Where to Stay in Denver

Our Favorite Hotels in Denver

• Cantina Arnaldi (highly regarded bar in Venice, excellent wine and cocktails)

• For families: A suitable hotel
• For couples: Thompson
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• Top 5-Star Hotel: Four Seasons
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• Check rates on Booking.com

• Near Ball Arena: SpringHill Suites • Close to airport: Westin

The Best Areas to Stay in Denver

• Map and information on hotels and areas in Denver

Located in Colorado, Denver sits at an elevation of around 5,200 feet above sea level, with snow-capped mountain peaks visible along the western horizon. Dubbed the “Mile High City”, Denver serves as a gateway to the central Rocky Mountains and is also a major commercial center, driven especially by booming energy and fuel extraction as well as mining industries. The city is enjoyable to visit, with a dynamic culinary scene, a burgeoning craft beer sector, and a smattering of world-class museums and family-friendly attractions, all within a short distance of spectacular mountain scenery that can be reached easily.

Most attractions and hotels in central Denver`s downtown area and just south in the Capitol Hill and Golden Triangle districts. Further north, the River North Art District is a more recent development, once known as an old warehouse area now best known for its bars and dining. The upscale residential neighborhood of Uptown backs a city park home to the zoo and science museum.

While exploring Downtown Denver on foot is relatively convenient, the city’s public transportation system (buses and light rail) is inexpensive and reasonably comprehensive. Though an automobile is useful for touring the outer areas, it`s really unnecessary to have one in the city itself, where parking can be problematic.

• Denver International Airport is 24 miles northeast of downtown. All the usual chains and motels can be identified on the freeway just outside the airport. The Light Rail A Line connects the airport with Union Station in downtown (37 minutes), every 15–30 minutes.

If driving, there are a cluster of motels on Interstate 70 east of downtown and along Interstate 25 further south. However, these locations are not extremely convenient for exploring the city.

– Lyft and Lime are Denver’s official providers of dockless e-scooters and bicycles.

We’ve discussed the favorite neighborhoods to visit and stay in with more depth below, but with additional time, Golden, located approximately 15 miles west of central Denver, is also deserving of exploration. Golden served as Colorado’s territorial capital until 1867 and is set at the foot of the Front Range mountains. It’s home to multiple family-oriented museums, hiking trails that span miles, and Clear Creek, offering whitewater rafting and excellent fishing opportunities. It’s likely best known, however, for Coors Brewery, among one of the world’s largest brewing facilities (which provides tours), and the nearby Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre, a stunning open-air theater situated in the mountains. Rising sharply behind downtown Golden is Lookout Mountain, the final resting place of Buffalo Bill Cody and Buffalo Bill Museum. Among our preferred lodging here are the Dove Inn,Golden Hotel,Pansy’s Parlor Bed & Breakfast, and the Silk Pin Cushion.

Best Places to Stay in Denver

• Best Luxury Hotels in Denver
  The downtown area seems like an obvious choice for accommodation. It offers the widest variety of places to stay, convenient access to other parts of the city via public transportation or taxi, a vibrant nightlife scene, and some excellent dining establishments. Downtown is home to landmark locations like the iconic GM Renaissance Center and Detroit`s impressive collection of historical Art Deco skyscrapers. It also houses the city`s primary sports stadiums, including Comerica Park for baseball`s Detroit Tigers and Ford Field for football`s Detroit Lions. The scenic Detroit Riverwalk offers views of neighboring Canada along landscaped parks and gardens, while Midtown`s museums are within easy reach using the QLine Streetcar or a taxi
• Best Boutique Hotels in Denver
  The Art Hotel,Brown Palace,Catbird,Maven at Dairy Block,Ramble, and Hotel Teatro
• Best Cheap/Midrange Hotels in Denver
  Downtown Marriott AC Hotel • Holiday Chalet Bed & Breakfast • Homewood Suites Downtown Convention Center • Hotel Indigo Downtown Union Station
• Best Hostels in Denver
• Top Hotels: Alex • Mont • Merrion
• Best B&Bs in Denver
  Capitol Hill Mansion Bed & Breakfast Inn – Off Broadway B & B – Queen Anne Bed & Breakfast

