“There’s nothing like this in Estes,” said Aaron Nelson, who owns Estes Perk with his wife Agnes Nelson. Nothing like what?
Well, there’s actually a lot going on in this space that opened just weeks ago. Estes Perk is open every day from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., because it has something to offer for every part of the day.
It’s a coffee shop, a pastry shop, a sandwich shop, and a cocktail lounge, all on the first floor of the three-story Park Place Mall at 145 E. Elkhorn Ave. in Estes Park.
The cafe sells its own brand of coffee, Estes Perk Coffee, made by a small private coffee company in Oregon ($3 to $7 for 12 ounces). These include international coffees from places like Brazil and Indonesia, as well as medium- and dark-roast options in caffeinated and decaf varieties.
There are also teas, hot chocolates, and even a hot toddy on the menu.
Estes Perk sells beautiful hand-crafted pastries, like beignets, tarts, cake, and cookies from High Altitude in Fort Collins.
Gluten-free pastries are also available, like the large dark chocolate gluten-free brownie for $11, which should have been eaten as two separate servings but was devoured as one serving by the self-described “celiac chocoholic” I interviewed.
I was able to sample four different pastries when I selected from the cute miniatures, which look like they were made for a doll’s tea party. The tiny coffee eclair, raspberry cheesecake, and apricot-and-lemon tarts ($3 each) were intentionally small but big on flavor, especially the coffee eclair. Standard-sized pastries are also available.
And there’s more. The sandwich menu at Estes Perk is unique, like the “Melted Lovehilli” sandwich ($12) made with cream cheese, melted chocolate, and strawberries.
I had the hot “Pesto Friend” ham sandwich with gooey cheeses, and pesto used as the condiment instead of mustard or mayo. It was delicious, and I will be having it again, but first I want to try the “Hot Mess,” “Bless This Pickle,” and several others, all $10 to $15.
Two moms I interviewed one morning at the cafe were pleased that the sandwich menu includes toasted peanut butter and jelly (the “Mad Man,” $10), because they were quite sure their finicky kids would eat it.
And three coffee drinkers I met on their way out said that Estes Perk was their new routine. An Estes Park resident said, “This is my go-to for great coffee without standing in a long line, so far.” However, he predicts that lines will form as more people find out about this cafe.
The biggest surprise for me at this venue was the cocktail lounge. “It’s not a bar,” said Nelson. “It’s a quiet lounge.”
This is what Nelson was talking about when he said there’s nothing like it in Estes. It’s a small, softly-lit room with a handsome bar, multiple tables, and some velvet furniture. Nelson said they are aiming for the feel of a speakeasy.
Bartender Aaron Codling is dressed for the club vibe, and he serves specialty cocktails like the “Aviation” for $15, as well as Czech, German, Polish, and local beers, along with other spirits.
Local jazz musician James Hocker will be playing at Estes Perk this Saturday, June 13, from 6 to 8 p.m., and Nelson expects him to be performing there regularly in the future.
Patrons at the lounge on the evening I visited said they were enjoying a quiet evening of conversation together and appreciated the venue aesthetically and functionally.
The plan is to add more velvet lounge chairs and velvet drapes to create greater separation from the food area.
Nelson has managed his own construction business in Estes Park, Nelson’s Custom Construction, for 26 years, and it is very involved in the restaurant scene. He is currently completing construction projects at Snowy Peaks Winery, Antlers Rooftop Tavern, and Antonio’s Pizza.
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