
I recommend to anyone looking for a good «sipper» drink or two and a low lit, cool feel.

Boo hiss! Went here tonight with a group of 9 tonight and couldn’t get in because our group was too large. We did say we could break into smaller groups and still no go, that’s their policy. Too bad, we would’ve loved to check out their establishment. Maybe someday I’ll return and update this review.

After eating at the smokehouse for dinner, we hopped over to the Green Russel for a couple drinks. To our surprise they had live music at the time we were there which was enjoyable.
To be expected, the drinks were a bit pricey and you don’t get much but you’re getting a custom made order based off of what you tell the bartender what you’re looking for (base spirit, profiles, etc.).
The one disappointing element was the inconsistency in service. We had decent service to start but then it just dropped off, never to appear again. After going to the bar to order another drink, they promptly put something forward and were nice enough to take one off of our tab.
It was a good, chill evening.

This place is AMAZING to say the least! From the atmosphere to the employees. It is all wonderful! Merlin is the best! He can make you a drink even if you don’t know exactly what you want! I highly recommend this to anyone!!! A great hidden treasure!!!

A great little speakeasy type bar. They make delicious cocktails that are unique as well as beautiful.
There is generally a line on the weekends but if there are no seats you can wait at the standing bar until your seat is ready. Great atmosphere and super cool that it’s tucked away beneath the streets of Denver. Drink prices are on the higher side so probably better to go for only one or two drinks

I came here expecting more. The photos online made it seem much more secretive and speakeasy than it actually was. They no longer ask you for a special password to get in. It’s pretty cool that it’s underground, but the entrance hardly passes as s pie shop when the door to their restaurant is wide open.
We went around 6ish and did not have to wait to get a seat at the bar which was nice. The inside is extremely dark, I couldn’t really make out any of the decorations other than the chairs. I ordered a cocktail called the American Pie and wasn’t impressed. It was extremely citrusy. The food looked great. Overall I would probably not come here again! The Roosevelt which is on the same street had much better hand crafter cocktails and ambiance. Plus there are more authentic speakeasys in Denver

Eh. Look… it’s a cool concept and we enjoyed going there early on because it truly was a hidden gem but since then it’s just overrun… so many people, packed in a small space. The lighting is odd… very dark but then you can be sat where there is a spotlight shining in your eyes… and cramped. The drinks are great but the last time we were there it was pretty limited… they only could use citrus juice (because that’s what existed before prohibition we were told) and though we asked the bartenders to be creative, their efforts sort of fell flat. I feel like a broken record on some of my recent reviews… definitely check it out, bring out of towners but make a reservation or pick a slow night. Otherwise, you will be standing in the corner.

I almost feel bad leaving these guys a 3-​star review considering my first few visits to this bar really impressed me. However, when recently taking a group of out-​of-​town family members to this bar we were denied service due to our group having 7 people in it. I was a little bit taken aback by this but then was explained that they don’t host large groups because it isn’t ‘conducive to their atmosphere’. OK, so even that makes sense. I then told the guy that we will be happy to just split into a group of 4 and 3 then. Then he said ‘Actually, since we know that you all know each other we won’t be able to seat you in two groups … we tried that before and then people were moving around a lot and grouping up in too large of groups’. I kind of thought that he was just messing with me but nope, he was serious and we didn’t go in to sit down.
I was completely embarrassed because I was actually trying to show this place off to some people and then was asked to not come in.
Other than that, their drinks are good and their presentation is what makes this place so neat. They cut out each piece of ice individually for your drink when you order it. It takes a while to make them but that is part of the show. They can make some good recommendations if you give them a spirit preference. Their food items are a good bonus.