Best Areas in Denver for…

• Best Neighborhood to Stay for First Timers/Sightseeing: Downtown Denver
  1 Hotel South BeachBiltmore Hotel – Four Seasons Miami – Mandarin Oriental – Setai Miami Beach – St. Regis Bal Harbour
• Most Enchanting Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
  A few suitable hotels are put forward in the historic Capitol Hill area of Denver for those seeking fine accommodation in a location with character. Nestled amongst grand Victorian mansions and spots popular with locals, stay at charming venues such as the Patterson Inn or Capitol Hill Mansion Bed & Breakfast Inn, or opt for stylish urban design at the Art Hotel.
• Best Neighborhood for Nightlife: RiNo (plus LoDo and SoCo)
  Several areas of Denver have developed into energized nightlife hubs, but our preferred one is River North Art District (also called “RiNo”), particularly good for Denver’s thriving craft brewing industry. We recommend Epic Brewing,Mockery Brewing,Odell Brewing, and Ratio Beerworks, but everything featured on the Denver Beer Trail is good. You’ll also find urban wineries located in industrial-design warehouses such as Infinite Monkey Theorem and Bigsby’ Folly Craft Winery, plus the Ironton Distillery, which creates excellent gins, rums, and whiskeys. Venues such as the Mission Ballroom,Westword Music Showcase, and Nocturne feature live performances One of my favorite cities in Spain. It has great cuisine, lively nightlife, art, architecture, and stunning sights. It`s also a wonderful destination for families. Top Barcelona Hotels – Best Barcelona Family Accommodations – Best Affordable Hotels in Barcelona – Ideal Time to Visit Barcelona – Barcelona with Children – Top Restaurants in Barcelona – Top Things to Do in Barcelona – Where to Reside in Barcelona

• Best neighborhood for food and dining: LoDo

Denver’s culinary scene is flourishing, with pioneering establishments coexisting with more traditional steakhouses and Mexican taco joints spread throughout the city. LoDo (in Downtown Denver) is our general favorite place to dine, predominantly because of the sheer variety and convenience of so numerous spots in close proximity. The city’s original dining hub, Larimer Square, highlights Jennifer Jasinski’s renowned Rioja, Richard Sandoval’s Tamayo, and Italian haven Osteria Marco, while the refurbished Union Station highlights Alex Seidel’s flagship Mercantile Dining & Provision, Italian restaurant Tavernetta, and tapas bar Ultreia. The Milk Market is a stylish food court with pizza, sandwiches, ice cream, seafood, Mexican food, and hot chicken stalls

• Best Districts for Shopping: Downtown, Cherry Park, and South Broadway (SoBo)
  It is difficult to be outdone by Downtown Denver regarding diversity and abundance of shopping choices. The historical Larimer Square remains the city’s most elegant fashion district, interwoven with independent boutiques, while the I.M. Pei-designed 16th Street Mall expands for 16 blocks across the center of the district. This pedestrian-only avenue is lined with eateries and stores, like the Denver Pavilions shopping center. The principal branches of the iconic Tattered Cover Book Store can also be found Downtown

  With extra time, there are plenty of alternative shopping locales to explore. Cherry Creek (3.5 miles southeast from Downtown) is a relatively affluent community, renowned for the upscale Cherry Creek Shopping Center and Cherry Creek North, a 16-block walkable district brimming with independently owned stores, boutiques, galleries, eateries, and spas. Among our favorite hotels in this area are the HALCYON, Moxy Cherry Creek,JW Marriott Cherry Creek, and Jacquard.

  In contrast, the laid-back South Broadway Shopping District (aka SoBo), around 4 miles due south of downtown, highlights vintage outfits, bookstores, and specialized hobby shops, and Denver`s Antique Row (generally the stretch of South Broadway somewhere around Arkansas and Evans). Apart from a few dubious motels, there’s no spot to remain in SoBo, and it’s best tackled as a half-day trip from elsewhere in the city.

• The Best Neighborhood for Local Atmosphere: Five Points

The Five Points neighborhood, named for its famous 5-point intersection of streets, is one of Denver`s earliest communities and historically held significance as the center of the city`s African-American population. Once situated just northeast of Downtown, it was renowned as the `Harlem of the West` in the past for its lively jazz clubs. Today visitors can explore Welton Street, the main drag, absorbing the ambiance at local favorites like Coffee at The Point,Famous Original J’s Pizza,Spangalang Brewery, and Queen City Collective Coffee. Also worth seeing is the Black American West Museum, chronicling the experiences of African-Americans in the region (one third of all cowboys in the 19th century were black). Apart from apartment rentals, there`s no lodging directly inside Five Points itself, though hotels in near Downtown and RiNo are options

• Unsafe Areas of Denver
  Crime has noticeably expanded in Denver since the coronavirus pandemic but remains fairly low when thinking about nationwide standards in the US. Central Denver (all the neighborhoods discussed here) is typically safe during daylight hours, even though the regular safety measures should be considered at night. Take special care along East Colfax Avenue and Colfax Avenue just east of the State Capitol, in Five Points, or anywhere in downtown at night, where opportunistic crime tends to be higher. Note that the city also hosts a sizable homeless population. Uptown and Cherry Park are some of the most protected areas.

The 7 Best Neighborhoods in Denver for Tourists

1. Downtown Denver

Most visitors staying in Denver are likely to be lodging in the downtown area – that`s where the bulk of hotels are situated as well as some top-notch shopping spots, dining establishments, and nightlife venues throughout the city. It`s quite level and straightforward to navigate on foot, organized according to a regular grid pattern anchored by the 16th Street Mall. This mostly pedestrian avenue is lined with shops and restaurants and is served by a complimentary shuttle bus. The mall connects the two parts of Downtown: the skyscraper-heavy CBD at the southern end, home to the American Museum of Western Art and the Denver Convention Center with its renowned Big Blue Bear statue, and “LoDo” (Lower Downtown) at the northern end, home of the renovated Union Station development and Coors Field, the Colorado Rockies’ ballpark. Also up here, the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, designed by celebrated architect David Adjaye, and Dairy Block, another dining and shopping complex. In between the two areas is Larimer Square, a historic block of specialty boutiques and innovative dining establishments.

