The venerable Strater Hotel has stood at the corner of 7th Street and Main Avenue since 1887 and is the landmark building in Durango. To say it is a symbol of our town is an understatement; locals and tourists love the grand old dame. The collection of restaurants and bars that make up the Strater is a direct link to our Western mining history. It is nothing short of a living museum.
Just a few paces south of the main hotel entrance is The Office Spiritorium, an ornate and cozy Victorian bar with a little more upscale vibe than the beloved Diamond Belle Saloon located on the north side of the Strater. Sandwiched between the steak-and-seafood-centric Mahogany Grille and the hotel, The Office is a craft cocktail lounge that serves soups, salads, and appetizers. The name “Spiritorium” is made up to capture the unique atmosphere that emulates a social club from the Gilded Age of New York or San Francisco.
The décor is all period correct with hand-carved walnut and mahogany details and authentic craftsman furniture, stained glass, and wallpaper. The Barker family, who owned the Strater for 95 years until 2021, collected antique furnishings from across the country to create its one-of-a-kind ambiance. Everything in The Office is hand-crafted. From the comfortable window booths to the loveseat by the fireplace to the intimate perch of the balcony, there’s no bad seat in The Office. It’s an intimate space with a capacity for around 40 patrons.
A clock at the top of the lobby entrance is set to 5 p.m. to remind you, “It’s 5 o’clock somewhere,” and it is always 5 p.m. at The Office Spiritorium. Another unique feature is the taxidermy peacock mounted to look out the Main Avenue window and lure visitors inside. The most significant difference between the Strater’s two bars is that the Diamond Belle is designed around live music (including ragtime piano) in an informal Old West atmosphere, while The Office is more of a refined social establishment with local musicians performing nightly in a smaller, laid-back environment.
On our trips to The Office, we sampled several of their small plate appetizers while sitting in front of the cozy fireplace with its elaborate mantle. The dishes we enjoyed were paired with very creative cocktails. These included Scallop & Salmon Ceviche with Wasabi Cream Sauce, accompanied by a cocktail called The Aquatine made with Akvavit (a Scandinavian spirit with caraway and other herbs) and Elderflower; Turnip Fries with Siracha Aioli (vegan) paired with a drink called Mexican Candy made with vanilla-infused tequila with jalapeño, sweetened with tamarind, and served with the iconic spicy-salty Tajin on the glass rim; Duck Pot Pie with a filo pastry cap paired with an unusual drink called Eat Your Veggies, which is similar to a Negroni with gin, beets, artichokes and orange. Our dessert drinks were The Cricket, a variation on the grasshopper made with crème de menthe and coconut milk, and the Little Cigar, made with espresso and Licor 43, a Spanish botanical liqueur with 43 ingredients that is similar to Tuaca.
More of their inventive cocktails include Georgia in the Southwest (Colorado Honey Bourbon, Peach Liquor, Bitters), The Arcadia (Breckenridge Gin, Elderflower, Lemon, Ginger, Rose Water Mist), Playing Hooky (Cane Rum, Pineapple, Lime, Cardamom, Jamaican & Peychaud’s Bitters), Ya’ Goober (447 Bourbon & Peanut Barrel Bourbon, Bigallet China-China, Black Bitters), and Chai Old Fashioned (447 Bourbon & Chai infused Spirits, Orange Bitters).
Other items on the “Small Plates” menu include Adult Candy (dates stuffed with gorgonzola cheese wrapped in bacon with a honey glaze), Corn Fritters served with chipotle salsa and green chile crema, Lamb Meatballs served with caramelized onions and mint yogurt, and Fried Calamari with smoky tomato dipping sauce and lemon tarragon aioli. A daily soup and a variety of tasty salads are also on the list. Desserts include Bread Pudding, Cheesecake, and Flourless Chocolate Cake. You can also order from the Mahogany Grille or Diamond Belle Saloon menus.
For a unique experience with a custom drink or meal in a historic setting, there’s no better bar in Durango than The Office Spiritorium.