I feel like I get 50% cooler just by walking in the Green Russell. Hidden behind a «secret» door beneath a barbecue restaurant, there is a hip, cool, speakeasy feel. The bartenders spiffy outfits are topped only by their mad skills shaking up some incredibly tasty cocktails. Not sure what to get? They do a fantastic job helping guide you through the menu, and will even create a special cocktail for you based on your alcohol and flavor preferences. Yes, the drinks can be a tad pricey — but once you watch one of the Green Russell bartenders chisel a block of ice so that it slides perfectly in your glass, you should see the premium is worth it for the quality & experience.
We’ve only nibbled on appetizers here, but everything we’ve tried has been fantastic. Most recently we enjoyed their house made sausage plate, with mustard and cheese. Delish!
For the fabulous cocktails and tasty snacks, Green Russell is a go-​to date night spot for us!

Let me clarify who’s giving this hidden spot 5 stars verses 2.
If you loved it, it’s because you loved the overall experience, the ambiance, the mystique of it, and of course, the high end cocktails.
If you didn’t love it, my guess is you’re going to critique the service mainly. You came in expecting an Applebee’s type of family service and what you got was what you would call pretentious and snooty.
Friends, let’s get on the same page real quick — pretentious, by definition: attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed.
The keyword here is «attempting.» What you need to realize about these bartenders is that they know what they’re talking about and doing, and you probably don’t. Let’s just be honest.
I even asked the bartender a question about the way he was shaving my ice cube like a ninja with a knife. He gave me the subtle impression that I had no clue and was a kid for asking. Did I need him to go into the history of making ice cubes? Probably not. Did I wonder if it was just adding to the overall experience of the drink in some roundabout way? Sure.
But don’t call people pretentious if its just an your observation and not knowing. If your waiter from Applebee’s has a curly mustache and slicked back hair with suspenders and walks away when you can’t decide between a coors light and an old fashion, then sure, call him pretentious.
Green Russell, you make good drinks. So bravo. And clearly you’ve done an immaculate job at hiding the entrance to the normal shmuck who will mozy in and find where all the snooty bartenders have been hiding in Denver. You guys make me want to slick my hair back.

A mixologist’s paradise: A dark seedy speak easy, fully of giant blocks of ice ready to be chiseled into drinks, tons of booze, and lots of wild garnishes like citrus and dried curaçao … Sometimes, I think the bartender is more into creating such a perfect concoction than we are in drinking them!
This is a fun spot– for out of towners– this is a take on the «back room» bar prohibition style– you enter into a «Front» and have to pass through a hidden door basically to get to the pitch dark bar where the mixologists do their thing.
I ordered «Something with Gin» and was treated to the most lovely concoction. For a real treat, ask for a giant chiseled round or square ice cube in your drink– you will be blown away!
Bottoms up!

Came just for drinks, so that’s all this review will cover.
Yes the drinks are small, and you pay a lot for them. All the drinks we had were GREAT, well crafted. Weird when you pay a lot for something that’s really good. Our service was great, brought people from out of town and they really enjoyed the vibe and drinks.

This is a really fun bar. We’d never been before, and stumbled in on a Wed. night after a show at the DPAC. It was serendipitous luck to be there on Wednesday, because it’s PIE DAY. We splurged and got a piece of awesome coconut cream pie with our drinks, because, that’s what you do!
The drinks are yummy. Our bartender was meticulous while making the drinks, at the same time being personable and welcoming. I can’t believe it took me this long to get there, but I’ll definitely be coming back again!

Green Russel I must say got me curious. My Unilocalie senses were on full alert when I passed by on the way in and on the way out from Bistro Vendome. You can’t miss this place if you have a little bit of awareness in you.
How can you not? On the way in to Bistro Vendome it’s to your left and you will see people coming up from the steps. What’s there? A-​ha! A speakeasy! I’m in!
So before leaving for Dallas we met with our favorite couple for a drink and small bites.
Once you’re in– the cavern like environment is cold, dark and mysteriously won’t sit our friend first unless all four of us were present. So tonight was the night we shamelessly sashayed in almost a full half hour late or even more! There’s always a first time.
The service was awesome. The bartender was attentive. The finger foods were not bad. The noise was unbearable! It was just too noisy for a speakeasy. Then again they sat us on a three top instead of four because the other half of our couple friend was late too. I’m puzzled. In the end we moved when our foursome was finally complete. But really?
The drinks were amazing. I’m a rum person. I requested drinks mostly rum based. I got my wish and they’re all very good.
Ok. Been there. Done that! If it was a little less loud I’d probably make this my cave.