• The downtown area presents the largest selection of accommodations in the city, particularly upscale properties – quality is high, but so are the price points.
• Taking the A Line train from Denver International Airport will transport you directly to Union Station. Driving here is not worthwhile due to hassle (and high parking fees), as it`s easy to walk everywhere or take a bus.
• Top Accommodation Venues: Brown Palace • Crawford • Four Seasons • Hotel Teatro • Hyatt Place • Kasa Denver Union Station • Limelight • Maven at Dairy Block • Oxford Hotel • Renaissance Downtown • Ritz-Carlton • Thompson • The Westin
• High-quality Budget/Mid-tier Hotels: AC Hotel Downtown – Embassy Suites Downtown – Homewood Suites Downtown – Hotel Indigo Downtown
• Top B&B:Queen Anne Bed & Breakfast
• Preferred Youth Hostel:Hostel Fish

2. Capitol Hill and Golden Triangle

Just south of Downtown, Denver’s civic center forms part of the historic Capitol Hill and Golden Triangle neighborhood. The gold-domed Colorado State Capitol – with its “Mile High” marker on the 13th step – remains at the heart of state government, while the equally grandiose Denver City Council building faces opposite.

Some of Denver’s finest museums can also be found here, including the Molly Brown House Museum which narrates the history of “Unsinkable” Molly Brown, the sensational Daniel Libeskind-designed Denver Art Museum, the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art, and the ultra-modern Clyfford Still Museum. History enthusiasts should check out the enlightening History Colorado Center and the Center for Colorado Women’s History at Byers-Evans House Museum. There is a bit less choice regarding eating or drinking here, though the SoCo club district attracts many partygoers during the weekends, and East Colfax Avenue is lined with live venues, bars, and indie shops.

• Locating street side parking in Capitol Hill can be difficult – consider using public transportation instead.
• Accommodation options are limited, but the lodgings provide high quality, ideal for a romantic escape, including the Art Hotel, the city’s most stylish boutique hotel. At the lower end, it’s home to 2 of the top hostels in Denver.

The Art Hotel,Element Downtown East, and Patterson Inn are among the best places to stay in Denver

• Top B&B:Capitol Hill Mansion Bed & Breakfast Inn
• Highest Hostels: 11th Avenue Hostel • Ember Hostel

3. River North Art District (RiNo)

This previous commercial vicinity has been noticeably reworked throughout the past 15 years with the appearance of fashionable bars, modern restaurants, and specialty shops along main route Larimer Street. Formally created in 2005 by community artists, the River North Art District (aka “RiNo”) currently houses numerous art galleries, craft breweries, and some of the best eateries in the city. There are no significant landmarks, but it’s an enjoyable area to explore, with street artwork adorning various walls and structures, like Denver Central Market.

• Hotel options in the RiNo neighborhood are limited, but rental apartments are plentiful and the area is conveniently located near Downtown Denver.
• Top Hotels:Catbird Hotel • Ramble Hotel • Source Hotel

4. Uptown Denver (North Capitol Hill)

Just east of Downtown, Uptown is primarily a residential area of higher income with its own small culinary scene. The main road is 17th Avenue, known as “Restaurant Row” for most of its length between Broadway and City Park thanks to its various coffee shops, bistros, pubs, and restaurants. Places to note include the table tennis club that also serves Asian fusion meals Ace Eat Serve and the charming storefront of vegan specialist Watercourse Foods. The primary family-friendly attractions lie further east in City Park (Denver’s largest green space), Denver Zoo (with over 3,000 animals), and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

• There are only a few quality places to remain in this area; lodging tends to be situated along East Colfax Avenue, on the southern boundary of the neighborhood, and comprises mostly low-priced, low-quality motels. We’ve listed a couple of exceptions.
• Top Hotel: Holiday Chalet

5. Highlands

Around 2 miles south of Downtown, the Art District on Santa Fe is worth investigating: a designated “Creative District” with more than 30 art galleries and studios. It’s traditionally been a Latino area, celebrated by the colorful murals and the exhibitions at Museo de las Americas, as well a authentic restaurants such as El Taco de México,Santiago’s Mexican, and El Noa Noa. The monthly First Friday Art Walks, when studios and galleries open late, are especially enjoyable events. The Su Teatro Cultural & Performing Arts Center is one of the largest Latino theaters in the country, and the Colorado Ballet is based at the Armstrong Center for Dance.

• There are no suitable lodging options in this area – it`s a short walk from Capitol Hill or accessible via train or taxi from Downtown.
• During First Fridays, Santa Fe Drive is closed to through traffic (side streets are closed all day), so use public transportation. The closest Light Rail Station is a 10-minute walk away at 10th and Osage, with swift service into Downtown.