Where to Stay in Denver, Colorado from Hostels to Cowboy Luxe
Denver has some wonderful places to stay throughout the city. But, if you’ve never visited before it can be a little confusing figuring out what are the best places to stay while in town. I grew up here, I’ve talked to a lot of visitors to Denver staying at different hotel properties and I’ve staycationed at a few. With that in mind, I thought it would be helpful to share some of the best places to stay in Denver and why you should say “yes” to them as you prepare for your trip.
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Cowtown Denver
What is Denver Really Like?
It is a vibrant, fun, big/little city. Where there’s a ridiculous amount of fun things to do throughout the year. It’s not necessarily known for good food, even though there is good food in the city (I share some thoughts about that here). Denver is a place where residents enjoy the outdoors, work to live vs. living to work and where the question “What do you do?” is more likely than not referring to the fun activities that you would like to enjoy. The people can be really nice and a little flaky. They also love a good workout.
Denver is a great starting point for a road trip exploring the rest of the state, to acclimate to the altitude before going to the mountains and just a great place to discover Colorado. With that in mind, here are my suggestions of great places to stay depending on the activities you’re planning to enjoy while in town.
Attending a Conference
There are a number of conference facilities in downtown Denver, but for this section I’m referring to conferences being held at the Colorado Convention Center (CCC). It’s a MASSIVE property located at 14th and Curtis Street and it has a big Blue Bear peeking inside the building. There are a number of hotels that are within walking distance to CCC but there are 3 that I’m a huge fan of and that I’ve heard only very positive things about from guests who’ve stayed at those properties.
The Slate Hotel
I absolutely love The Slate Hotel. The rooms are small but the hotel is right across the street from the Colorado Convention Center. It’s also within walking distance to 16th Street, the Colorado Capital and the Free Mall Ride that travels up and down 16th Street.
Hyatt Regency Convention Center
Some events will actually host smaller conferences inside the Hyatt. If you’re attending a larger event at the CCC, it’s directly across the street. The staff is very friendly, they have a great market and bar in the main lobby and a FedEx Business Center for those moments when you need to make copies, send a fax (which is so weird) or other business related activities. This is important because the FedEx Business Center moved out of the CCC and is now in the Hyatt.
Populus
This is one of the newest hotels in downtown Denver. For some people it looks like a cheese grater, for others it looks like a grove of Aspen trees (which is what they intended). The Populus has won several awards since opening and is considered the first carbon positive hotel in the United States. It has a fantastic local coffee shop on the main floor and fantastic rooftop restaurant and bar.
Going to a Concert at Red Rocks
One of my favorite things to do each year is to attend an event at Red Rocks. Usually a concert, but not always because there are other events hosted there. If you’re coming to Denver this year to attend a concert and don’t plan on renting a car (you can book a spot in a bus) then there are a few hotels that I recommend that are close to the pickup spots for those Red Rocks buses and also are located in great areas for your visit.
Hilton Garden Inn
Have you ever used ResortPass? It’s a website that allows people to use a hotel or spa’s facilities for the day. People who’ve done this absolutely rave about the experience that they had at the Hilton Garden Inn. One of the most notable features of this hotel is its proximity to the lightrail, Union Station and a historic fire station that houses the Woodie Fisher restaurant.
Hotel Indigo
Just a block away from Onefold, walking distance to a grocery story and Union Station-Hotel Indigo is centrally located and a great place to stay if you’re wanting to attend a baseball game at Coors Field, hop the ski train to Winter Park or the Amtrak heading to Glenwood Springs. You’re also in close proximity to the LoHi (Lower Highlands) neighborhood that has great restaurants, coffee shops speakeasies and more.
The Rally Hotel
If you’re a baseball fan coming to watch your favorite team beat the Colorado Rockies-this is the hotel you should be staying at. It’s a fantastic location just two blocks away from Union Station, situated inside McGregor Square that also houses a food hall and bars. It’s also across the street from Coors Field.
Solo Travel
Sometimes it’s nice to travel on your own because the trip just doesn’t make it outside of the chat. Denver is a fun place for solo travel because there’s a ton to do, the people are pretty easy to meet and things are reasonably easy to get to in a safe way (as long as you use common sense). Here are some great hotels to stay at as a solo traveler.
The Maven
This is one of my favorite properties in town because it’s a key part of a larger development called Dairy Block. There are restaurants, speakeasies, a fantastic coffee shop called “Amp” and even a Michelin rated restaurant called Bruto in the Free Market development on the same block. The Maven is across the street from several clubs, McGregor Square and 2 blocks away from Coors Field. You will also be within walking distance of the Union Station transit hub.
