When I’m downtown in Colorado Springs and I’m not ready for the night to be over, Chiba Bar is my favorite late-night stop.
You can do shots off a samurai sword. You can get anime printed on top of your drink. And there’s a fun after-midnight noodle thing that deserves its own conversation.
But the part I love most is what happens when the night gets late.
The night changes around 1 a.m.
In my experience, Chiba is where people filter in when they leave other downtown bars. Around 1 a.m., you can get a whole new flush of people, and a lot of them seem to know each other.
That changes the room. If you’re picturing a quiet little drink and a mostly empty bar, this is probably not the part of the night you want.
Me? I love that vibe. Sometimes I’m ready to go home. Sometimes I want to be somewhere the night still has something left in it. Chiba is my spot for the second one.
Yes, the sword shots and anime drinks are part of the appeal
Chiba calls itself a cyberpunk izakaya, which is a Japanese-style pub with a neo-Tokyo aesthetic. It’s a much more useful description than trying to file it under “another downtown bar.”
The sword shots and anime printed onto cocktails are two of the things I’ve seen there that make it feel like Chiba. They give you something to talk about before you’ve even finished your drink.
I wouldn’t plan a visit around a specific design or drink without asking what’s available that night, but those are exactly the kinds of details that made me want to write about this place.
And then there’s the after-midnight noodle thing
There’s also this really fun noodle thing that happens after midnight. It’s one of my favorite little late-night details about Chiba, and it’s easy to miss if your entire downtown routine ends earlier in the evening.
I’m describing what I’ve experienced here, rather than promising a nightly special. Ask the staff about the late-night food when you visit.
Where to find Chiba Bar
Chiba Bar is at 19 East Kiowa Street in downtown Colorado Springs. Its website currently lists hours of 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., Monday through Sunday, and you can check the current menu before you go.
Go earlier if you want to check out the drinks and food before that late-night wave. Stay late if the idea of everyone filtering in sounds like your kind of night.
I know which one I’m usually choosing.
