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Writer's Spots: Leela European Cafe'
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Xanadu for the nightcrawler...
I’ll be honest when I say that I wasn’t expecting much when I walked into Leela European Café, located at 15th and Champa. Having lived in Denver three years now, I naturally had heard about the iconic 24 hour establishment in central downtown, easily spotted by its red neon sign contrasting against a green concrete building… Perhaps it was the presence of the club next door with the delightfully subtle name “Shag Lounge” that kept causing me to change my mind, or the sheer hassle of parking anywhere in downtown Denver if you don’t have a stack of quarters on hand. When I finally made the decision to swing by this past week, overall I was pleasantly surprised.
The main positive of Leela’s is the all night hours for those who get the caffeine bug or the relentless munchies past 11pm (though I have heard the establishment can be quite loud at night, especially with a club and a liquor store next door). They do have staging for live music and a variety of café tables, pub tables, and comfortable couches to choose from. The ordering system can be slightly confusing, but I finally figured out you do so at the bar via whoever is behind it.
I did not have the pleasure of trying their sandwiches or main menu items, though general reviews I found were mostly good, citing that their prices are quite reasonable for downtown and their sandwiches tasty. You are certainly given more versatile options than the average coffee shop, including a full bar (which can be a positive or negative thing). As for the coffee itself, I wasn’t expecting anything epic, but in this category I was left especially satisfied. While I wouldn't call it best in Denver by any means, the same care you would get in a standard coffeeshop from a barista, the staff of Leela’s gives to their various espresso drinks, which range from a white chocolate, dark chocolate mix they call the “Obama” (formerly the “Michael Jackson”) to a candy bar flavored concoction they called the “Almond Joy” (if you’re a fan of coffee art, you’ll get some here).
On the forefront of negatives is definitely Leela’s neighborhood if you’re a female writer flying solo, or don’t care for the thoroughly inebriated crowd of club drifters and vagrants that can form on the patio and at The Shag Lounge next door. The general consensus seems to be if this is a concern of yours, only come during the day. While the area is well populated, it’s not the calmest area of downtown at night. Proceed at your own discretion.
Ambient noise when I was there was a bit loud for many writer’s tastes, though this is personal preference (I know writers who could pen Scruples with Motorhead playing in the background). Electric outlets are slightly difficult to find (there’s two on either side of the stage) but are present if you look for them.
If your ideal writer’s spot is an eclectic melting pot in the heart of the city, open to your muse’s call at even the most wee hours of the morning, Leela’s may very well be the place for you. If you prefer something a bit more quiet on all fronts, perhaps not. Either way, this establishment is worth taking a trip to at least once, and is a unique experience all its own.
For more info: 820 15th St., Denver, CO
http://www.myspace.com/leelaeuropeancafe
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