The Thompson Hotel
One of the newest hotels in town, The Thompson Hotel has a prime location directly on 16th Street and Market. It’s within walking distance to Larimer Square, Skyline Park which is currently under construction and other points close to 16th Street such as the Denver Pavilions.
Westin Denver Downtown
This property is one of those “unexpected recommendations” this hotel is quiet, also within walking distance of Union Station and Skyline Park. What I love about this property is the giant rooftop patio it has paired with a slightly small pool. It’s a great place to unwind, relax and get a few short laps in. It’s a great hotel for people who are a little more introverted and looking for a quieter experience. The team that works there is fantastic.
Looking for a Luxury Experience
While I do think we have luxury accommodation in Denver, true luxury experiences are really found in ski towns. However, if you’re in Denver-the three hotels listed below are great places to stay while you’re in downtown.
Limelight Denver
This hotel is one of the highest ranked hotels in Denver. It also happens to be located on basically the same block as Denver’s Union Station. Enjoy fine dining at the Ajax Hotel or head over to Onefold a few blocks away, soak your worries away at Rok Spas or hop on the lightrail to catch a Denver Nuggets, Colorado Mammoth, Colorado Avalanche game or concert.
The Crawford Hotel (Union Station)
This hotel is located in one of my favorite spots in Denver-Union Station. If you love people watching, good food and trains, The Crawford Hotel is a fantastic place to stay. It’s within walking distance of Coors Field, 16th Street Mall and there’s even a Michelin rated restaurant inside.
Four Seasons
Book a massage at the Four Seasons hotel once you’ve settled in or a nice body treatment to fight against Denver’s dry air. During the summer hangout on the patio or enjoy swimming in the pool. It’s a prime location just a block away from historic Larimer Square, 16th Street and the theater district.
Going to the Theater
(Denver Center for Performing Arts)
One of my absolute favorite things to do is to make my way to the Denver Center for Performing Arts (DCPA) and watch a musical, serious theatrical performance, go to the opera or watch the ballet. The DCPA is said to be one of the top 3 theater districts in the United States. I believe it. Book a trip, check out the upcoming performances and I’ve picked some of the best hotels located close to the theater.
The Curtis Hotel
One of my favorite things about The Curtis Hotel in addition to it being 150 feet from the Denver Center for Performing Arts is the decor. I think it’s the most creative and whimsical spots in town. Each floor of the hotel has a unique theme and it’s just a cool spot to stay in.
Hotel Teatro
If you’re the type of person who enjoys cozy, warm spaces-Hotel Teatro’s first floor fits the bill. It’s so welcoming. It’s also a dog friendly hotel where you fur baby can stay for free (double-check this when booking your room) and it’s within walking distance of Larimer Square, Auraria Campus and even Ball Arena the home of the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche and Colorado Mammoth.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Denver
I’ve had friends stay at the Embassy Suites and one of the things that they do that we all loved was host a complimentary happy hour and free breakfast! You can also walk to the DCPA, 16th Street Mall, the Denver Pavilions or catch a Lyft, the light rail or bus to explore other parts of town.
Budget Friendly Vibes
I’m of the opinion that the further west people travel in the United States the better the hostels. Denver has three really well situated and affordable hostels located with Denver’s Central Business District (CBD)
Hostel Fish
This hostel is located about 5 blocks from Union Station and a number of other cool spots nearby. If you’re heading to Denver for a baseball game at Coors Field, would like to enjoy live music or just eat your way through town-Hostel Fish is a great place to stay and do that.
Ember Hostel
This hostel is actually located about 8 blocks away from 16th Street but it’s highly rated for a reason. Ember hostel is within walking distance of downtown Denver, a Trader Joe’s and a frequent bus line located a few blocks away. It’s in a cute renovated historic mansion and the beds in the shared rooms have really nice curtains so that you can enjoy your own space.
11th Ave Hostel
Out of the three hostels, the 11th Ave Hostel is located in what I consider a pretty lively spot in town. It’s close to a few clubs, the Denver Art Museum and a few other notable points of interest. It’s also located on Broadway which is a pretty busy street with frequent bus service. You can also walk to downtown from the hostel or head over to Civic Center Park (after the renovations) to enjoy concerts or other free or inexpensive events.
Why I Picked These Hotels
All of these hotels have a few things in common. They’re all located in the Central Business District of Denver. Basically, the core area that most visitors begin their extended Denver trips from. All of these hotels are within walking distance to public transportation ranging from downtown’s Free Mall Shuttle, Denver’s RTD bus service, light rail or Amtrak services. All of these properties are close to restaurants or a quick Lyft to neighborhoods that are within close proximity to downtown.