Two Hotels for Your Rocky Mountain High in Downtown Denver

by Marika Flatt on August 6, 2024 in Travels,
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The mountains call often, and we must go – especially when it’s hot in Texas. It’s always a good idea for a cool vacation in the Mile High City. Denver has many hotels, restaurants, breweries and other tourist attractions in downtown. We’d love to introduce you to two of its best hotels.

 

The Ritz-Carlton, Denver

The Ritz-Carlton, Denver is a luxurious, comfortable hotel whether you are working or playing in the Mile High City. Photo courtesy Ritz-Carlton, Denver.

The Ritz-Carlton, Denver, only about 25 minutes from the Denver International Airport, is a luxurious, comfortable hotel whether you are working or playing. Definitely do your best to get “all up in the club” level, as they feature five food presentations per day, which reduces your travel expenses and heightens the convenience factor. 

Club level is a game changer leveling up the experience. Photo Marika Flatt.

The club level is found on floor 12 and is only accessible to those guests who reserve club access. It’s truly a game changer for your stay. They offer afternoon snacks such as delicious hummus (and I know my hummus!), a beautiful candy bar featuring everything from chocolates to Jolly Ranchers (first made in Colorado)  and your choice of six fresh baked cookies, available morning to night. 

The Ritz treats its guests like royalty. Photo courtesy Ritz-Carlton, Denver.

We arrived at 8 a.m. and were given an early check-in (what a treat)! And, something found in the room – very unusual, a small touch —  double (two) luggage racks. (Have you ever noticed that most hotels only give one luggage rack when they know that there will almost always be two people staying in a room?) We stayed in an executive suite which was very luxurious with a living room separated from the king bedroom, a large bathroom and a walk-in closet. 

A must from The Ritz’s fine dining steakhouse, Elway’s, is the Lamb Chop Fondue. Photo Marika Flatt.

Elway’s is the Ritz’s fine dining steakhouse on the first floor across from the lobby.  We started with one of their house favorites, the Lamb Chop Fondue (which was divine!), and continued with the short ribs over a bed of creamy mashed potatoes and filet with a rub made up of 32 spices, paired with roasted truffle cauliflower. This was a masterful dinner, from start to finish. The waiter was ultra attentive, brought us a few surprises, paired the dinner with a delicious cabernet, and wowed us at every turn. 

Every meat served at Elway’s is marinated in their unique 32-spice mixture. Photo Marika Flatt.

The Ritz-Carlton Spa is an absolute must with treatments inspired by the Colorado landscapes, such as the peaks of the Colorado Mountains and the Colorado River. One of the unique therapies offered is the Colorado River Stone Massage with a choice of a 50 or 80-minute treatment. It utilizes the warm river stones to soothe tired muscles. 

The Ritz-Carlton Spa is an absolute must with treatments inspired by Colorado landscapes, such as the peaks of the Colorado mountains and the Colorado River. Photo courtesy Ritz-Carlton, Denver.

Another offering is the Mile High Massage, which promotes true relaxation and circulation with a CBD-rich massage oil. If you need a quick treatment, the Traveler’s Relief Massage is the perfect choice. With these treatment offerings and many others, you will be immersed in all that the Mile High City has to offer.

Take advantage of all downtown Denver has to offer, which is just steps away from LoDo, Milk Market, McGregor Square and Larimer Square. Photo Marika Flatt

A few notes about The Ritz-Carlton, Denver:

  • LOCATION: The Ritz-Carlton, Denver is located in the heart of downtown Denver, just steps away from LoDo, Milk Market, McGregor Square and Larimer Square. Guests can enjoy nearby museums, sports arenas, craft breweries, a vibrant culinary scene and plenty of outdoor activities.
Experiment with different craft brews unique to Denver’s vibrant cuisine with something for everyone. Photo Marika Flatt.
    • ELWAY’S RENOVATION: Downtown’s modern steakhouse and bar just debuted a new look! The hotel’s signature restaurant features uniquely Colorado cuisine inspired by the Football Legend, John Elway. Guests can enjoy the finest cuts, cocktails and extensive wine list from ELWAY’S in the comfort of their own room or suite, with in-room dining.
    • The city’s first and longest running AAA Five-Diamond hotel features 205 spacious guest rooms including 47 suites and 32 Club Level rooms. The Ritz-Carlton Club Level – often referred to as a hotel within a hotel – offers guests an upleveled experience with dedicated concierge services, private lounge area, and four culinary presentations. 
    • THE RITZ-CARLTON SPA, DENVER: The 6,000-sq-ft spa features a menu of services inspired by the locale with signature treatments like the Non-Surgical Facelift and Oxygen Facial, relaxation lounges, steam rooms, whirlpools, and 24-hour fitness center. Hotel guests and locals can also book a spa day pass to utilize the facilities without booking a treatment. 
    • KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: There is no pool. 
Don’t forget to do some window shopping along the scenic Denver streets or grab a cocktail at one of the street-side bistros. Photo Marika Flatt.

