Denver Travel Guide
My husband and I were tourists in our own city last weekend. Exploring the city right in front of us is something we will always make a priority, we love the Denver life! We needed this staycation, and Denver was the place to do it. Denver city life is charming, with plenty of amazing places to stay, dine, drink, shop, you name it. If you are a local in need of a staycation, or a traveler coming in to visit, this travel guide to Denver should help you out on some things to do while you're in town.
Where to Stay:
When booking a place to stay in any city, finding a prime location is essential. We lodged at The Oxford Hotel, which happened to be in the perfect spot in the city. The Oxford Hotel opened in 1891, making it the oldest hotel in Denver. This charming, historical hotel sits in the heart of the city, right down the block from Union Station as you see in the images above. As soon as we arrived, we were met with the most kind, professional bellhops and receptionists. We felt very safe considering the circumstances, as the workers always wore their masks, and the check-in process was contactless. As a guest, make sure to wear yours inside as well!
The Oxford Hotel offers several amenities that will make your stay that much more relaxing and enjoyable. Some of the amenities include:
Valet service parking. Since the hotel is in the heart of the city, the valet at this hotel was very convenient. It is an added charge to your stay, but is so worth it!
Spa and Salon. If you are a guest, you get 10% off any of the spa services. Perfect for a relaxing weekend getaway.
The Cruise Room. Sip on some cocktails in this Prohibition-era cocktail lounge. The bar is currently closed, but once it opens, it is a must-do! However, if you are in the mood for a drink, The Oxford hosts a bourbon tasting on select nights.
Company Telsa. You heard that right. You can rent out the hotel's Tesla in advance for a fun day/night in the city!
Urban Farmer. Attached to the hotel itself, this steakhouse offers a delicious menu with locally-sourced ingredients. We dined here on our first night, and we loved absolutely everything.
We stayed in the junior suite, which had a living space as well as the main bedroom and bathroom.
If you're celebrating a special occasion, this suite is the perfect room option. It is super spacious and comfortable for those cozy nights inside.
If you are wanting to embrace Denver's history and culture, and experience incredible amenities during your stay, staying at The Oxford Hotel is the way to go!
Where to Eat/Drink:
We started off our weekend getaway at this amazing local restaurant just down the street from Union Station. Our first night in the city was met with delicious food and great hospitality throughout the night. We started off the dinner with some cocktails and recommend ordering Farmer #4 and Aviation. Our favorite dishes of the night were the charcuterie board, the filet, and the mac-n-cheese. Everything was absolutely divine! We also enjoyed their vast wine list and can't wait to go back. You can definitely tell everything tastes very fresh, and quality was the priority at Urban Farmer. This downtown dinner spot is a must in Denver!
The next night for dinner we dined at Foraged to enjoy this Japanese menu highlighting all sorts of delicious and creative appetizers and sushi. We enjoyed a bottle of their local 2017 Red Wine (which was absolutely amazing), with crispy garlic edamame and shrimp and pork dumplings (shumai) to start. Both starters were great, but the edamame was the winner as it had a creative twist with the crispy garlic. Our favorite sushi of the night were the spicy tuna and surf 'n' turf rolls. Not only was the food amazing, but the decor and interior lighting changed colors throughout our meal, which made the experience all the better. Check them out next time you are in Lodo! 10/10 recommend.
Other downtown restaurants and drink spots in LoDo that we recommend:
- Mercantile Dining & Provision
- JINYA Ramen Bar
- Snooze, an A.M Eatery
- Denver Milk Market
- Sweetgreen
- Venice Ristorante & Wine Bar
- Deep Roots Winery and Bistro
- Wynkoop Brewing Company
Where to Shop and Explore:
Make sure to explore the Union Station area in LoDo. We love walking around the streets and grabbing a bite to eat or sip on some wine outside. Walking around inside Union Station is always a pleasure. There's a variety of restaurants, bars, cafes, and even a hotel inside. We also love wandering around in Tattered Cover Bookstore.
Shopping on 16th Street Mall is also a fun Denver thing to do. You can even take the tram, which is free to ride, from the Union Station area all the way down 16th Street. There's a plethora of shops, restaurants, and photo ops to partake in on this street.
We spent our entire Saturday exploring LoDo and 16th Street! You can easily fill an entire day doing so. Denver has so much more to offer outside of the recommendations in this blog post, but these things make for a great foundation for your Denver adventures!
