I went to Denver with my besties for a long weekend in April this year. I used to live in Colorado and always love the chance to visit. It is one of my favorite states. There is so much to see and do. It would be impossible to explore all of it in a week much less a long weekend. So, for this trip, instead of battling the end-of-ski-season mountain traffic, we decided to explore the city. In a city as large as Denver, you will have a thousand places to stay and even more dining options. If you want to go off the beaten path a bit, here are some of my suggestions.
STAY- We stayed at Clayton Hotel in the Cherry Creek area (claytondenver.com). It’s less than 15 minutes from downtown so all Denver-area activities including the main gateway to the mountains, Interstate 70 (aka I-70), are easily accessible. Cherry Creek is an upscale area full of shops, restaurants, galleries, and bars. You could easily spend an afternoon perusing the posh boutiques, one-of-a-kind souvenir shops, and Southwestern-themed art galleries, which we did. Everything is right out the front door of the hotel. This hotel is described as "Denver Modern", combining mid-century modernism with a warm, mountain-chic decor. There is something about a lobby with a pleasant signature scent that just speaks to me. This one had a kind of light wood-smoke scent evoking feelings of sitting around a campfire but in a sophisticated, ultra-comfortable setting. The rooms were equally as luxe, with some cool and unique features. For example, you can stream music from your phone directly onto the tv. It's the little details that elevate a place and turn it into something extraordinary. I highly recommend this hotel and would stay there again in a heartbeat.
DRINK- This hotel has an excellent restaurant/bar in the lobby, Of A Kind. And as luck (and an excellent bar program) would have it, I found my new favorite drink! I don’t usually like gin but this drink was so good I am almost planning to fly back just to have another. It was called Denver With A View- Juniper Jones Gin, Grapefruit, Lime, Campari, Club Soda, and Lava Salt. It hit all the right notes. Slightly tart, sweet but not too sweet, light effervescence, and even a little salt to finish it off. Absolute perfection in a glass. Pictured below (pink one in the middle).
Pro Tip: Children are not allowed in Of a Kind after 4 pm. Sorry kiddos, stay in your room, your parents need a drink.
EAT- The main event for the weekend was dinner at an adorable little neighborhood bistro in Capitol Hill called Potager Restaurant & Wine Bar. This area is just a quick Uber ride from our hotel. Potager means kitchen garden in French which perfectly pairs with the rustic décor and New American market-fresh menu. Our experience was nothing short of perfection. I would love to describe the food, however, their menu changes monthly so the items we had last month have already been replaced by other locally-sourced, season-focused ingredients. From start to finish, each course was executed flawlessly. Even something as simple as bread service was elevated with a homemade beet butter and chutney spread. And for the grand finale we ordered the chocolate pudding. You might be thinking chocolate pudding, hum, how good can that be? Take my word, just get it. It is the one consistent thing on the menu and is comfort food at it’s finest.
Another restaurant that I must recommend is one that is near and dear to my heart, Cherry Creek Grill. Why is it dear to me? Well, back when I lived in Denver, I actually used to work there. And every time I visit, I try to stop by for lunch or dinner. It does not disappoint. So needless to say, no trip would be complete for me without lunch at my favorite restaurant. This place is upscale but not pretentious. Their focus on food, service, and consistency have made this restaurant an absolute hit year after year.
Pro tip: Make a reservation. Lunch or dinner, it is always packed.
My favorite things on the menu: Grilled Artichokes, Smoked Salmon, Macho Salad (roasted chicken, avocado, dates, almonds, and goat cheese, yum), and the Famous French Dip sandwich. These foods may sound fairly basic, but know that when you eat them, they will be unforgettable. And do not leave without ordering the Banana Cream Pie for dessert. It is heaven on a plate. To give you some perspective on how much I would recommend this restaurant, my family had a 3-hour layover in Denver last summer. We paid for an Uber from the airport (it's not close) and went back through security just to eat there. It was worth it. As my son said, “that is the best burger I have ever had!” He still thinks about that burger. See, I told you, their food is unforgettable.
SHOW- because this was a short trip, the only “activity” we did other than eating, drinking, shopping, and talking into the wee hours of the night was go see a show at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. We saw “The Other Josh Cohen”. It was a hilarious show about a good guy down on his luck just trying to do the right thing. I am not sure how long the show runs for but if you get a chance, check out any of the many events at the DCPA. It was a fun activity that isn't something most people normally think of when exploring a city. But I am so glad we did.
I hope that you enjoyed hearing about some cool and off-the-beaten path places in Denver, CO. Leave a comment below with your Denver favorites!
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