The Rally Hotel 

The Rally Hotel is in the heart of downtown Denver and is the official hotel of the Colorado Rockies. Photo courtesy The Rally.

The Rally, in McGregor Square, is one of the newish kids on the hotel block in downtown Denver, situated right across the street from Coors Field baseball stadium, featuring the Colorado Rockies baseball team. As the official hotel of the Rockies, it provides not only convenience to the stadium, but also to some of the best that downtown Denver has to offer.

Upon arrival, you are offered a taste of the local spirit in Denver with a complimentary beer or bubbles. Photo courtesy The Rally.

The hotel check-in staff is friendly and accommodating (we were upgraded from a regular room to a suite to accommodate our party). I love that guests are offered a welcome beer or bubbles at check-in, a taste of the local spirit from the start (a Denver IPA after a long day of travel, yes please!). Every day at 4 p.m., they host an afternoon ice cream social in the lobby.

Every room comes with a picturesque view of downtown Denver and the Coors Field. Photo courtesy The Rally.

The Rally has two F&B (food & beverage) options. The OG (Original), great for brunch, and Call Me Pearl, a cocktail lounge with bar bites. We enjoyed a relaxing and tasty brunch at The OG, which served classics with a modern twist and had something for everyone. When the weather is nice, the outdoor patio offers a front-row seat to downtown Denver. We feasted on  the Chila-Dillas, a fusion of a chilaquiles and a quesadilla, the avocado toast, the smothered burrito and country fried steak. We could not have had a better brunch experience, complete with impeccable service, hot coffee and fabulous food. 

Downtown Denver is the hub of the Milk Market at the Dairy Block and other various streets that are great for window shopping. Photo Marika Flatt.

The Rally is a great hotel to use as your downtown hub while you walk around and enjoy locations such as the Milk Market at the Dairy Block, Union Station, and other various streets that are great for window shopping and just lingering at a street side bistro. If you want to explore beyond downtown, they offer a courtesy car with flash valet. Simply scan the card and it texts you an arrival time of your car. 

Located in the heart of Denver and filled with its history, Union Station opened its doors more than 100 years ago and was renovated just 10 years ago. Photo Marika Flatt.

A few notes about The Rally:

  • Set in the heart of Denver in McGregor Square, the popular entertainment mecca of the Mile High city, The Rally Hotel is the official home of the MLB’s Colorado Rockies. 
  • Get tickets to a game and/or use The Rally as your home base to enjoy a field of activities while being next door to the Coors Field stadium. Cheer on the Rockies from a stadium-sized LED screen TV in the 17,000+ sq. ft. energetic plaza, close enough to smell the popcorn and hot dogs. 
  • After the game, kick back in classic guest rooms with a modern twist at The Rally or catch elevated views around a fire pit from the hotel’s SkyBridge Rooftop.
  • The Rally’s rooftop pool offers a great spot for R&R.
The Rally’s rooftop pool offers a great spot for rest and relaxation and great views of the heart of Denver. Photo Marika Flatt.

Looking for more to do around Denver? Check out…

  • Buell Theatre, Denver Center for the Performing Arts
  • Denver’s Botanical Garden
  • Union Station’s Cooper Lounge
  • Milk Market
  • Denver Art Museum
Enjoy the unique art along the streets that give Denver its charm and personality. Photo Marika Flatt.
  • Red Rocks Amphitheatre (They do Yoga on the Rocks, and movie nights in addition to concerts. Plus there’s great hiking trails nearby!)
You can’t go to Denver without visiting Red Rocks, which includes both the famous amphitheater and many hiking trails. Photo Marika Flatt.

See even more about Denver in our San Antonio Living TV segment here!

 

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Cover photo courtesy The Rally.

Marika Flatt, Outstanding Austin Communicator 2021, is the Travel Editor of Texas Lifestyle Magazine. She began her travel writing career in 2002, and can be seen as a contributor on TV shows across Texas, such as Great Day Houston, San Antonio Living, Spectrum News, Good Morning Texas, KVUE, Daytime (FOX), and Studio 512!