Tag Archives: Denver

Denver’s Top Luxury Hotels

Denver’s top luxury hotels showcase three different approaches in three different neighborhoods.

Four Seasons Hotel, Denver

Flagship luxury brand The Four Seasons has a great downtown address – The Colorado Convention Center, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, and the Ellie Caulkins Opera House are all within easy walking distance.

Four Seasons Hotel Denver-Lobby
Four Seasons Hotel Denver-Lobby photo credit: John Cameron

The  modern interior design subtly reflects the natural beauty of Colorado, and oversized windows offer both downtown and Rocky Mountain vistas.  At the EDGE Bar in the Four Seasons lobby, a tapas-style menu pairs well with local microbrews and over 50 wines by the glass.

Four Seasons Hotel Denver-fireplace
Four Seasons Hotel Denver-Fireplace photo credit: John Cameron

Four Seasons Hotel Denver offers 239 ultra-spacious guest rooms and suites within a modern 45-storey building. Suites feature a lounge chair and ottoman in a separate living area. Generous bathrooms include a deep soaking tub and a shower in a separate glass-enclosed stall.

The fitness center on the third floor has views of the rooftop pool terrace. Guests can choose from cardio machines equipped with televisions, free weights and a yoga studio.  The spa ushers in new treatments each season, such as an Evergreen Massage for winter. All guests can use the spa facilities – a perfect ending to a session in the rooftop pool.

The Four Seasons is only one block away from trendy Larimer Square with some of Denver’s best dining options. Check out chef Troy Guard’s contemporary cuisine at TAG.

Hong Kong Sea Bass at TAG
Hong Kong Sea Bass at TAG photo credit: Sherel Purcell

The savvy waiters have excellent wine pairing suggestions and must tries include the taco sushi, Miso Black Cod and the Hong Kong steamed seabass in a ginger soy vinaigrette.

Kimpton Hotel Monaco Denver

Near the 16th Avenue Mall and the renovated historic Union Train station, pet-friendly boutique hotel brand Kimpton is renowned for its popular happy hour where guests mingle over drinks and snacks. Did I mention its free? No two Kimptons are the same, each property has its own personality.

Kimpton Hotel Monaco Denver Lobby
Kimpton Hotel Monaco Denver Lobby photo credit: Sherel Purcell

Walking into the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Denver, guests encounter a huge living room lobby complete with a grand ornate ceiling and an oversized fireplace – the perfect spot for the classy complimentary evening wine and beer tastings complete with hors d’oeuvres from the on-site Italian restaurant, Panzano. Tonight a free mini neck and shoulders massage and a singer/pianist complete the entertainment.

Kimpton Hotel Monaco Denver guest room
Kimpton Hotel Monaco Denver guest room photo credit: John Cameron

Interior designer Susan Caruso’s urban and western redesign of the guest rooms mixes animal hides, satiny drapes, quirky lamps, and oversized headboards in bold oranges and turquoises.

There are complimentary bicycles to use during your stay, an on-site 24-hour fitness center with cardio and resistance equipment, complimentary overnight shoeshine, complimentary morning Lavazza coffee and tea service, same-day laundry and dry cleaning service and luxury bath amenities. You can even request a goldfish companion for you (and your dog) for the duration of
your stay.

Halcyon Hotel Cherry Creek

Denver’s newest luxury hotel, the independent Halycon, is located in Cherry Creek , a mixture of urban development and tree lined residential streets, just south of downtown. Hermes and Tiffany are just some of the luxury retailers that inhabit the upscale suburb, Denver’s Rodeo Drive.

Halcyon replaces the traditional reception desk with a kitchen counter where friendly staff will fix your favorite coffee drink or pour you a glass of bubbly. Enjoy complimentary drinks including red and white wine, beer and mixed cocktails from 3 pm to 10 pm daily.

Just past the kitchen counter is an inviting living room complete with contemporary art pieces, two fireplaces, books, tv and board games set up amidst lounging chairs and sofas. From there you can proceed to the Rooftop Pool Deck where you may catch a session of sunset yoga led by yogis from neighboring Pura Vida Fitness & Spa.

Halcyon Hotel Cherry Creek Living room
Halcyon Hotel Cherry Creek Living room photo credit: John Cameron

Spread across 2 floors, the 1300 square foot Presidential Suite features an open concept living space on the main floor with a bedroom and ensuite bathroom upstairs. The outdoor terrace, designed by local Halcyon partner Restoration Hardware, offers views of the Denver skyline. Halcyon elevates the cool factor with retro-style turntables and vintage vinyl in every room.

Halcyon Hotel Cherry Creek Gear Garage
Halcyon Hotel Cherry Creek Gear Garage photo credit: John Cameron

Explore the Cherry Creek Trail bike path and surrounding city parks on complimentary Vespas, e-bikes, and Belgium cruisers.  The Gear Garage at Halcyon also offers a Hamboard which feels like surfing on wheels and made in Denver longboards. Outdoor adventure kits come in an Osprey Backpack that includes a Go Pro, binoculars, Swiss army knife, Bear Naked bars, and bottled water. Photographers will love the loaner Leica film cameras and Halcyon will even print and ship your prints home.

Cycle Denver

Mile High City Action

Denver’s B-cycle bike-sharing program is a great way to explore the city. Bike stands are conveniently located near all the top attractions, including the stylish Denver Art Museum (DAM) with 70,000 pieces in nine permanent collections and international touring exhibits. A museum dedicated solely to the works of abstract expressionist, Clyfford Still sits nearby. Before leaving the area, stop by The Cell – a museum devoted to the study of terrorism and the History Colorado Center, featuring high-tech, hands-on explorations of 10,000 years of Colorado’s people.

Further uptown, via the South Platte River bike trail, the Museum of Contemporary Art showcases the latest work from regional, national and international artists. To encourage discussion and exploration of art and ideas the MCA sponsors “Museum Quality Drinking: Curated Art and Cocktails” nights on the chic rooftop patio café.

Larimer Street Denver
Larimer Street photo: Janice Wright

When it’s time to relax, take the free 16th street shuttle back to Larimer Square to sample nouveau Mexican creations at Tamayo or comfort gastro pub fare on the city’s best roof top patio at Ignite. For up to the minute cocktail creations, stop by Green Russell for a nightcap. High end shopping and dining entice visitors to the tony Cherry Creek Area on the bike trail of the same name. Skiers are a little over an hour from Loveland, a local favourite on the eastern side of the Continental Divide.

For one last look at Colorado’s mountains, check out the roof of the Denver International Airport where glowing man-made peaks of Teflon-coated fabric silhouetted against the Rockies represent Colorado’s 54 “fourteeners” – mountains that top out at 14,000 feet.

Published in Dreamscapes winter/spring 2013

 

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Travel Planner

  • Denver Tourism: www.denver.org
  • Denver Art Museum: www.denverartmuseum.org 720-865-5000,
  • Clyfford Still Museum: www.clyffordstillmuseum.org 720-354-4874
  • History Colorado Center: historycolorado.org 303-447-8679
  • Warwick Hotel: www.warwickdenver.com 303-861-2000,
  • Tamayo: www.richardsandoval.com/tamayo 720- 946-1433
  • Ignite! Fire Crafted: www.ignite-denver.com 303-296-2600
  • Green Russell: greenrussell.com 303-893-6505