I was looking through Conde Nast Traveler’s list of the best bars in the world and the Green Russell made the list, so I was excited after readint reviews to try this place myself. My husband and I came here last Friday night to try it and we are so glad we did.
You enter this room before getting to the bar, where they seat you. We could have waited for a booth, but opted for immediate seating at a high top, which was right next to the bar. We were greeted immediately by the bartender who gave us water and took our drink order. My husband ordered the «Tell me the ‘Treuse’» drink and I told the bartender that I like Stranahans and to surprise me. The «Tell me the ‘Treuse» drink was delicious and the bartender made me an old-​fashioned with Stranahans and brown sugar syrup, which I thought was absolutely delicious as well.
For our appetizer, we ordered the bone marrow, which was decadent. The crostinis, however, were a little over salted on some pieces and since I don’t consume salt that much, it was a little overwhelming. The salad served with the bone marrow was delicious as well.
For our entrées, my husband ordered the sweet potato gnocchi, which was served with squash and zucchini that he absolutely loved. I ordered their pulled pork mac n cheese, which had pulled pork, green chile, and mac n cheese. What a delicious combo! They also make their own BBQ sauces, which are all delicious. My favorites were the vinegar and spicy sauces mixed together.
They have a no phone policy, which I think is great! If you would like to talk on your phone, you’ll have to step into their phone booth.

I can’t get enough of this place. It’s kind of «hidden» and you don’t know what to expect until you walk in. It’s a smaller intimate bar that’s dim lot with cocktail tables, bar space, and bigger tables if you’re wanting to eat some food while you’re here. The wait usually isn’t too bad if you’re not with a ton of people. A good place to come for a date and not a huge group. The bartenders here really are masters of their craft. There’s an awesome drink menu, but they also do bartenders choice so if there’s a liquor you would love to drink but not sure how you want to drink it, they’ll come up with something just for you. The ambience is a little loud when it’s busy but it’s fun and the cozy basement like feeling makes it seem hidden and really special.

I most definitely appreciate the history behind the name (William Greeneberry «Green» Russell and I both hail from Georgia and he was among the first settlers of Denver, in present day Larimer Square) and the adaptation of an otherwise unuseable space in a cellar but, because the space is completely underground, the atmosphere is that of a damp, musty basement. I’m sure our unusually rainy Spring and Summer hasn’t helped and, unfortunately, no amount of authentic jazz age tunes or fancy cocktail shaking can overcome it. I also appreciate dim lighting but not when it’s so dark that I can’t even see to read the menu.
I had always heard that the entrance to Green Russell was hidden behind a bookcase or a pie counter or something but it’s really just the swinging door opposite the hostess stand from Russell’s Smokehouse. As we were escorted to our barstools, I was almost annoyed with the hostess for not asking us if we wanted cocktail table or bar seating (the place was not at all busy and there were plenty of seats still available when we left). Our time was limited due to a dinner reservation and I assumed bar service would be faster, so I didn’t press the issue.
Since I couldn’t read the menu, I decided to just ask the bartender to whip something up for me. We were celebrating so I asked for a champagne based cocktail. The bartender asked me if I was familiar with a French 75 and I said no. He nodded and walked away without asking me any more questions, such as my thoughts on gin, the other major component of that particular cocktail. Lucky for him, it was delicious. Mr. P. had the whiskey flight, a good representation of 4 different types of whiskeys. Not surprisingly, the locally distilled Peach Street bourbon was the best one.
Green Russell is an interesting and unique watering hole to grab an expertly made cocktail during your time in Larimer Square. While I wouldn’t go out of my way to make it a destination, it’s worthy of a spot on the list of places to visit in downtown Denver.