"Refuge, an intimate bar in Montrose, serves upscale drinks in an excessively dim space. Table servers ply you with tiny bar snacks, cloth coasters, and careful attention so you can stare into your date’s eyes instead of flagging down a bartender. The cocktails riff on common classics, but add in esoteric twists with liquors and spirits like Pineau de Charentes and St. Lucian rum. It’s a bar without time, or overhead lighting, which is great for before (or after) a date. Or a chic start to a night out. Walk-ins are welcome, but it’s better to snag a reservation for a seamless evening." - chelsea thomas